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Costa Cruises

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Costa Cruises (Costa Crociere SpA, CostaCruise.com) is a British-American-owned Italian company based in Genoa Italy . Costa is one of the main operating companies in Carnival Group ( Carnival Corporation subsidiary) and a member of the exclusive WLCLA (World's Leading Cruise Lines Alliance). WLCLA also includes Carnival, Cunard, Holland America, Seabourn, Princess, Windstar.

Company history and changes

The sister brands Costa and CCL-Carnival Cruise Line are currently ranked the world's cheapest. Costa is also ranked "best" for Mediterranean itineraries and among the best travel brands for families, ruling in Southern Europe with its "Italian Style Cruising".

The company's main competitor on the European market is MSC Cruises .

Costa's USA headquarters is in Hollywood Florida.

Costa Crociere SpA's current leadership team includes Mario Zanetti (President), Michael Thamm (CEO/Chief Executive Officer), Roberto Alberti (CCO/Chief Commercial Officer), Roberto Alberti (Senior VP and CCO/Chief Corporate Officer), Francesco Muglia (Senior VP of Global Marketing & Sales), Giovanna Loi (VP of Global Marketing & Customer Experience Innovation).

Until 2023, Costa Group's and Carnival Asia's CEO was Michael Thamm. As his position was not filled, AIDA's and Costa's presidents now report directly to Josh Weinstein (Carnival Corporation's CEO).

In 2023, Costa Cruises marked its 75 years of passenger shipping since its first passenger ship - SS Anna C (1955-built), departed from Genova/Milano to Buenos Aires (Argentina) on March 31, 1948, carrying a total of 768 guests.

The 1854-founded company was originally named "Giacomo Costa fu Andrea" and established by Giacomo Costa for trading in olive oil/textiles. Costa's first Transatlantic liner (SS Anna C) was the first to cross the South Atlantic following WW2 (1935-45) and also the first to have air-conditioned passenger staterooms.

As of 2023, Costa has a fleet of 22 vessels.

IMPORTANT " On June 22, 2022, CCL-Carnival and Costa announced the "COSTA by CARNIVAL" cruise program targeting CCL's North American source market. The program is based on two newbuild Costa ships transferred to CCL - Venezia (starting in April 2023 with homeporting in NYC New York USA ) and Firenze (starting in 2024 with homeporting in Long Beach/Los Angeles California USA ). Both Costa liners are CCL-managed (while operating out of the USA) and were scheduled for drydock refurbishments prior to the Carnival service.

IMPORTANT : On June 23, 2021, CCL-Carnival announced plans to add 2 boats to its fleet - an EXCEL-class newbuild (2023-built Carnival Jubilee ) and Costa Magica (2004-built). The Costa boat was to be drydock refitted and fully refurbished, Carnival-named, and to join CCL in 2022-H1. However, on June 15, 2022, was announced that instead of Costa Magica, to CCL will be transferred Costa Luminosa (2009-built) starting operations in November 2022 as "Carnival Luminosa".

On October 4, 2021, was officially introduced (on Smeralda ) the company's new logo design.

Costa is well-known for its energetic mix of traditional (exotic) experiences based on Mediterranean cuisine, festive onboard atmosphere, dynamic entertainment, affordable travel comfort, popular itineraries (visiting large port cities), and convenient homeports/departure ports. Costa ships operate budget-priced voyages and their clientele is predominantly European (mostly younger couples and singles) while many Americans and Canadians enjoy Costa's Asian-South American-Arabian destinations.

In late-September 2017, Costa announced its partnership with Juventus (football club). The deal allows Costa to offer exclusively a Juventus onboard experience on all Costa Asia ships. This includes Juventus football content available 24/7 on all cabin TVs, talks and presentations (club history and memorabilia) at the ship's Juventus Museum and purchasing branded souvenirs at the themed "Juventus Shop". All Costa Asia ships also feature a Juventus-branded mini club and character meetings by Juve's official Jay Mascot (zebra). Onboard sports activities include a Juventus football training program (for all kids ages 5 to 14) modeled after the club's Juventus Academy (soccer school). The program is managed by Juve-trained coaches. The ever first "Juventus Museum" at sea was opened on Costa Serena on January 31, 2018.

In late-November 2019, Costa announced its partnership with FlixBus (2011-founded German travel brand owned by FlixMobility GmbH), with sister brands FlixTrain and FlixCar. The Munich -based FlixBus specializes in intercity premium bus services in Europe and the USA. The Costa-FlixBus deal allows now Costa customers to pre-book (add upon cruise booking) FlixBus return transfers from any of the European port cities that FlixBus serves. Currently, FlixBus has Europe's largest intercity bus network with 400,000+ daily connections to 1000+ destinations in 30 countries.

In mid-September 2021 Costa signed a partnership deal with Caffe Vergnano the "Made in Italy" espresso beverages and coffee-based delicacies fleetwide. The iconic Italian coffee company was founded in 1882 as a family business (by Domenico Vergnano) and is still run by the Vergnano family. Vergnano's sales in 2020 were EUR 80,6 million (~USD 94,5M / ~GBP 68,8M). Costa's first ships with "Caffe Vergnano 1882" (brand coffee shops) were the newbuilds Smeralda (2019) and Toscana (2021).

In mid-October 2021, Costa and ITA Airways (Italia Trasporto Aereo SpA/state-owned airline, Italy's flag carrier, fka Alitalia) signed an LoI (letter of intent) for joint commercial initiatives promoting new products and services. Via the partnership, Costa made ITA its "preferred air carrier" for fly-cruises (flight+cruise packages) to medium- and long-range travel destinations served by Costa ships. The deal was signed by Mario Alovisi (Costa's VP Revenue Management) and Emiliana Limosani (ITA's CCO).

In mid-January 2022, Costa signed an exclusive partnership with Ryder Cup for "Ryder Cup 2023" (to be held at Golf Marco Simone - premium golf course in Guidonia Montecelio/ Rome ). Ryder Cup is a 1927-established men's golf championship (biennial) between European and American teams. Through this partnership, on Costa Smeralda was introduced the new "Cruise & Golf" package (available since May 2022). Two packages (inclusive of either 3 or 4 club fees) allow golf aficionados and their families a unique "golfing vacation" to visit and play at premium golf clubs in Italy (from Savona, Palermo Sicily, Civitavecchia-Rome), France (from Marseille) and Spain (from Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca) during the 7-day itinerary's port calls.

In July 2023 was announced the "Costa Journeys" itinerary program (2023-2024) that groups longer exotic voyages in Europe/Mediterranean.

In September 28-October 1, 2023, Costa was Ryder Cup's Official Cruise Line. The exclusive partnership also involved the ships Smeralda and Toscana, offering golf-themed onboard events/competitions and a special "Cruise and Golf" package for visiting some of the Mediterranean's best golf courses - Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta/Rome, Golf Garlenda/Savona, Sant’Anna/Genoa, Marco Simone/Guidonia, Golf Bastide de la Salette/Marseille, Real Club de Golf El Prat/Barcelona, Golf Son Gual Mallorca/Palma. Costa's packages also offer golfing in the UAE (Dubai's Emirates Golf Club and Els Club, Abu Dhabi's Golf Club and Yas Links), Oman (Muscat's Al Mouj Golf and Ghala Golf), and Qatar (Doha Golf Club).

