We're heading out on Costa

[AnonymousCruiser69]

At least I trust you concede that the poll is, in fact, useful for Americans.

 

...

 

no. a recent poll found polls are 95% ineffective at providing real-life experiences. :D

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, Barb!

 

Thanks by the way for the tip about the hot chocolate. My god :) -- am trying to Facebook that discovery (will give you credit) but can't get photos out of camera. Maybe they're on strike. Want another hot chocolate.

 

The balconies are so much nicer, IMHO, than those in the same categories on newer ships. They're nice and deep. The chairs are good -- wide, deep, white almost-leather-like. The table is also nice and wide, not a tiny cocktail table that holds a thimble. The only downside is that you can smell people smoking. I didn't until yesterday, now it's ever-present. It must be a new pax from Marseilles as that is where we were yesterday.

 

Luminosa won't be doing this in the Caribbean but I really love the idea that people get on in different ports. It's fun and it keeps the energy level high!

 

I'm with you on deck 7 (changing it) if you can. I'll still say the doors are amazingly unsoundproofed, but again not usually a problem.

 

Carolyn

 

Hi Carolyn,

 

I also cannot believe the negative remarks on FB. It surprised me how many will not even consider Costa without ever trying the line! We've had some bad experiences but would never let it ruin our vacation or our decision to cruise again on the same cruise line. Your phrase about "swinging a cat" was too funny!! I knew exactly what you meant, lol!!:)

 

I may change our cabin to deck 7, already asked our TA to look into it. Are the balconies partially covered or open? What type of furniture do they have? We really enjoy using our balcony and I couldn't find much info about the size, etc. The deck plan of the balcony looked a bit larger than your normal size but they can be deceiving, lol!

 

The Italian night in the MDR sounds like fun!! Quite the show!! Looking forward to hearing your spa comments, too!!

 

Its great to be cruising along with you, thanks for sharing!

 

Barb

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, just want to make sure I have answered all the questions you've asked before I hope off Costa Luminosa tomorrow (I don't believe that the great-croissant-debate ever presented a specific question).

 

Please advise if you're still waiting for an answer to an aspect of the cruise and I'll do my best to track it down.

 

Thanks for the conversations!

 

Carolyn

[phider]

Hi, just want to make sure I have answered all the questions you've asked before I hope off Costa Luminosa tomorrow (I don't believe that the great-croissant-debate ever presented a specific question).

 

Please advise if you're still waiting for an answer to an aspect of the cruise and I'll do my best to track it down.

 

Thanks for the conversations!

 

Carolyn

 

Please take pictures of the croissants/cornetties! Important!

 

Philip

Edited October 29, 2013 by phider

[AnonymousCruiser69]

Hi, just want to make sure I have answered all the questions you've asked before I hope off Costa Luminosa tomorrow (I don't believe that the great-croissant-debate ever presented a specific question).

 

Please advise if you're still waiting for an answer to an aspect of the cruise and I'll do my best to track it down.

 

Thanks for the conversations!

 

Carolyn

 

you're correct. there was no question. most reasonable people would not expect the croissant on an mainstream, italian cruise ship to be of the caliber of a parisian boulangerie...

[cruisetrail]

you're correct. there was no question. most reasonable people would not expect the croissant on an mainstream, italian cruise ship to be of the caliber of a parisian boulangerie...

 

That was not a question. That was an answer.

Bakery products on cruise ships are supposed to be of the caliber of a cruise ship bakery.

Most reasonable people not only expect this, they actually enjoy it on cruise ships:

 

[cruisetrail]

Hi, just want to make sure I have answered all the questions you've asked before I hope off Costa Luminosa tomorrow (I don't believe that the great-croissant-debate ever presented a specific question).

 

Please advise if you're still waiting for an answer to an aspect of the cruise and I'll do my best to track it down.

 

Thanks for the conversations!

 

Carolyn

 

Hi Carolyn,

My questions were about live music band on the main stage and forward part of (must be) wrap-around promenade.

 

 

The balconies are so much nicer, IMHO, than those in the same categories on newer ships. They're nice and deep.

 

 

I agree with you.

 

I actually rank Luminosa/Deliziosa higher than the nominal flagships Favolosa/Fascinosa (at least by design).

 

 

 

Thank you for your live report.

 

Have a safe and smooth trip home!

 

cruisetrail

Edited October 30, 2013 by cruisetrail

[editor@cruisecritic]

Ask. You shall receive!

