At7Seas

I have no doubt that there exist huge differences between cruise lines. What I experienced as terrible I didn’t choose for my world cruise. So I reduced the choice from hostel and five star hotel to that between four and five stars. Yes, there are still differences. And whether you go for the little more or not is your decision. But I doubt that as general rule paying several times more would result in a lower grand total. As long as I won’t loose more than 30,000 € in the casino it simply can’t happen. And I don’t gamble at all. Yes, I made projections when booking. But at the stage I am now in I have facts based on contracts or even payments I already made. Projection was that I would spend an average of 100 € per excursion. Contractual commitment remains 11.14 % below this projection. And I visit every port as it would be the last time I would ever be there. At least if I have not the next booking for this port already. The factual price range for excursions is between included in the fare and 335.08 € per day. I admit I could have spent the day at the beach nearby instead of spending 335.08 €, but this is not what I wanted. And where I was not convinced by an included excursion I simply decided to do something else. Since I know by experience that the food will taste great I could have decided to dine in the MDR only, but my calculations include speciality restaurant visits for having some more variation aboard. Not just projections but confirmed bookings. I could go on. The largest variable left is for drinks and meal ashore, but these costs are completely independent from the cruise line I am sailing with. I promise you to put my numbers here after the cruise. I assure you that the ship I will sail on is no rusty bucket, last year I was on this vessel and the ship was top maintained, which is simply the standard on this line. Earlier this year I was on a rusty bucket of another company for 30 days, because I wanted to sail back home and there was only one line going the route I wanted to do. It was unpleasant from the very first day, you really don’t need one month to stay on a bad ship as I did to experience that, for sure not five. Of course I won’t sail on a mega ship, none of them do world cruises. Just to mention it, I never saw remarkable low prices on this kind of ships. Whatever the savings per passenger are regarding the size of a ship we customers definitely pay for the “innovations” to fill a day brought aboard the recent years. Personally I don’t need them. Back to the ship I will actually sail on. Not only the maintenance was spotless as mentioned, also service, food and entertainment I enjoyed a lot. Professional and fast reacting service as well as friendliness is no question of the price tag of a cruise. It is simply a basic every guest may expect - not only aboard a cruise ship. Sure, regarding food a lot depends on what we are used to, on our personal likes and dislikes. In this case my likes are fit and even more important the preparation is done highly professionally. I'm not snobbish, if cheap ingredients are combined to a sensational taste this meal is a success, regardless the price. But if an expensive piece of meat is badly prepared it is simply not eatable, regardless the price of the meat. I am cruising solo, bottles of wine is nothing I want to order. A lot of wines are no longer very tasty the second day already, let alone a third. Usually I’ll have the choice between each three quite good red and white wines and one rosé by the glass. This is for me the better alternative compared to a daily decline of quality just to try to top the open wine the first day of a bottle. Of course in this context it doesn’t matter whether a bottle is purchased aboard or ashore. Chances that I won’t drink a single beer aboard are pretty large. The included variety of drinks included in the beverage package is so huge that on this cruise line I never had a single drink on my account and still I haven’t tried everything offered. I only paid for taking bottled water ashore and for this I bought water packages already. Surprisingly enough I know already how often I plan to go ashore. And entertainment was especially on longer sailings really good, because additionally to the noteworthy own ensemble aboard great guest artists were flown in, so the entertainment became much more diverse. And I go for cultural events, I have the opportunity to visit three ashore as well, most well known venue I will visit is Sydney Opera House. Since I have bought my ticket already it is no longer a projection, but I know exactly the amount I paid.

