Mjasp
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2002
- Messages
- 8,559
We just got back from our cruise on Costa cruise lines, I want to post a trip report for those who may want to try something new. I am comparing to DCL as I have only cruised DCL.
If I leave anything out I feel should be mentioned I will come back when I remember. If anyone has any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them, just ask away.
Traveling was myself, my husband and 2 daughters ages 14 & 10. Also we traveled with 3 other families with children ages 8-14. Total of 15, 8 adults 7 kids. Have to add we are all Italian desent and from New York
Pre-night...We stayed at the Amerisuites. OK hotel for a pre night stay. Pool was small (like a backyard built in pool) For one night it was fine.
Embarkation/Debarkation...PAINLESS- PAINLESS- PAINLESS
We were at the buffet having lunch at 12:30 P.M. We were at Fort Lauderdale airport at 10:30 A.M. we were one of the last people off the ship.
Cabin...We were in a category 7. Very nice, roomy and clean. Loved having a verandah. Bathroom was a nice size. Shower pressure great. Air conditioning in the cabin was very good, actually nice and cold. Here is a tip, If you leave your verandah door open for 1 minute or more the A/C goes off automatically. Be sure you pull the door closed to be sure it is closed.
Food...All except one in our party of 8 adults thought the food was excellent. Her complaint was not enough chicken choices. The pasta was cooked al dente, I was expecting mushy overcooked pasta. During lunch at the buffet, there are 2 different choices of pasta at the pasta station. Very impressed that they used good Parmesan cheese and not the Kraft parmesan cheese or some other cheap cheese. Tasted like a good Lucatelli grated cheese. The best ceasar salad is had on this ship. Breads...All bread with the exception of hot dog and hamburger rolls are cooked fresh, right on board. That may be the reason why some people think the bread is stale, their is no preservatives in them. They are made fresh all day/everyday. All croissants and danishes are also baked fresh daily.
Club Medusa, although the quality of the food there is a cut above the restaurant, the choices were pretty much the same. I personally wouldn't pay the extra to go there again.
In my opinion better than DCL's but DCL has better desserts.
Pizza & Hamburgers...The Margheurita pizza is delicious. I wouldn't touch the hamburgers after reading about it on these boards, my husband got one and I started telling him NOT to eat it as it was greasy and horrible. He said it was very good, so after watching him and my kids eating burgers and enjoying them, I took a bite of his and it was delicious. So try everything for yourself. Just an FYI, he asked for a veggie burger one day at the poolside station and they made it for him. There is also tortilla chips, with sour cream and guacamole by the pool all day along with potato chips.
Drinks...Ice Tea, coffee and juice & water along with ice is available 24/7
DCL offers free soda Costa doesn't
Late night snacking...If the midnight snacks or buffets aren't enough for you, there is Margheurita pizza & salad available for late night snacking.
DCL only has 1 midnight buffet, not that you are hungry but it is fun to go to.
Salads...There is iceberg lettuce and another salad (like auricchio) available at the buffet, so it isn't just iceberg.
Service...This is where they need to improve big time. They need to change the way they do things. We have a waiter, an assistant waiter, and a bar person. The assistant waiter can get you a bottle of wine but not a carafe or glass of wine. Soda and mixed drinks and glasses or carafes of wine come from the bar person. Alot of nights we had our appetizer AND salad & soup before we got our drinks (Costa loses big money here) Sometimes the kids were half way done with their meal before they got their sodas. This was quite annoying. Why we didn't stop at the bar and buy our drinks before dinner? Looking back, I don't know why, we didn't think of it. LOL
Hands down DCL wins this but you are paying for it big time
Kids club...Pretty much non existant for teens. The 7-12 year club...The 8 yr old liked it but the 10 year olds didn't, so they hung out with their 14 yr old siblings in the arcade. It Kept the young ones busy and the older ones honest and on their best behavior, as the little ones would rat them out.
In all honesty my 10 year old didn't like the kids club on DCL either, so that is just my child.
Pools...They were great. Not a problem getting a chair, even on sea days. The kids enjoyed the slide and I like that the slide is open for set hours, otherwise, we might have been at the slide quite often. I like that the pool area has a large area with a fountain where you can sit and get wet and sun yourself without going in the pool.
Costa wins this one hands down. I loved their pools and pool area.
Entertainment...I didn't think it was that great. I don't think any of us thought it was very good.
Don't flame me but I wasn't fond of DCL's show either except for Golden Mickey's I liked that one.
Was supposed to get a $100 on board credit and only received $50. No one at guest services could help us, they said to call Costa when we got home. I have a message into a Diana Vasquez at Costa, and have not heard from her yet. Guest relations said they sent an e mail to shore and are aware of the problem BUT they didn't hear back from them, so they can't help us. Just something I didn't want to waste my time on today. They need to give more authority to guest relations on the ship.
DCL wins on guest relations
Final Assessment...For the price I paid, I think I got an excellent cruise. We paid $1,800 for a verandah cabin for a family of 4. If I got another deal like that I would cruise Costa again in a heartbeat. And so would all our co-travelers, even the one who thought the food was just OK.
Costa wins on price, remember we went President's week and paid the above price. I think DCL wanted $5,000 for an inside cabin
Any questions, just ask away.
Here are some photos of the ship, and Dunns River falls. The pool in the picture with the statue is an adult pool. That's why it is small. Hope the link works
http://community.webshots.com/user/Mjasp
__________________
__________________
Costa Mediterranea 2/2006
Disney Magic 8/2004
Disney Magic 5/2002
If I leave anything out I feel should be mentioned I will come back when I remember. If anyone has any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them, just ask away.
