Just booked! Questions

[Velvetwater]

I have finally reserved a cruise ..just waiting for the rep to ring me tomorrow. 

 

We are sailing on the Pacifica next month : 10 days leaving from Kiel and stopping at Baltic Ports

 

Just a few questions:

 

1) As a very late booking, we will get stuck with a certain dining time? Late dining isn't great for us due to my Husband being T1. What times are the seating?

 

2) Also on dining, is it likely we will sit with English speaking table mates? We are happy to sit with anyone if they are nice.

 

3) What is the age range of a summer Costa Cruise in Europe? We are early thirties.

 

4)Can we bring back beers/spirits on board from ports? It says no on the website but we always seem to be able to bring booze back to our cabin when sailing in Europe...even when other lines also said no.

 

5)Is there any way we can 'self debark'? We prefer to carry off our own bags if possible but could not find anything about this.

 

6) Is there any cruise compass/cruise day newlsetters we can view online?

 

 

Thanks so much!

[Velvetwater]

Just thought of a few more:

 

1) What is the dress code like? How formal will normal MDR nights be? How formal will formal nights be?

 

2) Can we bring a bottle of wine onboard when we embark?

 

3)How is the entertainment? We are not into singers if that is a majority,

[tenpin]

• On boarding day go to see the Maître 'd in the MRD, (see daily sheet in your cabin) normally 4pm ask for early sitting if possible they will do their best to put you on early 6.30 with other English speaking guests.
• During August expect a younger group with children.
• Bringing any drink on board is no, if you do it will be confiscated until end of cruise, although ewe have got away with it twice in 22 years.
• Yes you can take your own luggage off just don't put it outside your cabin on last night.
• Most information can be found on the Costa site scroll down to 'mycosta' log-in with cruise number all tours, bars restaurant's are listed.
• Not many formal nights, now called Gala, which means just smart anything from tux to polo shirts.
• No to the wine, you may get away with it in hand luggage embarking day bit really not worth the delay if found, they can not only search hand luggage but may take you down to examine all your cases.
• Daily news sheet tells you type of show most are okay & understandable, choose seat on deck five near door easy to get out even at end of show.
• Wine bar aft next to Casino is best for English.

We are back on Pacifica in September our third on her lovely ship. 

[Janet&Carl]

I have found on the Italian lines like MSC and Costa that early seating is the easiest to get.  The Italians (the majority of passengers on Costa) like to eat late - even if they have little children travelling with them.  So early seating should not be a problem.  Of course you will be sat with people you can talk to - they will always seat the same language speaking passengers together.    Bringing alcohol onboard is a no no.  It is likely to be confiscated until you disembark. I have been told that if you bottle has a plastic lid it is more likely to go through the scanner without detection. We usually sail with a drink package so we don't have to worry about how much we are spending so it is not something I have tried - however, I once lost the tag off my case and it was not delivered to my room.  I had to go an retrieve it - there were a lot of cases sitting there waiting for people to claim them all of them had failed the scanner.  They had to leave the alcohol for collection when they were leaving 🙂 it was saved for them until they got off and they had to sign for it before they got their cases.

 

Entertainment - I have only had one cruise on Costa and the majority of entertainment was a dancing troupe - one night we had a magician. 

 

Dress was a bit subjective - all over the place - even on gala night there was people in tshirts.  Smart casual is the go most of the time for dinner - resort wear by day.

 

Self disembarking is easy - as Tenpin says keep your own cases and dont put them out and you can walk off with them at any time that suits you.  

 

Have a great cruise - your itinerary is fabulous.

 

 

[Velvetwater]

Thanks for all the help!

 

I read a review where it says hair straighteners are not allowed....is this true on Costa?

(I sent them an email about it last night but no word yet)

Edited July 22, 2019 by Velvetwater

[Janet&Carl]

13 hours ago, Velvetwater said:

Thanks for all the help!

 

I read a review where it says hair straighteners are not allowed....is this true on Costa?

(I sent them an email about it last night but no word yet)

 

 

I took mine last year - it was not something I thought about - they are allowed I believe - but irons, candles, kettles etc.. are not

 

[tenpin]

While in theory no electrical items are allowed you can take small items like Straightener's, phone chargers & the like but do not leave them plugged-in while not in the cabin as they represent a fire risk.

 

Also as there is only one plug in most cabins worth while taking a two way extension lead, & and a European adapter. 

Edited July 23, 2019 by tenpin
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