Salve

I can't get a clear answer on this. :rolleyes: What time should we plan on arriving at the port for a departure on Costa Deliziosa on December 20? We don't have any special early boarding privileges. TIA for any thoughts / advice.

In the past we have boarded between 12:30 and 1:30

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Are there trivia sessions on Costa' transatlantic cruises, and if so, in what language?

 

Thanks in advance.

Yes. Italian, French, German, Spanish, English and others if needed

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Does anyone know if they will show the Super Bowl on Deliziosa in Feb

 

 

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Yes. They will

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How late can I check in for a cruise leaving Ft. lauderdale at 11PM ?

Also be aware of mandatory muster drill before departure.

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Can you disembark on Day 6 of a 7-day cruise? Can it be arranged in advance? Are there penalties? Should a person just leave and be a no-show that night?

 

 

 

We are trying to fit a 7-day cruise into our agenda, but with USA-to-Europe flight times, we need to disembark the ship 1 day early, at the Day 6 port. Is it an option or should I just wait 15 years until I retire? (I really want to go NOW...!)

Yes. We have also done this. You must let the ship know you are leaving early.

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I believe that the service charge is mandatory for USA citizens as well. However, I have always followed protocol for tipping / svc charge as I know this is a vital portion of their pay.

Service charge is NOT mandatory for USA citizens. Tradition is to tip by envelope at the end of the cruise to crew members of their choice. Some do this, some just leave the service charge (tip) on their bill and some others just stiff the crew.

Costa prices are hugely DIFFERENT for different continents & regions.

Dear Costa expert cruisers,

I notice Costa prices are hugely DIFFERENT for different continents & regions (for the same cabin, same ship, same sailing).

Any idea why this DISCRIMINATION?

Do other cruise lines (Royal, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, Princess) also have differential pricing for different regions, or is it only Costa?

Thanks, drsel

In the industry its called yield management or similar.

Supply and demand. Different prices and discounts for different states in the US too.

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I'm going on the Delizioso in February and was looking at the packages for the pay restaurants: eg Samsara, pizza ,and hamburger combination for $38. My question is can you buy these packages on the ship for the same price and are you guaranteed to be able to get a reservation for them once you've purchased package. Do these restaurants fill up before you get on ship?? Also is there any pizza on ship without an extra charge??:)

If you have a drink package I think you can get half off the going rate for pay restaurants and you should be able to be seated at anytime they are open.

Free pizza is available during lunch.

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Hello Dancer Bob,

 

I like ballroom dancing too!.

To give you an idea of their schedule in Grand Bar while on TA:

6:00pm recorded music

7:00-9:00pm live music on some evenings, on other evenings 7:00-8:15 when entertainment team had an event there.

10:00 - 11:30 live music, again on some evenings partly replaced by party from animation team (which means line dancing or games)

After 11:30 recorded music, still people dancing but not a lot going on in Grand Bar.

For the whole cruise only La Dolce Vita Band played live in Grand Bar.

 

Greetings!

There was also a guitarist that filled in at times in the Grand Bar.

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What happened to Costa Serena? I can't find itinerary's anywhere and i can't select her on the Costa site to find cruises on her.

 

 

 

Could some one explain this please,

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.

She is in China.

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I think you are missing the point: The problem is with the Costa Deliziosa and it's staff, not the OP. Their issues are also ones experienced by us and we disembarked on Wednesday as well.

 

Some people's standards of cleanliness are different from others.

 

Some people just expect more from a cruise after spending good money on them, others are satisfied with substandard amenities and service-all in the name of a good price.

 

We spoke with a German couple on their 22nd Costa cruise. When asked if they liked Costa they replied, "No, they're terrible." And yet they continue to cruise with them.

 

Absolutely unbelievable....

I didn't miss any point. Just stated things as I saw them.

We also had a Panorama Suite, aft, deck eight, port side . First thing I do on a Costa cruise is request engineering to adjust the HVAC to the coldest setting. Likely the previous occupant complained it was too cold and it was adjusted warmer. We also kept the curtains closed when not in the cabin. Guest Services called us three times to make sure we were satisfied.

As Pearl Diamond we had access to the Club Deliziosa restaurant. Service was too slow for us so we asked and received a table for two on deck three in the dining room. Second seating.

We don't order every course, were served and usually left the dining room in 45 minutes. Some of the entrees we really good and some were average. None were poor.

Guest Services called to make sure my wife was satisfied with her gluten free meals.

My standards are pretty high but I don't ASSume that Costa is going to be a five star experience. You get what you pay for.

Our Butler was fairly new so we had to request a few things that should usually have been taken care.

On every Costa cruise we have been on we talk to people that hate it and people that love it.

Many times we saw nobody in queue at Guest Services. Of course at peak times such as Sea days it busy. I was also put on hold for about ten minutes when I called them. Another time they answered right away.

We are going back in three weeks on the Deliziosa, 17 January.

Im not a cheerleader, just stating facts.

Hope it's better for you next time unless you move on to another cruise line.

We have been on many cruise lines. All are in the business to make money.

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For the first time I cant wait to get off the ship, and we are on day two. Very diseappointed!

 

Service is really bad and especially in the dining room where little is being done to try to please us. Everything from slow service, mediocre food and being charged for water when you order a bottle of wine even. Not possible to get ice cream or cappucino there either.

 

 

 

Food in buffet is barely edible and beer served in plastic glasses in the pizzeria.

 

 

 

Embarkation day was a nightmare, it took us four hours to get on the ship. Eek!!

