I did my very first cruise with my family when I was 15 years old and something immediately made me love it. I love the idea of falling asleep in one place and wakeup in another the next morning and I love discovering multiple places and countries and just unpacking once. That being said, I was and still am a huge ship geek as well and sailing on these giant ships has always been an experience for me. So when I got the chance to sail on MSCs newest and largest ship, the MSC Grandiosa, I simply couldn’t say no.
Main Pool area onboard MSC Grandiosa
The Grandiosa holds true to its name: it is massive! One of the newest shis in the MSC family can accommodate up to 6334 passengers on 19 decks, with 11 restaurants and 20 bars and dozens of activities. I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw how huge she is for the first time!
We all know that cruise ships have had a bad rap over the last few years due to their environmental impact. Well, the good news is that MSC Grandiosa has some amazing environmental features. For example, the ship is equipped with a selective catalytic reduction system that helps to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, along with a closed-loop exhaust gas cleaning system that reduces ship sulfur emissions by 97%. All lights onboard are LED and there’s also a pretty amazing water filter system that doesn’t dump grey water in the sea. Furthermore, the ship also plugs into the port electric system to delivers electricity and reduce emissions when docked. I am so glad that a big cruise company such as MSC is moving forward with better environmental features!
So now, let’s talk about 7 reasons you should book a cruise on the Grandiosa.
Activities
You would think that you would find time to explore the whole ship and experience everything it has to offer on a week-long cruise, but you would be wrond. MSC Grandiosa offers so many different activities onboard for those who love adventure, cusine, relaxing… there’s something for everybody. The Grandiosa has its own casino, bowling alley but also an impressive game arcade with VR games and F1 simulators! If you prefer to read a book in a cozy atmosphere, there are plenty of bars and lounges to spend time and, after dinner, there are shows in the 2 theatres, including one by Cirque du Soleil. There is also a spa onboard if you’d like to take relaxing to another level!
Pressing pause
If you like to relax as much as you like to explore during your vacation, you’ll be happy to learn that there are plenty of things to press pause during your cruise! The ship has multiple swimming pools and jacuzzis, both indoors and outdoors, which means that you’ll always be able to relax, no matter the weather! But that’s not all, there’s also a spa on board with plenty of treatments to help you relax a bit more. There’s even a barbershop as well! But to be honest with you, my favorite way to relax was to stare out at the sea on my private balcony. I could hear the waves and enjoy the view without any noise around!
Cabins
Well, let’s start with what I liked the most: our cabin! On previous cruises I did, I almost always had the cheapest guarantee inside cabin which I love don’t get me wrong. They allow me to cruise on budget and in turn cruise more often, buuuuut… that doesn’t mean I would say no to a balbony cabin! When we entered our cabin aboard the Grandiosa, I was immediately blown away by how much light and space we had. Our room was on deck 12, which means that we were high above the sea and that we had a panoramic view of each city we visited, definitely a perk that inside cabins do not have! Our cabin also had a very comfy couch that can turn into a bed if you’re traveling with kids. What struck me the most is that even if space is limited (the max size is 22 square meters), everything has been cleverly designed to maximize space. There’s a good size closet, with plenty of hanging space, but also a very long desk with shelves and drawers to organize everything. Each cabin is also equipped with Zoe, a voice-controlled personal assistant that can answer most of your questions regarding the ship, like restaurant hours or showtimes.
If you prefer a larger or smaller cabin, the options are pretty endless! We visited a suite that had its own jacuzzi but also a duplex suite, with breathtaking views on the sea. If you’re more on a budget, they also have interior cabins & studios that are more affordable.
Luxurious design!
From the glamorous, blinged out Swarovski staircase to the artfully themed Galleria Grandiosa, you will be surrounded by elegance in all design elements on this ship. Perhaps the most stunning example is the almost 90 meters long LED dome that projects a digital sky over the 2-story promenade. Whether you are shopping, dining at one of the specialty restaurants, sipping a cocktail in one of the bars, or socializing and enjoying in some live entertainment, you are sure to love Galleria Grandiosa and the rest of the luxurious touches throughout the ship.
Galleria Grandiosa was probably my favorite area of the ship. There was always something happening in the Galleria and no matter how many times I walked along the promenade I was always in shock that this is actually… on a ship!
