Live from the Costa Atlantica

[Capricruiser]

My first cruise on the Atlantica will end shortly and I think I have gained enough experience by now to adjudicate both the ship and the cruise. First of all it’s a beautiful, well riding ship even though it’s now ten or eleven years old. Last year I sailed on the Mediterranea, her newer sister ship, but I like the Atlantica more. It doesn’t have all the glitz of the more recent Costa liners and for me that’s a plus. I’ll write a full review in a few weeks but for now I’ll give what I think are a few pros and cons:

My cat. B5 balcony cabin is spacious and very comfortable. It has a super comfy bed, nice big couch, desk, ample wardrobe space, and is luminous both artificially and from the sun shining through the big window/door to the balcony. The bathroom is good sized and has an ample shower with a non-attacking new curtain. As a gold pearl Costa Club member, I have luxury toiletries, two thick luxurious Frette bathrobes and slippers, and even face cloths! The cabin is kept super clean.

I chose this cruise based on the itinerary as I usually do. For me, the Black Sea port calls were particularly enticing and I enjoyed our stops at Costanza, Odessa and Yalta. While at Istanbul I took an all day Bosphorus cruise on my own, something I have always wanted to do. As far as the Costa excursions went, I was satisfied with all of them. One of the nice gold pearl perks is they have a special meeting point and get you down to the tour buses before the masses which ensures a good seat selection. Of the 2060 passengers aboard, 1300 were Costa Club members, meaning Costa gets many return cruisers. The nationality mix on this cruise is fairly typical: 680 Italians, 500 French, 440 Germans. There are 29 UK citizens and 12 Americans along with a variety of other nationalities. The hostess for the English speakers is a cute American girl from Philadelphia.

Other pros: The MDR food with minor exceptions has been very good. I can’t see how anyone could complain unless they’re totally ignorant of Italian cuisine. Even the buffet at breakfast and lunch hasn’t been bad so long as you immediately sit down and eat before the air conditioning cools the food. There generally was not a problem finding a place to sit although families or groups of friends might be better off claiming a table and leaving someone to hold it while the others get their food. Contrary to what I found on the Mediterranea, I was hardly ever bothered by a tobacco smoke smell. Even the casino could be walked though without gagging. I noticed no pushing and shoving and everyone seemed to get along just fine. The restaurant, bar, and hotel staff seem to be happy with their work and interaction with the passengers has been good. The weather has been fine so far, with mostly warm, sunny days. The ship docked and departed each port pretty much on schedule with early arrivals more the norm.

The only con was the corridor through the shopping area which was usually half blocked by tables selling the same tired merchandise found on all the ships with curious shoppers blocking the other half. To get through the area it was often necessary to walk though one of the duty free shops to get past the road block.

To write a complete review I’ll have to wait until I get home and have some free time.

[G.M.T.]

Chuck,

 

Sounds like your are having a great time.

 

Have a great 1B (second half of B2B).

 

Ron

[KatetheWanderer]

Always grateful for a submissive shower curtain.

 

Do post any of your menu favorites if you get a chance. I'm a little concerned about blimping out on all the great pasta. Are there good protein/veggie options? Nine weeks to go to the Atlantica for me.

 

Have loads of fun.

[Capricruiser]

Thanks Ron and Kate.

Here are a couple more pros: No problem with free water in the MDR. The waiters

freely bring big jugs of ice water to the tables. Also, it seems like coffee (American) tea and water are available all day outside the buffet restaurant.

A negative: Free espresso and cappuccino are no longer on the room service breakfast menu.

For Kate: Every evening there's fish on the MDR menu, often fresh but usually frozen. Vegetable items are offered for each course as well as the standard meat/fish/fowl items. The pasta/rice course is always small portions - no supersize in Italy.

[G.M.T.]

Kate,

If you find something you really like and the portion is on the small size, just ask your waiter for a second helping.

 

Ron

[tjandluke]

Shame about the expresso and cappuccino but it sounds like you are having a wonderful cruise.

 

Enjoy the rest of it

 

 

 

 

Tanya

[Loreto]

Thanks for the report on the Atlantica! We are still considering her for the Caribbean next year and looking for positive reviews. We did the Black Sea on Holland America and loved it.

 

Karen

[Southoffranceman]

Interested to know the internet charges speed etc please

[Capricruiser]

Interested to know the internet charges speed etc please

Wifi is €24 for three hours, renewable, plus a one time €3 registration fee. Works fine in your cabin or any public area. Not the fastest on the market but good for navigating and email.

[Salve]

Thanks for the report on the Atlantica! We are still considering her for the Caribbean next year and looking for positive reviews. We did the Black Sea on Holland America and loved it.

 

Karen

 

I just got off the Atlantica a couple days ago, 2 October. 13 Nights, Black Sea. Nice cruise.