In March 2024 were introduced "Sea Destinations” (onboard programming) themed on the current itinerary's ports/island destinations.

In July 2015, Carnival Corporation signed a shipbuilding agreement with Meyer Werft for the construction of all 4 new class vessels. Contracts were finalized in April 2016. Of these 4 new cruise ships , 2 liners are for Costa and the other 2 for AIDA Cruises (Carnival's German brand).

The new Costa ships were scheduled for delivery in 2019 ( Costa Smeralda , December) and 2021 ( Costa Toscana ). Costa ships were built in Turku Finland , AIDA ships - in Papenburg Germany . Each vessel has a gross tonnage of 183,000 GT tons, over 2,600 cabins, double-occupancy passenger capacity 6600 and crew capacity ~700. Ship's design features more efficient use of both indoor and open-deck spaces, with several multi-functional areas.

These new (Excellence/Helios-Class) ships are the industry's first fully LNG-powered vessels , generating 100% of their onboard and propulsion power from LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) - both in ports and at sea. With the new liners, Costa Group had a fleet of 7 ships on order (total capacity 41,000 berths) to total Costa fleet capacity 110,000 berths.

The 4-vessel contract was part of a previously announced larger shipbuilding order with Fincantieri (Italy) and Meyer Werft for all 9 new vessels with scheduled deliveries between 2019 and 2022. Managed by Costa Group, the combined Costa-AIDA fleet became Europe's largest. In 2014, one out of every two cruise ship tourists in Europe sailed on either AIDA or Costa ship. In 2015, Costa Group had 20 offices in 14 countries, around 27,000 shipboard employees and total passenger capacity of over 68,000 berths (across the combined fleet). Costa Group also is the leader of China's rapidly growing cruise market in Asia.

In January 2016, Carnival Corporation signed an MoA (memo of agreement) with Fincantieri to build 4 new vessels. Contracts were finalized in April 2016. Of these, two boats were for Costa Asia (Venezia and Firenze), one for Princess (Enchanted Princess) and one for P&O UK (Arvia). With this shipbuilding order, Carnival Corporation had a total of 17 new ships scheduled for deliveries between 2016-2020. The four vessels were built at Fincantieri's shipyards in Monfalcone and Marghera and delivered in 2019-2020.

Three of the vessels are designed with GT tonnage 133,500 tons, LOA length 323 m (1060 ft) and capacity 4000 passengers plus 1450 crew (2 are for Costa Asia, 1 for P&O AU). One larger unit (GT 143,700 tons, capacity 3560 passengers) is for Princess (Enchanted Princess). Both Costa ships are exclusively for the booming Chinese market. Each vessel is powered by two MAN diesel engines (model 14V48 / 60CR) plus three MAN diesel engines (medium-speed, model 8L48 / 60CR), providing total power output 62,400 kW. The engines are Tier-II compliant.

Costa cruise ship experience

• Dining: authentic Italian cuisine, prepared by European chefs, midnight buffets, gala dinners, healthy menu options. Spa suites, permanent room service.
• Costa ships specials: the 2-level Samsara Spa (6,000 sq.m., with many exotic treatments), a 3-level Theater, a 4D Cinema (hybrid), up to 4 onboard pools (2 with retractable roofs), a Grand Prix simulator, an 18-hole golf simulator. Every ship has a small chapel, suitable for intimate weddings.
• Traditional on-board celebration parties: "Benvenuto A Bordo", "Buon Viaggio" and "Notte Tropical". Costa's festive theme nights: the tarantella dancing and pizza dough tossing during the Festa Italiana, playing games of boccie, ice carving, "Roman Bacchanal Parade" and "Roman Toga Party".
• "Costa Kids' Club" - supervised interactive programs, ages 3 to 17. PlayStation World center onboard for video game tournaments.
• Entertainment: European-style casino, bingo, Internet cafe, musical revues, live performances by comedians, acrobats, and mime artists; classical concerts in lounges. Italian language and cooking classes on board. "Via Condotti" boutiques with premier Italian goods.
• For cruises starting April 2018, the cruise line restructured its fares into 4 categories, ranging from a Basic, no-frills version, to Deluxe level which includes just about everything. Costa announced its new pricing plan in North America after rolling it out in core European markets. The plan does not apply to a number of Asia-based vessels or world cruises. Unlike airlines, Costa is not charging for amenities that used to be free, with just one exception: The cheapest level doesn't include the ability to choose a cabin.
• Basic level, which is the least expensive option, includes dining in venues that have always been included in the price of the voyage, onboard entertainment, and use of pools and fitness areas. Guests who choose the Basic option don't get to choose cabin assignment. Total Comfort Classic includes all basics plus a cabin choice and unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. A step up from it is Total Comfort Premium, offering a choice of cabins in a prime location, the ability to select 1st or 2nd dinner seating, as well as unlimited drinks anytime. Deluxe is the top option, including a suite, unlimited drinks, spa access, invitations to special events, free minibar, in-suite daily fruit, and other amenities.

Costa has Europe's youngest cruise fleet and all its ships are Italy- flagged (registered in Genoa ). Costa's current fleet consists of liners in the following classes (low to high): SPIRIT, FORTUNA, Concordia , EXCELLENCE, VISTA.

MSC and Costa are the leaders on the Mediterranean market (Costa being the "most fun" brand) and among Europe's best family cruise lines providing best family-fun "Italian-Style Cruising" experiences by cheap deals, traditional cuisine, unique shipboard facilities, activities, amenities and services on big- and mid-sized ships.

• operator (Costa Cruises Group)
• shipowner (Carnival Corporation)
• hallmark ("Cruising Italian Style")
• flag-state/registry (Italy/Genoa)
• builders - Fincantieri (Italy) and Meyer Werf ( Turku, Finland )

Costa ship classes

• Excellence/Helios-Class: SMERALDA, TOSCANA
• Vista Class: VENEZIA, FIRENZE
• Hybrid Spirit-Vista Class: LUMINOSA, DELIZIOSA
• Concordia Class (Modified): FAVOLOSA, FASCINOSA
• Concordia Class: Costa CONCORDIA ( sank in 2012 ), SERENA, PACIFICA
• Fortuna Class: FORTUNA, MAGICA

Costa Cruises private island Sir Bani Yas

In June 2016, MSC Cruises announced it had created an exclusive "beach oasis" for vacationers on Abu Dhabi and Dubai cruises from 2016-2017 winter. The 1.5-mile stretch of land on the natural Sir Bani Yas Island , off the southwest coast of Abu Dhabi, features shaded cabanas, hundreds of palm trees and over 2,000 sunbeds across 387,500 sq.feet of beaches.

Starting from December 2016, MSC Fantasia added the destination available exclusively to MSC passengers when the cruise ship calls at the island, to Emirates itineraries. The development is on a smaller isle connected to the main island by wooden boardwalk. Other facilities include food, refreshments, MSC Aurea Spa area with a menu of massages, sports facilities (beach volleyball, tennis), family and kids-dedicated area with parents' pergola, Bedouin tent offering arts and crafts created by local communities, lounge space with live music and a bar. The MSC Cruises company has been working closely with ecologists and Abu Dhabi Port Authorities for more than 2 years to develop the project and support the ongoing preservation work.

