In recent years, cruise ships have not only grown in size but also in the incredible variety of restaurants they offer. I remember my first cruise with MSC in 2007; there was basically only one restaurant at night, and that was it. Nowadays? Seriously, you can find more restaurants on a cruise than in a shopping mall.
However, dining on a cruise ship raises many questions. Is everything complimentary? What do I have to pay for? Are there plenty of options like seafood, Japanese restaurants, and pasta? Does Costa have a main dining room? Let's delve into some of the most popular questions and topics.
If you have any questions about restaurants onboard Costa Cruise Line, make sure to send us a message by clicking the Request a Quote button above or by sending an email to [email protected]. Contacting us is free of charge and we will reply back as soon as possible!
Dietary Needs
You can arrange for special diets when booking through Famvia or by calling Costa Cruises Contact Centre. On every Costa ship you can request special menus to be served at the restaurant: gluten-free for people with celiac disease, hypoglycaemic for diabetics, or a specific menu for people with specific allergies or intolerances.
Bringing Food and Drinks Onboard
Unfortunately, you cannot bring food or drink on board that were purchased on land. So, during check-in, you can’t enter the ship with beer or wine. If the food/drinks are local products bought during a port stop, you can leave them with Costa Security staff and collect them at the end of the cruise.
Dress Code
Costa Cruise Line follows a dress code that is standard for most cruise lines. That means it’s casual during the day and steps it up a notch at night. During the day, you can walk around and dine at most places in shorts and a T-shirt (swimwear is not allowed). At night, a pair of jeans and a polo will do the job. Just make sure to pack a special fancy outfit for the gala nights.
According to Costa, “You are free to wear what you want on a cruise: the atmosphere is informal and casual. Garments must, however, be suitable for the environment, season, destination, and occasion: more formal for the gala dinner, more comfortable and casual for daytime and excursions. A jacket or shawl is always recommended.”
Room Service
Room Service is free for guests staying in a Suite, all other cabins will be charged.
Does Costa Cruise Line have a Main Dining Room?
Yes, there is a Main Dining Room inside Costa Cruise Line ships.
Dinner is scheduled at two specific times on your Costa Cruise: usually at 7:00pm and 9:30pm.
Open Seating is a new service with no set dining time — you can enter the restaurant anytime between 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM, and you’ll be assigned a random table. This option is available for CostaClub Diamond and Pearl members, guests staying in a Suite, or guests in a Premium cabin on board Costa Diadema and Costa Mediterranea.
Buffet onboard Costa Cruise Line
There is at least one complimentary buffet option on every Costa Cruise ship. The food is considered good, but lines can get pretty long, especially since the buffet is only open at specific times. So yes, there isn’t a dining venue that stays open all day waiting for guests. Keep in mind, this is an Italian cruise line, and they do some things a bit differently. Below are the usual buffet hours, though exact times may vary depending on the ship and itinerary:
- Breakfast: Typically opens around 7:30am and closes around 9:30am.
- Lunch: Usually opens around noon and closes around 2:00pm.
- Dinner: Usually opens around 7:00pm and closes around 9:00pm.
Food Onboard Costa Cruise Line
Here’s the good news: Costa Cruise Line often has pretty good food. Compared to standard North American cruise lines, guests online tend to agree that the food quality on Costa is usually better, especially the pasta. That’s great, since I’d be slightly disappointed if an Italian cruise line didn’t serve us some excellent fettuccine or gnocchi.
Portions, however, tend to be on the smaller side. That’s mostly because dining in the MDR usually includes a four or five course meal, so it makes sense that the portions aren’t huge. You might get free cheese, then a soup, an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert, with some extras thrown in from time to time. You can also order as many dishes as you want in case you're not satisfied with the portion size.
The Best Restaurants aboard Costa Cruise Line
Pummid'Oro Pizzeria
- Type: additional charge, pizza
Pummid'Oro Pizzeria is the best specialty restaurant on Costa Cruise Line, period. Pizza is not actually free on Costa, and it comes with an extra charge. That’s a bit of a bummer. The good news is that the pizza here is excellent. It is handmade and comes in a variety of flavors, all prepared just right. A Margherita pizza costs 9 euros, while more exotic options are around 15 euros. The quality is often compared to some of the best land-based pizzerias in Italy, which is high praise. Another great perk is that this spot stays open late, usually from 7:00pm to 1:00am.
Archipelago
- Type: additional charge, international cuisine.
Archipelago is the newest specialty restaurant available on the latest Costa Cruise ships. It features three different five-course menus created by three world-renowned chefs. This restaurant is all about elegance and charm, making it the perfect place to bring the love of your life. Food items include lamb chops with black truffle, sea scallop fritters with zucchini scapece, and lobster salad with Kanzi apple and pancotto.
Do I know what each of these words means? Not really, but they sound fancy. Dining here costs 49 euros per guest, or 22.50 euros for Costa Club members and beverage package holders.
Teppanyaki Restaurant
- Type: additional charge, Teppanyaki.
This is the classic teppanyaki experience on board Costa Cruises, and it gets some pretty good reviews. You sit at a table with other guests while a skilled chef prepares your food right in front of you. There are three different menus to choose from. The most traditional option, the Dello Chef Teppanyaki, costs 42 euros per guest and includes a choice of two starters and two main courses, with options for meat or fish dishes.
Costa Cruise Line Drink Packages
Costa Cruise Line offers two different drink packages, which you can purchase either at the time of booking or later on while on board the ship. All guests under the same reservation number or staying in the same cabin must purchase the same package. Prices may vary, so check with us here at Famvia to get a quote based on the number of nights you will be on board.
The two drink packages are:
- My Drinks Package: This is the option you receive when you choose the All-Inclusive package at the time of booking. It includes water, coffee, soda, wine, a selection of alcoholic drinks, cocktails, and Heineken draft beer.
- My Drinks Plus Package: Similar to the package above, but with a more extensive list of drinks and premium cocktails. You receive the My Drinks Plus Package if you are staying in a Suite and select the All-Inclusive option at the time of booking.
