Costa Deliziosa: 2015-2016 Caribbean Cruises. What has been your experience?

I am curious as to what guests on these cruises have experienced, particularly, if one is a Canadian or American cruiser. Your views are appreciated.

Thank you!

I am curious as to what guests on these cruises have experienced, particularly, if one is a Canadian or American cruiser. Your views are appreciated.

 

Thank you!

I have been on many Costa Cruises and always have a great time. IMHO, it starts with the passengers attitude.

The cruises are not "set up" for North Americans. If you want a European experience go for it...

I have been on many Costa Cruises and always have a great time. IMHO, it starts with the passengers attitude.

The cruises are not "set up" for North Americans. If you want a European experience go for it...

Thank you for your response. I understand that the cruises are not "set up", as you say, for North Americans. I am a cruiser with an open mind and I love Italy and Italians. What I would like to know is what others have experienced, and if they are experienced cruisers, how a Costa Caribbean cruise compares to the North American oriented companies.

I have had much difficulty in getting any information about Costa from Costa in Florida or Italy. My travel agency, which are specialists in cruises, cannot obtain information about their product.

My guess is: North Americans need not apply?

This seems like a strange business model if they are going to base a ship in Florida.

Thank you for your response. I understand that the cruises are not "set up", as you say, for North Americans. I am a cruiser with an open mind and I love Italy and Italians. What I would like to know is what others have experienced, and if they are experienced cruisers, how a Costa Caribbean cruise compares to the North American oriented companies.

 

 

I have had much difficulty in getting any information about Costa from Costa in Florida or Italy. My travel agency, which are specialists in cruises, cannot obtain information about their product.

 

My guess is: North Americans need not apply?

 

This seems like a strange business model if they are going to base a ship in Florida.

The ship is based in Florida mostly for the Europeans. There is also another ship based in the Caribbean mostly out of Guadalupe. We have also been on that one. We were the only 2 Americans.

When you walk on board a Costa ship you are basically walking into Europe. When you walk on board an American style ship you are walking into a total American experience. (when I say that I always mean North American)

Sounds like your travel agent is only experienced with the brands that cater to Americans. On the Costa Deliziosa a couple weeks ago I came across married travel agents that have been on 70 cruises. They were totally clueless about the Costa product. They hated it. Complained about really basic things. Mostly cultural to Europeans.

If you like Italy and Italians, Germans, French, Spanish, Brazilians etc. Go for it. English is spoken by most of the crew. Its the language they communicate in amongst all the different nationalites.

All announcements will be in Italian, French, German, Spanish, and English last.

You can eat as much as you want on the buffet. Portions are smaller in the dinning room if you want more just ask. You really wont see many binge eating Canadians and Americans.

The guests on board Costa dress nicer than on may American ships too. Lots of music and dancing as well.

Thank you for your response. I understand that the cruises are not "set up", as you say, for North Americans. I am a cruiser with an open mind and I love Italy and Italians. What I would like to know is what others have experienced, and if they are experienced cruisers, how a Costa Caribbean cruise compares to the North American oriented companies.

 

 

I have had much difficulty in getting any information about Costa from Costa in Florida or Italy. My travel agency, which are specialists in cruises, cannot obtain information about their product.

 

My guess is: North Americans need not apply?

 

This seems like a strange business model if they are going to base a ship in Florida.

Maybe this link to an article may give you more information.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/tourism/fl-costa-italian-cruising-20160127-story.html

I'm aware of unscrupulous agents who've told clients anything in order to get their credit card number. And my opinion of binge eating is even lower than Salve's, I can guess which Americans won't like Costa by looking at how fat they are.

On the other hand, I've been on a dozen cruise lines, none of them come close to Costa for music and dancing. I'm currently on Deliziosa with an American group, the organizer usually does weekends outside New York City this is her 10th Costa cruise, she sells out her space.

Deliziosa in the Caribbean:

24 hour coffee/tea;

evening buffet, although only til 21.00

Hot food on breakfast buffet, late riser's continental buffet til 11.00 (I'm finding I prefer the continental buffet);

if you book with Costa USA you get waterusa package, water by the glass at dinner, other markets have different terms and conditions;

many new packages, both all-inclusive and fixed-quantity, look to be good value;

Cappucino 3.50 US, which is comparable to what I was paying in France last November;

English is the working language for the hotel staff, all front-line staff speak passable English;

Costa has contracted with a Hungarian agency for Latin dance teams (two couples) for many of their ships, good shows, they also dance with passengers, (worth an entire thread itself).

