Costa Atlantica 3/13-20/10 - REALLY LONG trip report!

[GSRDPM]

GSRDPM- quick question for you. Did you go to the casino? If so, do they use cards for the slots or do you put in money? On our last few cruises, the ships have gone to using a card and then you cash in from that. I missed the sound of those coins coming out if you were lucky enough to win.

 

I only walked through the casino, so unfortunately I'm no help there. I do remember some people with what looked like Popcorn buckets, though. They also had those machines where you could drop coins into the slots and they would flip onto the "shelves" and be pushed foward to drop onto the next "shelf" and so on. I heard one guy say that he was "out of popcorn" at one point. Check our recent roll call - someone may be of more help than I. It seems as though it is still being followed.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1078743

[tbogie]

GSRDPM- quick question for you. Did you go to the casino? If so, do they use cards for the slots or do you put in money? On our last few cruises, the ships have gone to using a card and then you cash in from that. I missed the sound of those coins coming out if you were lucky enough to win.

 

You do have to use cash to play the slots and the coins come out if you win.

[METRIC ANNA]

Thank you for an excellent review! I will keep it in my favorites for future Eastern Caribbean cruises

 

Do you maybe know how much it costs to use WiFi on the ship? The website states it is available, but pricing information can only be obtained on the ship.

 

To many more special family memories... ;)

 

WiFi was $3.00 to set up an account $10.00 for 1 hr. or $24.00 for 3 hrs. or 50cents per minute, also if you want to print in the library it is 50 cents per page.

 

Great review Tom, i seemed to have missed a ton of places on the ship that you discovered.

[waserdog]

Tom, awesome review!! I truely enjoyed all of it. You posted the pictures that people want to see and answered so many pertinent questions. We're cruising on April 24 - May 5 Canada/New England area in a grand suite. Can't wait to experience the Atlantica! Thanks again so much for your wonderful review! Glad you and your family had a great time.

Marianne

[GSRDPM]

Tom, awesome review!! I truely enjoyed all of it. You posted the pictures that people want to see and answered so many pertinent questions. We're cruising on April 24 - May 5 Canada/New England area in a grand suite. Can't wait to experience the Atlantica! Thanks again so much for your wonderful review! Glad you and your family had a great time.

Marianne

 

Thanks Marianne! Have a wonderful trip and please post pictures of the grand suites (midship on deck 7 right?)

[waserdog]

Yeah Tom, we're in cabin 7200. Love the location. Can't wait to sip that sparkling wine on the balcony!! Whahoo, only a week to go!

Marianne

[papadave]

I am just off the Atlantica this morning and see that you did a thorough job of presenting the ship and crew in a fair light.

 

No cruise is perfect, but this was generally a very pleasant ship to sail on, with good food, passengers and crew who seldom seemed unhappy to be there. In my experience, that is not always true for passengers of crew on other cruises.

[GSRDPM]

I am just off the Atlantica this morning and see that you did a thorough job of presenting the ship and crew in a fair light.

 

No cruise is perfect, but this was generally a very pleasant ship to sail on, with good food, passengers and crew who seldom seemed unhappy to be there. In my experience, that is not always true for passengers of crew on other cruises.

 

I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise. Was this the northeastern itinerary? With no cruising planned for the next year (after THREE this past year), I'm a bit depressed right now... I'll have to live vicariously through others.

[papadave]

I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise. Was this the northeastern itinerary? With no cruising planned for the next year (after THREE this past year), I'm a bit depressed right now... I'll have to live vicariously through others.

 

This was an 11 day cruise starting with 2 days in Quebec City, then north with several stops in the Canadian maritime provinces (chilly but gorgeous this time of year), followed by Bar Harbor (Maine), Boston (Mass.), Newport (Rhode Island) and 2 days in New York City. You may want to consider the same cruise in 2011 as the price is already reduced a great deal. Many people who booked an inside guaranty cabin, including myself, were given very generous upgrades either to outside or balcony cabins. The price right now for the same itinerary in 2011 is around $500 per person for the least expensive cabin, so it is a bargain hunter's dream.

[alreadypacked]

Great review & awesome photos!! Never been on Costa, but your review makes me want to give them a try. The ship looks like Carnival's Spirit class, which I love!

[tbogie]

Great review & awesome photos!! Never been on Costa, but your review makes me want to give them a try. The ship looks like Carnival's Spirit class, which I love!

 

This ship is the exact layout of the Carnival Legend, which we cruised in 2009. It was nice that we knew our way around frmo the time we got on the ship.

