Costa Cruises is great for:
- Travelers looking for an affordable cruise
- Anyone planning a cruise in Europe
- Those who want a unique cruise experience
Costa Cruises might not be great for:
- Guests who prefer peace and quiet
- Travelers looking for a more traditional cruise experience, like those on Carnival or Royal Caribbean
Costa Cruises is a unique cruise line that many people outside Europe haven’t even heard of. It almost feels like a mysterious entity beyond the continent, but did you know it’s actually one of the biggest cruise lines in the world, and one of the largest in Europe, right alongside MSC Cruises?
Costa is part of the Carnival Corporation, which means it shares some ideas and design elements with other Carnival-owned brands like Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, and Princess Cruises.
Costa Cruises has a very, very European feel, even more so than MSC. They visit popular ports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, but interestingly enough, not a single Costa ship sails from the United States. So yeah, no departures from places like PortMiami or Fort Lauderdale, which can definitely be a bummer for North American guests. From that detail alone, you can already tell a Costa cruise will feel pretty different.
One interesting thing? English isn’t even the main language onboard, it’s Italian. Costa is as Italian as it gets. That said, announcements are made in several languages, including, yes, English. Excursions are also offered in multiple languages, so it's important to double-check the language when booking one for a specific destination.
The food? Also different. Every main meal is designed to be a four- or five-course experience, typically starting with cheese, then soup, an entrée, dessert, and a few extras in between. Portions might seem small at first, but that’s only because several dishes are headed your way in the Main Dining Room. As for quality, the food is pretty good. It's not quite on the level of Celebrity Cruises or Holland America, but it gets the job done. One downside? The buffet isn’t open all the time, so guests looking for a late-night snack might end up a bit disappointed.
While Costa offers great food, it’s important to know that some things aren’t included in your cruise fare, like water. Outside of the Main Dining Room and the buffet, you’ll need to pay for bottled water. They don’t offer tap water, since that’s just not common in Italy. Many guests get around this by purchasing the All-Inclusive Package when they book their cruise.
One very good thing about Costa? It tends to offer some really competitive prices, especially for Europe. There are some 3-Day European Cruises to France that cost €120 per guest, which is an absolute steal. You can even find some Japan Itineraries that run for 4-Days and cost €320 per guest. If you’re going to Europe and plan to try a cruise, Costa is definitely a very affordable and great choice to explore some unique itineraries.
Costa is also a cruise line that attracts families and young adults. That’s probably thanks to the affordable pricing. Older guests in their 40s and beyond who are looking for a more romantic or upscale experience usually go with lines like Holland America or Celebrity Cruises.
Costa ships might not have wild entertainment like go-kart tracks or hybrid roller coaster/water slides, but most of them do feature water parks and playgrounds for the little ones.
There you have it! Costa is a unique cruise line that offers a different kind of experience compared to the big names you usually see in North America. It’s charming, very affordable, and a fantastic option if you’re looking to explore Europe by sea. Think Costa might be the right fit for you? Just click that Request a Quote button, send over your questions, and let’s chat! We’re happy to help you out, no strings attached. Che bello!
Reviews of Costa Cruises
The Good
It’s very Italian: Looking for a cruise experience that’s totally different from the big names like Royal Caribbean or Carnival? Give Costa Cruises a shot. They’re affordable and offer something truly unique. Think four-course meals in the Main Dining Room (with lots of cheese), charming European-style decor, announcements in multiple languages, temperatures listed in Celsius, and even the 24-hour clock onboard. It’s a very Italian vibe, so come see for yourself if it’s your style!
European Itineraries & Prices: Costa is a great cruise line if you're looking to travel around Europe. Not only do they offer a wide variety of itineraries, but the prices are also pretty appealing. For example, an 8-day cruise to Denmark, Norway, and Germany starts at €450, while a 3-day cruise to France starts at €250. That’s a steal, especially if you’re planning to explore multiple cities and destinations.
The All-Inclusive Package: If you’re traveling with Costa, you should definitely consider getting the All-Inclusive package. It includes gratuities, water, soda, Heineken draft beer, wine, whiskey, cocktails, and more. It’s the best way to enjoy your trip, and it’s actually not that expensive. For example, if a 3-day cruise to France costs €250, the All-Inclusive package is around €110. That’s a great deal. I mean, is there anything better than sipping a Piña Colada while soaking in the sights of Paris?