The isle is one of the largest wildlife reserves in the region due to decades of conservation work and ecological investment to maintain its biodiversity. The Arabian Wildlife Park on the Sir Bani Yas main island is home to over 13,000 endangered and indigenous animals, as well as millions of plants and trees. The first sailing of the winter season departs on December 3, 2016, and calls at the island on December 5. Prices started at US$719 per person for a 7-night itinerary.

In July 2016, Costa Cruises announced thar Sir Bani Yas Island will be added as a 1-day stopover (port of call) on UAE Cruises (season 2016-2017) on Costa neoRiviera ). Costa passengers had access to a private (Costa exclusive) beach with VIP areas with cabanas. Shore excursion options included jeep safaris (in the wildlife park), sea kayaking, diving, snorkeling.

Costa cruise ship robots

An innovative AIDA and Costa Cruises program implemented the latest cyborg technology fleetwide. Humanoid robots (named Peper) greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on shipboard dining, entertainment, pre-scheduled events, shore excursions, and tours.

Peper robots are able to communicate in 3 different languages (English, German, Italian), to move fluidly and even to interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and face expressions.

The new technology was first tested on AIDAstella where Pepper learned to engage with passengers and crew. The first set of robots were introduced on Costa Diadema and AIDAprima in April 2016. By the end of summer 2016, Pepper robots were added on all AIDA and Costa ships.

(new) Shipboard-made mozzarella

Since 2017, Costa ships offer onboard-made, certified (top-quality) mozzarella produced from buffalo milk. The new product is branded "Latteria del Curatino" and created via a partnership with two Campania-based dairy companies - "Comat" (dairy equipment manufacturer) and "Podere dei Leoni" (creamery, leading Italian producer of certified buffalo mozzarella).

With this new food product, Costa became the world's first cruise company serving its passengers a fresh-made mozzarella. The new service was introduced first on Costa Diadema . The shipboard-made mozzarella is produced by a Comat-manufactured steam machine (powered by electricity) that uses the curd of cow and buffalo milk sourced from Salerno 's Piana del Sele area. The stretched curd is then rolled into a ball to form a mozzarella or hand-shaped and molded by the cheesemaker to become buffalo mozzarella cheese.

Costa ships' fresh-made mozzarella, as well as other onboard-made traditional Italian cheese specialties, can be ordered from the special "Goccialatte" menu available in the Costa Cruises' signature pizzerias "Pummid'oro". The menu has a mozzarella roll (with salad, vegetables and smoked salmon), tomato and buffalo mozzarella (made in 3 different ways), tuna (with Doganella oil, red onions and burrata), beef carpaccio (with a chicory salad and smoked scamorza), warm focaccia, mortadella and stracciatella cheese (served with pickled vegetables), Neapolitan peasant bread, porcini mushrooms, fior di latte (onboard-made cheese) and guanciale (cured pork meat).

The fresh-made Fior di latte cheese and buffalo mozzarella are also used in some Pummidoro pizzas, prepared with sourdough and select ingredients. By the end of 2017, these unique cheeses were also included in the menus served in other onboard restaurants.

Costa's 4GOODFOOD program

In February 2018, the company announced its 4GOODFOOD program for decreasing by 50% food waste fleetwide by the year 2020. As of 2018, on Costa ships are served annually around 54 million meals.

Following the company's review of the shipboard food service and food processing, it decided to remodel both with a new sustainability approach, engaging all passengers and crew in responsible consumption. It was estimated that this program engages nearly 2 million passengers per year, plus around 19,000 crew.

For the project, Costa established partnerships with Banco Alimentare, Cittadinanzattiva Onlus, UNISG (University of Gastronomic Sciences), Slow Food Foundation and Winnow Solutions. The company Winnow Solutions specializes in food processing optimization in professional kitchens, As part of the program, Winnow trained around 2400 galley crew/kitchen workers fleetwide.

The project was first tested in 2016 on Costa Diadema . The results were around 50% reduction in food waste. The onboard self-service buffet restaurants reported lowered food consumption by 20%. In 2017, Costa Cruises started to donate all the surplus food in Port Civitavecchia (Rome) - over 32,000 meals per year. The same policy was implemented since 2018 in the Mediterranean ports Palermo, Bari, Venice, Cagliari (Sardinia Island), Marseille, Barcelona, Piraeus (Athens), Valletta (Malta).

(new) Costa cruise booking system

Starting April 2018, Costa Cruises has a new, restructured cruise booking system with fares based on 4 main categories. They range from Basic to Deluxe (all-inclusive). The new pricing plan doesn't apply to the Asia-based ships and also on world cruises . All previously free-of-charge (complimentary) amenities remain, with the exception that the cheapest (Basic) level doesn't include the option to choose a cabin.

• "Basic" level is the cheapest booking deal and includes dining in all complimentary venues, onboard entertainment, use of swimming pools and fitness facilities. However, cabin assignment is not available.
• "Total Comfort Classic" level includes all Basic level perks plus cabin choice and unlimited drinks (beer, wine, soft beverages / with lunches and dinners).
• "Total Comfort Premium" level includes premium cabin locations, option to select 1st or 2nd dinner seating, unlimited drinks anytime.
• "Deluxe" level is the all-inclusive option that includes Suite, unlimited drinks, unlimited spa access, invitations to onboard special events, free mini-bar, in-suite daily fruits.

New Costa cruise ship livery (2019)

Celebrating its 70th anniversary, in 2018 Costa Cruises changed the company's ship livery/hull logo fleetwide. The first liner with the new logo was Costa Mediterranea .

The new livery is a stylized Italian flag (under the vessel's name / new font, larger lettering) painted on the bow. The project (scheduled completion by 2018's end) covered all active ships in the fleet plus the new vessels under construction - Smeralda and Venezia .

For its 70th Anniversary, Costa organized a special voyage exclusively for CostaClub (loyalty program) members. The 12-day Mediterranean itinerary was on Costa Pacifica and visited 18 different countries. The special voyage was booked by nearly 3000 people. It featured a live concert by Gloria Gaynor (US singer) and a 3-meter high pyramid of gourmet eclair cakes (created by Chef Christophe Adam). The "birthday cruise" was attended by the company's President Neil Palomba. Michelin Chef Bruno Barbieri directed a cooking show and presented his new (Costa fleet exclusive) menu.

On July 7, 2018, during the company's 70th-anniversary celebrations in Genoa (Costa Zena Festival) was constructed a waterslide with length 340 m (1115 ft) designed to break Guinness World Record for "longest slid in 1 hour". The slide was installed on Via XX Settembre street and helped to establish the world's new record of 775 km (481,6 ml) sliding in 1 hour. Another world record broken was for longest bunting string - 2070 maritime signal flags were connected into 2 km long line along the festival's areas. At Old Port and Piazza Caricamento were performed live 60 performers (street musicians, dancers, artists, acrobats), 29 singers, DJs, comedians. Piazza de Ferrari had for kids' games, workshops and parties with mascots. The evening concert (at 8.30 pm) was on Radio 105 stage (opposite Piazza delle Feste) and included performances by popular Italian singers and bands.