Galleria Grandiosa
Powered by technology
Besides the technology behind the innovative stage productions and LED dome, MSC Grandiosa features the MSC for Me smartphone app. MSC for Me is MSC Cruises’ multi-channel digital program that enables guests to interact with the ship and crew members anytime, in any place, to better serve their needs, save them time and really make the most of their vacation. Key features include a handy app for smartphones, an interactive TV in the stateroom and interactive digital screens around the ship, meaning guests can access information, book services – like specialty restaurants and on board performances – navigate around the ship, and more.
One tech feature which everyone will notice onboard MSC Grandiosa is Zoe, the first virtual cruise assistant, ZOE can speak seven languages, answer hundreds of questions about the cruise and provide information about on-board services, guidance and suggestions or help to book a service.
Dining
Along with the traditional main dining room and buffet, MSC Grandiosa has several specialty venues for cruisers to indulge in various cuisines. Continuing the Mediterranean-influence, MSC Grandiosa is home to Hola Tapas Bar by Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa. Cruisers will also find the American-style steakhouse, Butcher’s Cut, serving up prime cuts. Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar serves up Asian favorites in a lively atmosphere. One new specialty restaurant also made a debut on MSC Grandiosa, L’Atelier Bistrot, a french restaurant whose design was inspired by neo-classical French architecture. An authentic experience all troughout, from cuisine to interior design! Further, those with a sweet tooth will love Jean Philippe’s Crepes, Ice Cream, and Chocolate.
The main dining room and buffet offer a good variety of quality dishes but I would definitely recommend dining in at least one speciality restaurant. They all offer themed dishes and an authentic, unique experiences! Oh, and definitely treat yourself with some Jean Philippe’s Crepes located in the Galleria, they were delicious…!
Entertainment
In addition to nightly live music and six different productions shows in the main theater, MSC Grandiosa also hosts two one of a kind Cirque du Soleil shows. The Carousel Lounge is a circular venue that is custom built to accommodate these theatrical performances. Guests can enjoy a dinner and a show experience. Each of these shows has a unique concept, ambiance, storyline, and costumes. These shows, not found anywhere else in the world, are part of a longstanding partnership with the entertainment leader for a total of eight original shows on MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia class ships. You can also participate in various dance lessons, quizzes and other types of entertainment onboard!
In conclusion, I would highly recommend booking a cruise on Grandiosa or on any of her sister ships (Meraviglia, Bellissima, Virtuosa) These ships have everything you can think of and more. There is always something to do it just depends on what you like! Grandsioa also has an amazing itinerary in the Mediterranean so… what are you waiting for!
I also sailed on Grandiosa’s older sister ship MSC Bellissima, so if you’d like to read more about that experience CLICK HERE and if you have any questions about MSC or Grandiosa or anything really, feel free to send me a message on Instagram, Twitter or just e-mail me!
Hello everyone! I can finally say that I’m back from another amazing cruise adventure! Hard to believe I know, especially with everything going on around the world right now and in the cruising industry, but I can happily say that I’m back from one of the most relaxing cruises I’ve ever been on, one that I will remember for quite some time! This cruise was a bit different from my usual cruises, it was on a small cruise ship, owned by a Croatian cruise line, Katarina Line, and we cruised around the beautiful Croatian islands. Perfect for my first post-COVID cruise. This was a one way 7-night cruise from Dubrovnik to Split visiting many islands on the way. I didn’t know what to expect from small ship cruising in the Adriatic, but now I can finally show and share with you all what’s it like!
About the ship!
Avangard anchored during one of our swim stops
I cruised onboard the MV Avangard, one of the biggest and most luxurious ships in Katarina Line’s fleet! Avangard belongs to a Deluxe Superior class of ships. Deluxe Superior vessels are the best in the Katarina Line fleet, offering superior comfort and special services. (Katarina Line also has more affordable and slightly less premium ship categories like Deluxe, Premium Superior, Traditional…something to suit everyone) Avangard is just around 50 meters long and 8 meters wide. At full occupancy it can accommodate 36 passengers in its 18 luxurious cabins. It honestly, looks and feels like a fancy yacht. This is for sure the smallest ship I ever cruised on and to be honestb I expected it to feel cramped and not spacious at all but I was certainly proven otherwise, it felt so spacious, light and open, completely the opposite of what I was expecting. What made it feel extra spacious was the fact that there were only 18 passengers on my sailing, doesn’t get more exclusive than that!
The ship has 4 decks so everyone can really spread out. There is one big open lounge/restaurant area which serves as the ships main social hub really. You could always find someone there chatting or having a drink before lunch or dinner. This lounge is also used as the main restaurant where breakfast, lunch and dinner is served and it can accommodate all 36 passengers at one sitting!
