Detailed review Costa Serena Western Med Jan 2010.

[Ozza Alf]

I have put this review on here for now as there seems to be a problem uploading to the main review page.

 

Costa Serena Western Med Jan 2010.

 

Embarkation

 

 

This was a breeze as we missed our flight and with it the original embarkation point at Savona. We eventually joined the ship at 2nd port of call at Barcelona. 10 mins after we produced our tickets at the security desk at the port we were in our stateroom. The bags arrived 10 mins later.

 

 

Only thing to add to this that is relevent to the review is that after we missed our flight we contacted Costa who were very helpful and understanding, and arranged for us to join the ship at Barcelona where they were expecting us when we arrived.

 

 

First impression

 

 

WOW! Ship is absolutely beautiful and spotlessly clean. The décor may be a bit over the top for some but we thought it was fantastic.

 

 

Stateroom

 

 

Again WOW! About what you would expect from a 5* hotel but a little more compact making very good use of the available space. Spotlessly clean and enough room for our party of 2 adults and 2 children.

 

 

Good size flat screen TV with 1 English station plus BBC news. AV input but I could not get this to work. Small mini bar, large comfortable double bed and bunks for the kids. Small but welcome balcony. Room made up at least twice a day but sometimes 3 or 4.

 

 

Food

 

 

Breakfast

 

 

Sit down at the Ceres restaurant, help yourself at the Prometeo buffet, late breakfast at Lido Urano pool area (all times very but the late breakfast in the Urano pool area started and finished around an hour or so later).

 

 

We always used the buffet which was the same every day but plenty of choice for us to have something different every day. Hot selection included bacon, peperoni style sausages, hash browns, type of beans with added peperoni style sausage, grilled tomato, scrambled & boiled eggs although you could have freshly fried egg or an excellent omelet from the omelet station. Also there were pancakes and waffles with maple syrup, and also what I would call bolognese!

 

 

Cold selection was typical continental stuff such as 3 or 4 different cheeses, ham, salami etc, yoghurt, jams, fruit, cakes, croissants and 5 or 6 different serial etc.

 

 

Selection of different teas, coffee, hot choc, fresh squeezed orange or pineapple juice plus machine grapefruit and orange juice.

 

 

I really likeed the breakfast.

 

 

Lunch

 

 

Ceres or Vesta restaurant (open sitting for around 1 and a half hours, times vary), Samsara restaurant (times vary and reserved for Samsara guests only), Prometeo buffet restaurant (self service for around 2 and a half hours and times vary). There were also the grill buffets in the Lido Sole and Lido Urano pool areas with the latter opening and closing around an hour or so later than the other (times vary).

 

 

We did not use the sit down in the Ceres or Vesta restaurant as the buffet was fine for us. The grill had what you would expect and there was always a very good choice on the main buffet. Also available were specials of the day that had a different theme each day. A lot of nice deserts on offer too.

 

 

Again, we really liked the buffet lunch.

 

 

Tea Time

 

 

We did not use this so don't know what was available (times vary around 16:00 – 17:00)

 

 

Dinner

 

 

We chose the 1st sitting at 18:15 with the 2nd at 20:45. We were allocated a more private 4 seat cubical table in the Ceres Restaurant which was perfect for us. The other restaurant being the Vesta.

 

 

We did not use the Samsara (open sitting 18:30 – 21:00) or the Club Bacco (open sitting 19:00 – 21:30).

 

 

At first we were very impressed but as the cruise went on were getting a bit fed up of the itallian and seafood dishes and the quality (which was for the most part very good) seemed to drop towards the end of the cruise. If you like Italian food and seafood you will love it but it got a bit much for our personal tastes. We would have liked a wider choice of international food and/or food based on the port of call.

 

 

If you could not make your chosen sitting you could inform the Maître D' who would try and get you in the alternative sitting.

 

 

Our waitress Ria was simply excellent in the Ceres restaurant. And everything we ate was properly cooked and served at the correct temperature.

 

 

I have a sample menu for a Gala dinner and if anyone would like to see you can send my a message.

 

 

Midnight Snack

 

 

We did not use this so don't know what was available (From 23:30).

 

 

Snacking

 

 

Pizza, pasta in sauce, and lovely deserts always seemed to be available when the buffet was closed. I used this once and found all to be very good.

 

 

Drinking

 

 

We purchased the X1 package before departure and it's a good job we did. A small glass of Carlsberg beer came in at 5.18 euro inc tax for a 40cl glass. The X1 worked very well for us as we don't go for spirits or cocktails and as a result we don't know the price of them. With the X1 you can have unlimited beer, wine, soda, and bottled mineral water at meal times. The beer was fine and the house wine was just about OK but not great. The X1 could be used in the Ceres and Vesta restaurants for the duration of the sitting, and at either Lido Sole or Lido Urano pool areas as long as the buffet was open.