Costa Asia is Carnival Corporation 's subsidiary company that manages all the corporation's Asian cruise shipping operations. The Costa Asia company has offices in China (including Hong Kong), Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and India. Costa Asia is also the operator of all Asia-based Costa cruise ships.

Since May 2017, Costa Asia-managed cruise vessels (of all Carnival Corporation brands) allow using Alipay payment services onboard. The partnership between Carnival Corporation and Ant Financial Services Group (a subsidiary of Alibaba, China's biggest online trading company) enables Chinese cruise passengers on all Carnival Corp ships in Asia to pay for onboard services and products using their Alipay (mobile payment platform) accounts. Among these onboard services and products are shopping, tours/excursions, food, and drinks. These expenditures are added to the passenger's cabin folio, then cleared via his/her Alipay account on a nightly basis.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Costa partially suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations by canceling all Italy-visiting voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 9 through October 1, 2020. Operations were planned to resume on August 21 (ship Pacifica), with 5x ships only. In early-December was canceled the remaining 2020 program.

Next are listed Costa's first scheduled departure dates by ship/destination - SMERALDA (May 1, 2021/Mediterranean), LUMINOSA (May 16, 2021/Mediterranean-Trieste), DELIZIOSA (June 26, 2021/Mediterranean-Venice-Bari), PACIFICA (June 4, 2022/Mediterranean-Bari), FAVOLOSA (October 7, 2022/Mediterranean from Tarragona Spain), DIADEMA (Sept 26, 2021/Mediterranean-Savona), FASCINOSA (Sept 23, 2021/Mediterranean-Savona), FORTUNA (June 11, 2022/Baltic-Icealnd from Bremerhaven), FIRENZE (July 4, 2021/ Maiden Voyage/ Mediterranean from Civitavecchia-Rome), VENEZIA (Aug 2, 2021/ Asia-Tianjin China ), SERENA (Sept 5, 2021/ Asia- Otaru Japan ), TOSCANA (March 5, 2022/ Maiden Voyage /Mediterranean from Savona).

With rebooking, all affected bookings received full refunds (100%) in FCC (future cruise credit), including on prepurchased through Costa Cruises packages and services.

• On August 13, Costa announced that its passenger shipping operations start in September 2020 with two ships - Costa Deliziosa (Sept 6, from Trieste) and Costa Diadema (Sept 21, from Genoa). These voyages were for Italian citizens only. The 7-day roundtrips visited only ports in Italy - Deliziosa (to Bari, Brindisi, Corigliano-Rossano and Sicily - Siracusa and Catania) and Diadema (to Civitavecchia-Rome, Naples, Cagliari Sardinia, Palermo Sicily, La Spezia). Costa Smeralda (departure October 10) was added with 7-day roundtrips from Savona (to Genoa, La Spezia, Cagliari Sardinia, Naples, Messina Sicily, Civitavecchia-Rome).
• Costa's South America 2021-2022 winter program (Favolosa from Santos, Pacifica from Rio de Janeiro) was canceled.
• Costa's Baltic 2021 program (Diadema, Fascinosa, Favolosa, Fortuna) was canceled.
• PACIFICA's Red Sea from Dubai program (winter 2021-2022) was canceled.
• FORTUNA's Caribbean program (winter 2021-2022, roundtrips from Guadeloupe and Dominicana) was canceled.
• MAGICA was transferred to CCL-Carnival in June 2021.
• In mid-June 2020, Carnival Corporation (shipowner) sold Costa Victoria to San Giorgio del Porto (shipyard in Genoa Italy ). The new shipowner soon sold the vessel for scrapping (in Piombino Italy ).

Itinerary of Costa Cruises

Costa Pacifica's schedule for summer 2023 (June 3 thru October 7) lists Taranto Italy s both a homeport (also reached with a fly-cruise package) and a call/transit port for passengers embarking in other ports, particularly Catania. Taranto (a total of 19x calls/Saturday visits/port stay 8 am and 5 pm) was included as part of a 7-day Greek Islands itinerary also visiting Catania (Sicily), Valletta (Malta), and Greece's Mykonos Island and Santorini Island.

Costa Journeys itineraries (2023-2024)

In July 2023 Costa announced "Costa Journeys" - a new itinerary program that groups longer (most are 2-week long) exotic voyages in Europe/Mediterranean scheduled for 2023-2024.

Next are listed the Costa Journeys ships and their voyages open for booking when the program was inaugurated.

( Costa Pacifica ) 14-day "Egypt and the Holy Land" itinerary itinerary visits ports in Italy (Savona, Naples, Catania) France (Marseille), Spain (Barcelona), Malta (La Valetta), Egypt (Alexandria-Cairo, Port Said), Israel (Haifa), Crete Greece (Heraklion). Roundtrip departures (in October-November 2023) are available from 4 ports (Savona, Haifa, Barcelona, Marseille). Similar "Holy Land" voyages were scheduled for Costa Fortuna in 2024.

( Costa Fascinosa ) 14-day "From the Mediterranean to Madeira and the Azores" itinerary visits ports in Italy (Savona), France (Marseille), Spain (Barcelona, Malaga, Cádiz-Sevilla), Portugal's Madeira (Funchal) and Portugal's Azores (Ponta Delgada, Praia da Vitória). Roundtrip departures (in April 2024) are available from 3 ports (Savona, Barcelona, Marseille).

( Costa Fortuna ) 14-day "Turkey, Greece and Tunisia" itinerary visits ports in Italy (Savona, Civitavecchia-Rome, Catania), Spain (Barcelona), France (Marseille), Tunisia (La Goulette-Tunis), Greece (Piraeus-Athens), and Turkey (Izmir, Istanbul). Roundtrip departures (in April 2024) are available from 3 ports (Civitavecchia-Rome, Barcelona, Marseille).

( Costa Favolosa ) 10-day "Morocco and Gibraltar" itinerary visits ports in Italy (Savona), France (Marseille), Spain (Valencia, Malaga), UK (Gibraltar), and Morocco (Tangier, Casablanca-Marrakesh). Roundtrip departures (in December 2024) are available from 2 ports (Savona, Marseille).

Itinerary changes 2024-2025

Costa's Mediterranean 2024 schedule has 3 ships in the Western Med ( Smeralda , Toscana , Pacifica ). The week-long voyages visit ports in France, Italy and Spain.

Smeralda departs from Genoa every Friday, starting March 22nd, to call at Marseille, Barcelona, Cagliari (Sardinia Italy), Naples and Civitavecchia-Rome. Toscana departs from Savona every Saturday, to visit Marseille, Barcelona, Palma (Mallorca), Palermo (Sicily), and Rome-Civitavecchia. During summer 2024, Palma is to be replaced by Ibiza.

Pacifica departs from Savona every Sunday, to Rome-Civitavecchia, Ajaccio (Corsica France), Palma de Mallorca, Marseille and Valencia, with La Spezia replacing Ajaccio during the autumn.

In 2024, Deliziosa is deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, with a Greek islands itinerary visiting Venice/Marghera ,  Bari , Mykonos ,  Katakolon , Santorini . Also included are voyages from  Taranto / Catania , bound for Valletta Malta and the Greek islands.