 

 

 

Ship is not very clean, there are layers of dust lots of places.

 

 

 

Trying to keep an open mind but struggling. Fingers crossed it get better!

I just disembarked the Deliziosa on Wednesday. I didn't notice anything like that at all. In fact the ship was clean and spotless. Sorry to hear of your problems.

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what is the currency on transatlantic cruises originating in the caribbean?

us$

Hello. I believe that transatlantic crossings starting in Europe will be charged in Euros. I have copied and pasted from Costa site below. Hope this helps and Happy cruising. :)

 

 

 

On Board Currency

 

Euro (non-Caribbean itineraties), US Dollar (Caribbean itineraries)

Now I remember!

Thanks

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We will be traveling on the November Transatlantic cruise on the Deliziosa from Venice to Fort Lauderdale.

 

Anyone know if the currency will be Euros onboard?

 

Did a similar cruise 10 years ago and can't remember what was used onboard and in the Casino.

 

Thanks,

 

tnt10

We have done a few TAs to FLL and if I remember right it's US$

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Does anyone know if Costa offers the Mayan Ruins tour in Cozumel, and does it visit the Chicen Itza?

 

Any other hot tips for excursions?

 

 

 

Many thanks!

Yes, they have the last couple years.

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Yes it was the same on our last 2 cruises. Gone are the good old days of cruising, but when we pay so little can we expect the same standards....

 

I just don't like the quality of most of Costas "musicians" (with exception of theatre company as they're usually vg), I can hear better at home from amateur productions or even my husband singing in the bath!!

 

The recorded music is sometimes a welcome relief. They don't seem to have many sound technicians nowadays

 

It won't put me off going on a Costa cruise though:)

 

Hope everything else is good for you on Pacifica

 

 

 

Caryl

Tha Costa Pacifica is the "ship of music."

Now maybe the "ship of canned music"

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I'm on Pacifica right now. There is only one group playing in the Grand Bar, they fill in the gap with recorded music. I understand from the Cruise Director this is the new fleet policy.

I don't see anything really wrong with the idea, evey dance place around here uses recorded music. But the implementation needs work. There doesn't seem to anybody assigned to make sure it's working- I had to complain the first night, the volume was so low as to be inaudible. And nobody seems to be checking to adjust the music mix to the passenger mix. Haven't had a chance to talk to the CD in the last couple of days, has anybody else encountered this?

I'll be on the TA Deliziosa in 4 weeks. Hopefully it won't be implemented on the crossing or a couple weeks later when we will be on her again. Wishing Dou Contato will be aboard.

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Looking forward to being Perla Diamante and getting that luggage transfer perk. Save a little extra on the dreaded Ryanair.:D

 

 

 

I wonder whether we will get the club restaurant because of the suite or whether that is excluded because it's an upgrade. I have scoured that section of the rules and regulations but still don't find it particularly clear.

 

 

 

Can't be too bothered. Just looking forward to cruising.

 

 

 

Caspall let hubby call Costa and ask for the upgrade if they have not done it automatically. As I said, looks as if you don't ask you don't necessarily get!

 

 

 

As for OBC, we have received varying amounts since we became Perla. The best was the very first time when hubby got 10 Euro and said I could decide on a number on Roulette. Had to use in the Casino then. One spin of the wheel and I won 300E. The staff could not believe their eyes. Neither could we! We left immediately with our spoils. Tried a few times since and no such luck. Now use it for other things.

Suite perks excluded for upgrade.

Unless upgraded because of Pearl Diamond. Then included.

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One other great perk is the free luggage delivery for Pearla Diamante members, we have been using BagExpress.it ever since Costa recommended them, they are excellent & very reliable, you can track your cases all the way to the ship, this perk saved us many Euros on our June Cruise.

Book-in for any flight before leaving home & walk through Security with just hand luggage & be ready for boarding within one hour, Magic.

 

If using don't forget to pack one change each, just in case of a mistake.

It would be nice if they did the luggage transfer for American's.

There are also other benefits of Pearl Diamond we don't receive.

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We have had a couple upgrades due to Pearl Diamond status.

Nice benefit. But then again we have spent lots of money with Costa too.

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Thinking of going on a Costa cruise out of Venice to the Greek Islands; has anyone done this cruise?

Yup. Do you have a specific question?

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Having a similar problem as have been offered an excellent rate on Favolosa cabin 6303, but also wondering about possible noise from the Grand Bar below it...

Grand Bar music may going on until 1:30am

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Salve,

 

are you on the neoRomantica repositioning cruise Mauritius - Shanghai?

 

We'll be on her in December, try to leave the ship in one piece.:)

Yes, and thanks for being nice to her.

They will leave her in China.

We were on the Fortuna repositioning to China in April.

Very interesting watching the ship get "Asianized"

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1394 reader reviews here.Just look at top of page, left. Costa is an Italian line for Europeans. Most Americans do not like it.And this is the concensus over the years. Do not book a long cruise without trying them on a short one.They used to do Caribbeans but may have pulled out of States.

Hmmmm, good advice I would take that into consideration except:

I've been on :

Costa Fortuna: 4 times

Costa Luminosa: 3 times

Costa Deliziosa: 2 times, again in November 2016 and January and November 2017

Costa Atlantica: 2 times

Costa Mediterranea: 2 times

Costa Facinosa: 1 time

Costa Magica: 1 time, again in July 2017

Costa Pacifica: 1 time

Costa Favolosa: 1 time

Costa Neo-Romantica: March and April 2017

Costa Luminosa: World Cruise 106 days, January 2018, booking tomorrow