Just behind the lounge, there is this beautiful covered, outside seating area offering sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding. This seating area probably has the longest couch, I’ve ever seen! Apparently 19 people can sit on that couch, but I feel like all 36 passengers could comfortably sit on it together! This was probably my favorite area to visit during the day. it also has these see trough sun shades so you’re never directly in the sunshine but you can hear the sea and feel that ocean breeze. And also you’re near the lounge so you can order whatever you want from the bar and just enjoy the cruise life.
There is also a spacious sun deck with a whirlpool on the top deck with plenty of deck chairs so you never have to wake up extra early to secure your spot on the sun deck, like you have to do on some bigger ships.
One of the best features of this ship is located at its aft. Avangard has this water level, swim-up platform that we used everyday when we would anchor in a random bay on the way to our next destination just to have a swim! You can easily get in the water, there are also showers there so you can wash the salt off when you get out! Basically back of the ship becomes a beach, these swim stops were probably my favorite thing about this cruise, there’s nothing like swimming around with no one around just the passengers from your ship! Oh, and views of the ship are spectacular! 😉
Cruising on smaller ships, like this one, is really special because you’re always so close to the sea. I know that on some bigger ships I wouldn’t even feel like I’m actually on the ship, but on the Avangard I could always feel that connection to the ocean, I just loved standing on the ‘promenade deck’ that was literally on the water and just looking out to sea. Best therapy ever!
A lot of people also asked me “Do you feel the ship move?” Well it certainly moved more than bigger ships I’ve been on, but there was never a lot of movement because you’re usually sailing around islands where the sea is not really rough and you are never out at sea for more than a few hours because destinations on the itineraries are really close to eachother.
Accommodation
One thing that’s really different about this cruise line/ship is that there are no cabin categories or certain experience packages or however different cruise lines call them. Every cabin onboard is the same category but their layout and location might vary. On this cruise I had Cabin number 3 (I never had a single digit cabin on a cruise before!) Which is located on the lower deck forward.
I was surprised by this cabin. I expected something much more… modest from a cabin on a smaller ship, but this cabin was actually the same size if not even slightly bigger than a cabin on my last cruise which was on the 5th largest ship in the world. The cabin had everything you might expect from a cruise ship cabin, it was nicely furnished and decorated. Since this is just a three year old ship everything felt pretty new and was in working order. Storage space was decent, large closet with drawers, hanging space and lots of shelves. There is also a large desk, night tables and lots of storage space for your toiletries in the bathroom as well.
One thing that shows you how fancy this ship is the fact that all towels and pillowcases have the ship’s name embroidered onto them. Fancy!
Since I was on the lower deck I had portholes closer to the ceiling. It was nice to have natural light in the cabinbbut it pretty much felt like an inside cabin on larger ships. I could see the water from my cabin which was certainly a plus and I also had a window in my bathroom which I never had on a cruise before, just make sure to close the blinds when in port! Cabins on the upper deck do have normal large windows which can be opened. No balcony cabins on this ship but the rest of the ship is pretty much your balcony.
Two things that I loved about the cabin was that there were seven, yes, 7 power sockets in the cabin so I could charge all of my devices at the same time and the other really important thing, the shower didn’t have a shower curtain but a real glass door! That’s all I need… power sockets and no shower curtain! Here are some pictures of the cabin!
Onboard experience!
So what’s the onboard experience like on a smaller cruise ship? Well first of all, the ship itself is not the destination, I’m used to talking about rock climbing walls and bumper card but this cruise is the complete opposite and there’s just something so relaxing about that.
The itineraries are organised and planned in a way that you spend every night in a different port and with each port being just a couple of hours away that is easily doable! On most days you leave the port around 8AM, sail for a couple of hours until you reach a bay on the way (oh look that rhymes!) to anchor in for a swim stop. Stay there until lunch time and then by the time the lunch is over you’ve reached the next destination.
This is great beacuse every morning is a relaxing morning, there is no rushing to the buffet early in the morning to catch your early excursion, none of that. Each morning you have enough time to eat your breakfast, relax on the sundeck, have a swim in a remote bay that can only be reached by ship, have lunch and by then you’re ready to explore the port! Spending nights in ports also has its perks. You get to experience the evening atmosphere of these coastal towns, you can even enjoy the local night life or watch the sunset from a local beach. I found this to be one of the best perks of small ship cruising, these coastal towns really do come alive in the evenings!