The English language hostess confirmed the changes were made when the ship arrived at PEV, we don't know if this is the new policy or whether it will change back to European service when it leaves.

Would you know how many (if any) formal nights on the 10 nt Caribbean?

Thanks

I'm aware of unscrupulous agents who've told clients anything in order to get their credit card number. And my opinion of binge eating is even lower than Salve's, I can guess which Americans won't like Costa by looking at how fat they are.

On the other hand, I've been on a dozen cruise lines, none of them come close to Costa for music and dancing. I'm currently on Deliziosa with an American group, the organizer usually does weekends outside New York City this is her 10th Costa cruise, she sells out her space.

Deliziosa in the Caribbean:

24 hour coffee/tea;

evening buffet, although only til 21.00

Hot food on breakfast buffet, late riser's continental buffet til 11.00 (I'm finding I prefer the continental buffet);

if you book with Costa USA you get waterusa package, water by the glass at dinner, other markets have different terms and conditions;

many new packages, both all-inclusive and fixed-quantity, look to be good value;

Cappucino 3.50 US, which is comparable to what I was paying in France last November;

English is the working language for the hotel staff, all front-line staff speak passable English;

Costa has contracted with a Hungarian agency for Latin dance teams (two couples) for many of their ships, good shows, they also dance with passengers, (worth an entire thread itself).

The English language hostess confirmed the changes were made when the ship arrived at PEV, we don't know if this is the new policy or whether it will change back to European service when it leaves.

Dancer Bob,

I most certainly thank you for your response and observations!

Given that I have not been able to obtain desired information from the USA office in Florida by e-mail or snail mail, I must ask how you were able to do so?

I hope that you will respond to my question. Thanks.

If you let me know what ships you've been on, I'll do my best to compare the experience if I've been on them as well.

I called Costa to find out when the balance of 2017 and early 2018 schedules would be posted.......was told April or May. Well as soon as I can book the first cruise in Jan 2018.....out pops my credit card. Already chose the cabin I want...hope that the bookings don't open first for Europeans and my cabin choice gets booked ahead of me.

In the meantime I have a med cruise on MSC's Meraviglia in Sept 2017....might just switch to the Diadema. Been away from Costa for too many years.

Anxious to experience the Deliziosa......hoping it is more like the old Costa I loved and not just Carnival with a Costa Stack....as the interiors are the same Farcus design which I don't care for. On that note...excited about the new designer Costa has selected for the next new ships. So excited I want to sail the maiden voyage in 2019...yes a long way off, but time flies by quickly these days.

Ciao for now

Tom

No, it won't be the same Costa you experienced, I've noticed changes over the years. CC815 will be on board in a few weeks, she was recently on QM2, I'll see what her opinion is as well. The two ladies on this trip, who've been on Queen Victoria, think this is one of their best trips, they're very happy with things overall.

If you let me know what ships you've been on, I'll do my best to compare the experience if I've been on them as well.

I appreciate your offer! A sampling of the vessels on which I have sailed:

HAL: Both Signature Class ships, 3 of the 4 Vista Class ships, 3 of the 4 S-Class ships, sisters Volendam and Zaandam, Amsterdam, and Prinsendam.

Carnival: Pride, Miracle, and Freedom

Princess: Star and the original Royal

Cunard: OM2 and QE2

My major frustration with Costa is the lack of information about their product that I or my travel agents can obtain.

There is an evening buffet? I've been hearing they only offer pizza?

Costa did away with the evening buffet about 2 years ago (shame on them), but are reintroducing it again. They started with the Diadema ast December and will be rollong it out fleet wide over the next 5 months.

You stated the Costa product has changed......

I consider the "old Costa" which I liked the product before Carnival Corp bought the line. The Atlantica was the fist Carnival influenced ship...and I was not pleased. How has the product changed in your eyes?

