st1100y2k Posted July 8, 2018 #1 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Which do people like best? We have done 2 Costa cruises and will do our first MSC cruise in Sept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marco Posted July 8, 2018 #2 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Depends on where you're cruising. Both lines seem to be somewhat "different" when cruising in Europe compared to when cruising out of a US port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 8, 2018 #3 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Costa versus MSC is a religious question for Europeans. I don´t want to say anything about it, you will have your own experience very soon. Just one recommendation, don´t bring up this topic on the dinner table :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st1100y2k Posted July 8, 2018 Author #4 Share Posted July 8, 2018 We were not impressed with the Costa food....and kids seemed to run wild. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TnTom Posted July 8, 2018 #5 Share Posted July 8, 2018 I did one Costa cruise (Greek Isles) and two MSC voyages (both Caribbean), and I have an MSC trip planned this Fall. As a previous poster says, it has a lot to do with where you are cruising, but I really didn't care for the Costa experience (age and condition of the ship- Victoria, and the food). One thing that drove me crazy on the Costa cruise was how many smoking areas there were. They divided the lounges into smoking and non-smoking areas, but no effort was made to contain the smoke to the smoking areas. Quite often, there were no seats available in non-smoking so you either sat with the smokers (and there were lots of them on the Med cruise), or you went elsewhere. Being an ex-smoker, maybe that bothers me more than it would you. But, OP, you have been on 2 Costa voyages, so I am sure you are already aware of those points. To me, what sets MSC apart is how gorgeous the public areas of their ships are. Their food is wonderful, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citizenfrank Posted July 9, 2018 #6 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Well the only thing Costa have in common is that all their ships also have at least one propeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted July 9, 2018 #7 Share Posted July 9, 2018 I don't mean to be rude, but I haven't read too many good reviews about Costa. I wonder how they fill their ships. Is it because they have the cheapest cruise fares? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingFox27 Posted July 11, 2018 #8 Share Posted July 11, 2018 We have sailed with Costa once and we did enjoy it. Food and service were very good. Our only issue was how busy the ship was as it was a Mediterranean cruise and in the summer. Now that said we sailed in the Caribbean on Divina, also in the summer, unfortunately our birthdays and anniversaries are in the summer. And experienced exactly the same problem, actually it was worse. A lesson learnt, never sail from Miami in the summer. Unfortunately the special deals etc did appear to reflect the passenger demographic. All of our other MSC cruises have been off peak and a far more pleasant experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 11, 2018 #9 Share Posted July 11, 2018 I don't mean to be rude, but I haven't read too many good reviews about Costa. I wonder how they fill their ships. Is it because they have the cheapest cruise fares? Costa is slightly more expensive than MSC and has a lot of loyal supporters in Europe. But while MSC is MSC, Costa now is just one small stone in the Carnival Empire. So this old rivalery is not the same like before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOLDENBONNY Posted July 11, 2018 #10 Share Posted July 11, 2018 I don't mean to be rude, but I haven't read too many good reviews about Costa. I wonder how they fill their ships. Is it because they have the cheapest cruise fares? COSTA is not that cheap any more. I don't know how it is after they become Carnival, but before it was very nice cruise line with lots of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 11, 2018 #11 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Yes, since the included the Service Charge in the cruise price the prices look more expensive then the MSC prices. And now so many years already with no new ship and a quite strong focus on the Asian market, I am not sure if Carnival is making the best of this brand, but I am certainly not in a position to argue on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted July 11, 2018 #12 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Yes, since the included the Service Charge in the cruise price the prices look more expensive then the MSC prices. And now so many years already with no new ship and a quite strong focus on the Asian market, I am not sure if Carnival is making the best of this brand, but I am certainly not in a position to argue on that. But don't we have to pay the 10 euro or $12.50/13.50 daily service charges at the end of the cruise? On which Costa site are the DSC included-- UK, Europe, US or Asia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 11, 2018 #13 Share Posted July 11, 2018 But don't we have to pay the 10 euro or $12.50/13.50 daily service charges at the end of the cruise? On which Costa site are the DSC included-- UK, Europe, US or Asia? No, everyone can choose if he wants to pay the "suggest" Service Charge, can adjust in both directions or cancel completely. I thought Costa includes it in all markets, not just in the European Union. