Mediterranea Review

[kdcruiser]

We were on the Mediterranea March 14th but it has taken me this long to be able to be reasonable about writing something.

 

Embarkation was fairly smooth except that we were standing at the wrong door (we were there early). Despite the fact that we asked, nobody told us we had to go to the other entrance so by the time we figured it out by ourselves, there were hundreds in front of us. We were a group of 6 kids and 6 adults and I have to say that the kids were very well behaved waiting so long. Also, couldn't get a porter to take our luggage, but when we asked, they were more than happy to have us haul it over to the bin and load it on ourselves!

 

The ship was beautiful - by far nicer than the urns on the Carnival Legend (I had the feeling I was in a crematorium on the Legend!). The art work was beautiful on the Mediterranea.

 

Our cabin was great and our room steward Fernando was at our beck and call. The best room steward we have ever had.

 

Food was boring at breakfast and lunch was horrible - very European and just not our style. As another poster reported, fish in everything, which is great if you like fish!

 

Dinners in the dining room were wonderful. Food was great - the best Caesar salad in the world (and with the lack of salad at lunch it was most welcome). Our waitress Jenny was out of this world. After the first night, she knew all the kids names and their preferences. The kids just adored her. This was actually the first cruise the kids begged to go to the dining room - they knew they would be treated royally by Jenny and the food would be edible.

 

The shows were not great and there was definitely a lack of poolside music.

 

The casino was a lot of fun and all the staff were great.

 

The kids program left a lot to be desired. It was divided into 3 groups: Minis 4-6, Maxis 7-12 (for the life of me I can't figure out what 7 year olds and 12 year olds have in common - the group should have been split into 7-9 year olds and 10-12 year olds). But the teen program was the worst - 13 to 19 year olds with one chaperon. That week there were 120 teens. Needless to say, my 13 year old daughter stayed in the younger group because I felt that there was not enough supervision and as I pointed out to my husband and our friends a 19 year old is a man.......not a boy.

 

The only difference from a previous post is that all 250 kids and teens on board were much more well behaved than the adults. I have never seen such rude, ignorant people all gathered in one place in my life. I'm not sure why this was the case, but if this is the type of clientel that Costa attracts, I will not be back. By the end of the week, we could push, shove and be rude with the best of them - it was the only way to survive.

 

All in all it was OK but certainly not my favourite cruise. It was agreed by all that we prefer Carnival and would return to them or try another cruise line before cruising Costa again.

 

kp

 

Costa Mediterranea March 14, 2004

 

Sensation 11/00

Holiday 11/01

Carnival Legend 11/02

Sensation 03/03

Inspiration 11/03

[CruisinMatt]

Costa's promotion this season was "Kids sail free", thus all the kids.

 

Thanks for the review. I agree with the majority of it, however, I like fish!

 

_________________________

NCL Norway 2/00 - Eastern Carib.

Costa Atlantica 2/01 - Western Carib.

Costa Atlantica 2/02 - Eastern Carib.

NCL Dream 3/03 Valparaiso - Miami

Costa Mediterranea 3/04 Western Carib.

 

Proud member of the PPS-Passport Pusher Society

~~ www.savemartha.com ~~

[dg30084]

We were on the 4-4-04 sailing of Costa Mediterranea as well. This was our 6th Costa Cruise in 6 years (Romantica 1998, Victoria 2000, Atlantica 2001, 2002, 2003 - we took Celebrity Mercury and Galaxy in 1999). We had 8 people in our group, and found the food to be EXCELLENT!!! I suppose it really is personal taste, as we like seafood (OK, so we like ALL food), and like the "European" tendency of the food. After all, we had pre-cruise dinner at a French restaurant Saturday night and pre-cruise Sunday brunch at a middle-eastern-influenced cafe. I will admit that there were some items that were not to our liking: my dad took one bite of the amuse bouche at Club Medusa, winced, and announced, "This is a double-yuck!" I liked it; what's not to like about a "cauliflower pudding" (texture and look of vanilla pudding, but strong cauliflower taste)?

 

Previously, the food on Costa was TERRIBLE (which was really good for weight control: I actually lost weight on Romantica and Victoria). We noticed the jump in quality in 2002, and it has improved every year. Hmmm, good food is a bad thing - I gained 6 lbs last week, and I worked out daily!