We also did the Caribbean on the Atlantica this past March. I would highly recommend it.

[Loreto]

I just got off the Atlantica a couple days ago, 2 October. 13 Nights, Black Sea. Nice cruise.

We also did the Caribbean on the Atlantica this past March. I would highly recommend it.

Thanks for the thumbs up!

Karen

[Capricruiser]

The Atlantica is a beautiful ship with a splendid crew, including the captain and his staff of officers. The food in the MDR has been wonderful so far and even the buffet seems to be a step above the other Costa ships I have been on. The current cruise has been good so far and the weather is holding warm and sunny, seas smooth. There are almost 900 French on board, definitely the largest passenger compondent. Today we are at Rhodes - tomorrow Limassol. Ciao.

[George C]

Love the line "I can’t see how anyone could complain unless they’re totally ignorant of Italian cuisine" could not agree more loved the food on Costa. We also did a b2b about 5 years ago. It is a great ship, I was on the Celebrity Cruises - Solstice a couple of years ago and a table mate said he whished he was back in the Atlantica, food in main dinning room on Solstice was preety bad.

[Capricruiser]

My second cruise on the Atlantica has been great but it will end in a couple days. Unfortunately we had to go through a gale yesterday evening and most of the night while passing through the Ionian Sea - Force 9 winds with waves up to 5 meters high. We rocked and rolled through the night but not at the disco. The captain had come on the loud speakers giving everyone the facts of the situation and most all entertainment was cancelled. The end-of-cruise gala dinner last evening had few participants!

DW and I went on the exclusive ship's tour yesterday afternoon, the highlight of which was a 30 minute visit with the captain on the bridge, then the engineering command center, ships stores, laundry, crew quarters, and a visit with the chef in the kitchens. There were only a few participants because it wasn't free but well worth the cost.

I continue to consider the Atlantica a beautiful ship and the food probably the best I have had in all my cruises.

[Gil3]

Hello Capricruiser,

 

Glad you have a nice cruise despite the hard wind.

I'm looking for a review because I'll be on the Atlantica departing 22th october with the same ports of call.

 

Waiting for fresh news (forgive my english cause I'm french, I do my best:o).

[Capricruiser]

Gil3: I will post reviews for both cruises but I don't think I'll be able to complete them before you leave. I'll get home tomorrow evening and then the domestic duties will have to take precedence but I'll try to find the time to write them. In the meanwhile if yo9u have specific questions, please ask them.

[Gil3]

Thank you for your reply. I understand that after this B to B there's much work at home.

Did you try the club restaurant? And if so, is it worth the charge?

You said the ship tour was worth the price, can you tell how much it costs?

Good trip back home.

[jonad]

Capricruiser...thanks for all that information. I haven't looked at these boards for a while, but was pleased to see your 'mini' review on the Atlantica as we have just booked two b2b cruises, the other being on the Mediterranea. We depart on the Mediterranea on 30th October and Atlantica on 11th November....so please keep the information coming....

(we've been on the Allegra and Classica before)

[Capricruiser]

Thank you for your reply. I understand that after this B to B there's much work at home.

Did you try the club restaurant? And if so, is it worth the charge?

You said the ship tour was worth the price, can you tell how much it costs?

Good trip back home.

The cruise is over and we're back home. We went to the Club Atlantica for dinner one evening and paid only for the drinks because we're both Costa Club members. The ambiance is very nice and most elegant but we didn't think the food was any better than the MDR's, i.e. very good. The negative factor is that the menu never changes so if you wanted to dine there several times during the cruise you might find it boring.

The tour of the ship cost was €65 a person or €55 for Costa Club members.

[Capricruiser]

Capricruiser...thanks for all that information. I haven't looked at these boards for a while, but was pleased to see your 'mini' review on the Atlantica as we have just booked two b2b cruises, the other being on the Mediterranea. We depart on the Mediterranea on 30th October and Atlantica on 11th November....so please keep the information coming....

(we've been on the Allegra and Classica before)

As you may know, the Atlantica and the Mediterranea are sister ships, the first built in 2000 and the second in 2003. They are exactly alike outside and inside with only the names of decks, restaurants, bars, etc. changing. We definitely liked the Atlantica more than the Mediterranea. The Atlantica's food in both the MDR and the buffet was better and it didn't have the tobacco smoke problem we found last year in the Mediterranea.

[jonad]

Capricruiser, thanks for that. After booking we did realise the ships are identical and my husband said thats a good thing as i won't get lost. We actually have 'back to back cabins' as well. Just a bit concerned about the weather in Oct/Nov, probably a bit cool even around the Greek Islands.....but who cares!!

[jonathan518]

Capricruiser, I am looking forward to your review, thank you!