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Costa Cruises – Costa Mediterranea
The sleek and sassy Costa Mediterranea is the second new ship to join Costa's fleet under the ownership of Carnival Corporation. The ship, like sister ship Costa Atlantica, makes a leap into the 21st century with a remarkably high percentage of verandah cabins. It's a most welcome addition, as well as a giant step forward for Costa, considering that prior ships offered a mere handful of balcony cabins, or none at all.
There's absolutely nothing ordinary or understated about Costa Mediterranean's decor. At first, the eye-popping ornamentation, designed by Carnival's super-talented Joe Farcus, is overwhelming. Farcus has outdone himself with incredibly inventive designs that reinvent details from 17th and 18th-century Italian palazzi (palaces). It makes you wonder if those palaces really looked that magnificent when they, too, were brand new. There's so much to look at that, in Farcus' words, passengers enjoy "a constant discovery process on board" though you may, in fact, feel like you're cruising inside a travelling theme park. Along with the theme park fun, however, goes a degree of regimentation-particularly with the assigned, two-seating system in the dining room. All in all, there are fewer mealtime alternatives than found on other large-ship lines, such as Princess, that have adopted free-choice dining.
Where Costa Mediterranea stands out from the pack is in its Italian exuberance, the hallmark of "Cruising Italian Style." The staff greets you with "buon giorno." The entertainment is full of gusto-though napkin-waving waiters dancing on the dinner tables isn't everyone's cup-of-espresso. In a nutshell, this ship is a terrific choice if you want to experience cruising with a definite European flavor, and still enjoy all the expected comforts and amenities of an American-geared mega-ship.
Cabins:
Of Costa Mediterranea's 1,057 cabins, 678 have balconies. Standard outside and verandah staterooms (210 square feet) feature a dressing table with an efficient hair dryer hooked up in the drawer, TV, and a bed that can be converted from queen to twin. Many cabins, including 71 of the 212 inside cabins (160 square feet) have a third and fourth bed that pull down from the ceiling. Closet and drawer space is ample for a seven-day cruise. There are outlets for American electrical plugs, though they aren't always clearly marked. All cabins have a mini-bar and easy-to-use safe.
Bathrooms are compact with showers only. Shampoo (no conditioner) and lotion are provided. The balconies have mesh chairs that don't recline plus a table. The privacy partition between each verandah extends a few inches beyond the rail, so you can't peek around to the next room (which is a good thing!). There are eight disability-equipped rooms that span several categories.
The ship's 58 suites are especially attractive, with charming details like the Murano glass table lamps that everyone wanted to take home. (They're bolted in place.) The suites come in three categories, ranging in size from 352 to 650 square feet (including verandah). The smallest is called a "Suite." The next category up is a "Panorama Suite," which features a larger sitting area. The "Grand Suite" has separate living and sleeping areas. The ones in the aft corners have nifty wrap around balcony space. All suites have good-sized granite tiled bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs and double sinks. The balconies have teak furnishings, including lounge chairs. Passengers in these quarters get a variety of special services-VIP check-in and early disembarkation, butler service, sparkling wine, full-course in-suite dining, a complimentary meal at Club Medusa, plus such added amenities as terry robes, slippers and a daily fruit basket.
Costa Cruises Ships
Costa Allegra |
Costa Atlantica |
Costa Classica |
Costa Europa |
Costa Fortuna
Costa Marina |
Costa Mediterranea |
Costa Romantica |
Costa Tropicale
Costa Victoria
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