Traveling was myself, my husband and 2 daughters ages 14 & 10. Also we traveled with 3 other families with children ages 8-14. Total of 15, 8 adults 7 kids. Have to add we are all Italian desent and from New York
Pre-night...We stayed at the Amerisuites. OK hotel for a pre night stay. Pool was small (like a backyard built in pool) For one night it was fine.
Embarkation/Debarkation...PAINLESS- PAINLESS- PAINLESS
We were at the buffet having lunch at 12:30 P.M. We were at Fort Lauderdale airport at 10:30 A.M. we were one of the last people off the ship.
Cabin...We were in a category 7. Very nice, roomy and clean. Loved having a verandah. Bathroom was a nice size. Shower pressure great. Air conditioning in the cabin was very good, actually nice and cold. Here is a tip, If you leave your verandah door open for 1 minute or more the A/C goes off automatically. Be sure you pull the door closed to be sure it is closed.
Food...All except one in our party of 8 adults thought the food was excellent. Her complaint was not enough chicken choices. The pasta was cooked al dente, I was expecting mushy overcooked pasta. During lunch at the buffet, there are 2 different choices of pasta at the pasta station. Very impressed that they used good Parmesan cheese and not the Kraft parmesan cheese or some other cheap cheese. Tasted like a good Lucatelli grated cheese. The best ceasar salad is had on this ship. Breads...All bread with the exception of hot dog and hamburger rolls are cooked fresh, right on board. That may be the reason why some people think the bread is stale, their is no preservatives in them. They are made fresh all day/everyday. All croissants and danishes are also baked fresh daily.
Club Medusa, although the quality of the food there is a cut above the restaurant, the choices were pretty much the same. I personally wouldn't pay the extra to go there again.
In my opinion better than DCL's but DCL has better desserts.
Pizza & Hamburgers...The Margheurita pizza is delicious. I wouldn't touch the hamburgers after reading about it on these boards, my husband got one and I started telling him NOT to eat it as it was greasy and horrible. He said it was very good, so after watching him and my kids eating burgers and enjoying them, I took a bite of his and it was delicious. So try everything for yourself. Just an FYI, he asked for a veggie burger one day at the poolside station and they made it for him. There is also tortilla chips, with sour cream and guacamole by the pool all day along with potato chips.
Drinks...Ice Tea, coffee and juice & water along with ice is available 24/7
DCL offers free soda Costa doesn't
Late night snacking...If the midnight snacks or buffets aren't enough for you, there is Margheurita pizza & salad available for late night snacking.
DCL only has 1 midnight buffet, not that you are hungry but it is fun to go to.
Salads...There is iceberg lettuce and another salad (like auricchio) available at the buffet, so it isn't just iceberg.
Service...This is where they need to improve big time. They need to change the way they do things. We have a waiter, an assistant waiter, and a bar person. The assistant waiter can get you a bottle of wine but not a carafe or glass of wine. Soda and mixed drinks and glasses or carafes of wine come from the bar person. Alot of nights we had our appetizer AND salad & soup before we got our drinks (Costa loses big money here) Sometimes the kids were half way done with their meal before they got their sodas. This was quite annoying. Why we didn't stop at the bar and buy our drinks before dinner? Looking back, I don't know why, we didn't think of it. LOL
Hands down DCL wins this but you are paying for it big time
Kids club...Pretty much non existant for teens. The 7-12 year club...The 8 yr old liked it but the 10 year olds didn't, so they hung out with their 14 yr old siblings in the arcade. It Kept the young ones busy and the older ones honest and on their best behavior, as the little ones would rat them out.
In all honesty my 10 year old didn't like the kids club on DCL either, so that is just my child.
Pools...They were great. Not a problem getting a chair, even on sea days. The kids enjoyed the slide and I like that the slide is open for set hours, otherwise, we might have been at the slide quite often. I like that the pool area has a large area with a fountain where you can sit and get wet and sun yourself without going in the pool.
Costa wins this one hands down. I loved their pools and pool area.
Entertainment...I didn't think it was that great. I don't think any of us thought it was very good.
Don't flame me but I wasn't fond of DCL's show either except for Golden Mickey's I liked that one.
Was supposed to get a $100 on board credit and only received $50. No one at guest services could help us, they said to call Costa when we got home. I have a message into a Diana Vasquez at Costa, and have not heard from her yet. Guest relations said they sent an e mail to shore and are aware of the problem BUT they didn't hear back from them, so they can't help us. Just something I didn't want to waste my time on today. They need to give more authority to guest relations on the ship.
DCL wins on guest relations
Final Assessment...For the price I paid, I think I got an excellent cruise. We paid $1,800 for a verandah cabin for a family of 4. If I got another deal like that I would cruise Costa again in a heartbeat. And so would all our co-travelers, even the one who thought the food was just OK.
Costa wins on price, remember we went President's week and paid the above price. I think DCL wanted $5,000 for an inside cabin
Any questions, just ask away.
Here are some photos of the ship, and Dunns River falls. The pool in the picture with the statue is an adult pool. That's why it is small. Hope the link works
http://community.webshots.com/user/Mjasp
__________________
__________________
Costa Mediterranea 2/2006
Disney Magic 8/2004
Disney Magic 5/2002
How does the size of the cabin compare to 
