Compare costa to Holland America

[Hflors]

I am thinking of booking Costa's 2024 world cruise.  I have sailed on Holland America for many years, but their solo rates have me looking elsewhere.  Anyone who has cruised both lines please give me a comparison.     Thanks in advance.

[BVILady]

We have cruised both. The only difference I do see is that you will have many different Nationalities on the ship, not only all English speaking guests. It has never been a problem for us and we have made friends from all around the World. It might only make it difficult to get tours with other cruisers on this  forum booked, not many are on cruise critic. Check the role call but it is still a long time off.

I am also booked on the 2024 World  Cruise as well as the 2023. Costa does have 15 excursions included in their World Cruise and as far as I can see they are good value, like Petra in Jordan was an included tour in 2022, which had been cancelled due to covid and is now in 2023. All excursions offered are good value for the money, have seen an excursion I booked for less then $ 100 with Costa discussed on an all inclusive upscale cruise line at $ 299.00 extra cost.

The only thing I would have liked is the self service Laundromat at Princess but Costa has laundry-specials at the World Cruise for E 19.99 for 25 pieces, so I will just need to do some hand-washing for small items.

I feel food quality is the same as Princess and HAL. Being a solo cruiser on both World Cruises I do definitely enjoy the cost. Actually I had looked into HAL's Grand Voyage to Africa when I found the 2023 Costa World Cruise featuring Africa and for about $ 5000 more Costa will also take me around South America and around the world.  At the end of the day the bottom line is important to me and having priced solo-fares on some up-scale lines I will be able to make 2 World cruises for the price of one, without penny-pinching. 

You will need to fly to Europe to get on board. That has never been a problem to me even now at 73 😄, but that is just me.

Hope to meet you onboard

 

[Dancer Bob]

I have been on both several times, although not on a World Cruise. (My travel agent booked groups on HAL because they let him hold space for months with no deposits.) Pre-covid, they were as different as two cruise lines could be and still be on the same planet. Costa's entertainment has been far superior to any American ship I have been on, while I describe HAL as floating mausoluems. I'm only 72, I hope I've got 30 years before I'm old enough fit in on HAL. On Costa I don't feel at all out of place.

Many other posts even on the HAL board admit HAL is "not a party ship". Huge understatement. I once did a Transatlantic on HAL. Even though I was with a group with group activities, I was so bored I was considering jumping ship by the time we reached Funchal. I recall the pasta bar was kept open for staff meals but I was the only passenger I ever saw after 11 PM.

Another ship, I recall winning $20 in the casino just before it closed, at either 10 PM or 11 PM.

If you're looking for 5,000 Calorie feeding troughs, HAL is better. I aim for 2000 Calories/day, I've always found plenty on Costa. I have less experience with Princess, seems more towards HAL.

I eventually told the group organiser I wasn't going on HAL anymore. She did one more trip, there was a fight with the hotel manager, I think over playing music after 9 PM, and she stopped as well.

 

I just did a trip on Costa Firenze. I was very disappointed but it was still livelier than HAL.

[BVILady]

I have been on Costa several times and am not a Party Animal as Dancer Bob seems to be and have never been disturbed by people partying, so it looks like Costa is catering for everyone - 😂🤣😂I am a 73 year old boring early riser, ready to conquer the world bright eyed and bushy-tailed. Usually I am also booked not close to any bar or theater anyhow.

[Schlinger]

I did the Nieuw Statendam last month and am on the Costa Firenze right now, so I can give you a pretty current opinion, but what are you looking for? A whole review? The Nieuw Statendam review I wrote just came up on Cruisecritic.co.uk a week after I submitted it. I didn't even bother posting it on ***** / Shipmate as they seem to delete anything too critical. And I do point out all the shortcomings without hesitation.

 

Going on a world cruise is certainly something to look forward to, but booking one with Costa before having tried them (assuming that's the case) is perhaps a little too optimistic even for experienced cruisers such as yourself?  Why not give them a try before committing to such an extend? 

 

Please allow me to point out that Costa is not for early risers, although that may depend on what qualifies as "early". I go to bed around midnight and get up around 8 am. I heard there's lots of partying going on into the wee hours, but I haven't heard anything. The guy at the hamburger joint on the Lido deck told me that, adding that he's open until 5 am for burgers and focaccias. Breakfast opens at 7 am. Between 5 and 7, EVERYTHING IS CLOSED.  Unlike on an American ship, you can get food and drinks at all other times. But if you wake up at 5am every day, it might not be your cup of tea.

 

[Janet&Carl]

I have always managed and "early bird" cuppa on Costa I usually wake at around 5am and look for a bar where I can get a hot drink.  Never had a problem and I have cruised 3 times on costa.

 

[deadzone1003]

Costa is really just an European Carnival for their 7-14 day cruises.  Once you go beyond a two week cruise the clientele is older because they have more time to travel and tend to be more sedate even on Carnival or Costa.  So, my recommendation is to try a Costa cruise that is longer than 14 days or a transatlantic before making that final payment on Costa.   

[Major Tom01]

We have been on Hal and Costa two times each from 5 to 14 days. In my opinion HAL is far superior to Costa. Food was really a mixed bag on Costa. Good in the Med, really bad on our 14 days cruise in the Carib. Friends are on a cruise to Norway right now, they say it is good again. There is a lot going on on Costa but f.e. We don’t like to much going on in the dining room every night. We just prefer a nice dinner with some conversation. And we really enjoy the BB Kings Club on HAL. Costa is good when you like dancing and a much more louder crowd. What we missed in the Carib was an outdoor seating in the evening. Almost every outdoor bars were closed by 8 pm, chairs were removed. Especially in warm climate a pity for us.