alicat58

Hi

I am not sure that you will find many people who have cruised with Costa and other lines on the Costa Boards. There are only a few of us who post regularly.

I have now been on 2 suites on Costa(upgrades) and one mini-suite (apparently glorified balcony).

Our first suite experience was on the Diadema and we had no suite benefits other than the room. We were on deck 12 in one of the Samsara suites. It was huge! the bathroom had a jacuzzi bath with shower and there was so much storage space we did not use half. There was also a lovely sitting area with a table and chairs. The balcony had a jacuzzi and was air conditioned as it was fully enclosed. It was massive and had great chairs on.

Our second suite experience was a year ago on the Fascinosa. Lovely large room, lots of storage space, dressing room area and similar bathroom to the above. We had the full suite benefits with this one. I cannot see the use of the butler though she topped the minibar up daily. The Itenditore package was included and the full minibar is part of the package. The balcony was a little bigger than a normal balcony.

Our min-suite was booked through Costa and was on the Neo Riviera. There were no suite benefits as these are only for suites and not for mini suites. We had a large bathroom bit Jacuzzi bath and shower over the bath.

The included drinks package really allows you just about everything on the drinks menu. You might find some of the wine on the separate wine list will not be included. The wines included were superior to the standard Piu Gusto. I am by no means a wine buff but I like wine and have done a basic tasting course in my dim and distant past.

The club restaurant is included for all suite guests. The food is identical to the MDR apparently BUT the restaurants are much better and you have lots more waiters available. You'll be looked after. Having poured over many cruise reviews on CC I think the food I have eaten on Costa looks not that disimilar to what people post. In fact I think the presentation is ofetn better. The portions are small, European style. Having multiple courses make up for it. In the club restaurant you will also have on the always available, beef fillet with Bernaise sauce and grilled prawns.They will do the fillet to your taste. If you look at my recent review on the Neo Riviera I have posted some photos of some of the dishes.

All the staff speak good English and in fact they seem to speak English to one another most of the time.

I have never been on a dirty Costa ship. They always have staff cleaning all over the ship whether it is pool deck of bars. You will often see them cleaning the hull when in post as well.

We will be on the Luminosa in a week sailing out of Venice. We have once again had an upgrade. We booked a premium balcony and were upgraded to an aft panorama suite on deck 6. I'll take some photos and post them on return.

You won't find the multiple speciality restaurants you have on other lines on Costa. I don't think the theatre entertainment is up to much but we hardly ever go anyway. We usually find some entertainer(s) who we like in a bar and that is where we will go regularly.

The daytime entertainment is probaly not as varied as some lines but we get off the ship in every port and only hang around on sea days. We take our own entertainment for that(me my Kindle and hubby his small laptop with documentaries or films).

I often read the reviews people write and stand amazed. I do not know what their expectations are. We cruise frequently but we also go on other holidays and we go to London some times so I don't think we have low expectations of our Costa cruises. I am trying very hard to get hubby to try another line but Costa wins for us in the Med.

If I can help with any questions just shout.

Alicat

Thanks. Will definitely look into it.

Alicat

Ciao Andromea

That took my fancy. Was it hard work? I am not the fittest person about. Having said that I managed to huff and puff up and down hills in Port Mahon, Ibiza and Tarragona recently. Costa has the tour as a fitness level 3! Supposed to be thing like a professional athlete I think. How much would a taxi charge for that. The costa tour is €55 pp.

Tenpin, we made use of the special once and it was great. We went to Montserrat in a small minibus. The guide who spoke English to us and French to the other 4 people. It was great! We don't like to be herded like cattle in big groups. On our latest cruise we could have gone to Valdemossa on Palma but it did not fit with our lunch plans. I just about check the restaurants in town before the excursions:D

Hi SJPO

Thanks for your suggestions.