 

I was VERY suprised about the lack of a "sail away" party at the pool Every time we've been before, there has been a festive atmosphere at the main pool, but not this year. Also, the "Talent Show" on the last night was BOOOOORING. In previous years, it's been very fun, watching the antics of "Ceasar" and his court. I think it has to do with the Cruise Director (Paul Rutter). He just isn't as fun as Ray Rouse (the previous CD, who I heard got transferred to QM2).

 

I agree that some of the kids/teens were OUT OF CONTROL. The blame isn't Costa's, but the "parents". Let's get real: if the kids/teens were raised properly, they wouldn't be wild animals. Also, "parents" should not be offended and argumentative when asked to control their hellspawn or remove them from areas clearly posted "no children/adults only." When security ejected kids from the aft "adults-only" pool, the "parents" would argue, even when the security guys would point it out in print.

 

By the way, every rude, LOUD & obnoxious twit we saw/heard was AMERICAN. The Europeans and South Americans were far classier. The "Ugly Americans" were an embarrassment to what the United States stands for.

 

[This message was edited by dg30084 on 04-13-04 at 05:52 PM.]

[CruisinMatt]

dg30084. I agree with your comments about Paul Ritter being a total bore and how the Talent night could have been better.

 

I will also second your comment about the rude americans, it is a total embarrasment.

 

_________________________

NCL Norway 2/00 - Eastern Carib.

Costa Atlantica 2/01 - Western Carib.

Costa Atlantica 2/02 - Eastern Carib.

NCL Dream 3/03 Valparaiso - Miami

Costa Mediterranea 3/04 Western Carib.

 

Proud member of the PPS-Passport Pusher Society

~~ www.savemartha.com ~~

[ILov2cruise]

I felt that most of the fish put on top of the pasta was canned. I was looking forward to Italian food, not Italian style.

I do need to admit that we did find something to eat everyday, we didn t starve.

I also thought lunch in the dining room was very good.

While I do know that the wild teens were not costa's fault. Costa should have spoken to the parents. After calling the desk about the prank calls, we were told most of them were coming from hall phones....security should have been out in force.

Rude Americans...I didn t meet any or hear any.

Weather was great, the boat didn t rock the whole 7 days. If there was a wave out there we missed it.

We like sitting by the pool to the sound of a band playing. This was the first time in 11 cruises that there was no pool music.

CD Paul was not around alot.

Didn t care for the food or the parents that allowed their children to run wild, but I didn t let it ruin my cruise, I still had a great time.

Someone a few weeks ago asked about smokers, There seemed to be very few smokers.

[cruise fever2006]

My husband and I are travelling on the Costa Mediterranea in April and I noticed that there have not been many current updates to this site. Is there anyone out there who has cruised yet this year on this ship who can give me an update? It would be most appreicated..... I am getting nervous hearing all these bad things about the food - that is one of the reasons why my husband and I decided to do a cruise this year because we heard such great comments about the food on cruise boats... are we in for a terrible surprise?

[Mjasp]

We just got back from the Mediterranea today. I will bw writing a full trip report here, by the end of the week. Quickly though, Although I was also concerned about the food, after reading all the bad reviews, being a New Yorker and being Italian, I have to say the food was DELICIOUS! I still can't believe they use "real" grated cheese and no the Kraft container LOL All the macaroni and spaghetti was cooked al dente, I was afraid it was going to be soft and overcooked.

 

More to come, good and where what we thought needed improvement. But don't worry you will enjoy it.

[martyz]

THANKS - for taking time to fill us all in!

[kehlx2]

We just got back from the Mediterranea today. I will bw writing a full trip report here, by the end of the week. Quickly though, Although I was also concerned about the food, after reading all the bad reviews, being a New Yorker and being Italian, I have to say the food was DELICIOUS! I still can't believe they use "real" grated cheese and no the Kraft container LOL All the macaroni and spaghetti was cooked al dente, I was afraid it was going to be soft and overcooked.

 

More to come, good and where what we thought needed improvement. But don't worry you will enjoy it.

 

Oh I hope you'll get a report before Friday--although MY pc will be gone to Dr this Wed--I can still read on hubby's--but we leave Friday to go NORTH (MN) to come south on Sat & hotel for Sat night. although most of the reports now are sounding better--I am thinking we will be just fine...sure hope so :D Oh my after what I just said--oops--better get things ready to pack soon. I am now getting excited--2 weeks of someone else COOKING...:D

[Mjasp]

OK it is done

[kehlx2]

OK it is done

 

Thanks I have read your review--thanks for rushing it online...:D I am now for sure getting REALLY ready mentally to GOOOOOooo!!!!!! I feel once I leave my house FRIDAY--I offically be ON VACATION...WHOO-----Hooo!!!:cool:

[kits]

My husband and I are travelling on the Costa Mediterranea in April and I noticed that there have not been many current updates to this site. Is there anyone out there who has cruised yet this year on this ship who can give me an update? It would be most appreicated..... I am getting nervous hearing all these bad things about the food - that is one of the reasons why my husband and I decided to do a cruise this year because we heard such great comments about the food on cruise boats... are we in for a terrible surprise?