 

Carolyn

 

 

 

Please take pictures of the croissants/cornetties! Important!

 

Philip

[phider]

Ask. You shall receive!

 

Carolyn

 

Thank you so much for your effort! Hope you have a safe trip back home.

 

Philip

[chrispb]

Ask. You shall receive!

 

Carolyn

 

Thank you. Perfect - no nasty glaze:)

[kfowinst]

Thanks Carolyn :)

 

Looks like a croissant.

 

I can't say it looks yummy though cause I don't even like croissants!

 

Safe travels home and hope you had a good trip. Please come back on and tell us where you post your review..

Edited October 30, 2013 by kfowinst

[phider]

Thanks Carolyn :)

 

Looks like a croissant.

 

I can't say it looks yummy though cause I don't even like croissants!

 

Safe travels home and hope you had a good trip. Please come back on and tell us where you post your review..

 

Look forward to the whole review as well. And Carolyn, please be sure to mention the croissants in your review too! Thank you.

 

Philip

[AnonymousCruiser69]

Ask. You shall receive!

 

Carolyn

 

not one of the chocolate filled ones, but looks yummy.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, Cruisetrail. To answer your questions:

 

1. The promenade deck on Luminosa is wonderfully wide (though a bit low-hanging, with the lifeboats hanging right over your head) and clearly could go all around, but doesn't. There are gates on each side forward that say "crew only". But otherwise, you can walk a ways, around the dining room on deck 3. Just not completely circular.

 

2. I'm still not sure what you're asking re live music but there was live music in every lounge every night. Plenty of entertainment to go around.

 

Carolyn

 

What I would suggest to my friend:

1. Samsara is the way of cruising on Costa.

2. For solo cruisers - Book a regular cabin and purchase Samsara package separately. You'll pay for Samsara twice if you book Samsara category cabin.

 

My questions.

1. By design the promenade deck on the Luminosa must have a transverse connection in the forward end that makes it fully wrap-around. Is that part open to the public? Can we actually walk there?

2. Does the Luminosa offer live music band on the main stage? On our cruise on the Favolosa there was prerecorded music that was very disappointing.

 

Thank you and enjoy your cruise!

[editor@cruisecritic]

Our blog on our Costa Luminosa impressions, complete with a shout-out to the Costa forum. Do you agree? Disagree? Weigh in.

 

Link: http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/30/live-from-costa-luminosa-5-things-i-learned-onboard/

 

Carolyn

[cruisetrail]

Hi, Cruisetrail. To answer your questions:

 

1. The promenade deck on Luminosa is wonderfully wide (though a bit low-hanging, with the lifeboats hanging right over your head) and clearly could go all around, but doesn't. There are gates on each side forward that say "crew only". But otherwise, you can walk a ways, around the dining room on deck 3. Just not completely circular.

 

2. I'm still not sure what you're asking re live music but there was live music in every lounge every night. Plenty of entertainment to go around.

 

Carolyn

 

Hi carolyn,

Thank you for the information.

Live music band on the main stage - I mean live orchestra on the main stage (theatre) to accompany the shows.

 

Thank you.

 

cruisetrail

[phider]

Hi carolyn,

Thank you for the information.

Live music band on the main stage - I mean live orchestra on the main stage (theatre) to accompany the shows.

 

Thank you.

 

cruisetrail

 

 

Carolyn, something like this maybe?

 

 

Philip

Edited October 30, 2013 by phider

[editor@cruisecritic]

Oh, that! Um, well, no, Phider. Nothing at all like that. Canned music for the most part in the theater, at least from what I recall. The best show was a Groucho Marx-like comedian, very slapstick. But with dinner at 9:30 p.m. each night, our pre-dining entertainment window was generally obscured by ... naps... to help us get through dinner itself. I mean, I like a late meal but 9:30 p.m. arrival? Different!

 

Carolyn

 

Carolyn, something like this maybe?

 

 

Philip

[phider]

Oh, that! Um, well, no, Phider. Nothing at all like that. Canned music for the most part in the theater, at least from what I recall. The best show was a Groucho Marx-like comedian, very slapstick. But with dinner at 9:30 p.m. each night, our pre-dining entertainment window was generally obscured by ... naps... to help us get through dinner itself. I mean, I like a late meal but 9:30 p.m. arrival? Different!

