Costa

[VABeach]

Anyone sail on Costa recenly? What did you think? We are considering Costa Atlantica for an anniversary trip in late 09. Princess (Emerald) is another consideration.

 

Was on Coasta Fortuna last Christmas and LOVED it so much that I came home and booked myself a trip to Venice. ;)

 

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Coasta. And you will either love it or hate it.

 

It is mostly Europeans, so everything on the ship is very European.

 

Announcements are made is 5 languages: French, Spanish, English, german and Italian.

 

The Shows and Activities are all in 5 languages, and they change language in mid sentence, so you get to fill in the blanks so to speak.

 

The Dinner time in the dining room is so much more festive and fun. Europeans really know how to ENJOY life.

 

There is no age restriction in the dance clubs, so there will be teens, but the teens are all very well behaved and seem to blend right in.

 

Dinner will be a full 2 - 2 1/2 hours. No one will be rushing off early.

 

Everyone will be FRIENDLY. Kids will be well BEHAVED. And it will be a Cultural experience overall.

 

And most of the food will be Italian. (It is an Italian cruise line.).

 

The music will mostly be European. There will be Speedos. And there will be Smoking, although, it's not bad.

 

Please go. Enjoy! :D

[VABeach]

We are looking at the Westerdam for next year too and I asked here for Carnival folks to compare the two. I have no desire to hear what HAL folks think of the ship since, given that I haven't sailed HAL I would not be able to picture anything they were talking about. If they said, "The rooms are small." Smaller than what??? But, a comment of, "The rooms are smaller than those on all Carnival ships," I'm getting a visual of the comparison. So, I think you're spot on coming here. :)

 

Coasta is owned by Carnival, and they basically use the same blueprints to build their Coasta ships as they do their Carnival ships. 99% similar.

 

I also have sailed HAL, and they are COMPLETELY different. Ships, Crew, Passengers, Activities, Food, Shows, Everything - all DIFFERENT.

[MonaCK]

I really did not like Costa - but that also might have been a symptom of cruising on Christmas Week.

[cruizinonup]

Thanks for all the help. It gives me a lot to consider. I have a little while still to make up my mind, so any more suggestions would be appreciated.

[racingraysswimmom]

We have traveled with a group the last 5 years and have done 3 Carnival and 2 Costa. Loved the food on Costa and the European influence. I think if you are looking for something abit different, Costa will fill the bill. The rooms on Carnival and Costa are similar.

NCL cabins are really small unless you do a suite. Princess was very nice but the cost difference between Carnival & Costa for a family was not worth it. My kids also enjoyed Costa and I enjoyed the kids sail free promo.

[bfs2718]

My family has only sailed w/ Costa; we are a bit nervous about coming to Carnival... We sail out on 12.21.08 on the Victory. We all loved Costa and of course my DH and I love Italy!

 

If you are open minded, you will LOVE Costa. It is European in atmosphere and lots of non-Americans on board. We found it to be charming. (It was also pretty cheap!)

[LynneL]

OP - Let us know what which cruise you finally decide on.

[Unca Pete]

Anyone sail on Costa recenly? What did you think? We are considering Costa Atlantica for an anniversary trip in late 09. Princess (Emerald) is another consideration.

 

I'll give you a comparision on Princess, FWIW..

 

Princess: better buffet food, shorter buffet lines, better service in restaurants (waiters have less tables..), a tad more elegant and upscale than Carnival (afternoon tea, etc..) Average passenger age seems to be about 10 years older on Princess...

 

Not dissing Carnival, so no flames please..;)

 

Pete

[cruizinonup]

I'll give you a comparision on Princess, FWIW..

 

Princess: better buffet food, shorter buffet lines, better service in restaurants (waiters have less tables..), a tad more elegant and upscale than Carnival (afternoon tea, etc..) Average passenger age seems to be about 10 years older on Princess...

 

Not dissing Carnival, so no flames please..;)

 

Pete

What would you consider the averae age to be?

[UCSD]

..... Average passenger age seems to be about 10 years older on princess...

 

Not dissing carnival, so no flames please..;)

 

pete

 

omg!!!

[cruizinonup]

I am meaning 10n years older than what? What does he consider the average age? I don't really think of an average age on Carnival. OMG!?!?

Why so rude?

[UFQ202]

I have sailed on both and enjoy any cruise I am on. I did notice that Costa does cater to the Europeans on the ship. Some of the staff wear little flag pins that lets you know what language they speak. The INTERNET café had no INTERNET packages so it got expensive keeping in touch with home. The bedding was not near as comfortable as Carnival's. I was glad I had my pillow from home. My brother claimed his was a rock. The cabin was about the same size as Carnival. I did notice lots of speedo's:eek:. The food was really good but is mainly Italian. The show was done in 3 or 4 languages which I found difficult to follow. The production itself was beautiful. I really did have alot of fun with the Toga party. If you go with an open mind I am sure no matter which cruise line you pick you will have a wonderful time and make lots of memories. Congratulations on your Anniversary!

[UCSD]

I am meaning 10n years older than what? What does he consider the average age? I don't really think of an average age on Carnival. OMG!?!?

Why so rude?

just pulled this one out. don't know what "10n" means. But, if you are asking what is average age, I believe Pete may know the answer.

[cruizinonup]

just pulled this one out. don't know what "10n" means. But, if you are asking what is average age, I believe Pete may know the answer.

SORRY for the typo. I meant 10 years older that what?

[UCSD]

SORRY for the typo. I meant 10 years older that what?

I thought that is math, 10xn:rolleyes:, lol

[cruizinonup]

One review I read about Princess said that the ship was full of older people in the little scooters? I think that crowd might be a little older than what I would hope for. I will be 34 and Dh will be 37.