In most ports there is an organised walking tour of the town you’re visiting which is included in your cruise fare. You can of course go on your own and explore the port by yourself. These included walking tours were really great for me because usually on cruises I go off to explore the city on my own, mostly because I want to save money and also because it’s much more flexible but that means that I usually miss out on some fun facts that only local guides know, really interesting!
In conclusion this cruise is really geared towards relaxation and destination immersion. I love the mix of relaxing mornings and afternons that can be whatever you make of them, active or equally relaxing as the mornings.
Onboard the ship there is a cruise manager that also organises some events during the cruise, such as wine tastings, social meet ups… things like that. There is a nice collection of board games on the ship, and to me that’s a perfect way to spend a relaxing evening and to meet new poeple. If you like night life, good thing the ship spends the night in every port so you have the perfect opportunity to see how the Croats party!
Dining!
As they say, the most important thing about cruises is the food and the most important person on the cruise is the chef! Jokes aside, we all love eating on a cruise and believe me, you won’t be left hungry on this ship! Everything you eat onboard is bought locally, made and prepared onboard the ship. That’s why everything onboard is fresh and delicious!
All meals are included in your cruise fare and those are breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your choice is limited to only one restaurantb but what can you expect from a smaller ship haha! For breakfast you’re offered a buffet selection of cold cuts, cheeses, pastries, eggs, ham, pancakes… pretty much an average cruise buffet. I love brekfasts on cruises, I usually don’t eat breakfast at home so I always overeat on cruises… pastries are definitely my weakness! Though this was not a self service buffet because of the obvious situation so everything was plated and served to you by the staff.
Both lunch and dinner have a set time and a set menu. The lunch is usually around 1PM and dinner around 7PM. I didn’t know what to expect from lunches and dinners onboard. On cruises you usually have a variety of dishes to choose from so you can always find something you like, with a set menu that can be a bit tricky, but I have to say, I really enjoyed the food onboard, pretty much everything was delicious and there were only a couple of dishes that I didn’t really like, but I am a picky eater who’s not a big fan of sea food so… All in all I was pretty much stuffed after every meal! All meals consist of 3 courses except the Captain’s dinner (formal night) which is 4 courses!
Everything was pretty delicious and looked amazing, but my favorites were desserts! From simple cheesecakes and homemade ice creams to some cakes I don’t even remember the names of, every dessert was so tasty!
Don’t worry if you have any dietary restrictions or any food allergies, they are really flexible when it comes to that! Just make sure to notify your cruise manager on the first day if he doesn’t approach you first! They did ask everyone about their dietary restrictions and allergies on the first day during check in!
Here are just a couple of pictures of the meals onboard, all made by our amazing Chef Ivo!
Itinerary
The itinerary is what made this cruise really special as well. I was on a 7-night “One Way Wonders” itinerary that started in the popular city of Dubrovnik and ended in the busy port city of Split! In these 8 days we visited 8 beatiful destinations on the south coastal Croatia and some of those destinations are truly hidden gems on the Adriatic. Since the Avangard is a smaller ship, it can dock in towns that bigger ships never visit, and in these smaller towns is really where you can experience the local culture as it is, not changed by the mass tourism.
Another perk of small ship cruising is that the ship docks right in the city center. In most cities and towns we were docked right on the waterfront, you can’t beat that! You can just walk off the ship and be right where everything is in a couple of minutes!
We boarded the ship in Dubrovnik, a city I’m sure you all know something about, if not from history books or travel brochures then from huge blockbusters and popular TV shows like the Game of Thrones. There is something in this city for everyone, cultural sites for history lovers, night clubs for party lovers, mountains and endless beaches for nature lovers… no wonder it’s so popular.
Next stop for us was the port of Slano and the town of Ston. Ston is small town located around 30 minutes away by bus from where the ship docks. It is famous for its walls which are still one of the longest fortification systems in the world that is still standing, it is commonly called the “European wall of China”! The walls are in a great condition to this day so you can walk almost the whole length. Truly amazing!
If you’re a nature lover, you would’ve loved our third stop, the National park Mljet. The National park Mljet is one of 8 national parks in Croatia and it is situated on the island of Mljet, one of the largest islands in south Dalmatia. To say that it’s beautiful would be an understatement! The scenery is just stunning, it looks like a nature reserve untouched by modern tourist development! On the island there are two connected salt water lakes and on the “Big Lake” you will find the St. Mary’s island where a Benedictine Monastery was built in the 12th century! So you could say that I was on an island that’s on an island!
Our next stop was probably my favorite on this cruise, Korčula! It is believed that the famous explorer Marco Polo was born right here in the town of Korčula! The town is rich with history and it’s definitely one of my favorite towns on the Croatian coast, would definitely recommend visiting it! I would describe it as a smaller, less crowded Dubrovnik! The old town itself is so picturesque!