 

 

There was a two for one happy hour which at first was 20:30 – 21:30 but then half way through the cruise changed without warning to 16:00 – 17:00!

 

 

 

 

Smoking

 

 

Smoking was allowed only in designated areas and this was totally respected. We did not have a problem with this. There was also a pipe/cigar room.

 

 

Staff

 

 

All the staff that we came across just fantastic, extremely hard working and always had a smile. This included the front desk staff. Special mention goes to our dinner waitress Ria and our stateroom attendant Ive who were both outstanding.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

There was as you would expect a whole day if different activities and entertainment planned but we didn't use any of it apart from the evening shows in the theatre. We were very impressed with the theatre. Very grand affair on two floors with stalls and baloney and had very professional sound and lighting. The only down side were the shows themselves. We enjoyed them and went to every one and the kids loved it but it was a bit too cheesy for it's surroundings. English was the predominant language after Italian and we had no problem knowing what was going on. Resident singers and dancers and a good variety of acts and lasted for about an hour. 1st show 19:15 & 2nd show 21:15.

 

 

The bars and the music in them were very good and very popular, and there was a late night disco but we were never around late enough to see it in action!

 

 

For the kids

 

 

There looked to be a well run kids club but our two didn't want to try it prefering to stay with us. There was plenty for us all to see and do but we liked to be in and around the pools when at sea.

 

 

Dress code and etiquette

 

 

Casual throughout the ship with I would say 10% in tux, 10% smart casual, 5% casual and the rest in smart shirt and tie for the gala dinners.

 

 

It was during school term time but there were still a good number of children on board. There was no sign of kids rampaging around the ship, in fact they were more courteous than some of their parents!

 

 

The only problem we saw (although it didn't affect us) was children being allowed and even escorted into the juccuzzi by their parents even though there were signs at the entrance steps clearly stating in 4 languages that children were not permited. When ever a member of staff saw this they delt with it and got the children out but they could not police it all the time.

 

 

I say the guests were made up mostly of Italian, German and French and perhaps 15% British. We found there to be some very rude and ignorant Italian, German, and French but we are used to this and we were prepared for it having seen it many times at land based resorts where british are a minority.

 

 

Queuing is unheard of and at the buffet etc it's everyone for themselves!

 

 

We accept that this is their way and it wasn't a major problem for us.

Disembarkation.

No problems. Had to wait 10 - 15 minutes at our waiting area. Went straight to baggage claim and on to the transfer bus wiating outside. Quite a few Costa staff seeing over the operation but one of them told us the wrong location of our bus. No problem as all the busses had signs in the front windows indicating the destination.

 

 

Tours

 

 

We found the price of the ships excursions to be extremely expensive for the four of us to the extent that if we had taken one at every port it would have spent almost as much as what the cruise cost. We therefore did everything independently and so can't comment on the tours.

 

 

Barcelona

 

 

As we missed our embarkation point at Savona we joined the ship here so didn't have much time. We had a walk up and down Las Ramblas and around the sea front. Total cost £0

 

 

Casablanca

 

 

Having read bad reports about Casablanca our aim was to visit the mosque and then go to Rabat.

 

 

At the port exit there was a mob of 30 or so taxi drivers waiting to pounce. As we required a taxi we had to talk to some of them. They were very pushy and would not take no for an answer. We eventually got the price down from £30 to £10 for a taxi to the mosque and back to Casa Port train station including an hour wait at the mosque. We were also offered tours of the city for around £30 and a tour to Rabat for £80.

 

 

At the train station we got two adult and one child return tickets to Rabat Ville and with the under 5 travelling free this came to £19 for the four of us. The ticket seller spoke English and directed us to the train. Trains run every half hour and take an hour each way. Outside the station there was a large gang of taxi drivers and everyone else but inside everyone was courteous and friendly. The train was efficient, clean, and modern apart from the toilet.

 

 

On arrival at Rabat Ville station we got a taxi to the Kasbah (£5) walked around here and had a mint tea and fantastic cake in the cafe. We then walked across the road and through the medina. Out of the other side we at first got a little lost but then found our way along Avenue Hassan 2 and then along the shops of the new town on Avenue Mohamed V which lead back to the station. Back in Casa it was a 10 – 20 minute walk back to the ship. The only time we felt uneasy was when we first encountered the mob of taxi drivers at the port exit. We felt very safe on the trains and around Rabat and we were never hassled once in the amazing medina or anywhere else. Oh, and (because of the kids!) we had a McDonald's just opposite Rabat station! Total travel cost £34.