This is very true of course. But this should be done narrowly and I did it for my upcoming world cruise. Forgive me that I didn’t look-up a Viking price now. But if I regard the 2025 starting price of 64,788.29 € Azamara charges and compare that to the grand total of my own booking the result is very different from yours. My calculation is of course the cruise fare including all transportation, nights at a hotel, speciality restaurant pre-bookings, in every single port an excursion - and there I was only cost sensitive if the excursion I wanted to do was offered by several suppliers - included is laundry service, wifi, beverage package, mineral water to take ashore, service charge, short everything that can be planned from leaving my house until opening my front door again. Even if I break it down to daily costs (the cruise plus one day hotel by Azamara is a few days longer than my journey and this has to be paid of course) Azamara remains 83.54 % more expensive than my cruise. Some differences I didn’t add to the Azamara price, for example that not everything might be covered by Azamara OBC, that in my calculation insurance is included, I didn’t see port fees and other taxes on the Azamara cruise, while included in my calculation, that I am not sailing in the cheapest available cabin and so on. I know the ship I will sail on, I already had a cabin a few doors down the same corridor, and I am very comfortable with that ship. I am convinced by the itinerary. For paying nearly twice the price the difference would need to be gigantic. If everybody on a ship has as many drinks as he wants included in the price it is in economic interest of the cruise line to encourage the guests to buy their wine ashore and drink during the cruise. Viking wasn’t kind, but cheap in this context…

Yes, you name a lot of included items. The price as quoted on their website starts at 64,788.29 € for the cheapest available cabin single occupation in 2025 (2024 is no longer available). It is simple to do the maths how much the included items cost elsewhere to compare. I know what I will pay for my 2024 world cruise and Azamara is still extremely expensive! Remains the question, whether it is worth for you to pay so much more.

Well, I heard by rumours that MSC treats YC guests not too bad. I was on an MSC ship without earlier this year. My expectations regarding service and food were already very low after an earlier experience, but it was the only option to do this itinerary. On these 30 days from Cape Town to Italy most people I talked with felt very uncomfortable, but many had also an excuse: MSC is cheap. Had you ever been on a cruise where at taks before dinner were about what could be eatable at all? I was! For me this was returning home after a longer stay in South Africa along some wonderful islands, I don’t want to imagine what it would have meant to me if I flew over just to do that cruise! https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=706886

Well, not mentioned does not mean not due. The UK strives away from EU regulations and the main legal source of customer protection for me - as I am living within - is the EU legislation. And Costa definitely uses changes to promote their cruises. Did they announce expressively “from date x no service charge added to your bill”? If you really want to know you should ask your customer service whether there is no service charge due. Costa‘s website for the UK show only one version of terms and conditions, valid since December 12th, 2021. Currently no change is announced or has been introduced recently. This document includes one clear understandable sentence: "The service charge is not included in the Rates and is debited each day in the same way as occurs for other expenses incurred." https://www.costacruises.co.uk/general-conditions/contract.html There are several specifications including the one and only exception - for children younger than 4 years old. BTW in this source the Fortuna is mentioned as well.

I shop around within the EU for the best price or conditions. Years ago I held a booking in the UK and the service charge was added to the price. My Costa cruises booked on the Dutch market and the rest of Europe market (without dedicated country websites) were as UK bookings, service charge was added to the board account. I definitely know that the service charge is included in Germany and Austria since many years, as far as I am aware it is the same in Switzerland, but I never tried it out. Only thing all these bookings had in common: taxes were included, not as Yukiie mentioned for the US market. I am not aware Costa would have ever included the service charge as promotion, while I got the one or other beverage package this way.

Apropos EU: here all taxes must be included in the fare. Austria and Germany require that even the service charge is included in the fare. Mentioning up front the amount is not up front enough according to their judges. That’s why I wrote about the service charge “where allowed”. Prices look higher, but aren’t necessarily. Only that the UK, where CocktailPrincess is from, is no longer part of the EU, so local laws are applicable.

There are water dispensers and they are free to use on the pool deck / buffet, for breakfast also juices are available at these stations. It is the same tap water as in the cabins. In the Main Dining Rooms only mineral water is served with lunch and dinner. But an important note: if you want an all-inclusive softdrink package everybody in a booking has to take the same, just to prohibit that one person pays all-inclusive and distributes drinks among friends and family. It could be a solution to book two cabins independently with different tariffs, an 18-years adult may cruise on her own... Lately somebody had put menus here onto the forum, so look yourself what works out for you. I never saw the softdrink packages in online presale, on my last cruise it was offered aboard at 29 € per person and day. Alternatively you have the possibility to buy vouchers, 20 glasses for 79 € or 40 glasses for 135 €. These you may share within the family. 13 bottles with mineral water are for sale for 42 €.

