Costa: To Cruise Or Not To Cruise - My Assessment
Costa: To Cruise Or Not To Cruise - My Assessment |
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Reviewed By: LEAKE, Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 9th Mar 2010
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| Cruise Line: Costa Cruises |
Times cruised before: 10+ |
| Cruise Ship: Costa Serena |
Sailed:
February,
2010 |
| Destination:
Canaries
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Age: 46-55 |
| Cabin: Inside |
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We embarked the Costa Serena after taking KLM flights to MIlan via Amsterdam, the flights were on time although as commonly encounted after transfers through Amserdam not all our luggage arrived with us in Milan. After reporting our missing luggage in the baggage reclaim hall we were informed that they would try to re-unite us with our luggage the following day in Barcelona our first port of call; and indeed it did turn up, much to my surprise! The coach transfer from the airport to Savona took 2h-20m. Boarding the ship wasn't the quickest but in common with all large ships I was expecting some delay.
We booked an inside cabin which was small, kept very clean and tidy by our cabin steward. I was pleased I did not book a balcony cabin as the weather wasn't very good and it is unlikely we would have used it at all. The ship itself was very nice although the decor was more glitzy than that encountered on P&O or Cunard. The main theatre was impressive, as was the other public areas. The main dining room was very loud, Italians don't do quiet.
The food in the self service dining area (we usually had breakfast and lunch here) was OK, there was limited but adequate choices but most items lacked taste. The main problem was the evening dining arrangements, this line does not feature 24 hour dining and in the evening no alternative casual eating venue is available (except for slices of piazzas) so you have to dine in the main dining room. The food here was for most parts edible but again lacking in taste, the meats always overcooked. White fish was usually fine although darker fish species (tuna and salmon) were again overcooked. My major gripe was that the waiters only service food in the order found on the menu, so if you opted to skip the starter and the soup courses and wish to start with the pasta you wouldn't be fed until these courses had been consumed by the other passengers and you would find yourself waiting almost one hour before being offered any food. The ship'swater offered in the dining room had a nasty aftertaste so it necessary to purchase bottled mineral water. Futhermore, coffee isn't serviced after the meal unless you purchased it, we often retired to a bar and drank our coffee listening to some live music.
In contrast the evening entertainment was very good, the main shows in the theatre although short in duration (35m-40m) were inventive. The choreograghy often told the story with so many nationalities onboard language based acts (ie conedians) were absent, however, most of songs were sung in English. The lounge singers in the bars were all excellant.
The cost of alcoholic drinks was very steep a small daft lager (a generous half pint) was £5. Even allowing for the weakness of Sterling against the Euro this was too expensive when compared to other cruise line in the Carnival family. Most bars allow smoking in small sections although in all the dining areas, main theatre, lifts and corridors and in three bars smoking isn't allowed and I did not see anyone breaking the rules. So both smokers and non-smokers are catered for.
Would I use Costa again, maybe, it did have it's good points but it did have minuses. If any of the following lines (Cunard, P&O, Fred. Olsen, Celebrity, Princess or RCL) were covering a similar itineary at approximately the same price I would not sail with Costa. Although if they went to some novel destinations I would be happy to sail with them, I can say that I did enjoy the cruise but equally it would be truthful to say that I have enjoyed other cruise lines more.
Pluses - Inexpensive
Good evening entertainment
Great Cabin Stewart
Smoking policy (if you are a smoker the rules are more relaxed than UK or USA lines)
Minuses - Poor Dining (Piazza surprisingly poor, pastas however were tasty)
Alcoholic drinks
On longer cruises the this doesn't have a self service laundry (I was aware of this problem before I sailed)
It was difficult to find a quiet spot and just relax (In school holidays it must be extremely noisy)
Smoking polcy (if you don't smoke, maybe a UK or USA line would be better)
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| Quality of Food |  |
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| | Shore Excursions | n/a |
| | Staff |  |
| The Cabin Stewart was excellent | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities |  |
| | Cabins | |
| | Overall Rating | |
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