Costa Cruises is well-known in the cruising community. Even if you’ve not had the pleasure of being on a cruise – yet – there’s a high chance you’ve already heard of Costa. Recognised as one of the most famous companies within cruising, Costa is also part of the Colossal Carnival Corporation & plc Group. Consisting of a 12 ship fleet, Costa cruises all over the world, proudly displaying the Italian flag and imitating its lifestyle.
Costa Cruises’ success began in 1948 when it’s first transatlantic voyage carried passengers from the city of Genoa to Buenos Aires on a 16-day journey. Over the past 70 years, the companies focus evolved from carrying passengers for transportation reasons to a unique navigation experience filled with entertainment, good food, comfort and unmissable Italian hospitality.
According to our parent company, Dreamlines, the data reveals that Costa Cruises is among the most popular of our cruise lines, across our international portals. Over the past 12 months, 15% of Costa bookings were dedicated to Costa Diadema, 13% went to Costa Favolosa, 11% for Costa Magica, and 10% of the bookings were awarded to Costa Fascinosa, Costa Fortuna and Costa Mediterranea.
It’s clear as to why Costa Diadema is our customers’ favourite Costa cruise when we look at what our customers are saying about the ship (translated):
“It was our first cruise and it certainly exceeded our expectations. Everything was perfect, from boarding, through the treatment of the crew, the food, the events – everything was perfect.”
Bruno, 25-34 years old (Brazil)
“The staff were really kind and helpful. Excellent organization. Nice atmosphere. The cabin was clean, bright and functional.”
Elena, 25-34 years old (Italy)
“The room was very clean and tidy. It was cleaned several times a day if necessary. Towels in the bathroom were changed daily. Housekeeping was always at our disposal. Not even in my dreams, I would’ve imagined something like that. Thank you! Our waiter in the restaurant was always in a good mood and [anticipated what we would like]. We’ve never experienced anything like this. Thank you again! In general, the entire staff helped us where it was possible and treated us with courtesy everywhere. It is also worth mentioning that everything was so well structured on board that we did not even notice the many passengers on board. I thank the captain who I happened to meet in the elevator, and we talked briefly. Very friendly. Thanks to all the Costa Diadema staff who provided us a dream trip with a dream service on a dream ship!”
Annemarie, 44-59 years old (Germany)
If you’re looking for a cruise which caters for families, Diadema is your ship. Built with an entire deck dedicated to children and packed with thrills and activities including a 4D cinema and a Grand Prix Simulator. Fun really is placed at the heart of this ship. Kids can gorge themselves in the Amarillo Ice Cream Parlour, swim freely in the children’s pool which comes complete with pirate ship and castle galleon. They can run off some steam in the laser zone and get lost in the twisting maze and shooting gallery.
But it’s not all fun and games for kids only! Adults can enjoy the four-level Oasis and Samsara Spa where you can retreat to the sauna, Turkish baths, UVA-ray solarium, gym and so much more. Choose from eight jacuzzis, three swimming pools and there’s even a retractable roof!
When it comes to dining, you can expect some traditional Costa Italian flair. Choose from seven restaurants, including a pizzeria and Chef show, eleven bars and lounges and a brewery. You won’t be left hungry onboard a Costa!
“We were inundated with the caring and attentive staff on board – every member worked hard to make our holiday a memorable. This is, by far, the best cruise we have been on. Everything on board was immaculate and fully-equipped for your every need. The food was of the highest standard and was very tasty and very well presented.. The evening shows were top quality and entertaining.”
LilyLouie, 44-59 years old (UK)
This ship embodies fabulous-ness – with a focus on sports, relaxation and good food. Costa Favolosa prides itself on its versatility, claiming that it makes a perfect cruise for every itinerary and ‘sparkles like a gem,’ where you will find ornate crystals, marble, onyx and alabaster ‘which highlights the elegance of every detail.’
Another family-orientated ship, Favolosa offers a kids-only pool equipped with waterslide, a disco, 4D cinema and outside sports court. For the adults in search of some well-deserved wellness and relaxation spots, this is the ship for you. Make sure to head to the 6200 sqm large Samsara Spa, participate in a sports class or book a special treatment!