We also visited the island of Vis! Vis is a really historic city, it is THE oldest city in Croatia! It was established by the ancient Greeks 397 B.C. under the name of Issa. Since then the island was under the rule of many empires and kingdoms. Romans, Greeks, French, Austrians and even the British once called Vis their territory, but since the 1990s the island of Vis is officially a part of Croatia! Because of how remote the island is and because of its military role in the former Yugoslavia, today it’s really a perfect picture of how Mediterranean once looked, without any new high rises, huge resorts or rows of apartment developments! A beautiful town if you’d like to escape the hustle and bustle of bigger coastal cities!
One of our last stops was the town of Hvar! Hvar is the longest island in Croatia and probably one of the most popular ones! The island of Hvar is the sunniest island in Europe and is on the “15 most sunniest places” in the world list. So if its sunshine you’re after you should definitely visit Hvar! The town of Hvar is best known for its many beaches, historic buildings and its lively night life! It is one of the locations of the popular “Ultra Europe” music festival: You won’t get bored in this town after sunset!
And our final stop before reaching the city of Split was Bol on the island of Brač, the highest island in Croatia! Bol is a small town with only 1.600 residents, made famous because of the beautiful Golden Horn beach! It used to be a fishing village and influences of that can still be seen today!
We ended our journey in the city of Split, 2nd largest city in Croatia. It is the busiest passenger port on the Adriatic. One of its most popular selling points is the Diocletian’s Palace, you can spend hours walking around the narrow allyways of the old town, honeslty, my favorite big city on the Adriatic!
Katarina Line is a premier small ship cruise company with weekly guaranteed departures from the end of April to mid-October from the major tourist centers in Croatia, such as Opatija, Split and Dubrovnik. With a fleet of more than 60 ships in six different categories, the cruise line caters to all ages and budgets. Katarina Line itineraries give travellers the chance to explore the stunning natural environment and picturesque, quaint Mediterranean towns while hopping from one island to another. This unique way of travelling and exploring coastal towns is one of the most popular and easiest way to experience the true Croatia.
Katarina line, founded in 1992, evolved into one of Croatia’s leading cruise & travel operators. I always wanted to give Katarina Line a try since I saw their ships in Croatian ports so many times!
Is Katarina Line for me?
Katarina Line is perfect for people who would like to see and explore more of Croatia, it really perfectly combines the independent style of travel with the benefits of a cruise ship. Depending on which category ship you book, the cruise experience can really rival the one of those on large cruise ships. It is also a Croatian cruise line with Croatian crews onboard so you’re sure that they know what they’re talking about and that they will show you the best of what Croatia has to offer!
Most of Katarina Line’s passangers come from continental Europe (countries such as Germany, Switzerland… ) United States, United Kingdom, Australia…. it’s a really international bunch onboard. Average age of passengers onboard depends on which category ship you’re on. I was on their most luxuruious category, Deluxe Superior, and I would say that the average age was around 50-60. Other, less inclusive, more budget friendly categories tend to have a slightly younger crowd.
Katarina Line also organises charter cruises, group cruises, theme cruises, LGBTQ cruises, so there’s really something for everyone!
Cruising during the pandemic
I cannot ignore the elephant in the room, this cruise was also slightly different because of the current COVID situation we’re living in. I was cruising in Croatia, my own country so I didn’t have to worry about borders, international requierments and things like that. Katarina Line did introduce new measures to insure the health and safety of their passengers. You can read more about their new protocols HERE!
But in short, they introduced new cleaning and hygiene protocols, social distancing is strongly encouraged, capacity in the dining room is limited to ensure that. It has been really easy to maintain social distancing with just 18 people on-board. Hand Sanitizers were everywhere and everything was being constantly cleaned. So nothing that really impacted my overall cruise experience, but the changes are noticeable.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, I loved my Katarina Line cruise. I came into this not knowning what to expect from small ship cruising as this was my first cruise on a small ship and I have to say that I was blown away. I loved the more relaxed, slower pace of the cruise, it is really different from big ship cruising, but in a good way. I really wouldn’t think twice abuout cruising on the Avangard or with Katarina Line again, they offer a great product at reasonable prices, and now that I’ve seen what’s like, I can confirm that this really is the best way to see Croatia.