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidari Posted July 11, 2018 #14 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Costa have three new ships, they will also be the first to have a ship powered by LNG Liquified Natural Gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkbiiii Posted July 12, 2018 #15 Share Posted July 12, 2018 The people who really got hosed, were Costa's top tier cruisers, who loose their status in three years, if they don't cruise three cruises a year. Keeping Diamond Pearl, is no simple task! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted July 12, 2018 #16 Share Posted July 12, 2018 No, everyone can choose if he wants to pay the "suggest" Service Charge, can adjust in both directions or cancel completely. I thought Costa includes it in all markets, not just in the European Union.Costa and Pullmantur are the only 2 cruise lines which say that the daily service charges are MANDATORY and cannot be adjusted or removed.It's on the Costa website and also on the cruisecritic official editorial / article on gratuities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 12, 2018 #17 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Costa and Pullmantur are the only 2 cruise lines which say that the daily service charges are MANDATORY and cannot be adjusted or removed.It's on the Costa website and also on the cruisecritic official editorial / article on gratuities. MSC sued Costa for this after MSC was sued about it by cosumer rights organisations in Germany (and lost). After Costa lost also they had a few month where the Service Charge could be adjusted or removed and then from the next catalogue on they had it all included in the price. Also Pullman is following European Law meanwhile, just like Costa no Service Charge at all. As far as I know, no cruise company is breaking the law anymore. Of cause with Non-EU-passengers they can do what they want. If you want to read the relevant law for this you can find it here :) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32005L0029&rid=2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikkas Posted July 12, 2018 #18 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Costa is to MSC what butter is to liver pate.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingFox27 Posted July 12, 2018 #19 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Costa is to MSC what butter is to liver pate.... Don't start buttergate again ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsel Posted July 12, 2018 #20 Share Posted July 12, 2018 MSC sued Costa for this after MSC was sued about it by cosumer rights organisations in Germany (and lost). After Costa lost also they had a few month where the Service Charge could be adjusted or removed and then from the next catalogue on they had it all included in the price. Also Pullman is following European Law meanwhile, just like Costa no Service Charge at all. As far as I know, no cruise company is breaking the law anymore. Of cause with Non-EU-passengers they can do what they want. If you want to read the relevant law for this you can find it here :) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32005L0029&rid=2 So, for EU passports, is there no DSC at all in Costa and Pullmantur?Or do they add DSC to everyones account and only EU passports have the option to adjust or remove them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perakcruiser Posted July 12, 2018 #21 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Both is possible, the EU has 27 member states plus UK. In Germany for example there is no DSC at all in Costa, NCL and Pullman. While others like MSC and Celebrity have a Service Charge "suggestion" which they note down on your bill at a daily basis "for your convinience". Which is legally OK, as soon as they ask you WHY you want to adjust or remove this practice becomes illegal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikkas Posted July 12, 2018 #22 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Don't start buttergate again ;) Oh, I'm not aware of "buttergate"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted July 12, 2018 #23 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Oh, I'm not aware of "buttergate"! I believe it started on the Princess board, where they appeared to be rationing the pats of butter in the MDR. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted July 12, 2018 #24 Share Posted July 12, 2018 COSTA is not that cheap any more. I don't know how it is after they become Carnival, but before it was very nice cruise line with lots of fun. Carnival absorbed Costa in 2000. Did you sail Costa before then? EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOLDENBONNY Posted July 12, 2018 #25 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Carnival absorbed Costa in 2000. Did you sail Costa before then? EM We cruised in 2004-2005 , was not that much CCL influence then, and before Concordia . After Concordia, Costa went down the drain ,many workers left and many things changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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