Costa questions-first time

Hi everyone. In June, we are going on our first Costa cruise on Mediterranean Fascinosa cruise. This will be our 6th cruise (4 with MSC and 1 with Royal). We are considering in buying all inclusive drink package.Does anyone can tell me what kind of drinks are availible for free on the ship (MSC have water/coffe/tea station availible 24hour a day, also Royal) - is here the same?

In the drink package...if I order water do I get it in the bottle to carry on shore or do they give it just in the glass?

Is there a price difference if we order drink package before cruise or on the day of embarkation?

We are open minded so all negative reviews about Costa does not have an affect on us..So we are super excited to try something new and to see new places on beautiful ship:)

Usually free water station is open in buffet time. On most Costa ships (all except "neo") buffet is closed in the evening. Sometimes water station is available also near pool - but not always.

Tea/coffee is available for free only for breakfast/lunch.

In restaurants if you do not have package, all drinks (including water) are paid. I heard that guests from US have water for free but do not know how it is working.

If you have drink package, you receive water/beer/wine in glasses only.

As I remember price of packages before and on the cruise are the same. I hope they have not changed it.

Usually free water station is open in buffet time. On most Costa ships (all except "neo") buffet is closed in the evening. Sometimes water station is available also near pool - but not always.

 

Tea/coffee is available for free only for breakfast/lunch.

 

In restaurants if you do not have package, all drinks (including water) are paid. I heard that guests from US have water for free but do not know how it is working.

 

If you have drink package, you receive water/beer/wine in glasses only.

 

As I remember price of packages before and on the cruise are the same. I hope they have not changed it.

Thank you for all the info:) We will definitely buy package now:).The dinner is only in the dining room if I can understand?

The free water in the MDR for Americas works in that on their Costa Cards is printed WaterUSA.

Dinner is in the MDR, sometimes the buffet is open in the evenings (very occassionaly if there are excursions due back later than first sitting in MDR). In the evening there is also pizza available (pizza, salad & dessert) for €7.00.

By popular demand, Costa is reintroducing the evening buffet fleet wide. This started with the Diadema in December 2015 and will be rolled out to all ships by end of June 2016, example the pacifica will be getting the evening buffet as from 24th. April.

As an after thought, ask your Costa or TA if the Deliziosa has the evening buffet or when will it be introduced.

Thank you:)

Deliziosa had buffet every night 19.00 to 21.00 on the Transatlantic back to Venice, coffee/tea 24 hr. Pizza was available 4 euros per person til 00.30, good pizza by European standards. Savona- Venice was also sold as a separate segment, I assume if they were going to change back they would have done it in Savona.

Are on the Pacifica from Savona to Hamburg from 8 May 2016. I shall make a point of letting GMT and others know if the evening buffet is indeed functioning. It would be good if it were, as it would make the MDR less busy. We have been lucky enough to have been given an upgrade from Classic Balcony to Samsara balcony. Don't know what practical benefits this will give us, but we are certainly tempted to purchase a Spa pass for a few days to go with it - probably do that on the ship. I use the gym anyway so it will be great to be close - i.e not too far to walk.

Has anyone found out if the evening buffets are being reintroduced ?

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Has anyone found out if the evening buffets are being reintroduced ?

 

 

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If you don't believe what is written above then why ask here, go straight to Costa and ask.

Has anyone found out if the evening buffets are being reintroduced ?

 

 

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Certainly were on Mediterranea last week Apr 23 -Apr 30.

Water station open too at this time

Biggest recent change on Costa is the non availability of ice cream as 'always on' or 'fall back' dessert in the MDR.

Biggest recent change on Costa is the non availability of ice cream as 'always on' or 'fall back' dessert in the MDR.

Ice cream/gelato is not available anymore?!

The "real" ice cream is still available as a dessert in the MDR, the soft ice cream machines that used to be in the biffet area I haven't seen in a long time.

There is the Amarillo Ice Cream Bar on Diadema (only ship that I know that has this facility), the ice cream is chargeable.

I do not think that ice cream is part of any drinks package.

The "real" ice cream is still available as a dessert in the MDR, the soft ice cream machines that used to be in the biffet area I haven't seen in a long time.

 

There is the Amarillo Ice Cream Bar on Diadema (only ship that I know that has this facility), the ice cream is chargeable.

 

I do not think that ice cream is part of any drinks package.

I have to correct you GMT.

Soft ice cream is gone since Sept 2014. However real ice cream in the MDR IS GONE GONE GONE for a month now!!!! It is no longer listed in the 'always on' desserts which was great for kids!

On Costa Med, there were two ice cream carts selling ice cream at the pool and in the casino. This was chargeable.

I have to correct you GMT.

Soft ice cream is gone since Sept 2014. However real ice cream in the MDR IS GONE GONE GONE for a month now!!!! It is no longer listed in the 'always on' desserts which was great for kids!

 

On Costa Med, there were two ice cream carts selling ice cream at the pool and in the casino. This was chargeable.

I have to correct you Tomvent.