What also makes or breaks a cruise is the ship’s crew! And the crew of the Avangard definitely made this cruise special. I want to thank all of them for taking good care of us. There were 18 guests on this cruise and 8 amazing crew members and believe it or not, I know everyones names! Thank you to our amazing Captain Damir, our cruise manager Zvonko who probably knows 50 languages, to waiters Antonio and Tomy that made every meal special, seaman Duje and Matij who took great care of the Avangard, to Milena who made sure that the ship is spotless and of course to the most important person on every ship, chef, Ivo! Every single meal was delicious, I already miss those delicious desserts!
If you have any questions about this ship or Katarina Line feel free to ask!
All in all, I’d like to thank Katarina Line for an amazing cruise experience and all of your for your likes, comments and constant support here and on Instagram. I am so grateful that I get to share my cruise passion and adventures with all of you! This was my first post-covid cruise and I was so excited that I could bring you something new and different. A lot of people are turning to small ship cruising lately so I’m really happy that I could show you what’s it like to explore Croatia on a smaller ship. Thank you again!
Hi everyone, thanks for clicking! As some of you may already know, I was lucky enough to cruise onboard Costa Smeralda during her inaugural season, in fact, I was on her 4th sailing EVER! Yes! She was that new! And I have to say, she is definitely one of my favorite ships I’ve sailed on, if not THE favorite…! There are so many things to love about this brand new ship, naturally because it’s one of the biggest cruise ships sailing today but also because it’s truly different from other Costa ships! Here’s a list of things that I really loved and a couple of tips that should come in handy if you’re either booked or if you’re considering sailing on Costa Smeralda!
Design
I’ve been on cruise ships ranging from 700 passengers up to 6000 thousand and I was slightly worried about the size of Costa Smeralda… I was expecting crowds and lines, but luckily I was wrong! Smeralda can accommodate up to 6.554 passengers, but it doesn’t feel too busy, there’s always somewhere to sit, there is so much space on this ship! One thing that really separates Smeralda from other Costa ships is her contemporary design! Costa Smeralda is a very contemporary looking ship, both inside and out. Color schemes are really subtle, but at the same time colorful and lively like on older Costa ships. The overall look of the ship is a really interesting balance between a traditional feel and a modern feel, and so although the decor is very contemporary, the artwork is sort of traditional so it has quite a nice mix to it. In addition the furnishings, lighting, fabrics and upholstery, and accessories were all made in Italy especially for Costa Smeralda! I loved the design of this ship, not just the interiors but also the outdoor areas, there are so many places for sunbathing and relaxing or even just walking around, such as the Lungomare Riviera. It’s a full wraparound promenade on deck 8 and it’s one of my favorite areas onboard, it’s perfect for late night walks!
Cabins were not too shabby either! I was in an interior cabin, and as we all know, they’re usually not really exciting, but whoever designed this cabin really had functionallity as his top priority. It’s certainly not big but somehow it had everything you might need! The only problem I had was that the bed mattress was too firm, but that’s maybe just because it was basically brand new!
All in all, I love this new direction and approach to interior design that Costa is taking, everything looks really classy and modern, while still maintaining that italian charm!
Entertainment
Catching a show on this ship is pretty easy because there are multiple shows each night! One thing I really loved about entertainment onboard Costa Smeralda is the casual approach to evening entertainment. Most shows take place in the ship’s main atrium, The Colosseo, which turns into a theatre in the evenings. It offers tiered style seating on all three decks. It’s perfect because if you don’t like the show you can just walk away without anyone noticing and continue with your evening or you can casually check out what’s happening in the Colosseo without interrupting anyone. It’s a perfect concept in my opinion, more ships should adapt this “Theatrium” concept! Some shows also take place in the much smaller San Remo Theatre which can turn into a night club with a pretty large dance floor! Most of the shows are usual singing and dancing variety shows, magician shows, juggler shows… but The Colosseo is also used for acrobatic, Cirque du Soleil style performances. All the shows looked really good because they utilise LED screens that are everywhere, fire, smoke…! Shows last around 30 minutes both in the theatre and in the theatrium so if you have a short attention span, shows onboard won’t be a problem. I was really impressed by the entertainment onboard, it has to be really difficult for them to come up with shows that work in so many languages. We’ve heard a lot of great singers and dancers, and acrobats, overall I was really impressed! Parties onboard were a lot of fun as well, don’t miss them!
