alicat58

Thank you so much for continuing to entertain us with your review. The photos are beautiful. 

I was also born in South Africa and make bobotie on occasion. Been in the UK for nearly 20 years. Going back end of September because daughter decided to get married there(to her Aussie man). Not a lot of family left there so most people travelling from all over the world.

I am so excited because in a week I will be sitting somewhere on the Seaview in Barcelona. My brother(from Pretoria) will be on the ship with wife and twin 16 year old daughters. I might also do a review but it will be nowhere near as great as following yours.

Looking forward to more!

Alicat

Enjoying your review. On the Seaview in the Med in 10 days. So enjoying the photos. Presume will look similar.

What is your South African connection?

Alicat

I was hoping to be able to attach a link but I am technically challenged alas. If you look on page 3 of the Costa Boards: Sorry it is coming out massive! Scroll down and all three packages have been scanned in by Greg2014. I only have an ancient (stolen) bar menu at home. This is recent and will give you the info you need.

What drinks are included? by claudiaYVR.

Hi Raj

Have you looked at the Port info on the boards? There is some recent info about some of your ports. Ideas for excursions. We rarely use the ship excursions but sometimes there transfers are the best options. Specifically if you have short port days and just want to get a flavour of the place without being stressed about getting there and back to the ship. Bremerhaven was a good example of this. The coach drops you off right next to the old town centre and you can then do your own thing for a bit before getting back on it. The day we were there the traffic back was diabolical. Being on a ship excursion you know they will wait for you. The rest of the time, just busk it with the help of info on CC and TA.

We usually go for premium balcony and because we like the odd cocktail we upgrade our drinks package to Piu gusto for €5 pdpp. There are some premium brands on the Indentitore but we're not bothered. Hubby likes a G&T and on Piu gusto you can ask for Gordons or Beefeater. He's happy with not having Bulldog etc.

Having cruised with a teen some years ago, she just stayed with us. The kids club is really better from the younger children.

We loved the Mediterranea. Lots of nooks and crannies.

Riana

Thanks for the info. 

A quick question, if you are able to help, please.

Did you by any change do the "Rome on your own". I have asked in general before whether anyone knew where the drop off point was in Rome and did not actually get an answer.

Riana

Please tell us more!

We will be doing this cruise in less than 4weeks now.

Congratulations on your engagement.

Riana

Hi

We upgrade on board to Piu Gusto. They charge €5 pdpp. The cocktails have nor really changed and like you I am not overly keen on all the lemony ones. If you upgrade you can have Mojito, Margarita(I know lemony but I like the occasional frozen one) and my favourite Hugo Spritz(elderflower cordial with prosecco a dash of soda water a slice of apple and a sprig of mint). They also do a Rosso of the same version which is elderberry cordial.

Other than that you still get all the Diabetes in a glass cocktails like strawberry daquiri and Mai tai.

Riana

I am so enjoying your review. Makes me want to be on a ship!

We're not overly keen on the sea days and will unlikely ever do a TA. We are trying MSC for the first time in 5w(today). Cannot wait.

I find it interesting that there are slightly different things on the menus you are posting. I still recognise many of the dishes and some that I really enjoy. I wonder whether the menus for USA cruises are similar.

Don't you just find it amazing about the stuff people moan about. I recall we were on the Diadema once and had a group of (American) guests sitting chatting at a table behind us complaining about the "nickle and dimeing". I have to say I have never thought it was something noted on Costa. Did you experience that?

Riana

It had one when we were last on her. I think the only Costa ship I have been on without was the NeoClassica. 

Riana

Hi

Great review. I am glad to see you enjoyed your cruise.

Riana

Hi

Smoking is allowed on balconies. There is also usually an enclosed cigar bar on the ship and you might smell smoke just on passing it. Otherwise all the smoking areas are outside on deck. Some are quite close to doors but that has never bothered us and hubby is an ex-smoker and totally anti-smoking. One side of the aft pool deck is usually smoking. Varies from ship to ship.

We've never been on such a new ship so cannot comment on what glitzes there might be.

Riana

Hi

We did this cruise on the Victoria early 2018. It is a great itinerary. The Fortuna is quite a bit bigger than the Victoria but it is likely that you will have the same tender or docking arrangements. Phuket is tender. When we went we anchored just off the main beach area(cannot remember what it is called). They used local boats for tender. There was one other tender port but I cannot remember which one.

