Castellan

Is there a Bureau de Change on board the Costa Pacifica, as we need to change to several different currencies on our cruise in May.

All Costa ships have currency exchange available at the Customer service desk, but they may not have all the currencies you want. However, you will probably find that Euros & US Dollars are widely accepted in the Baltic States.

Booked to go on Costa Serena. can someone please outline the differences/preferences for either Ceres or Vesta dining rooms and whether Deck 3 or 4?

 

thanks

Agree with previous poster, on food & menu, as it all comes out of the same kitchen. However, generally speaking, they will put all the English speakers in the same part of one of the restaurants, as it makes it easier for the waiters and for table sharing. Dined in both Ceres & Vesta and don't have a preference.

Have a great cruise on a great ship.

Hi Isis2

 

I am so glad at last I have heard from someone who will be on the same cruise as me and my husband. We come from Malta and are really looking forward for this cruise. I was trying to contact two other guests who will be with us - slombacker and scubagirl 68 - they are interested in taking a tour with Alla tours in St Petersburg. If you are interested please advise.

 

thanks

Hi.

We will be cruising on Costa Pacifica 11 May sailing out of Keil. Our TA says you should be aware, that if you take private tours in St. Petersburg you will need to get a Visa for Russia. Current cost £125.00 Sterling. Whereas if you take the Costa excursions you will be included in the Ship's Visa for the duration of each excursion.

Have a great cruise.

Hi Everyone

We are looking at cruising Costa from Savona.

Could anyone let us have the benefit of their experience of flying from UK and getting to Savona. What airport did you fly to? Did you use an overnight hotel before the embarkation, if so which one and would you recommend it? How did you get from the airport to the hotel/ship?

Any help you can give us would be much appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Clive

Hi.

We flew from Manchester to Genoa. via Munich with Lufthansa the day before our cruise on Costa Serena (January 2014) and took the airport bus to the Principe Station in the middle of Genoa. Left our luggage at Left Luggage in the station & just took hand luggage to the hotel. Stayed at the Hotel Vittoria & Orlandini Via Balbi 33, Genoa, GE, 16126 Italy, which is approx 150 metres from where the Airport bus drops you off.

Following morning had a stroll round Genoa, before collecting luggage & taking a train from the Principe station to Savona, approx 50 mins. cost approx 10 euros return.

At Savona station there is a shuttle bus service (TPL)to the Costa cruise terminal, running every 25 minutes ; cost 5 euros. drops you off where you leave your luggage prior to boarding the ship.

You can do the reverse on returning to Savona, but we shared a cab with another couple which costs 20 euros for 4 people to the Savona station.

Flight timings with Lufthansa are great because you can fly home the same day.

Hope this helps

The cruise was great. Fortuna is just a nice size with lots going on. Food was not as good as we've experienced before on Costa, but I think they changed some of the wait staff prior to the cruise, which made things a little slow in the MDR, but it did improve as the cruise went on. Also, they had a new Head Chef for our cruise, so I guess the rest of the kitchen staff had to get used to his ways, but again by the end of the cruise everything was OK. Quality wise it was all good.

Don't know your itinerery, but our was a repositioning cruise so most of the ports of call will be different to yours. Muscat is great, Dubai & Abu Dhabi were OK for what they are. Hope you like the Italian experience, we do & have sailed with Costa many times.

Hope you enjoy.

Just back before Christmas from Costa Fortuna, Savona to Dubai. Wifi available all over the ship, but very slow in cabin. You need to use it late at night or early morning to get better speeds, since the more people using it the slower it gets. The set-up connection charge (only once) is Euros 3.50 whether you get a package or pay as you go. I would suggest getting the smallest package as the per minute charge is extortionate, then when you have used all your minutes buy another package to suit your needs.

These days a lot of the cruise terminals have free Wifi, but again you need to get online before the crew get ashore, as they are all in there using Skype, which really kills the speed.

Just back before Christmas from Costa Fortuna, Savona to Dubai. Didn't notice any unadvertised packages as such, other than some, if you like, 'Special Purchase' wines which were much cheaper than the normal wine list. Also they have wines by the caraffe, which are better value than the bottles.

The problem with the Costa drinks package, is that if there are 2 people in the cabin, you have to buy 2 packages, which doesn't represent good value if like your husband, the second person doesn't drink.

The easiest way to choose which restaurant, is to visit them both when you first board the ship. In your cabin you will find a card detailing which restaurant, which deck & which seating you have been allocated. If you are not happy with this allocation, visit the Maitre D' before you sail & he will usually be able to change this. Info on where he will be & at what time will be detailed in the info available in your cabin. He is usually, but not always by one of the restaurants for an hour or so, prior to sailing. If he can't change it there & then, he will get his staff to leave a card with your new allocation in your cabin for the following night.

As to how Costa allocate which restaurant, I've noticed that they tend to put the non-Italians together in one part of the restaurant.

Hope this helps?