We have been to all the ports before. My plans are as follows:

Bari: No idea. Try a walking tour. Seen most of the churches but not the "mummy" Now that will be worth it my book. Hubby cannot understand why I have such a fascination for dead bodies. Unfortunately we only arrive at 2pm so a bit late for lunch.

Athens: Quite keen to see the Acropolis museum and I have a nice looking restaurant ear marked. Will have to see about getting about. We have a bit of a hate/hate relationship with HoHo buses. Ship leaves at 4pm!

Katakolon: The little train to the wine farm and lunch.

Kotor: Sit on that massive balcony during sail in. Last time we went it was early morning and pitch dark when we left.

Split: Maybe a walking tour. We have strolled all over the town last time. We have not been inside Diocletian's palace. Then lunch somewhere nice. I have looked at the other site and I keep on changing my mind.

Costa usually offers a small group tour for diamond pearl. We've been on one. They don't cancel it even if no similar language people. The price is the same. Depends on what they offer though. I would have been keen to do something from Bari but I think it might be too early after leaving Venice.

Hey-ho don't really mind what we do or where we go. The most important things are we are cruising and we are on holiday.

Alicat

Nope. Put us out of our misery.

Alicat

Hahaha

I'll look out for the bottles whilst sipping something fizzy on that balcony.

I am getting very excited(does not take much) and need to start planning what we are going to do in the ports. We have been to all of them in the past but that is the beauty of cruising. You stay a day(or half a day) and come back and there are still things left to explore.

Any ideas?: Bari afternoon, Athens sort of full day, Katakolon( I think I have that planned-been to Olympia 3 times, enough is enough), Kotor afternoon, Split whole day.

Alicat

Hi Tenpin

Thanks for that. Hopefully smooth sailing and lots of dolphins in our wake.

I am very excited, but then, I am always excited when we are going on a cruise.

Alicat

We received an email the week. It was in code. Upgrade from PB to PS. Fortunately they added the cabin number.

Saying that my tail is wagging would be an understatement. We have been upgraded to an aft panorama balcony/suite. No suite perks this time though.

My question is, what is it like to sail aft? I read on other boards that people like aft cabins and sometimes there is mention of vibration and soot on balconies.

Anyone have experience of these?

Alicat

Our last day was a sea day and lo and behold I just discovered no photos. So I'll end this tale with something totally random.

Campari and some random drink that was actually gross.

Yummmm. Martini and coffee and cognac.

A bit early here but that looks like Tio Pepe time.

End of story. This was an amazing cruise and we'll happily do the same again. I think the Victoria will be doing it next year and it will be slightly different because it will visit Olbia and not Porte Torres.

I am not an active person but this was a very active cruise. According to by fitbit I walked 67km in the 7 days.

I am going to scan some Diario di bordo and post them in a separate thread. People often ask and I cannot recall that anyone has ever posted any. It seems to be the in thing on other boards though I skip reading them. Boring! We mainly do our own thing and rarely partake in on board activities like Trivia and fancy dress/make a fool out of yourself.

If anyone wants to ask about our experiences, please feel free.

Alicat

We did not go inside the cathedral. There were two reasons: 1)I think hubby was cathedralled out, and 2) he refused to pay whatever they charged to go in. Suffice to say I was very disappointed.

Carvings outside.

Carvings outside and door.

Just an alley way but so pretty.

Outside a tiny church which was locked.

The cathedral from behind.

Another alley.

6 photos!

Next up Tarragona. A place I have not heard of prior to this cruise. We took another taxi. It dropped us outside the casino. There is a taxi stand there and the Costa transfer stopped at the same place.

Tarragona has so many Roman ruins you'll think you are in Rome. We bought a ticket which allows you (I think) 5 entries to various places. We did not use many. Some where outside the centre and we'll visit them another time.

Also this is another town on a hill. Be prepared for lots of walking.

This is the amphitheatre from the top. There is a lift that takes you part of the way down. I was far too lazy for that after traipsing around all morning.

This is part of the Archeological site across the road from the drop off point. It is HUGE.

You can see the houses all around the site.