Dining
If you like Italian food, this is a ship for you! There is so much pasta, cheese, tomato sauce… delicious! Guests have access to 16 restaurants, including the all new Ristorante LAB where guests can have fun cooking and learning about food sustainablitiy at the same time. There are two more specialty restaurants, Pizzeria Pummid’Oro and the Teppanyaki restaurant. Pizza in the Pizzeria was delicious, great value for money too, especially if you’re a Costa Club member! What I really loved about dining on this ship is the fact that there are multiple restaurants open for breakfast and lunch! Usually, 3 main restaurants (+the buffet) are open for breakfast and lunch and they all offer buffet style service, so if one is busy, just go to another one! There are also screens troughout the ship that show how busy each restaurant is! (green, yellow, orange and red – depending on how busy is each restaurant)
Onboard atmosphere
There’s just something about the atmosphere onboard Costa ships! They are all so lively and fun, but at the same time not too crazy! Costa Smeralda really comes alive at night, the ship is full of live music in the evenings and everyone is ready to party! When you wonder around this ship in the evening there is so much music, it’s so loud, it’s so lively… it’s a really vibrant ship! And let me tell you something, Italians really do know how to party. Everyone onboard is so friendly and ready to chat even when you don’t speak italian (I don’t!)! I also love that this cruise is definitely not just for old people, there were so many kids onboard, babies, teenagers, people in their 20s and people in their 80s… it’s really a ship for everyone! Overall, a really happy ship in the evenings, but relaxing and quiet during the day… perfect combination if you ask me!
International and Italian onboard experience
Sailing on Costa ships is a really international experience! Costa is an italian cruise line and it’s generally geared towards Italian passengers, that said you’ll find people on a Costa cruise who speak German, Spanish, French, Hungarian… so you can definitely cruise with Costa without having any Italian speaking skills, I mean… Look at me! Ha-ha! Just expect that most of the passengers on the ship won’t speak the same language you’re speaking (unless you’re Italian of course!) On my cruise there were around 200 English speaking passengers and there is an English speaking representative to help you out if you have any problems on board. What I like about this Italian and international experience is being surrounded by so many different nationalities and languages, it really feels like you’re travelling! Everything onboard Costa Smeralda feels like a genuine Italian experience, the decor, atmosphere, entertainment, food… I really love that! If you’re looking for a great way to explore the Mediterranean with a really european atmosphere onboard, book a cruise onboard Costa Smeralda!
Environmental friendliness
Green is the way to go, so why not choose one of the greenest ships out there! If you didn’t know, Costa Smeralda is powered by LNG (liquified natural gas). The use of LNG greatly lessens emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO2, which makes Smeralda one of the greenest ships at sea! Environmental friendliness made it to your cabin too! In your cabin, you will no longer find a mini fridge, they removed them from every cabin on the ship to save energy. I don’t mind this change since I never really used the mini fridge, but they still offer “mini-bar” snacks like they used to (kinder chocolate, chips… etc.) Food waste is a big problem in the cruise industry so Costa decided to limit food waste on this ship, the buffet now has glass partitions in front of the food so you have to ask/show what you want to a server behind the counter who will then fill your plate. These glass partitions are also a more hygienic solution since only the cooks touch your food! Table cloths are also a thing of the past on Costa Smeralda, both for hygienic and power saving reasons, small but great ways to make a difference! We all know that cruising is definitely not the most enviromentally friendly vacation you can have but thankfully the industry is going in the right direction with ships like Smeralda!
Price
I can’t pretend that I didn’t love the price of this cruise! It was so cheap considering that we were sailing on a brand new ship just a few weeks after Christmas! You can definitely cruise on budget and still have an amazing time! I didn’t really spend a lot onboard either… If you have a drinks package you’re all good, well except maybe a souvenir ship model, or a Nutella waffle… alright you can definitely spend a lot of money onboard but you can certainly cruise on budget with Costa. You really get your money’s worth too! I love that you can cruise with Costa for a reasonable price and still get a pretty good cruise experience in return, it’s definitely not a premium cruise line but you do get what you paid for!
All in all, I would definitely recommend this ship to anyone who wants to have fun and experience and explore a couple of major Mediterranean cities! Costa has come a long way in perfecting their onboard experience for both Italian guests but also for their international passengers. You can have an amazing cruise no matter which language you’re speaking! And the ship itself is just stunning in my opinion, it’s a perfect combination between contemporary and tradional italian design, it’s big but also not too big! If you’re thinking of booking a Costa cruise, definitely start with this ship!
Smeralda Tips!
Pack a comfortable pair of shoes! – Smeralda is a big ship and you need a pair of comfortable shoes to explore this huge ship! Also, most of the cities that Smeralda is visiting are large and have so many thing to offer and the last thing you need is a pair of uncomfortable shoes!