We used mainly US$ but asked taxis to stop at a local ATM to get local money. In Shianoukville we went into the market area and there were loads of money changers happy to take whatever we had.

Brindiamo is fine but excludes many of the cocktails and drinks that I like. We usually upgrade at €5 per day per person. Costa still has the cheapest drinks packages that I can see. Going with MSC for the first time in June and quite a bit more expensive.

The bars are all free. The pay for restaurants on the Fortuna will likely be the pizza/burger place. Still pretty cheap. If you are a Costa club member they are half prize I think. You could use your drinks package in this restaurant as well.

I did a trip report on this cruise if you are interested. I have no idea how to link it but if you click on Alicat it shows all the drivel that I put on CC. There are lots of photos and info about taxis etc and how much we paid. If you do the overnight in Bangkok with Costa be prepared for 2 extremely long hectic days. 

I honestly don't think the passengers were of a rather older demographic Dancer Bob. If anything they were younger than the Med cruises.

Riana

Hi

No coffee or tea making facilities in cabins unless you are in a suite or mini suite. The have coffee pod machine but there is a charge. 

As far as I am aware passengers from USA have  water included on their cards for the dining rooms. No coffee in the MDR unless you order(and pay) from a bar. There is coffee and tea during meal time and afternoon tea in the buffet. No iced tea except for cans at the bars. They do an americano coffee. Not sure about the current price as it does not appear on my elderly bar menu.

Depending on what cabin package you have booked you might have a drinks package of sorts included. Only the " basic" does not have anything at all.

Riana

Thanks Bea. I'll work on him!

Riana

I would not take a Costa excursion in St.P. We went with Alla tours. They have an "open " booking with I think max 16 people. We were the only Costa passengers in out group. All the others were from a Princess ship. I think there were something like 8 ships in on the 2 days we visited. 2 very in the city centre(small ones) and the rest out at the new cruise terminal.

If you look on the post info you'll see what various people say about the different companies. We were very impressed with Alla. Our guide was great, spoke excellent English. The driver was not a maniac and got us back to the ship on time. They guarantee that. They get you to most of the sites early and whizz you through past all the long queues.

We did a 2 day excursion. They also organise the visa. We were off the ship early both days. They are extremely full days and we were totally whacked by the end of it. I am a bit of a slow coach with walking(not disabled) but managed quite OK. 

You can pay in dollars i think. They expect you to give the guide and driver a tip. They tell you all of that on the website. It was totally worth it and cheaper than Costa and in a small group.

Riana

Hi Ron

No we're not going to kill off this board. They are helpful and active.

Bea our drinks package was not part of a promotion. We unfortunately missed the offer. We bought our package. 

My brother lives in South Africa and the poor old ZAR is not worth a lot so the even the premium package will cost a small fortune for the four of them. However, I looked at prices(in $) and I still think it will be worth him forking out the cash. 

Riana

I know I have seen something in a thread about everyone in the same party having the same drinks package but cannot find it.

We are cruising with my brother and his twin teens. We have the premium package and he is still considering whether he will buy packages for all four of them. 

Are they very strict with this? We have no intention getting drinks for them on our package but I know some people do this and can understand why the cruise line would want to enforce the rule.

Looking forward to trying MSC. Have to say the website is nearly as rubbish as Costa's.

Riana

Good grief Ron!

We were on her 3 weeks ago!

Riana

I am hoping it is a rumour. Search on line and forums and not mentioned anywhere.

Riana

Can somebody help me with this please? I understand the cruise buses are no longer allowed to drop passengers off close to the Colosseum. Anyone done this with MSC recently?

Riana

Hi Bea

Thanks for the info. We might buy from the TA as we also have a credit with her and book shuttles or something with the rest of the OBC.

Riana

Got that wrong! We are on the Seaview in the Med!

Riana

Hi Bea 

Thanks for posting these bar menus. We are seasoned Costa cruisers going on MSC Seaside in June and the drinks package info is really welcome. We thought about getting wine packages and the odd cocktail on board but it looks as if it would be better to go for the premium package. We have been spoilt with the Costa packages and actually find these quite expensive.

Do you know whether the OBC can go towards paying for the drinks package?

Apologies to OP for high jacking your post.

Riana

I think you might find the cocktails are more expensive than that. I have a really old bar menu for example a Hugo Sprits is €7.45; a Mojito €8.45 and a margarita €8.45. Then you still have the service charge on top. I think if you prebook your upgraded drinks package it is included but not sure about that.

I cannot remember when I pinched this one but not recently.

Riana