Later rulers built on top of the old Roman site. It is possible to go to the top of this building. I looked so tired and unfit that I managed to go to the top in the lift. The stairs would have been a bridge too far and the last lot were weany spiral ones. No thanks.

The cathedral from the top of the building shown before.

Also taken from above. There are lots of tunnels under the site. It was worth the visit.

Next up more Tarragona.

Maybe we even wandered about.

We arrived at Palma a little later the morning and decided to take a taxi into town. The transfers were about €12.50 each. We payed slightly less for the taxi and it dropped us next to the cathedral. We have visited Palma many times and would have liked to take the Costa trip offered(to Soller), but we had lunch booked in our favourite restaurant.

I think they are called Palomas. Not the best photo.

Also not a great photo but Belver Castle taken from the ship. We have taken a taxi to the top in the past. Charged us a fortune and it was difficult to get another one back to town because they are all pre-booked.

Part of our amazing lunch accompanied by a local wine called Stairway to heaven. And heavenly it was. In case anyone is interested on the left lamb loin, middle croquettas with iberian ham and on the right patatas bravas( but not as you know it). Those are safron threads on top.

Hubby's pudding. I could not have anything but coffee.

The restaurant is called Forn St Joan. I hope I have not ruined the place by giving their name away. We got another taxi from next to the cathedral and he dropped us outside the port building +/-€10. So cheaper than the transfer and much more convenient.

We would have liked to have an evening meal in Palma but all aboard was 20h30 I think and it would have been far to rushed and nerve racking.

Alicat

Hi

I have not been back adding to this travel tale for a while.

Some more Ibiza:

In the cathedral(Yes she's in a church again)

And another.

Ibiza old town studying a menu. It is so pretty. No night clubs and stuff here. We wondered about and went towards the marina area where we saw the Lady Lara(very expensive yacht) and had lunch.

Not expensive and rather delicious. Not many veges! That little bowl of pale green stuff close to my wine glass was totally devine but so garlicky we must have smelt disgusting.

Bye-bye Ibiza. Note really because we stayed till 4am but this was me for the night.

Palma de Mallorca next.

Alicat

WOW! I read all your blog entries. Amazing photos and loved all of it.

Alicat

Hi

We travel on UK passports. GMT is correct. We could not use the E-visa. We had to get the full visa because of multiple ports in India. It was expensive. I think £119 each and we had to go for a face to face interview. I cannot recall what the place was called but it is close to Heathrow. You need to make an appointment for this and it is only after you submitted your completed forms with the odd sized photos. Out visa was only for a year and is expiring in 2w. The interview lasted all of 5 minutes. It was a 4 hour round trip and there is no parking.

If you look on the boards for India you will find lots of info. Hubby called them because he did not have a response to emails either.

Don't spoil your cruise by being marooned on the ship in Indian ports.

Alicat

Hi JMHamburg

Looking forward to seeing your review and photos. We are on the Luminosa from 25/11/17 but we have a slightly different itinirary.

Alicat

At least MIL kisses you on the cheek not the lips;p.

Alicat

Hi

The tap water in the cabins is not very nice. We just buy bottles of water when we are ashore. Some people fill their bottles in the buffet where it clearly states not to because of hygiene reasons. I would not have water from the machines for exactly that reason. I'd rather pay a few € ashore than share saliva contaminated water.

Alicat

Yet another post ditched because of photo issues.

Ibiza next:

I wonder who is the web designer or whatever for Cruise Critic. If I can lay my hands on him or her I'll certainly throttle the beast. It is the most user unfriendly site ever. Just dumped a whole entry. I thought try and upload 6 photos and then write in between. Nope! that won't happen.

OK from the top:

Ibiza old town/high town during sail in. Very pretty.

That red building on the first photo eye to eye.

Just a random house but so pretty with it's blue shutters.

Front door of the cathedral

If there is a cat I'll find it. That poor beastie could hardly walk and was ripped to shreds. It should have been seen by a vet or put out of its misery. Very sad.