And there is a Costa bus from Milano Centrale railway station directly to the terminal. Just for the next time when Milan might be explored. It was about the same price as the train ticket for a direct train from Milan to Savona. Last year it started at 9:15 AM.

Yes, use of youth facilities is limited to 17 years. The Diadema has two pools. That one in the centre is under a sliding roof, which will be closed when it becomes a little bit fresh already. So it can be used pretty much all the time. Only when the sea gets that rough that being in the pool would be dangerous the internal pool will be emptied. This happens very seldom, but I had it recently on another Costa vessel in the Bay of Biscay during an autumn storm. The pool at the heck can’t be covered and use really depends on the weather. If that is fine there is no reason not to use it.

Well, I am afraid for an 18-year-old the youth facilities will remain closed, we talk about a young adult. This means every other facility of the ship will be open for him or her. Costa is absolute top regarding entertainment, there is life music everywhere, looking for something suiting the own taste is easy. MSC bored even me to bed. If you can afford it do Costa, from how they treat their guests to maintenance of the ship, from food to hygiene they are far superior. And I enjoyed Northern Norway during summer both with T-shirt and a thick coat, regarding weather you simply need luck, it is not predictable.

Yes, as the most cruise lines Costa charges a service fee as well on markets where this is allowed. This is indeed 11 € per adult and night currently on all ships. It is during booking process shown next to the price of the cruise with the wording “Mandatory service fees are not included in the price: Adults €11/night.” The sheet you put here shows by date when the fee changed to 11 € per ship with the end of the winter season 2021/22. In fact the Fortuna rejoined service after that date. Not all today bookable ships are in the list, while the Luminosa left the fleet in the meanwhile. I think Costa really should renew the table from time to time. Your deal is far below usual pricing, obviously Costa needed to fill some remaining cabins, however this has no influence on additional costs. BTW, if you don’t have an all-inclusive booking drinks with a very few exceptions are not included.

This link provides just a possibility to pay long before payment is due, not the most important thing. If you don’t pay too early Costa sends an invoice in time and tells on which bank account they want to receive the payment and - if applicable on that market - inform about alternative payment options. Couldn’t be easier.

Well, I wouldn’t sign for that! Yes, socks are definitely allowed, but no obligation. The only time ever I was told to keep socks on was in an Indian temple dedicated to a local deity. As far as we are talking about religious places I accept the different rules. Also here in Europe I cover my head when I enter a synagogue and do exactly the opposite on the doorstep of a church. When you leave the cruise in Venice you won’t be able to visit St Mark Basilica if you wear a sleeveless top or shorts. Among the four Muslim countries we will visit on our cruise Oman is the most traditional country. The last time I had been to Salalah I visited during an excursion the tomb of Job, which is today a Muslim shrine where all rules of religious places are applicable and checked at the entrance. I put here the upper edge of a picture showing feet of other visitors: As you can see yourself bare feet as well as socks, but no knees and no shoes. Of course here we talk about visiting of religious sites and I used the example to say that where rules are very strict there no generally forbidden things will happen. None of these countries we’ll visit forces women to wear headscarves in the street or allows you to leave house (or ship) only accompanied by your husband, father, or a brother. Quite different from the Arab countries is Malaysia, especially the parts we will visit. Although Islam is the state religion the population is very mixed in Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown and people are very much used to different cultures.

Men definitely can do so, most locals wear flip-flops and other open shoes. But, honestly, I have never travelled as woman in a Muslim country. Another thought: when entering a mosque it is compulsory to leave the shoes at the entrance. From this I think showing toes can’t be too problematic.