During summer 2024, 3 Costa ships are deployed in Northern Europe - Diadema, Fascinosa, and Favolosa. Diadema offers 7-day roundtrips from Kiel Germany , bound for Copenhagen and the Norwegian Fjords. Favolosa sails on 4 different itineraries from Amsterdam Netherlands , visiting Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, England, and Norway's Lofoten Islands . Fascinosa offers 12-day sailings to North Cape/Nordkapp and 9-day Baltic voyages visiting Helsinki, Stockholm, Riga, and Tallinn.

In spring and fall 2024, 3-day and 4-day Western Mediterranean mini-cruises are scheduled for Fascinosa and Pacifica.

In autumn 2024, the Costa ships Diadema and Favolosa sail the Mediterranean and Spain's Canary Islands, with a 2-week itinerary, or Lisbon+Morocco with 10-day sailings. In spring Fascinosa also visits Portugal's Azores.

Costa Deliziosa 's World Cruise 2025 visits destinations in Tierra del Fuego/Chilean Patagonia, Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. For the first time, the departure is in early December 2024/not in January, to enjoy the holidays on a cruise. New Year’s Eve in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro is with the fireworks display from Copacabana Beach.

For summer 2024 (June 7th to September 13th), Costa Fortuna departs on Fridays from Piraeus-Athens to Istanbul and the Greek islands (Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini). On some of the departures, the itinerary visits Bodrum instead of Rhodes.

Costa's flight+cruise package is available from all major European countries.

In the spring and fall of 2024, Costa Fortuna offers short (3 to 5 days) Western Mediterranean voyages, as well as a range of 2-week itineraries. These itineraries visit Morocco, Lisbon, Israel, Egypt, and Tunisia, Turkey, Greece, the Greek islands, Ibiza.

In summer 2024, Fascinosa offers 7-day roundtrips to Malta and the Greek islands, and 2-week roundtrips to the Canaries, while Favolosa and Diadema operate in Northern Europe. Favolosa has 3 different itineraries (out of Hamburg ) visiting Nordkapp/North Cape, the Lofotens, Iceland, and Greenland. A new 8-day itinerary visits the UK/Scotland. Diadema offers week-long roundtrips to the Norwegian Fjords.

Costa's winter 2024-2025 schedule lists voyages in Europe/Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the UAE, including an Around the World Voyage departing in December 2024.

The Mediterranean-deployed Costa Toscana offers 7-day voyages to Italy, France, Spain, and the Balearic Islands. The schedule features extended port stays (10+ hours) at each call port - Savona ,  Marseille ,  Barcelona , Palma de Mallorca ,  Palermo , and  Civitavecchia/Rome .

The Caribbean-deployed Costa ships Fortuna and Fascinosa offer two alternating one-week itineraries (each) that can be combined into two-week B2Bs. The "flight+cruise" package is recommended. Costa Fortuna will exclusively sail between the Lesser Antilles, with itineraries featuring destinations such as Guadeloupe, Tortola, St Marteen, Antigua, St Lucia, Martinique, and Trinidad-Tobago. Costa Fascinosa's itineraries explore Dominicana (La Romana, Amber Cove, Samana, Catalina Island ), Jamaica (Ocho Rios), Grand Turk, St Lucia, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Antigua, BVI/British Virgin Islands.

The UAE-based Costa Smeralda offers 7-day Red Sea cruises from Dubai (two-day/overnight stay) visiting Muscat Oman, Doha Qatar, and Abu Dhabi UAE.

Costa Deliziosa 's World Cruise 2025 departs on December 7th, 2024, and its highlight is New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro .

In June 2023 was announced Costa Serena's India program developed as an extension of the ship's East Asian deployment. Serena's India schedule (November 4th, 2023, thru January 1st, 2024) included 23 sailings, following the voyages in Thailand, Taiwan and Korea. Costa's India 2023-2024 cruises visit exclusively domestic destinations, targeting predominantly Indian tourists. The itineraries (ranging between 2 to 5 days) visit  Mumbai ,  Cochin ,  Mormugao/Goa , as well as the Lakshadweep Archipelago.

Ship deployments, homeports, itineraries

The next table shows all Costa ships with their homeports (departure ports) and itinerary program reviews.

IMPORTANT : Three Costa ships ( Luminosa , Firenze , Venezia ) were transferred to CCL-Carnival Cruise Lines for the "COSTA by CARNIVAL" cruise program. These liners are CCL-managed while operating out of the USA.

(NEWEST) Excellence-class (aka Helios-class)

• gross tonnage 180,000 tons, LNG powered, passengers 5200, cabins 2600
• shipbuilder Meyer Turku
• vessels - Costa Smeralda (2019), Costa Toscana (2021)

building cost USD 950 million per unit

(NEW) Vista-class

• Costa Venezia (2019), Costa Firenze (2020)
• new class ships for the Asian market (homeported in China)
• gross tonnage 135,500 tons, passengers 4200
• shipbuilder Fincantieri

building cost USD 780 million per unit

Dream-class ships

• GT tonnage 92,700 tons
• LOA length 294 m, width 32 m, draft 7 m, decks 12
• speed 42 kph, 1130 staterooms, capacity 2828+1100 (passengers+crew)
• vessels - Costa Diadema (2014) , Costa Deliziosa (2010) , Costa Luminosa (2009)

building cost: USD 600 million per unit

Concordia-class ships

(Modified) Concordia-Class Ships Specifications: tonnage 114,500 GT, length 290 m, beam 32 m, draft 8 m, decks 13, speed 40 km/h, 1500 staterooms, capacity 3780+1100 passengers+crew. Cost US$670 million per unit.

vessels - Costa FASCINOSA (2012) , Costa FAVOLOSA (2011) , Costa PACIFICA (2009) , Costa SERENA (2007)

Concordia-Class Ships Specifications (Modified Conquest-class): tonnage 114,500 GT, length 290m, beam 36m, draft 8m, decks 14, speed 40 km/h, 1500 staterooms, capacity 3780+1100/passengers+crew.

Fortuna-class ships

Fortuna-Class Ships Specifications (identical to the Carnival Destiny-class): tonnage 105,000 GT, length 271m, beam 37m, draft 8m, decks 13, speed 37 km/h, 1,358 staterooms, capacity 2,720+1,027 passengers+crew.

Costa FORTUNA (2003) - all present and past Costa ships are displayed as models in the Atrium.

Sky-class ships

Sky-Class Ships Specifications: tonnage 76,000 GT, length 252m, beam 32m, draft 8m, decks 12, speed 40 km/h, capacity 1,928+766 passengers+crew, builder: Bremer Vulkan, Germany.

Costa VICTORIA (1996) - the first cruise ship with later added balconies.

The vessel was sold and scrapped in 2020.

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Carnival Cruise Line to launch new 'Costa by Carnival' sailings using sister brand's ships

Carnival Cruise Line is set to welcome two more ships from sister line Costa Cruises.

As part of a new "Costa by Carnival" brand-within-a-brand experience that the line announced Wednesday, 4,208-passenger Costa Venezia and 4,232-passenger Costa Firenze will move to the Carnival fleet in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze — two of Costa Cruises ' four newest vessels — will join the 2,260-passenger Costa Luminosa in transferring to Carnival. Costa Luminosa is scheduled to move to Carnival's fleet this September with a rebrand as Carnival Luminosa.