[LynneL]

One review I read about Princess said that the ship was full of older people in the little scooters? I think that crowd might be a little older than what I would hope for. I will be 34 and Dh will be 37.

 

 

Not a scooter to dodge on the sailing we went on : ) What month are you planning on cruising? That often makes a difference - many retired people cruise when school is in..off times & rates cheap...I know I would cruise then if I didn't work in a school or was retired. I've been on many Carnival cruises, 1 Princess & 2 Royal Caribbean & the age frame was nothing off the spectrum for any of them (exception - the 1 Carnival Pres. Wk. out of NOLA was much older, I'm guessing only metro NY area gets a week off for that one & most people around here are Florida bound and the 1 Royal Caribbean which was an Alaska cruise that was older than the norm. Seemed to be that way for most of the ships in port with us. Years ago when much younger did a Greek Island/Turkey cruise & friend & I were the ONLY young people on board...so again, a lot has to do with time & destination)

 

As I mentioned before, our Princess cruise was in August so age frame was more in line with people who would have school aged children (median age mid-40s). My son & his girlfriend (20) went last Jan. & said people were a bit older on his sailing, less school aged kids but not a ton of college kids/early 20s like he is - which he hoped would be the case. Carnival does not allow an over 21 (but under 25) & a younger than 21 sail together, unless with a parent or guardian 25 or over...Princess does, which is how they came to narrow themselves down to Princess. Plus he had enjoyed his cruise with them the previous August. The Jan. Princess cruise was a mellower time than when he went with a group of friends (all over age 21) on Carnival for a different sailing.

[crash3x]

Anyone sail on Costa recenly? What did you think? We are considering Costa Atlantica for an anniversary trip in late 09. Princess (Emerald) is another consideration.

 

 

I sailed the Atlantica in Apr 07....it is a beautiful ship. The food was awesome, staff was great.

 

Keep in mind it is a European cruise line. English is offered...We asked to be seated at a english speaking table...and they sat us with other Canadains......we had a great time...

 

All shows are announced in 5 languages. This cruise line still has a topless deck, unlike Carnival...Europeans are more free in that respect. I found it strange that whole families sitting around doing the topless thing.

 

The balcony rooms are great. And the cabin steward was always there to assist and meet your every need.

 

Midnight buffet is something to be admired.

[cruizinonup]

Our anniversary is in Dec. and DH doesn't think he can get vacation time then, so we are gonna look for the best rates from say late Sept. thru Nov. I think I have decided against Costa at this point. Now it is between Princess and Holland America Westerdam and Norwegian Pearl. I am leaning more toward Princess though. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[yuccaman]

We're Carnival lovers who took Costa last year to take advantage of a particular rare itinerary and great price for a family reunion for my parent's 50th... and a shot at trying sister line Costa!

 

Ship was same as Conquest class (some others are Spirit class), decor a little more Mediterannean. Cruise director was okay, its just that they have to cater to so many more nationalities of psgrs, so humor is not the same. Also, expect more visual (acrobats, magic) and less 'verbal' (comedians) entertainment on non-Broadway show nights. Less bingo (could be a good thing or a bad thing). Dinner dining room food not as good, but pasta exceptional, fish great, Lido buffet marvelous. Overall experience still almost as great, ship spotless.

[LynneL]

Our anniversary is in Dec. and DH doesn't think he can get vacation time then, so we are gonna look for the best rates from say late Sept. thru Nov. I think I have decided against Costa at this point. Now it is between Princess and Holland America Westerdam and Norwegian Pearl. I am leaning more toward Princess though. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

 

Now that you knocked one out of the running, if you haven't done so already I would suggest you post on Princess & Holland boards the question of how just those 2 compare (for your age group, activities, etc.) from people who have traveled on both. I'm guessing Holland is older crowd...never been on it, just going by research I found when trying to plan an Alaska cruise & considered every line going from various ports.

 

If you find Holland is older, you've narrowed down again so post on Princess & NCL boards both with the same question. Those 2 will probably be closer demographic group. Then you just get into reviews written about each ship, where they go, etc. to narrow it down to one.

 

One more thing to throw in the mix...since you are traveling to celebrate a special anniversary, when my husband & I sailed on the Crown Princess we arranged ahead to renew our wedding vows. He initially complained how the $ would be better spent in the casino - lol - but agreed in the end it was really very special. We had our family & friends there so very nice. Although the cheaper of the 2 pkgs. say they may do the renewal with other couples, every thread I read on it all said their's was solo (maybe if you went on a Valentine's day sailing it might be different, guess gives them that option but not one person posted that they had others there) so I went with that one - think I paid around $250....could have been $325. but not more...but worth it. Gave bouquet for me, bout. for him, copy of renewal vows, did ring exchange ceremony, champagne & 2 keepsake glasses delivered to room afterwards, 8x10 pic in a frame of your choice (I chose silver-tone one since 25th ann). Each couples' was done privately in a room. Ship photo. came & they gave a decent price on buying the approx. 10 6x8 pics they took (maybe $50. for all). Also no problem with using your own camera. The coordinator took pics of our group & us on my camera too when asked. They say they choose the day they do it but I requested formal night & that's when it was done (again, threads on this said that seemed to be the case since you're dressed up that night). So, something to think about.

[Minoushka]

I have sailed all 3 LOve Costa .The ambiance on ship is great.THe ships are over the top glitzy I happen to love it Atlantica is a VERY nice ship.I enjoyed the food but it is EUropean in presentation Cabins real nice and big .Get a balcony

Princess is very nice more subdued then Costa or Carnival.

If you like to meet Europeans great ship .I met faSCINATING ONES .i ENJOYED HEARING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN 5 LANGUAGES ...PERFECTED MY iTALIAN

tRY cOSTA YOU might like it .Toga party is a HOOT