Let’s paaaarty: Who doesn’t love a good party? Italians definitely do. Costa cruise ships tend to come alive at night, with multiple parties happening throughout your cruise. Many of them don’t even start until after 11:30pm and can go into the early hours of the morning. That’s perfect for anyone looking to dance and have a great time. I actually love this, especially since late-night entertainment is almost non-existent on some other cruise lines.
The Bad
Lack of North American ports: One of the main issues with Costa Cruises is that they don’t offer departures from popular ports in North America. We’re talking about Galveston in Texas, PortMiami, and Fort Lauderdale. They focus heavily on Europe and have a presence in the Dominican Republic, but in North America, they’re almost nonexistent. They do offer cruises out of San Francisco, but only as part of their World Tours, which last more than 90 days.
Some issues with dining onboard: At a time when most cruise lines offer flexible dining options, it’s a bit of a letdown that you have to pay extra for that on Costa. C’mon, Costa, let everyone dine when they want! Beyond that, there are a few other quirks with how food and drinks are handled. Having the buffet available only during specific hours is definitely a downside, and needing to pay for water outside the Main Dining Room or buffet? Yeah, not cool.
How Much is a Cruise on Costa Cruises?
Good news: Costa Cruises tend to be relatively cheap, especially if you're traveling in Europe. On vacation in the Old Continent and thinking about a spontaneous cruise? Then Costa can be a great option. Prices vary a lot, but you can pay as little as $270 per guest for a 3-day France cruise, or $460 for a 5-day cruise that visits France, Italy, and Spain.
Costa also offers thousands of different cruises at a wide range of prices. Sometimes, a 7-day itinerary might even be cheaper than a 5-day cruise, depending on demand. Right now, they have a staggering 1,779 different itineraries available on their website. Yeah, that’s a lot, and browsing them all can be a challenge. That’s where we come in. Just tell us your dream destination, and we’ll bring you the best prices and cruises on a silver plate.
What is included in your Costa Cruises fare?
This is what's included in your base fare:
- Your cabin
- Dining (Main Dining Room, Buffet)
- Room Service
- Kids Club
- Onboard activities like live shows, sports courts, swimming pools, and more
Wi-Fi, gratuities, laundry, alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, and excursions are not included and require extra fees. Bottled water is also not included, and you'll need to pay extra for it unless you're in the Main Dining Room or Buffet.
Costa Cruises offers a few add-on packages: the “My Cruise Package,” the “All Inclusive Package,” and the “Super All-Inclusive Package.”
- The My Cruise Package includes gratuities, port taxes, lets you choose your cabin location, and comes with a flexible cancellation policy.
- The All Inclusive Package includes everything in the My Cruise Package, plus a My Drinks beverage package that covers alcoholic drinks, soda, water, coffee, and more.
- The Super All-Inclusive Package has all the perks of the previous packages, plus excursion credits included in your fare.
When comparing all of them, we usually recommend sticking with the All Inclusive Package, as it gives you the best value for what most guests are looking for.
Costa Cruises Fleet and Destinations
Costa Cruises Fleet
Costa is a pretty big cruise line, and we did mention they have almost two thousand different itineraries to choose from. What’s surprising, though, is that they “only” have 9 ships in their fleet.
- Costa Fortuna (2003)
- Costa Serena (2007)
- Costa Pacifica (2009)
- Costa Deliziosa (2010)
- Costa Favolosa (2011)
- Costa Fascinosa (2012)
- Costa Diadema (2014)
- Costa Smeralda (2019)
- Costa Toscana (2021)
Costa Cruises Main Destinations
The main destinations are:
- Europe
- Mediterranean
- Caribbean
- Asia
- Africa
- South America
- Oceania
Costa Cruise main Home Ports
One thing to keep in mind is that Costa doesn’t have any regular ports of call in the United States. Well, that’s not entirely true. They do depart from San Francisco for a few World Voyages, but that’s the exception. They do not sail out of popular U.S. ports like the ones in Florida, Texas or New York. Instead, they mostly focus on Central America, Europe and South America.
Here are some of their most popular destinations and ports of call:
- Europe (Rome, Naples, Genoa, Barcelona, Southampton, Marseille)
- Asia (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Dubai)
- South America (Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro)
- Africa (Cape Town)
- Oceania (Sydney)
Is Costa Cruises for You?
Costa Cruises is a good fit for travelers exploring Europe, guests looking for an affordable cruise, and families on vacation. In this case, Costa is quite similar to MSC Cruises, which also offers a wide variety of itineraries at very reasonable prices. The difference is that Costa feels even more European than MSC. Dining works a bit differently, the onboard entertainment leans more toward late-night parties than massive waterslides, and so on.
Costa is also a great option for first-time cruisers who are traveling the world, then suddenly stop, look at the sun, and say, "Hmm, I think I want to go on a cruise." They offer hundreds of different itineraries, many of which focus on short 3 or 4-day cruises. Even if you end up not loving Costa, these shorter trips are a great way to explore new destinations and experience a unique cruise line where English is not the main language.
Costa is a bit harder to recommend if you are looking for a traditional cruise experience, like the ones Royal Caribbean or Carnival offers in the Caribbean. Costa ships are also full of kids and families, so if you are looking for peace and quiet or a very romantic vacation with the love of your life, you might have better luck with another cruise line like Holland America, Princess Cruises, or Celebrity Cruises.
Activities onboard Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises is less about the mega-resort at sea and more about a charming Italian-style cruise around the world. Their ships have swimming pools, stage shows, and nightly entertainment, and the newest ones even include waterparks and waterslides. Are the waterparks as impressive as what you’d find on Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line? No, but they get the job done.
There is a Kids Club for children, starting from one year old all the way up to seventeen. The main entertainment options for kids are the Aqua Park and the arcade. For adults, there are late-night parties, casinos, plenty of stage shows, and lots of bars to explore.
The theatre for stage shows is open to all and no booking is required. The shows are repeated twice each evening between 8.00pm and 9.30pm.
Costa Cruises Additional Info & Packing List
The key requirement is your ID. Don’t forget to bring it!
Passports should have at least six months of validity remaining. For cruises departing from international ports, a passport is mandatory. It's essential that the name on your reservation matches exactly with what appears on your passport or other official proof of nationality.
Gratuities
Good news, Costa Cruises has one of the lowest service charges in the entire cruise industry. The service charge applies to guests aged 15 and over, is charged per person, per night, and usually costs $12 (or 11 €). There is no charge for children under the age of 4. If you purchase the “My Cruise” experience package, gratuities are included in your overall fare. A 15 percent gratuity is also added to all beverage purchases.
Wi-Fi
Costa Cruises offers paid Wi-Fi onboard. They have a WhatsApp package for messaging only, a social media package that includes platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and a full package that covers everything. Prices vary depending on the ship and itinerary. The cheapest option usually starts at 5 euro per guest, per day, while the most expensive can go up to around 15-20 euro per guest, per day.
Dress Code
Costa follows a standard dress code for cruise lines. You can dress casually during the day, then step it up a notch in the evening. That means it is perfectly fine to wear shorts and a simple t-shirt during the day, but you should switch to nice jeans and a polo shirt at night. Keep in mind that most itineraries include Gala Nights, so you might want to bring something a bit more fancy if you feel like dressing up.
Dining
Costa Cruises follows a traditional model when it comes to dining in the Main Dining Rooms. Guests can choose between early and late seatings, usually around 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM.
Flexible dining is a different story. Costa recently introduced a more relaxed option that removes set times altogether. With flexible dining, you can enter the restaurant anytime between 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM, and you’ll be assigned a random table. This service, however, is only available to CostaClub Diamond Pearl members, guests staying in Suites, or those in Premium cabins aboard the Costa Diadema and Costa Mediterranea.
Laundry
All Costa ships provide a fast laundry, dry cleaning and ironing service for an extra charge. Each cabin is equipped with laundry bags and a laundry price list.
Costa Cruises Loyalty Program
Costa Cruises has a loyalty program called the C|Club. You earn points for each day of your cruise, and certain upgrades like booking a suite or choosing the All-Inclusive package will earn you extra points. The program has five membership tiers: Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Perks include onboard credit, discounts on select cruises, and priority disembarkation for Platinum members.
Packing list for Costa Cruises
Packing for a cruise isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. While you’ll need several swimsuits, don’t forget to pack at least a few nice outfits for romantic evenings, formal events, or special dinners that require you to dress sharp in the evening.
Also, bring essentials like sunscreen from home, as these items are usually much more expensive once you're on board. It’s always wise to come prepared and pack all the essentials instead of buying them at the last minute. Your wallet will thank you later.
Let’s see some of the things that you should bring to your cruise vacation:
Passport: You will need some form of ID to enter the ship. Since Costa is an international brand and there is a good chance you will be travelling across Europe, Asia, South America or Oceania, make sure to bring your passport and watch out if you need a Visa.
At least 3-4 swimsuits: Since you're going to a cruise, swimsuits are essential. Think of it like going to Alaska without a warm coat. For a week-long trip, bring at least three swimsuits so you can change styles daily and have an extra in case one gets lost. They also will not dry hung up overnight, so make sure to bring more than two.
3-4 swim cover-ups: For the ladies, swim cover-ups are incredibly useful inside a cruise ship. They are great for transitioning from the pool to a nearby restaurant and provide warmth against the chilly wind after a swim.
Rash guard: It protects from the sun. It doesn’t let you burn. You do the simple math and quickly realize it’s a very good item to bring to a sunny vacation.
Shorts & t-shirts/skirts & casual dresses: Especially for the guys, shorts and t-shirts are essential. You'll wear them frequently, even pairing khaki shorts with a cozy shirt for lunch. This combo ensures comfort and relaxation during your beach stay.
Flip flops/comfortable sandals: you want to dress casual, especially when near the swimming pools on the top decks.
Nice outfits and jeans: Guys should pack jeans and polo shirts, and girls should bring dresses for the evening. Some restaurants will not allow entry if you're dressed as if you're heading to the beach. Additionally, bring at least two to three elegant outfits, such as trousers paired with a dress shirt and dress shoes, or an elegant dress. This will also give you a great reason to dress up and enjoy the night parties.
A (very) nice outfit: Costa is known for hosting gala nights, so you should dress up for the occasion at least once, right?
Sun hat: you know those big hats that almost make you look like a Samurai? Yeah, you are probably going to need one of those. They look stylish and they really protect from the sun. Remember, at a beach resort, the sun will be like a new member of your party for the duration of your vacation.
Beach bag: remember to pack a beach bag for the swimming pools. They're simple, lightweight, and perfect for carrying everything you need without any hassle. Just pack your essentials inside, and you're good to go!
Sunglasses: they protect your eyes from the sun. You only have two eyes, and you should love them, so keep them safe since you will be under the sun for a long time.
Sunscreen: Don't forget to pack your sunscreen! Bring your favorite one, and consider bringing more than one since you'll be using it a lot. While sunscreen is available inside every cruise, it's much more expensive than what you're used to.
Lip balm: sunscreen and lip balm are a perfect pair. Unfortunately you can’t slather sunscreen on your mouth (or maybe you can, I don't know) so it’s a good idea to pack a Lip balm to protect against cracked lips. They’re not expensive, they are very small and won’t occupy a lot of space, so let’s put them into the essential list.
After-sun lotion: Since you'll be spending days under the sun, it's important to take care of your skin. These lotions are perfect for moisturizing your skin after sun exposure and soothing any redness or inflammation.
Some cash: Remember, you might need some cash now and then. Cash is particularly useful for exploring land activities and excursions, and it's also necessary for tipping staff members at the ports.
Portable charger: this one is optional, but we all know that some of us will spend 25 hours a day on our cellphones, snapping Instagram-worthy pictures in front of the world's most beautiful vistas. Packing a portable charger might be a good idea if you plan to use your cellphone extensively while walking around the ship or during land excursions.
Book your dream vacation with Costa Cruises!
Now that you know a lot about Costa Cruises… why not learn even more!? Yeah, our guides do not end here. We have guides about almost anything you can think of. How about the room options at Costa? Or the list of restaurants you can find there? We have those too. Wait, now you want to know about the specific pH levels of the swimming pools during June on a rainy night? We don't have that guide yet, but don't tempt us!
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