 

 

Arrecife

 

 

Approx 100m from the ship on the dock side we hired a car from the kiosk (£35 for the day, inc). 10 minutes from leaving the ship we were driving out of the port. From here we drove to Timanfaya National Park, had a look around the visitor centre and went on the camel ride (can't remember price but around £20 for two camels!). On our way back to the port we called in at Puerto del Carmen and spent an hour or so on the beach. Just before the port we had to fill the car with petrol (£6). Total travel cost £41.

 

 

Santa Cruz

 

 

Here we caught the free shuttle to the port entrance. From here we walked along the main shopping St and around the old town and down to the “Africa Market”. A further walk then to the auditorio and back along the seafront to the ship. Total travel cost £0

 

 

Funchal

 

 

We walked from the ship to the port entrance and turned right along the seafront and through the beautiful park/gardens on the hill opposite. Continued then along the seafront to the cable cars (£25 single for the four of us). We had a look around Mont before descending back down via the basket toboggans (£37 for large family one!). We then walked the last 1K down to the lovely old town for lunch and a bit of shopping. Total travel cost £62 although the modes of transport were attractions themselves.

 

 

Malaga

 

 

Caught the shuttle bus from the ship to the port entrance (£6 per adult) and then walked up to and around the fort and then back into the old town for shopping and some churos. Total travel cost £0 as the bus drivers let us on for free, fort entrance around £7 if I remember right.

 

 

Overall

 

 

This was our 1st ever cruise and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. For us the Costa Serena is a magical ship and Costa as a company were great. The staff were fantastic and we liked most of the food even though I'm not a big fan of Itallian or seafood. It was OK but we wouldn't say it was great. We liked the pool areas and the buzz around them. We didn't have a problem with English being a minority but we like being part of a multinational hotel and we can speak a enough German, French, & Spanish for us to at least exchange a few words in passing. We did come across some very rude and ignorant Europeans but we have found this at most hotels and this is not the fault of Costa. We found the price of drinks and anything else that we had to pay for to be extremely expensive when compared with the price of the cruise.

 

 

All in all we had a terrific time and we are already looking for our next cruise. Costa will definitely be included in our search but we will look at the whole price including on board spending for the next one.

 

 

I have prices for tours and for treaments at the Samsara Spa, and also a menu from a gala dinner that I can forward to anyone who wants to see them.

[Bextar78]

Great review - really helpful. We are going on this ship/intinery on 15th March. Have had confirmation that we've been upgrated to a "Samsara outside with window" so am I right to assume we can use the Samsara restaurant. Is there an additional charge for this??

 

Also, I would appreciate the menu you have available.

 

Thank you

[Ozza Alf]

Sorry for the late reply (just in time I hope!).

 

Not sure if I'm allowed to post this but no other way of getting it to you so here goes!

 

 

Sample Gala dinner menu

 

1

 

Crispy Sowdfish cubes mixed salad & pine nuts

 

 

Pate maison escalope served with caramlized pineapple, Porto wine & walnut bread

 

 

Asparagus flan with carrrot cream

 

2

 

 

 

Tomato cream soupe with croutons

 

3

 

 

 

Casarecce pasta with veal ragout

 

 

Lasagne au gratin with vegetables and Taleggio cheese

 

4

 

 

 

Hallibut fillet stewed in fresh tomato sauce

 

 

Oven roast serloin steak with its natural juice

 

 

Pork fillet au gratin with herb bread

 

 

Couscous with curry vegetables

 

 

 

 

Mixed salad: lettuce, tomato, zucchini, Belgian endive and carrots with choice of dressing

 

5

 

 

 

Cheese (Scamorza, Danablue, Toma dei Pirenei) served with crackers and fresh fruits

 

6

 

 

 

There was a special desert but I can't remember what it was called. I do remember it being fantastic though!

[Ozza Alf]

I think you may get a different menu in the Samsara. Enjoy!

[Bextar78]

Thanks for this! Hope it's as good as it sounds...!

 

Not sure whether we'll be able to access the Samsara restaurant (well, not without cost anyway) because I've read the small print and it says if upgraded to a samsara cabin, you do not get access. Eeeeh, never mind. Just over a week to go, although I'm quite anxious given the current "problems" with the weather etc.

 

Thanks again

[georgi2010]

hi I would like to know some prices of treatments samsara spa. my emaikl is vale20042005@hotmail.com

thanks

[GiuliaG]

Thank you for this great review! We are sailing on the Serena on Feb 24 and are looking forward to it.