However, the former two ships, which have the same layout as Carnival's Vista-class vessels (Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama), will be operated without any physical rebranding. That means the ships will retain their original names and interior design aesthetic. As a result, passengers can enjoy Italian ambiance, combined with the food, entertainment, service and value they've come to expect from Carnival .

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

"This is an exciting opportunity for us to operate two additional beautiful Vista-class ships in the [United States] and bring a unique experience to those who love the culture, food and vibe of Italy," Carnival President Christine Duffy said in a statement. "There are lots of ways we plan to create an immersive fun experience for our guests who choose to sail on these ships, which have beautiful Italian-design elements, dining and retail that will deliver Carnival fun [and leverage] the spirit of Italy from our sister line Costa Cruises."

This might be the closest the cruise industry has come to a codeshare -- when airline brands form a partnership to operate flights on behalf of each other in an effort to cover more markets and sell more tickets.

Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze will continue to sail their scheduled itineraries for Costa until they move over to the Carnival fleet. The line has not yet released U.S.-based itineraries for either vessel, but Carnival has shared that the former will sail from New York City, and the latter will be based in Long Beach, California, near Los Angeles.

Sailings on the vessels will be crewed, operated and sold by Carnival, which means that passengers who book voyages on the ships after they relocate will earn loyalty credit toward Carnival's VIFP Club program, rather than Costa's C|Club.

In announcing the move, Carnival didn't give a reason for the vessel transfer between the brands or elaborate on why the ships would continue to operate under the Costa monikers. But the announcement comes as the line's parent company, Carnival Corporation, is in the midst of making changes to the fleets at several of its brands as it charts a path to recovery.

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of nine brands including Carnival, Costa, Princess Cruises , Holland America and Seabourn , all of which paused operations for months after the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020 and have only been slowly resuming normal service.

Carnival Corporation in March said occupancy on its ships was only at 54% during the first quarter of the year, far lower than normal. Only about 60% of the company's fleet capacity was back in operation in the first quarter.

As a result of the shutdown and slow restart, Carnival Corporation has lost billions of dollars over the past two years, forcing it to take on an enormous amount of debt. The company's debt load was $34.9 billion at the end of the first quarter.

Wednesday's announcement came just two days before Carnival Corporation was scheduled to discuss its financial situation in a conference call with Wall Street analysts.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Costa Cruises

Courtesy of Costa Cruises |

Find a Cruise on Costa Cruises

with a cruise advisor

Cruising with Costa

Based in Italy, Costa Cruises distinguishes itself from other European cruise lines with its Mediterranean-inspired design and festive atmosphere. Costa's ships depart from a variety of ports around the world, bringing passengers to destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, South America and beyond. Itineraries last anywhere from one to 130 nights.

For an extra fee, Costa Cruises offers excursions like panoramic gondola rides in Venice  and boat rides and snorkeling in Barbados . Costa also hosts a variety of cruising experiences. Some ships have an intimate ambiance and relaxed atmosphere, while others are more crowded and offer action-packed itineraries. Costa's ships feature roughly one crew member for every three passengers.

Affordable cabins are easy to find within Costa's fleet – a main draw, according to recent cruisers. While at sea, you can take advantage of casinos, fitness facilities, multiple pools and hot tubs, and live shows. Once you've worked up an appetite, have a seat at one of the ship's main restaurants or consider splurging on a meal at a specialty eatery for a more memorable experience.

Pros & Cons

Mix of mostly European and some American passengers

Affordable rates for European itineraries

Onboard activities cater to families, couples and spa enthusiasts

Meals at specialty restaurants are not covered by cruise rates

No departures from the U.S.

Some Americans might have trouble with the European-style service

• Expert Rating » 3.1
• Traveler Rating » 3.3
• Health Rating » 4.5

Costa Cruises has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

• # 8 in Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean
• # 10 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money

Explore Photos

Costa Cruises Ships

Costa Smeralda

Costa Toscana

Costa Diadema

Costa Deliziosa

Costa Pacifica

Costa Favolosa

Costa Fascinosa

Costa Fortuna

Before You Book

• To reserve most Costa voyages, travelers must pay a deposit of no less than 25% of the fare, with the full amount paid at least 30 days before the departure date. For cruises booked less than 30 days in advance, the fare must be paid in full when booking.
• All cancellations and refund requests can be made by calling 1-800-GO-COSTA. Cruisers will be charged 15% of their cruise fare if they cancel 90 or more days before departure. After that, passengers will be charged a higher percentage of their fare based on their specific packages.
• If you need medical assistance of any kind, you must submit your requirements in writing to Costa at the time the reservation is made. Failure to do so may result in Costa canceling your reservation.

Before You Board

• After full payment (and at least one month before departure), you must check in online through the  MyCosta website  and complete the boarding form. The site also allows you to book drink and spa packages, excursions and reservations at specialty restaurants.
• Costa passengers must present a valid passport for embarkation. Passports must be valid six months past the trip's completion. Certain countries require cruisers to obtain visas. Travelers who do not present the necessary documents will not be permitted to board the ship, nor will they be refunded.
• Passengers are allowed one piece of luggage (in addition to hand luggage) for cruises of seven nights or less and two pieces of luggage for voyages lasting eight to 14 nights. Cruises longer than 14 nights allow passengers to bring up to three pieces of luggage. The recommended maximum weight per bag is 50 pounds. Overall, Costa recommends bringing one piece of luggage whenever possible.
• You can book excursions online up to three days prior to departure using the cruise line's  MyCosta booking tool . After this deadline, excursions can only be reserved on board.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Costa Review

Wednesday, June 26th

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• Best for Italian-themed, large-ship cruising for all ages
• 9 ships in the fleet
• Destinations worldwide, but no departures from US ports

Costa Cruises is an Italian-based cruise line that was founded in 1854. It was one of the first companies to offer passenger shipping services and has since grown to become one of the largest cruise lines in the world. Today, Costa Cruises is part of the Carnival Corporation, which also owns several other popular cruise lines.

Plenty of itineraries

Costa Cruises offers a wide range of itineraries to destinations all over the world, including the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and South America. The cruise line has a fleet of nine ships, each with its own unique style and amenities. Costa Cruises caters to a diverse range of travelers, from families with young children to retirees looking for a luxurious getaway, but you'll find your fellow cruisers to be distinctly European on most sailings.

All things Italy

One of the standout features of Costa Cruises is its emphasis on Italian style and culture. Each ship is designed to reflect the warmth and charm of Italy, with a focus on art, music, and cuisine. The ships feature elegant interiors, with plenty of open spaces and natural light. Italian cuisine is a highlight of the dining experience on Costa Cruises, with fresh ingredients and authentic recipes that showcase the flavors of Italy.

No US departure ports

How did Costa do with our comparison cruise: a Caribbean itinerary sailing in March, about a year in advance? There were just four options, one 4-day trip, two 8-day trips, and one 15-day trip. Starting fares ranged from $649 to $1,529 per person, not including taxes, fees, and port expenses. Keep in mind that unless you live in La Romana or Guadeloupe, you'd have to factor in international airfare as well. In fact, for US travelers, every Costa cruise will require an international flight to start: there are no departure ports in the United States. That's not a big deal if you were planning on a cruise in the Middle East or South America anyway, but also not ideal if you live within driving distance of Miami or Galveston, for example, and just wanted a getaway to the Bahamas.