Front the walls of the old city.

We did not pay for the expensice Costa shuttle but got a taxi instead. Cost marginally more but he took us as far as cars are allowed. That hill is steep and it was very hard work to walk to the top. We were pleased we did though because the views from there were amazing. It is too far to walk from the port to the old town.

I am going to give it a break now and will tell you more about Ibiza tomorrow.

Alicat

Once you are at the top of the old town area it is fairly flat, not very large and very walkable.

Inside the abbey

Front of the church

My camera phots do not do the abbey justice. It has free entrance and only takes a little while to explore but is really worth it. There is a museum next door. We went in but it was a bit boring because they only had a temporary exhibition on the go and be aware that if you carry a rucksack you will have to put it into a locker.

It's been a little quiet on the Costa boards.

A little more of Port Mahon:

Realistic little dog statue.

Slightly less realistic cat. I think the sculptor must be a dog person.

Large nude lady

Horses with shileds on their bottoms. Don't know the significance.

Pretty girl.

One of the ship and the P&O ship in front of it. There are loads of little alleys with views across the water.

I'll do a few photos of the inside of the cathedral and the church/abbey of Francis of Assisi next.

Just had to ditch a post because I put 7 photos and did not know how to fix it.

Tio Pepe time!

Alicat

Hahahaha! Don't they sell most "things" in suppository form?

You made me laugh so much I think I need a Tio Pepe.

Alicat:D

Next stop Port Mahon. Prepare yourself for lots of steps up a hill. Also try and be on deck either for sail in or leaving. It is really pretty. Not Kotor pretty, but pretty.

The beige building opposite the tug is the port building. You can get maps in the building towards the left near the front entrance/exit.

The opposite side. The phone camera does not do the colours justice. It was so pretty.

To the left of the red building you will be able to see the steps. You walk up, more up and even more up. It was totally worth it.

The cathedral is beautiful. I think there was an organ recital at 13h00. Those tickets were something like €7 pp. We only paid to visit the cathedral. Cannot remember how much.

Jesus

Front bits. Don't know what you call them. I am not religious but I love churches(and cemetaries).

Outside with a well placed Coke truck and cop car. The Mercat is the old cloisters. There are shops inside the building and behind there is an area with chairs outside next to some restaurants. Lovely view of the ship.

6 photos!

I an back!

I'd like to give you an idea of the ports next. We rarely use Costa for excursions. They are expensive, we don't like to be herded and they often cancel them because there are too few English speaking people. We have gone with other language groups but that is a little hit and miss. They do have one excursion available for Diamond Pearl that costs the same as the regular one but it is for a small group and they guarantee that it won't be cancelled. We used this to visit Monserrat from Barcelona previously and it was worth the money. This cruise they offered Valdemossa from Palma but we had other plans.

We started off in Savona and did not do anything but board the ship.

Next stop was Porto Torres. It is a fairly flat stroll into town. Not a very pretty place. There was a market on in the main street. Some of the stalls sold quite nice jewelry. There were also the usual ones selling tat.

This was taken in the cathedral. Note the fairly lights around her head.

I thought she was quite pretty.

Some mosaics on the floor.

We strolled about, had a beer, looked for somewhere to eat, was unable to order a pizza! but had a good lunch anyway. The prices where reasonable.

We decided to head back to the ship and thought of visiting the archeological site on the way. I think it cost €7 a person. The only snag was you are taken around by a guide at specific times and they only speak Italian! Fortunately we have been to Pompei and Herculaneum and knew what Tepidarium etc meant. This place was quite a find and well worth visiting. There is also a museum attached. They are still excavating so it is a work in progress.

These mosaics were under cover but there were loads just exposed to the elements.

This is the road outside some blokes palace. The pillars are at the entrance I think and they were made out of different materials.

These mosaics were just outside. I think the earth moved for someone here.

Now I have posted 6 photos and will have to make another entry.