If I go on a Costa cruise in Europe...

[JenKate]

...am I going to feel like The Dumb American? My husband and I are planning a September trip for our 10th anniversary, and Costa has some great itineraries. But we're bumpkins from rural Colorado! Will we feel out of place and have a hard time with the language barrier?

 

Thanks!

[delphine30]

Hi!

I think there's no problem!! you're welcome in Europe!! and on the mediterranean cruises, you will have a lot of different people, italian, french, germa, and some others people from america or asia! so, come on!!

[sho]

On most meditarranean Costa cruises, there are always at least 50-100 English speaking passengers, mostly from the States and England. We also have our own English-speaking hostess who organises everything for us and sort out any queries. We will also be allocated to tables to dine with other English-speaking passengers. Never had any language problem with cruise staff either.

[G.M.T.]

JenKate,

 

Americans have been sightseeing in Europe for the last 50 years, London, Paris, Rome so they must have overcome the language barrier somehow.

 

For me a Costa cruise is like USA/Europe in miniature form, with all the different nationalities a truly international event.

 

Once your have book your cruise then there is always the Rollcall feature to meet with other people who have booked on the same cruise.

 

Be adventuous, like the advert says JUST DO IT.

 

You will not regret it.

 

Ron

[mountainmare]

You have plenty of time to research your trip and your ports taking time to learn about the culture and a little bit of the language for the places you will be visiting. Travel is the best form of education and this is a wonderful opportunity.

The very fact that you have a computer and know how to use it shows that you are not a country bumpkin.

I'll bet you have a TV also, maybe a DVD player or at least a VCR. Read everything you can get your hands on and watch travel programs (Sam Brown, Rick Steves...anything you can find).

You will have a blast over the next few months.

I'm looking forward to my first Costa cruise to the Med in Feb. Last Oct we took Celebrity in Europe and each day we returned to an all American bubble, I'm welcoming a more international experience.

[BigBirdZ28]

Just finished sailing the Fortuna's 7 night (west med. ) cruise and man oh man did I feel like the dumb english speaker.

 

Speaking english was of very little use at virtually all the stops (Marseilles and Barcelona were easier). As far as on the ship almost all the staff could speak good (70% fluent) english, but virtually no fellow cruisers could speak it at all.

 

We bumped into 3-4 people/groups that could speak english and each time it was obvious that was the only real socialising we've done the whole week.

 

Bottom line, if you cant speak Italian +some spanish, you will feel like an alien.