Only water is free

Your base fare with Costa will allow you some of the perks found with our highest-rated cruise lines, like being able to select your cabin and your seating time for the dining room. However, where many cruise lines will give you access to some kind of complimentary beverage, even if it's just lemonade or coffee, everything but water will cost you on Costa ( see what we did there? ). You can either go a la carte, which gets spendy, or purchase the All-Inclusive/Total Comfort fare tier and it will come with a drink package.

Mandatory gratuities

Costa's "service charges" , also known as gratuities, are mandatory and automatically applied to your onboard account. Being an Italian cruise line, those fees are in Euros: $11 per person per night for guests 15+, and half that for children ages 4-14. Unlike some cruise lines that allow you to modify that if you've been unhappy with the service, Costa states that their service fees "cannot be altered" .

Ongoing safety concerns

Our biggest reason for giving Costa a below-average rating is its track record for safety. While it's true that the cruise industry as a whole has had its share of safety incidents over the years, and cruise lines are constantly working to improve their safety practices and protocols to ensure the well-being of their passengers and crew, Costa has had several high-profile incidents, the most significant being the Costa Concordia disaster back in 2012 (resulting in more than two dozen deaths). Despite implementing new safety procedures and improving protocols overall, Costa ships still had collisions in 2017 and 2019, though fortunately there was no loss of life resulting from those incidents.

We recommend choosing a different cruise line

For cruising in Europe, Costa is just one of many options to consider. This cruise line has quite a few rivals in that area, and it doesn't really compete with other companies sailing in the Caribbean. Overall, Costa is not one of our favorite cruise lines in any category, and we recommend looking at competitors serving the destination you're hoping to visit instead.

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The 15 Best Cruise Lines

Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above...

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

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News Release

Carnival corporation to purchase remaining 50 percent of costa crociere.

MIAMI, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), the world's largest cruise operator, announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase the remaining 50 percent interest in Genoa, Italy-based Costa Crociere from Airtours plc, a British-based travel supplier.

Carnival and Airtours jointly acquired Costa in 1997 and with the purchase of Airtours' 50 percent interest, Carnival will own 100 percent of the Italian cruise operator. Carnival will maintain its 26 percent strategic interest in Airtours which was acquired in 1996.

The cost of the Costa transaction will be 350 million pounds sterling (approximately $525 million U.S. at current exchange rates).

"The purchase of Airtours' 50 percent interest in Costa is a very important strategic move in the continued development of Carnival Corporation's European business," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation chairman and CEO. "Costa is the largest and most successful cruise operator in Europe and will serve as Carnival's primary platform for expanding our presence in this increasingly important market," he added.

Arison added that the purchase will also allow Carnival, the world's largest cruise line, to further explore and optimize marketing and operating synergies with Costa and to move more quickly to expand Costa's newbuilding program to take advantage of the fast-growing European market.

Carnival expects to pay cash for the transaction. Based on Costa's projected 2000 earnings, the transaction is not expected to be dilutive to Carnival's earnings per share.

The transaction is subject to certain customary conditions, including Airtours' shareholder approval, as well as that of any applicable European competition authorities. No assurances can be made that the transaction will be concluded.

Credit Suisse First Boston acted as financial advisor to Carnival Corporation.

Costa Crociere has an international fleet of seven ships that span the globe offering cruises of seven nights and longer throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America and Caribbean. Earlier this summer, Costa launched the 86,000-ton Costa Atlantica, which has earned scores of accolades from the European travel community for its innovative design concepts, impressive art collection and exquisite dining opportunities. Just last week, Costa contracted for a sister vessel slated to debut in summer 2003.

Carnival Corporation is comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise line based on passengers carried, Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises, Cunard Line Limited, which operates the Cunard and Seabourn cruise brands, and interests in Costa Crociere and Airtours plc. Combined, Carnival Corporation's various brands operate 48 ships in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and other worldwide destinations.

Additional information can be obtained via Carnival Corporation's Web site at www.carnivalcorp.com or Costa Crociere's at www.costacruises.com. SOURCE Carnival Corporation

CONTACT: Tim Gallagher of Carnival Corporation, 800-438-6744, ext. 16000/

AIDA Cruises is the market leader in the German-speaking cruise market. Home of the smile, AIDA Cruises is the epitome of a premium-quality, relaxing cruise and operates one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets. Visit: www.aida.de

Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America’s Cruise Line, is a leader in contemporary cruising and operates a fleet of ships designed to provide fun and memorable vacation experiences at a great value. Visit: www.carnival.com

Costa Cruises delivers Italy’s finest at sea, bringing modern Italian lifestyle to its ships to provide guests with a true European experience that embodies a unique passion for life through warm hospitality, entertainment and gastronomy. Visit: www.costacruise.com

Cunard is the epitome of British refinement for travelers who relish the line’s impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining, world-class entertainment, and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Visit: www.cunard.com

Holland America Line's premium fleet of spacious, elegant mid-sized ships feature sophisticated five-star dining, extensive entertainment and activities, innovative culinary enrichment programs and compelling worldwide itineraries. Visit: www.hollandamerica.com

P&O Cruises (UK) is Britain’s favorite cruise line with a fleet of ships combining genuine service and a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. Visit: www.pocruises.co.uk

P&O Cruises (Australia) provides a quintessential holiday experience for Australians and New Zealanders, taking them to some of the world's most idyllic and hard-to-reach places across Asia and the South Pacific. Visit: www.pocruises.co.au

Princess is the world’s leading international cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of modern cruise ships, renowned for the innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities. Visit: www.princess.com

Seabourn provides ultraluxury cruising vacations in a unique, small-ship style that focuses on genuine, intuitive service, all-suite accommodations, superb cuisine and unique experiences in destinations worldwide. Visit: www.seabourn.com

Carnival-Owned Costa Cruise Ship is Largest to Be Sold Off

The long-debated fate of Costa Magica has finally been decided as Carnival Corporation & plc has confirmed the sale of the vessel to Seajets, a Greek ferry operator, for an undisclosed amount.

The new owner has not announced any immediate plans for the cruise ship, which has been out of passenger service since March 2020, never having resumed guest operations after the pandemic lockdown.

Costa Magica Sold

The Destiny-class Costa Magica has been sold to the Marios Iliopoulos-led Seajets high-speed ferry company. The ship’s fate has been uncertain for some time, as it was announced in June 2021 to be transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet .

That plan was dismissed in mid-2022 when it was announced that Costa Luminosa would instead become Carnival Luminosa , while Costa Magica was to remain with Costa Cruises for the time being. The ship had not been sailing since the industry-wide shutdown began in March 2020, being one of the few ships to not resume guest service.

In the meantime, Costa Magica was offered to house Ukrainian refugees in March 2022 , with Costa Cruises reaching out to the Italian government with that proposal. Though generous and appreciated, the offer was ultimately unnecessary.

In late December 2022, as part of the Fourth Quarter 2022 Business Update from Carnival Corporation, it was announced that three “smaller-less efficient ships” would be removed from the corporation’s overall fleet . At that time, it was known that two of the ships would be retired from the Costa Cruises fleet, but the names of the vessels were not released.