Costa Favolosa has been described as a ‘swimming city with a varied range of entertainment programmes. First-time travellers will love the fun, entertainment and Italian food aboard the ship.’
“We attended several options for arts & crafts and we came away with fun, usable items and we acquired some new talents too. I just wish the water & aerobics courses ran more frequently and at regular hours! The evening shows (went to all but one) were top notch, including the crew’s talent show the last evening. We especially enjoyed Sinagoga.”
Robert, 60-75 (France)
A captivating ship leaving passengers inspired to explore. If you’re an appreciator of art, you will undoubtedly love this ship. Designed by the American architect Farcus, the ship became his canvas to express his love, adoration and vision of capturing the beauty of Italian places. You’ll even find decks named after some of the greatest artists in Italian history.
This ship is made with adults in mind; surrounded by 5500 works of art – including pieces from the prestigious Brera Academy – every hall has been graced with phenomenal artwork. If you’re more into the performing arts, then you’ll be pleased to hear about the three-story theatre which hosts Vegas-style entertainment.
Coming fully equipped with four restaurants to choose from – including a self-service buffet, eleven bars, a wellness centre, four pools, five hot tubs and an outdoor jogging track – you will not be lost for things to do!
“Cabin attendant was outstanding. Waiters were very good and entertaining. The ship was modern and very clean. Tours were well done.”
Elias, 24-34 years old (Sweden)
Weighing in at 114,500 tonnes, this ship is full of fun, glamour and takes you back-in-time to Old Hollywood! Up for sale are 329 original works of art in all mediums. This ship truly pays homage to the theatre; you’ll navigate your way around the ship through famous names such as Zhivago, Aida, Tosca and more. Again, a ship great for families and kids or simply fairy-tale lovers! You can find an Aqua Park, Grand Prix Simulator, 4D Cinema, kids-pool, five jacuzzis and four pools.
Our very own Brazilian Dreamlines reporter visited Costa Fascinosa earlier this month and recounted her highlights and experiences onboard this magnificent ships:
Our first night on board was met with a nice surprise; a lively welcome party which awaited us in the ship’s lobby accompanied by lots of music and fun. We also found out that the themed parties such as the White Party and the Tropical Party were also due to take place during our cruise! In our case, this took place on the second night of the cruise, so we were able to join. The White Party began in the ship’s lobby and ended up on the pool deck. So – don’t forget to pack a white outfit in your suitcase and something floral as well! We also recommend packing something white, red or green for the Italian evenings and an elegant outfit for the gala nights.
The complete schedule of our cruise with information, times and activities can be found on the printed daily program delivered every night in the cabin or through the Costa App (just download the app before boarding and enjoy the facilities during the journey).
We enjoyed the Più Gusto beverage package during our cruise on Costa Fascinosa and we have to say: it was worth it. We didn’t have to worry about anything – we really made the most of the drinking package – especially on party nights. The package includes up to 34 types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as juices, soft drinks, coffees, wines and beers. The tip here is to buy the beverage package before boarding since there are a 15% service fees on top of drinks that are not charged by Costa Cruises if the package is purchased in advance.
The main restaurant Otto and Mezzo offered a dinner menu of up to 6 dishes with 3 options each to choose from. All dishes were very tasty and with beautiful presentation. If you don’t eat meat – don’t worry – there’s always a vegetarian option on the menu. However, if you have any other specific food or diet restrictions, Costa Cruises recommends providing the information at the time of booking.
The company also offers excellent shore excursion options to choose from. We went on a tour to the charming Aix-en-Provence when Costa Fascinosa arrived in Marseille. The university and thermal city is also the political and cultural center of Provence and is 30 minutes from Marseille. The guided tour lasted around 5h and ended with delicious wine and cheese tasting. We liked that a lot!
To finish our experience onboard Costa Fascinosa, we had the opportunity to interview the ship’s Hotel Manager, Stefano di Noia. Check back here to read the full interview.
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