 

Carolyn

 

Thanks. Did you book Classic cabins? Premium cabins provide the setting choice of either 7 pm. or 9 pm. at your own discretion. Any reason why you didn't opt for the Premium, since the added cost is so low its negligible.

 

Philip

[cricketts]

I'm curious how the menu offerings differ from the mainstream US lines, and I'm concerned that there is little choice for dinner beside the dining room. Input? (We're booked on the Mediterranea in the Caribbbean)

 

Also, if smoking is allowed in the staterooms, do they smell?

 

p.s. I really enjoyed the posted review, it's very helpful as we try to determine our feelings about Costa :)

Edited October 31, 2013 by cricketts

[AnonymousCruiser69]

carolyn, something like this maybe?

 

 

philip

 

lol! :D:D:D

Edited October 31, 2013 by AnonymousCruiser69

[AnonymousCruiser69]

I'm curious how the menu offerings differ from the mainstream US lines, and I'm concerned that there is little choice for dinner beside the dining room. Input? (We're booked on the Mediterranea in the Caribbbean)

 

Also, if smoking is allowed in the staterooms, do they smell?

 

p.s. I really enjoyed the posted review, it's very helpful as we try to determine our feelings about Costa :)

 

i took pics of the majority of my meals on costa. they can be seen here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1748219

[AnonymousCruiser69]

 

my usual breakfast onboard. chocolate croissant is on your right. i wish i had a butler to bring me this RIGHT NOW.

Edited October 31, 2013 by AnonymousCruiser69

[cruisetrail]

Canned music for the most part in the theater, at least from what I recall. The best show was a Groucho Marx-like comedian, very slapstick. But with dinner at 9:30 p.m. each night, our pre-dining entertainment window was generally obscured by ... naps... to help us get through dinner itself. I mean, I like a late meal but 9:30 p.m. arrival? Different!

 

Carolyn

 

Thank you Carolyn.

[Projunior]

Our blog on our Costa Luminosa impressions, complete with a shout-out to the Costa forum. Do you agree? Disagree? Weigh in.

 

Link: http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/30/live-from-costa-luminosa-5-things-i-learned-onboard/

 

Carolyn

 

I was on the Luminosa recently, Aug 31 - Sep 10, Copenhagen to Savona. I generally agree with most, but not all of your impressions.

 

It’s not just that the waiters were dressed in the reds and greens of the Italian flag, or that the menu featured staples of the country’s varied regions, from Liguria to Tuscany and beyond. It was the music and dancing that propelled this night into the memory book.

 

Totally agree here. The dinner time experience and performances by the waitstaff are a total hoot and not to be missed. It's hard to tell who enjoys it more, the performers or the passengers. A rollicking good time. Yes, sitting down to begin dinner at 9:30PM is a different experience. Even more so when the table next to you has a 6 year old.

 

The pizza, too, is amazing and much improved. It’s Neapolitan style, crispy and hot, prepared fresh in the Lido all day and into the evening.

 

The pizza on Princess is the best we have found at sea. While we greatly enjoyed the food on the Luminosa, Costa pizza on all three of our Costa cruises is not even close to the pizza served on Princess. You call it "amazing"; I prefer the adjective "edible" and that's about as far as I'll go. I find this both surprising, and disappointing, for an Italian cruise line, as one might reasonably expect this to be a signature item for them.

 

Could the décor, which was bland but fine, use an upgrade? Sure.

 

This was our 20th cruise. I did not find the décor appreciably blander or more glitzy than any other ship. We have sailed RCI, Crystal, HAL, Princess and Celebrity.

 

Not so much with Costa, which does ban cigarettes from restaurants but otherwise provides plentiful space for smokers – and non smokers – to congregate, from outside decks to bars and lounges.

 

We are not smokers and we were not bothered a bit anywhere on the ship. Even in the Electra Grand Bar, the main lounge, where we would sit on the non-smoking side of the room and smokers would be on the other, to us, the smell of smoking was undetectable. On just a couple of occasions did we catch a whiff as we entered or exited the casino.

 

One more thought: what we really enjoyed on the Luminosa (and on the Fascinosa and the Fortuna) was the liveliness of the passengers and the fun vibe throughout the ship. We have been on cruises where the public spaces on the ship were eerily deserted by 11PM. On the Luminosa, there would be a dance floor (in the main lounge, not the disco) full of couples, having fun dancing to live music at 12:30AM! If this is common on any other cruise line, I have not encountered it. Passengers seem to come aboard Costa seeking to have a good time; from all appearances, they succeed.