Then, in early January, AIDAaura was confirmed to be leaving the AIDA Cruises fleet as part of those optimization plans. Now we know that Costa Magica will be another of the impacted vessels, but the third vessel is still unknown, other than the fact that it will be retired from Costa Cruises.

At this time, two additional Costa ships – Costa Serena and Costa Diadema – are still in lay up, though Costa Diadema is slated to resume passenger operations in April 2023 with Mediterranean itineraries. Costa Serena is also scheduled to resume service in December 2023, but her itinerary plans are not yet finalized and she is not listed on the Costa Cruises website any longer.

What Will Become of the Former Carnival-Owned Ship?

With Costa Magica now belonging to Seajets, her future is still murky. The company, which operates a fleet of high-speed ferries in the Aegean Sea, has purchased several cruise ships since the pandemic began, scrapping two vessels and keeping others in layup for the time being.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Scrapping – Everything You Need to Know

It is possible that Seajets has plans to begin offering cruise service, or may renovate the ships for modified ferry service of some kind. No official announcement of their plans has been made.

In addition to Costa Magica , Seajets has also purchased Holland America Line’s Veendam , P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Aria , P&O Cruises Oceana , and Royal Caribbean International’s Majesty of the Seas . Of all the ships, Costa Magica is the youngest, having first debuted in 2004. The other ships first set sail in 1996, 1994, 2000, and 1992, respectively.

Costa Magica can host 2,718 passengers and weighs in at 102,784 gross tons. This also makes her the largest gross tonnage vessel Seajets has purchased in the past two years, with one of the highest guest capacities ( Majesty of the Seas is slightly higher with a 2,767 guest capacity). Of course, Seajets may do any sort of renovation to the vessel to dramatically change her size, capacity, or venues, or the vessel may yet be scrapped or resold.

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My first cruise with my son was a nightmare. We lost power twice, had to shower with flip-flops, and couldn't make 2 of our destinations.

• Up until this year I had never been on a cruise before. 
• I decided to take my 10-year-old son over Spring break. 
• The cruise desperately needed some TLC and we lost power twice. 

Until this year, I'd never been on a cruise — and I swore I never would. As someone anxious in general, I had plenty of reservations. What if there was a norovirus outbreak? What if I got seasick? What if the ship hit an iceberg, sinking like the Titanic? But as I brainstormed potential Spring break destinations with my 10-year-old, I reconsidered.

As a single mom, I don't love navigating new places alone, and organizing a weeklong vacation felt overwhelming. Setting sail on a fun-packed cruise ship where everything was pre-planned was the perfect solution.

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I booked a five-night Key West and Bahamas cruise through Celebrity, leaving from Miami. To avoid feeling trapped, I chose a stateroom with a veranda. We could sit outside in the salty ocean air and enjoy the stunning views.

Our pitstop in South Beach

To keep things stress-free, I bookended our trip with a full day and night in South Beach . Neither of us had been there, and the day before our cruise, I splurged on The Miami Beach Edition . The 5-star property, with private beach access, ocean-facing pools, and an on-site ice rink and bowling alley, did not disappoint.

We chose Estiatorio Milos for Easter dinner, a Greek seafood restaurant where fish flown in fresh from the Mediterranean are displayed. The experience included a chef visiting our table to discuss the day's offerings. Our trip was off to an incredible start.

Our cruise experience wasn't great

Boarding our cruise ship, the Celebrity Summit, went smoothly, and we went right to our stateroom , which appeared as advertised. On the balcony, we watched the sunlight dance on the water's surface. I relaxed, letting my worries slip away.

But when I went inside and opened the bathroom door, the musty smell of mildew overwhelmed me. During that night's shower, I discovered why as the water collected in a pool at my feet. From then on, we wore our flip-flops and showered fast.

We made our first port and explored the delightful city of Key West. But our boat couldn't dock the next day due to high winds, so we missed our second destination, Bimini, Bahamas . Disappointed, we explored the boat, looking for fun diversions. But other than gambling and drinking, there wasn't much to do.

The pool was rusty and dirty, and the "arcade" consisted of two Xboxes in a small room. The ship, built in 2001 and refurbished in 2016, desperately needed some TLC. Chipped tile, stained carpets, and broken faucets were a few of its glaring issues. My son checked out the gift shops while I grabbed a coffee. A salesperson put a $2,000 watch on his wrist, encouraging him to make the purchase. Luckily, he knew better.

We even lost power

During a several-hour power outage, our imaginations took over. We discussed the possibility of onboard pirates — zero communication from the crew didn't help. At one point, dark sludge crept up through our shower drain, and our toilet stopped working. When the power came back on, the $270 Wi-Fi didn't, and it remained spotty for the rest of the voyage.

The ship went black again during dinner the next day. The staff served our meal in the dark like nothing was amiss. At that point, we wanted off. The next day, we docked in Nassau, Bahamas, where we played in the ocean. I let my son take me on a Jet Ski ride, which was the highlight of his trip.

The following morning was debarkation day. We couldn't get off the boat fast enough.

We enjoyed another beautiful day at South Beach, sinking our toes in white sand beaches and exploring the outdoor Lincoln Road Mall.

Though our cruise experience was probably an outlier, I won't chance it again. But South Beach? We're in love.

Watch: Cruise ship captain breaks down 8 cruise ship disasters in movies and TV

• Main content

Costa Promotes Late Summer and Fall Cruises in the Mediterranean

• June 24, 2024

Costa Cruises is promoting its late summer and fall itineraries in the Western Mediterranean onboard the Costa Smeralda.

According to a press release, the seasons offer cooler temperatures in the region, as well as dwindling crowds.

The Costa Smeralda will sail week-long cruises to the Western Mediterranean that visit destinations in Italy, France, and Spain.

According to Costa, the ship’s itineraries are enriched by the company’s new “Sea Destinations” program, which features unique experiences that bring locations onboard for immersive activities and celebrations .

With multiple homeports and embarking on different weekdays, the cruises offer guests “the ultimate flexibility,” the company added.

The Costa Smeralda’s regular seven-night itinerary sails to Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Genoa, Cagliari and Naples, Italy.

Passengers can sail roundtrip from Barcelona, Genoa, or Civitavecchia.

As part of Costa’s “Sea Destinations” program, guests will be able to experience a “journey within a journey,” the company said.

Activities include “Balearic Sea – Sea of Stars,” which allows guests to discover planets and constellations with a ship officer out on deck.

According to the company, the stargazing takes place at sea, “away from light congestion in the darkness of the Mediterranean.”

Passengers will also be able to take part in the ”Capri Bay – Caprese Breakfast” with a View of Faraglioni activity.

The breakfast takes place before the ship’s arrival in Naples and includes Neapolitan coffee and a torta Caprese with Capri at dawn as background, the company explained.

The ”Sea Destinations” program also includes a light show named “Cetacean Sanctuary – Cetacean Light Show.”

According to Costa, the activity “reveals the secrets of the most fascinating sea creatures” and takes place on the open sea, against the backdrop of the ship’s funnel.

For North American guests, the Costa Smeralda offers an authentic European-style cruise experience, Costa said.

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