Mediterranea Review - Jan 29 to Feb 5

[LiveToCruise99]

We've cruised several times on budget cruiselines paying less than $1,500 per person with flight from Canada included. Last year we tried a 4 star resort on Dominican Republic for about the same price. Although I can't really say anything bad about the resort it was just OK. The cruise was was a different story. If the resort was a 4 this was at least a six if not a seven.

 

We loved the food. Now we don't really care about fancy desserts so that may have been problem for some people. A lady from New York said she was not happy with the food and when we asked her why it was only the desserts she wasn't happy with.

 

We went to the dining room every night and were never disappointed. The medium rare prime rib came medium rare. The lobster tails were delicious. For me (and my DH) the servings were almost too much. Especially if you ordered appetizer, soup, salad, pasta, entre and then dessert.

 

Our servers were amazing, very attentive and always willing to get us something else or make changes. We were always offered coffee and/or tea.

 

As alternitives the buffets (there were several different stations on deck) offered mexican, pizza, burgers, hotdogs and fries, lots of salads and a themed one such as greek, oriental, etc. We enjoyed them all.

 

Our room was room and clean. I'd read about the beds so I had my hubby lay down on one when we first got there so if necessary I could ask the steward for a topper. His comment - Seems fine to me. I did take my own pillow but then I take it everywhere. I didn't like the ones provided but DH was fine with them.

 

We did not tip extra to anyone except for the auto tipping, although I did give the waiter and the cabin steward souvenir gifts from Canada but that was at the very end of the week. This is the first cruise that we've been left ice morning and night every day without asking -- plus we had the bar fridge to put a couple of things into.

 

I expected the staff to push for extra tips at the end of the cruise. This did not happen. Even the cruise director made a point of saying tips have been taken care of, there is no need to tip further; Period.

 

I liked having the free safe in our cabin. It was easy to use and our cabin steward was there to offer his help at the beginning if it was needed.

 

The shows were good, not fantastic, but good. Some were better than others but I have to say, the energy was amazing. If you didn't like the show/music in one, go to another. There was ususally about 4 choices. I found there was lots to do.

 

Now for the smoking issue. This concerned me because I am allergic to smoke. The outside bar/buffet at the back of the ship and the casino are the worst places. Otherwise it wasn't an issue. The odd time you'd come across someone smoking a cigar outside and have to go elsewhere. The outdoor mid ship pools had a smoking side and a non smoking side. The indoor lounges and eating areas are smoke free.

 

The other great thing I noticed were the deck chairs. Costa rolls up clean towels and places them in the chairs. If someone leaves used towels on the chairs they will remove them and put clean ones on them. So the only way to save a deck chair is to leave your own things on it. There was always a deck chair available and as a result people didn't seem to race to save them. I loved this part.

 

I loved the hot tubs. They weren't really hot so you could stay in longer and just soak especially when it wasn't terribly warm out. The hot tubs were fresh water. The pools were salt water.

 

Embarkation went quickly even though there looked to be a long lineup. We were on the ship shortly after 1pm - Our flight got in about 12 pm.

 

Disembarkation seemed to take a bit longer because of US customs people, not Costa. Plus everyone is unhappy because the cruise is over and not very patient. The airport was worse but you can't blame the ship for that.

 

Overall this was our best cruise to date. I'd book with this line again in a flash. I'm envious to all of you who are yet to go.

 

Bon Voyage

[kits]

Hi There, fellow Canadians!! So glad your cruise went well. Don't be jealous, but we leave in one weeks time. This is our first cruise, and I can hardly breath, I am so excited. We are from Ontario...near Peterborough, or Toronto. Where are you from??? Did you do any Costa excursions, and were they good?? Any info greatly appreciated. :D :D :D :D :D

[kchesneylover]

So good to hear this news. I board in less than a month. Thanks for the good review!

 

 

edited because punctuation matters.

[Mjasp]

Very glad to hear you had a good time and the ship just wasn't as awful as some feel.

 

Do you see your room steward at the beginning of your cruise? In case we want to ask for a mattress topper? Next week at this time we will be sailing to Key West

 

TIA

[seattleadjuster]

Great review, and its how I felt also. I'm sensitive to smoke, but I don't recall anybody smoking, or any smoky areas. My wife and I were on the same cruise -- we were the young couple on the Newlywed, Not so Newlywed Game (just kiddin', I don't know if they showed their faces after the show!).

[kchesneylover]

Some things I would like to know about the Mediterranea:

 

1. Do they have a Midnight Buffet? Once? or Every Night?

2. Are the alternative restaurants open long hours?

3. Is the food mostly Euro or American?

4. Is their good Italian food onboard?

5. Did they say all the annoucements in 5 different languages?

6. Do they have a Sushi bar?

 

Thanks!

[seattleadjuster]

1. Do they have a Midnight Buffet? Once? or Every Night? I believe that they had it every night -- however, if you eat at the later seating, its about 1 hours after you finish dinner.

2. Are the alternative restaurants open long hours? Don't know, we had so much fun at the regular dining room that we never went.

3. Is the food mostly Euro or American? It seemed like it was a combination; however, portions were smaller, they didn't have steak every night. They had a pasta dish with every meal.

4. Is their good Italian food onboard? Everybody at our table loved the Italian food (I love Spaghettios, so there opinion is better than mine).

5. Did they say all the annoucements in 5 different languages? Unfortunately yes. The first day my wife and I stopped conversing during the announcements, then 10 minutes later when they were still continuing, we finally learned to talk over the announcements.

6. Do they have a Sushi bar? I never saw one, nor saw it advertised.

 

Question you didn't ask: they have lobster on the last formal night. My wife and I asked for surf and turf. The waiter asked if we'd like two lobster!!! I know that they all say there is no need to tip, other than what it automatically added to your onboard account, but needless to say, our waiter and assistant got a very large tip in addition to the automatic tip! Our waiter was Angel, and the assistant waiter was Rodeo.

[kchesneylover]

Thank you, Seattle Adjuster! I cannot believe they say every annoucement in all those languages when sailing the Caribbean! That kinda bites!

 

I hope they do have Sushi - I will have to keep my eye out. I am happy to know they have tea time every day. I sailed on the Valor and they only had it once.

 

I am looking forward to Lobster night! What about other seafood? Did they have a selection?

 

Thanks so much for your replies!

[Host Star]

Thank you, Seattle Adjuster! I cannot believe they say every annoucement in all those languages when sailing the Caribbean! That kinda bites!

 

I hope they do have Sushi - I will have to keep my eye out. I am happy to know they have tea time every day. I sailed on the Valor and they only had it once.

 

I am looking forward to Lobster night! What about other seafood? Did they have a selection?

 

Thanks so much for your replies!

 

I was on the Mediterannea in December and the only announcement in several languages was the muster drill . English was the primary language in the shows, etc.. I spoke with the captain and he told me all crew members on board are required to take English lessons. I kind of like hearing the different languages and wish I could speak at least a little Italian and Spanish..

[Kasebri]

The muster drill was the one that was in five different languages. All the other announcements were normally in Italian and English with an occasional other language thrown in. At some point, you just ignore the other languages. They have a few different channels on the tv that run in other languages.

[kchesneylover]

Thank you, Host Star!

 

I was on the Mediterannea in December and the only announcement in several languages was the muster drill . English was the primary language in the shows, etc.. I spoke with the captain and he told me all crew members on board are required to take English lessons. I kind of like hearing the different languages and wish I could speak at least a little Italian and Spanish..