 

Just back from our first cruise.... on Mediterranea....see my new thread. It was fantastic...need to keep in mind that we are all different. I saw nothing wrong with the food...but I also am not a conisuer. Only thing I was dissapointed in was the French Onion Soup. They prepare it more as a creamed soup...probably the Italian way. There really was nothing wrong with it...only it is not the way I make it and am used to. I have allergies to some seafood, and not always does it state what is in a dish. I had seafood linguine, asked if there were scallops in it, there were not, but I forgot to ask about other items. I ate something, I think it was a squid, and was not feeling well almost right away, or the next day. Not their fault as I did not ask for all ingredients. I was more careful after that. :) :)

[kehlx2]

Just back from our first cruise.... on Mediterranea....see my new thread. It was fantastic...need to keep in mind that we are all different. I saw nothing wrong with the food...but I also am not a conisuer. Only thing I was dissapointed in was the French Onion Soup. They prepare it more as a creamed soup...probably the Italian way. There really was nothing wrong with it...only it is not the way I make it and am used to. I have allergies to some seafood, and not always does it state what is in a dish. I had seafood linguine, asked if there were scallops in it, there were not, but I forgot to ask about other items. I ate something, I think it was a squid, and was not feeling well almost right away, or the next day. Not their fault as I did not ask for all ingredients. I was more careful after that. :) :)

 

Oh bummer I so was hoping for some Good French Onion soup--but I guess I can try their version..can't hurt too much.

[Fred&Lily]

You're talking about the french onion soup - Zuppa di cipolle alla francese - and it looked different to what onion soup usually looks like, but it tasted great. Try the Gazpacho - chilled Gazpacho soup or the hot Crema di funghi - all three were on the Welcome Gala Dinner. Lily and I just finished back-to-back cruises on the Mediterranea and we always order different dishes and then taste each others food - so by the end of two weeks we had tested most of the menus and didn't find a single dish we didn't like.

 

Tip: Don't be afraid to try the Escargots a la Bourguignonne - didn't taste like snails at all!

 

Here's something else: I talked a few times to a woman named Evelyn - she has been on 31 cruises and her two sons each work on different RCCL boats but she said she doesn't like the food on Royal Caribbean and now prefers to cruise with Costa.

[Mjasp]

Fred & Lilly...We met quite a few people from Canada this week. Were you with the ballroom dancing group?

[Fred&Lily]

We were on the dance floor in the Casanova lounge every evening and sometimes down in the Isobella on deck 1 whenever Duo Ritmo Latino were playing. There was a large group of ballroom dancers from Toronto last week but Lily and I were not with them.

 

But I chatted with John the really good dancer from Toronto several times - he was the single guy who danced with every single woman he could drag out to the floor - many were asking him for dances too. He was really a decent guy and stopped us a few times on the dance floor to give me dancing tips.

[kehlx2]

You're talking about the french onion soup - Zuppa di cipolle alla francese - and it looked different to what onion soup usually looks like, but it tasted great. Try the Gazpacho - chilled Gazpacho soup or the hot Crema di funghi - all three were on the Welcome Gala Dinner. Lily and I just finished back-to-back cruises on the Mediterranea and we always order different dishes and then taste each others food - so by the end of two weeks we had tested most of the menus and didn't find a single dish we didn't like.

 

Tip: Don't be afraid to try the Escargots a la Bourguignonne - didn't taste like snails at all!

 

Here's something else: I talked a few times to a woman named Evelyn - she has been on 31 cruises and her two sons each work on different RCCL boats but she said she doesn't like the food on Royal Caribbean and now prefers to cruise with Costa.

 

Thanks for the info on the soups thought I would still try the onion..now not too sure about one with funghi---sounds like mushrooms to me??? Don't care for them--now I cant & won't try the "Tip: Don't be afraid to try the Escargots a la Bourguignonne" last cruise I DID try it--I CAN'T deal with it at all--no one likes the face I make..:eek: