Voyage of discovery
Costa sails the seas with European flair
Acruising vacation is about casting all lines off from your home port and seamlessly moving along to dabble in other cultures — port by port. It revolves around experiencing new things with ease.
One cruise line does that with exceptional European flair. Costa Cruise Lines, part of the Carnival Cruise Line family, takes you away to a full European experience the moment you set foot on deck and throughout your journey. Instead of just a lovely room on a beautiful ship, Costa cruisers have what feels more like a floating Italian villa.
Based out of Italy, Costa Cruise Lines is Carnival's only international brand (the rest are domestic). It is Italy's top employer and, with 54 years of cruising experience, one of Europe's — and the world's — most respected cruise lines.
How do they do it? By embracing celebration, relaxation and the European way of life every moment of your cruise adventure. Their vibe is decidedly Italian, as is evident by the many Italian brands they partner with. In the dining room, you'll be treated to meals conceived by many of Italy's top chefs.
Costa cruises operate in a truly European way. Dinner is served later. Of course there are casinos and dance floors, but unlike other cruise lines, on Costa, the casino is smaller and dance floor bigger, a place where multiple generations celebrate together.
It's not unusual at 11 p.m. to see a grandfather out cutting up the floor with a grandchild, next to newlyweds who are hanging out with someone celebrating 40 years of marriage. It's a blend of all ages and experiences.
The crew of all Costa ships
is Italian, from the officers to the managers, and while announcements are made in five languages, it's always with an Italian accent. That sets a backdrop, as you cruise to multiple ports on your choice of cruises, for a constant European experience.
Costa cruises can take you to many places, from Dubai to Norwegian fjords; from South America to India; from the Caribbean to spots in the Atlantic Ocean. They can even take you on a cruise around the world. Their knowledge of the Mediterranean reflects the 54 years they've been centered there. Based out of Genoa, Italy, they understand the region and know how to guide guests through it just the right way.
This is where they are unique. On a Costa cruise you'll have a number of exciting ports to visit, where you'll explore the places you've been longing to see. Then, at day's end of your port of call, instead of leaving it behind, the experience continues back on board. When you leave, say, Rome, you head back to that European way of life. Take an excursion for a truffles and wine tour, and you can usually taste the same great flavors back on ship.
Costa's most popular tour takes you through the western Mediterranean on its newest ship, the Diadema. A nice twist to this cruise — and most of Costa cruises — is that you have the option of taking the entire journey or just parts of it. On this cruise, about a third of the guests join at different ports, including Rome, Savona and Barcelona.
Costa cruises also make visiting such locations easier and more affordable. Instead of managing planes, trains and automobiles to get from destination to destination, you'll relax (or party) on board between locations.
And you'll do it in luxury. Their classic, premium and mini-suite cabins offer a setup for everyone. All feature adjustable air conditioning with thermostat, an interactive flat-screen satellite TV, hair dryer, minibar and room service. Each has access to a steward, always on duty, and 24-hour room service. They have Wi-Fi, of course, and varied views from location to location.
Suites and cabins also come with added perks, from last-minute front-row access, to shows, to special dining room choices, to an upgraded drink package and more.
As is the case in Italy and across Europe, Costa cruises are about pleasing all ages — from hard-to-thrill teens to easy-to-please little ones, as well as adults. Little ones are delighted to find one of the ship's most popular employees — Peppa Pig. There are clubs for all ages, including a teens-only club.
There is the daily “Diario di Bordo” — the activity board that guests can check to find all kinds of fun, from lessons to poolside activities to sporting events and more, all with an Italian touch. Take afternoon coffee.
Americans are not used to this tradition, but within days they are running for the coffee, espresso and chocolate set out each afternoon.
All of it takes place with true European flair. More and more New Englanders are discovering Costa Cruise Lines as a way to cruise in European surroundings, see other countries with ease and create a perfect vacation that immerses them in a different world.
Costa is careful to let Americans know what it is about. With about 10-20 percent Americans on each cruise, Costa realizes it is not for everyone, and offers Carnival’s other lines for those who do not like that. But, as most who travel out of the country realize, when you visit Rome, you are only with a small percentage of Americans as well. As Costa cruise lovers find out, you warm to it all quickly.
Costa may be less known in America than some cruise lines, but once folks hear of them and experience Costa, they are sold. With more return cruisers than most cruise lines, Costa proves its European way is a very special way to cruise.
Learn more at www. costacruise.com.