Costa - "Cruising Italian Style"

[Cruisin Costa]

Before you board a Costa ship, please recognize that you are boarding an Italian ship. The majority of passengers (that I found on my vacation) are Italian, Spanish and German. I have read many complaints about there being comminucation problems with the languages, and that there weren't as many Americans/Canadians as some would have hoped. I think it's safe to say that you wouldn't go to Italy and expect different, so why do you expect it on an Italian ship? That's one of the reasons why Costa is a different ship, it's not the normal American way of vacationing - it truly is like being on a floating European community. So enjoy the barrier and try to embrace the different culture - even when the ship is sailing to the Caribbean, you are still getting some European culture.

[rlehberger]

I agree, exactly why we are trying Costa. Mediterranea 2/18.

We enjoy Carnival, RCCL and Holland America will let you know our feeling on Costa in 10 days or so.

[joetrizeo]

I agree - and I totally loved it!

 

This is what I try to tell people who complain that it 'wasn't like princess, or carnival or (insert other cruise line here))

(even though Carnival owns princess and costa)

[Morgsmom]

All of the elevators announce decks in Italian, first, then English... after a week you'll be saying "Ponte due, deck two" like a native ....;) The European atmosphere is infectious!

[joetrizeo]

All of the elevators announce decks in Italian, first, then English... after a week you'll be saying "Ponte due, deck two" like a native ....;) The European atmosphere is infectious!

 

HA! I was even announcing it when riding the elevators on Victory, 8mo after i went on magica :)

[Bathsheba]

Well said. Last year we sailed on Aida, athe German daughter of Costa, and we loved it. For this spring we have chosen Costa for that Italien experience. We will sail on the 4th for two weeks and are looking forward to it.

[cruisetrail]

Before you board a Costa ship, please recognize that you are boarding an Italian ship. The majority of passengers (that I found on my vacation) are Italian, Spanish and German. I have read many complaints about there being comminucation problems with the languages, and that there weren't as many Americans/Canadians as some would have hoped. I think it's safe to say that you wouldn't go to Italy and expect different, so why do you expect it on an Italian ship? That's one of the reasons why Costa is a different ship, it's not the normal American way of vacationing - it truly is like being on a floating European community. So enjoy the barrier and try to embrace the different culture - even when the ship is sailing to the Caribbean, you are still getting some European culture.

 

These "complaints" have been discussed to death.

I come from Europe. Have no barriers.

By no means it's a floating European community.

Even if it were, we cruise on cruise ships, not on "communities".

Major complaint about Costa - poor dining options.

Never a different culture was a complaint! Lower quality product - that is a problem. Ships are generally more crowded than many other. Performances on the main stage are bland with no live music.

I love European culture and European food.

The sooner Costa becomes European the better.

So far the most European products are Cunard, HAL and Princess. 10 times more European than Costa.

Why?

They follow best maritime traditions that come from Europe. Europe is a cradle of maritime civilization.

Edited January 26, 2014 by cruisetrail

[knitty nora]

Sorry that just not so!

Its an Italaian line, the food was great..at least it was 2 weeks ago.

And as for live music there were 4 or 5 places to enjoy it every night!

I'm British and live in Spain, its part of Europe but Europe is not one culture/country but many.

[Dancer Bob]

If you pick and choose,you can find something to support either opinion. There are really two Costas- an off-season cruise is much different from European vacation time. Be suspicious of a review that doesn't provide any detail.

Cunard likes to think of itself as British, although really it's more American. HAL? Think Florida buffet restaurant during early bird special.

Costa may have many, many faults, but dancing and nightlife (as distinct from heavy drinking) is the best I've ever found, on over 60 cruises.

[AmoMondo]

On a Costa ship right now and there is certainly plenty of live music around. No idea though why cruise trail felt the need to resurrect a 7 year old thread.

[Capricruiser]

It wasn't CT but another member JakeT who got banned for his efforts to revive ancient threads with idiotic comments.

[cruisersflife]

ARE there dining options in the evenings just room service , pizza ,or dining rooms ?? Any night buffets ???

[AmoMondo]

There was an evening buffet after 21.30 on my Arabaina gulf cruise last week. No idea what was on it as I didn't go. Earlier than that it was just the salad bar and pizza slices.