I watched a you tube video on the Diadema that was made by a Scandanavian traveler....the atmosphere onboard looked busy, lots of dancing and lots of singing. Nothing looked bad to me.....very festive crowd having fun. I am just curious as to whether the Deliziosa in the Caribbean will be a bit more quiet, less children....any thoughts?

additional questions...I am a gym rat so I will be making use of the gym daily. In conjuction with the gym, are the spa facilities coed (saunas and steam rooms) or separate for each gender? Are these facilities only available thru buying a total spa package? Are daily passes for sale?

Finally, if the passenger mix is 80% Europeans, do people dress up more than on a typical north American cruise?

Thanks

Tom

Every time I go on, I find some detail has changed, over time the changes accumulate. What hasn't changed, it's still the best cruise line of any I've experienced if you like dancing. If you're used to what HAL claims to be "nightlife", the ambiance on Costa will be a shock to your system. Continuous dancing 18.00 til 01.30. Even better than Cunard.

The 26 Jan sailing, very broad age range, but skewed toward older, there only seemed to about 20 children or so in Squok.

I don't use the gym, I try to keep my fitness program equipment-independent.

All the new Costa ships have come out of Fincantieri, strong family resemblance among the various Vista and Conquest derivatives. If you didn't like Atlantica, you probably won't like the newer versions.

Costa USA doesn't publish a brochure, I'll assume nobody here wants brochure hype anyway. The website has lots of factual information. My travel agent doesn't seem to have problems dealing with Costa, so I suspect your agent isn't trying too hard.

You stated the Costa product has changed......

I consider the "old Costa" which I liked the product before Carnival Corp bought the line. The Atlantica was the fist Carnival influenced ship...and I was not pleased. How has the product changed in your eyes?

I watched a you tube video on the Diadema that was made by a Scandanavian traveler....the atmosphere onboard looked busy, lots of dancing and lots of singing. Nothing looked bad to me.....very festive crowd having fun. I am just curious as to whether the Deliziosa in the Caribbean will be a bit more quiet, less children....any thoughts?

additional questions...I am a gym rat so I will be making use of the gym daily. In conjuction with the gym, are the spa facilities coed (saunas and steam rooms) or separate for each gender? Are these facilities only available thru buying a total spa package? Are daily passes for sale?

Finally, if the passenger mix is 80% Europeans, do people dress up more than on a typical north American cruise?

Thanks

Tom

Yes, People tend to dress up more than on an typical north American cruise.

Dancer Bob,

Thanks for responding to some of my questions.

My computer does not play well with Costa's web site. So, I am limited as to what their web site can tell me. I am "old school" and like a hard copy of a brochure, particularly deck plans where I can see far more easily what is above, below, and around a possible stateroom that I might think about booking.

I work with 2 of the major bricks and mortar travel agencies in the nation and neither are able to obtain much information from Costa's Florida's office. Seeing that you are from Canada, perhaps, Costa prefers Canadian guests rather than American guests?

Dancer Bob,

 

Thanks for responding to some of my questions.

 

My computer does not play well with Costa's web site. So, I am limited as to what their web site can tell me. I am "old school" and like a hard copy of a brochure, particularly deck plans where I can see far more easily what is above, below, and around a possible stateroom that I might think about booking.

 

I work with 2 of the major bricks and mortar travel agencies in the nation and neither are able to obtain much information from Costa's Florida's office. Seeing that you are from Canada, perhaps, Costa prefers Canadian guests rather than American guests?

Have you tried the Costa UK Website?

Have you tried the Costa UK Website?

No. Why would it work better than the U. S. web site?

No. Why would it work better than the U. S. web site?

Because UK is nearer to Italy so Costa get more Brit passengers than from US, so more infor is provided.

No. Why would it work better than the U. S. web site?

Because it does, probably has more servers.

No. Why would it work better than the U. S. web site?

US website is not a huge priority for Costa. Lots of outdated information on it.

I usually just go to the Italian website. Now that site IS a priority for Costa.

Well, thanks for the information! I will try that.

The last Costa Deliziosa cruise had maybe 250 English speakers aboard, mostly Americans and Canadians affiliated with the Stardust dance group. They market to Europeans and South Americans (Brazil) who fly into Florida and go directly to the ship. This may be why you do not see much marketing material in US.