Since we are comparing prices now, my 2024 world cruise of 127 days I got for 21,367 € including all taxes, insurance, a transfer, beverage package, and 15 shore excursions. As I mentioned before the single supplement was relatively low. No need to retire earlier than planned, because it is fully booked since long. But I agree with SargassoPirate in many things. I also go for a Luxury Inside Suite (nice expression), I sleep in my cabin, use the bathroom and it is the storage for my belongings. I am definitely not staying long times of the day there. My balcony is nearly 30 meters wide, has a bar, a pool, and it’s just two decks above… Regarding laundry I want to add that there are also packages on several lines, I will get everything back washed, ironed, and folded for 80 Eurocent per piece, that price doesn’t really cause sleepless nights and you can hardly beat the convenience. And yes, use a cruise line you already know or simply go and try them on a shorter cruise before booking the world cruise! Things tend to work differently to different people. There is a generally quite good reviewed cruise line for example that didn’t do anything really wrong, but was to me so terrible unimpressive and uninspired in every detail that they would need a unique itinerary to make me going with them again. Besides, I’ll do my world cruise with a line that is cracked down a lot, most commonly reported problem is that they serve mineral water instead of tap water in the MDR. But I think I will survive that again.

Well, right now the Bolearis will sail the world cruise. I trapped into the strange use of the word single by Fred Olson. If you select single it is not a cabin with one single bed as I thought, but they show cabins with two separate – or as they say single - beds, which I would call a twin cabin - but who am I? Of course you only see that as soon as you try to figure out the price for a single. Worse I regard the high single supplement they charge.

No idea besides to contact cruise line or TA. But are you aware that this is the Costa forum, not Celebrity? Perhaps you make a better chance to get an answer if you post your question on the Celebrity pages.

I am afraid the answer is yes, a single supplement is standard. Just the percentage varies massively. Some cruise lines even show available cabins for double occupation, while they say “sold out” as soon as you switch to single. It all depends on the policy of the cruise line and whether the ship is booked full or not. For my own booked world cruise I have to pay about 50% supplement, but short before it became fully booked it was 100% for new bookings. And I got quotes with much above 100% supplement as well. Single cabins are very rare. During my own research for my world cruise I didn’t see any offer. I was only once at all in a single cabin when I booked last minute and got a cabin designed for wheelchair use, a normal sized cabin with just one bed at one side and a really huge bathroom. Even on NCL Epic, famous for their single studios, I decided to book a double cabin, simply because I got a better cabin at a lower price. Of course this doesn’t matter in this context, since NCL does not offer world cruises at all.

Not completely off topic: don’t forget to buy your sunblocker in time. At least where I live this is a seasonal article. Summer is over now and my world cruise will begin in the deepest winter just to head to a hot and sunny climate soon.

Again, this depends on the market. Here a menu showing the options "customise" and "check-in" only:

Lucky you! Finding something that fits can be quite challenging - also in India!

Currently there are four internet options, although I recently saw this on a Costa website data packages of 250 MB to 3 GB were no longer for sale on my last cruise, on. Packages can‘t be bought for single days, but allow unlimited traffic. Smallest package is for use of WhatsApp only. Then they have a social media package for a number of platforms. And a full package with unlimited use of internet. The latter was last month 14 € per day for club members (regardless of status, also for members on their first Costa cruise). Package allows using more than one device, but only one device can log into the system at a time. Who needs very little internet connection can use a pay as you go option paid by minute. When connected the very first time on a cruise a fee of 3 € has to be paid.

What payment options Costa offers depends really on the market where the cruise has been booked. This includes different menu items in My Costa. I am aware of a dozen Costa sites for the different European markets only, all with more or less different rules, and I have booked through five so far. Here in Europe - and the question came from someone who is from Central Europe - credit card payment is mainly done for the deposit, but sometimes it is just one of several options. Bank transfer is regularly asked for by Costa for the much higher final payment. But credit card payment through the call centre remains an option in Europe as well, especially if My Costa doesn’t have this option for a market. One thing we have in common in the EU, there is a European rule that forbids companies to ask for travel packages the remaining payment earlier than 30 days before the journey starts. My upcoming cruise I simply can’t pay by card, there is no way to change the limit of any card to that extent. I know that bank transfers are frowned up against in the US, here in Europe they are a very normal way of payment.