On the Pacifica, in April, our Grandkids had ice cream every evening. If it is not shown on the MDR menu, just ask the waiters.

I have to correct you Tomvent.

 

On the Pacifica, in April, our Grandkids had ice cream every evening. If it is not shown on the MDR menu, just ask the waiters.

Thank you for that G.M.T.

Tom often vents in the wrong direction.

Hmmm...I wonder if it is a "by ship" availability situation. I'll be sure to report back in early July when my family returns from our cruise on the Favolosa.

I have to correct you Tomvent.

 

On the Pacifica, in April, our Grandkids had ice cream every evening. If it is not shown on the MDR menu, just ask the waiters.

We did ask. Since April 3rd the new policy is no ice cream in the MDR, it can be purchased at the Gelaterias at the Casino or the pool deck if you wish. Clearly Costa are rolling this out on a ship by ship case.

I am not sure where your Grandkids sailed on Pacifica - perhaps it is only rolled out in Europe or on the ships when they reposition to Europe.

One thing I am absolutely definite about was on Mediterranea is that IceCream is gone from the MDR. I did create enough of a stink about it.

We did ask. Since April 3rd the new policy is no ice cream in the MDR, it can be purchased at the Gelaterias at the Casino or the pool deck if you wish. Clearly Costa are rolling this out on a ship by ship case.

 

I am not sure where your Grandkids sailed on Pacifica - perhaps it is only rolled out in Europe or on the ships when they reposition to Europe.

 

One thing I am absolutely definite about was on Mediterranea is that IceCream is gone from the MDR. I did create enough of a stink about it.

I did not ask. Since the policy was ice cream in the MDR and no ice cream carts anywhere. I don't see Costa rolling anything out.

I know where my Grandkids sailed on the Pacifica, so now we have gone from "clealy rolling out" to "perhaps it is only rolled out".

One thing I am absolute definite about was on Pacifica is that IceCream was not gone from the MDR, or to paraphrase one of your early messages

"However real ice cream in the MDR IS NOT GONE NOT GONE NOT GONE for a month now".

I did not ask. Since the policy was ice cream in the MDR and no ice cream carts anywhere. I don't see Costa rolling anything out.

 

I know where my Grandkids sailed on the Pacifica, so now we have gone from "clealy rolling out" to "perhaps it is only rolled out".

 

One thing I am absolute definite about was on Pacifica is that IceCream was not gone from the MDR, or to paraphrase one of your early messages

"However real ice cream in the MDR IS NOT GONE NOT GONE NOT GONE for a month now".

It as gone from the MDR on Costa Mediterranea on a cruise taken from April 23 - 30.

I asked how long it had been gone. Maitre D and English Speaking Host advised - approximately a month.

Today customer service have advised me by email that the policy is to roll out the gelateria and discontinue serving icecream in the MDR across the fleet by end of June. So yes they are clearly rolling out the policy and it looks like it had not been rolled out in Pacifica during your Grandkids cruise whereas it had on ours.

No need to be so defensive about this or secretive about where your Grandkids cruised.

It as gone from the MDR on Costa Mediterranea on a cruise taken from April 23 - 30.

 

I asked how long it had been gone. Maitre D and English Speaking Host advised - approximately a month.

 

Today customer service have advised me by email that the policy is to roll out the gelateria and discontinue serving icecream in the MDR across the fleet by end of June. So yes they are clearly rolling out the policy and it looks like it had not been rolled out in Pacifica during your Grandkids cruise whereas it had on ours.

 

No need to be so defensive about this or secretive about where your Grandkids cruised.

I am not being defensive, I am just using the same tone in my messages as you did. I posted my experiences and you come back "screaming" "However real ice cream in the MDR IS GONE GONE GONE for a month now!!!!"

What's your interest in my Grandkids??? Where they cruise is none of your business. If you are so interest why not look up the Pacifica cruises in a Costa catalogue.

If you would come down from your high horse and post in a civil and courtesy manner then you will received the same back.

I am not being defensive, I am just using the same tone in my messages as you did. I posted my experiences and you come back "screaming" "However real ice cream in the MDR IS GONE GONE GONE for a month now!!!!"

 

What's your interest in my Grandkids??? Where they cruise is none of your business. If you are so interest why not look up the Pacifica cruises in a Costa catalogue.

 

If you would come down from your high horse and post in a civil and courtesy manner then you will received the same back.

I am stating facts, when, where etc. You are reporting hearsay!

Never mind! 'Screaming' was your word and not mine.

I am stating facts, when, where etc. You are reporting hearsay!

 

Never mind! 'Screaming' was your word and not mine.

How can seeing my Grandkids eat ice cream in the MDR for a week long be hearsay.

For me you have lost all credibillity. Stay on your high horse and just rise off into the setting sun.

How can seeing my Grandkids eat ice cream in the MDR for a week long be hearsay.

 

For me you have lost all credibillity. Stay on your high horse and just rise off into the setting sun.

You have never said you saw your Grandkids. This is the first mention of you seeing them.

As regards your opinion of my credibility. Am I bovvered? No!