[Dancer Bob]

The Atlantica and the Mediterranea are indeed Spirit class ships, with one very important exception: instead of a bunch of small bars, they have a large dance floor. The nightlife on Costa is by far, the best of any cruise line I've traveled with. In spite of some things that I'll admit Costa doesn't do well, Costa is now my favourite cruise line. One of the dance groups I travel with has done the Atlantica a couple of times, it's just about everybody's favourite ship. Unfortunately, the prices in the Caribbean are so low, Costa is not marketing the ship in the US next year, and has pulled the Fortuna out entirely.

[Cruisin D]

WOW Tom that was a fabulous review and photos. Costa is also one oy our favorite cruise lines although we have only ever sailed with them in the Med.

Thanks again for the great review & pic.

 

Cheers

[whatsnext]

GSRDPM: We were on that same cruise and we also had Orestes as a butler. He was wonderful. We've booked another cruise for Thanksgiving. I'm crossing my fingers we'll get him again. Wonder if I can ask for him???

[tlz]

Tom,

 

Great review! I am taking my wife and two children on our first cruise on Costa Atlantica Eastern Carribbean on February 4th out of Miami for 7 nights. They are running the kids go free special again.

 

Did you feel it worth it to buy the kids drinks package in advance? Can adults use those as well?

 

Thanks!

[G.M.T.]

Tom,

Did you feel it worth it to buy the kids drinks package in advance? Can adults use those as well?

 

The Boys and Girls Drinks package can be bought on board, there is no advantage (financial or other) in buying in advance, you will be offered it many times when you board.

 

Of course adults can use it, or more like them, as it is just a book of coupons.

 

Ron

[tlz]

Thanks for the drink info.

 

Do you have any insights on where to sit in the dining room or where the best table location for 8 would be?

[G.M.T.]

You are not able to choose which table to sit at, as these are already assign before you embark. You will find a card with your dinner sitting (1st or 2nd.) and table number.

 

You could try getting a specific table number (if you know which one) by contact your TA or Costa before sailing.

 

Ron

[tlz]

Thanks Ron! Do you know if there is a seating chart for the dining room anywhere online for Atlantica?

[G.M.T.]

I have never seen a seating plan for the Atlantica online. But that is not to say that one is not available.

 

Maybe cruisersd who have been on the Atlantica can you you some advice.

 

Suggest you start a new thread, more likely to get an answer.

 

Ron

[GSRDPM]

The Boys and Girls Drinks package can be bought on board, there is no advantage (financial or other) in buying in advance, you will be offered it many times when you board.

 

Of course adults can use it, or more like them, as it is just a book of coupons.

 

Ron

 

Agreed. We found it was a good value, especially when used for the frozen fruity drinks.

[GSRDPM]

Tom,

 

Great review! I am taking my wife and two children on our first cruise on Costa Atlantica Eastern Carribbean on February 4th out of Miami for 7 nights. They are running the kids go free special again.

 

Did you feel it worth it to buy the kids drinks package in advance? Can adults use those as well?

 

Thanks!

 

Thank you for the compliment on the review. Enjoy the Atlantica. I Still have many fond and frequent memories of our cruise aboard her. It brought a smile to my face seeing this thread pop up again!

[daniel007]

Hi we will be travelling on Costa Atlantica and was wondering if they have formal nights, if so how many and do people make a real effort in TUX or is it just shirt and tie.Also are jugs of tap water available with meals.

[Goldryder]

Hi we will be travelling on Costa Atlantica and was wondering if they have formal nights, if so how many and do people make a real effort in TUX or is it just shirt and tie.Also are jugs of tap water available with meals.

 

There are usually 3 gala/formal nights...Captain's Welcome, Captain's Dinner & Captain's Farewell. On the cruises I have taken at least 75% dress up, most in very formal outfits. The only cruises to buck that trend appear to be those in the Caribbean...I have done Asia, Middle East, South America and a bit of the Med on Costa and have rarely seen anyone who did not dress up. My last trip it was so evident that everyone wanted to dress up that the buffet was closed almost every night due to lack of custom....everyone ate in the MDR by choice.

 

Water is available from the kitchen, you only have to ask and you can have lemon slices too if you so wish. Ask your waitstaff on night one and the rest of the nights it will be sat waiting for you on the table.

[daniel007]

Thanks for your quick reply! So would I be right in saying that a TUX wouldn't be out of place or stick to a shirt and tie. It will be the Eastern Caribbean that we will be sailing round.