Like many of you, I'm travelling with Costa for the first time, too. It's usually been RCL (and some MSC) for me.
I'm travelling on the Costa Smeralda in February, huuuuge ship, but with LNG-engines, which I wanted to check out. So I'm all excited about it. I'll see what my "Costa test cruise" will be like. 🙂
About prices and offers: I booked on the Costa Website directly (German version), for a what-I-thought quite appropriate price. Just a few hours later, I saw the exact same tour on a German travel agency's website for about 15% cheaper - and the website even offered a perfect upgrade option. Anyway I was so angry at myself for not checking the other website first! 😞 Some of you might know the feeling.
However, Costa offers a "best price guarantee". So if there is a better offer anywhere (within the next 24 hours of one's own booking, that was their only restriction), you get the difference as onboard credit.
So I filled out their form. And what should I say: It actually worked. 🙂 There were two very nice ladies replying to my request (I had first mentioned the wrong sum, so there was little back and forth). They were very polite and quick and promptly put the 15% on my onboard credit. Perfect!
So, you too can rest a little at ease. No worries if you see a better price shortly after booking.
Of course, it would have been easier for me not to have to ask for the onboard credit. But well, it was my own fault of not checking the other website before booking.
I was really angry at myself first, but I'm very glad Costa Cruises kept their word. The best price guarantee actually worked and now I'm all excited to get on the Costa Smeralda.
I'll write a review then - to get more action going in the Costa forum ;-).
Have a good day!