Pack something white! – White night is definitely THE night! Everyone has something white on, either a white t-shirt, pants, shoes… some have all three on!
DON’T miss the Silent Disco! – The Silent Disco is probably the funniest party onboard! It was so fun to just look at everyone dance like nobody’s watching! It’s a party that everyone goes to, since it’s a brand new thing on Costa and I personally loved it!
Consider buying a drinks package! – On Costa ships you don’t get free tap water with your meals in the main dining room and juices are only available during breakfast. Water is of course available 24/7 in the Buffet. On this cruise I’ve had the Panzo & Cena drinks package again, it is the cheapest one but it was pretty adequate for my needs. It included sodas, selected wines and beers by the glass during the lunch and dinner in the MDR and the buffet. As a fan of sodas during my meals this package was perfect for me. There are also more expensive and more inclusive drinks packages offered that include a much wider selection of drinks and you can use those packages in all bars on the ship!
Check out the water slides! – Not many Costa ships offer waterslides that are this wild! You can choose between two small and two big waterslides… they are all exciting but the bowl-shaped one is really, really fast…!
Go to a sit down restaurant for Breakfast & Lunch to avoid crowds! – Everybody heads to buffet for breakfast and lunch… *sighs* Onboard Costa Smeralda you can have a self service style breakfast and lunch in 3 main dining rooms! They all offer the same variety of food, but you will definitely avoid the crowds!
DON’T, I repeat DO NOT miss the Mister & Miss cruise competitions! – These pageants are the funniest events that happen on this ship, people are dying of laughter during these “competitions”, some competitors go ALL out…!
Join Costa Club! – Definitely join Costa Club if you haven’t already because you will receive up to 50% discount on dining in specialty restaurants. You will also recieve special deals and discounts in bars and in onboard shops! There is also a special cocktail party for Costa Club members, it’s free to join and the perks are great! It also works like every cruise loyalty program out there, collect cruise points and you might get some additional perks!
Internet is actually worth it! – On my cruise I bought the social internet package for 25 Euros and it was definitely worth it! Just don’t expect those speeds you have at home but it was nice to stay connected on social media, I bought it primarely because of my Instagram page to keep you all updated and it worked great!
Opt for early dining! – Dinners on Costa are quite an event and they tend to last so if you have late sitting, your dinner might end around 10:30 PM and that’s too late for me personally. Keep that in mind if you’re like me and you like to dine early!
Check out “Oggi a bordo” to see what’s happening where! – Oggi a bordo is your usual daily cruise newsletter that you will find in your cabin every evening and it tells you what’s happening the next day! I always take a picture of it to have it with me all the time!
I hope that you will find some of these tips useful! I loved my cruise onboard this ship and I hope you will too and if you’re still not booked… what are you waiting for!?
If you’d like to check out my full review of Costa Smeralda CLICK HERE and you can also check out my blog post where I talk all about how safe cruise ships actually are! CLICK HERE!
If you have any questions about Costa Smeralda, Costa Cruises or anything in general, feel free to comment, message or e-mail me! I’m always happy to talk about cruising!
Cruising can be quite stressful and confusing if you’ve never cruised before… trust me I know! Before my first cruise I must’ve read every cruise blog and watched every video on youtube on the subject and I still had some questions unanswered! Seeing that many of my blog readers and social media friends are first time cruisers I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite cruise tips that came in handy! Whether it’s your first sailing or your 50th, there are always new cruise tips to learn for when you take your trip.
Planning!
Picking the right ship/cruise line
Do your research before you book a cruise. You’ve got to think of what size ship you want to be on, what ports of call you’re most interested in, what kind of on board activities you want and more. There’s a lot to consider. There are cruises for different age groups, for different interests and there are even THEMED cruises. Think about what kind of a vacation you want to have, maybe you want a really lively and fun cruise which Carnival and Norwegian are famous for! Or maybe you want a more traditional, relaxing and quiet cruise experience, something that Princess, HAL and P&O offer.
What’s great about today’s industry is that you have so cruise lines and ships to choose from. I’m a strong believer that there is a cruise line and cruise ship for everyone, you just need to find which line/ships suits you!
Start short
If you haven’t cruised before, start with a three- or four-day cruise to a couple of ports. It may cost more per day than a longer cruise, but it’ll give you a feel for the cruise life.
Older ships are cheaper to cruise on
If you’ve never been on a cruise and you want to check it out, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money, look out for sailings on older ships! Even if an older ship and a newer ship sail the same itinerary, the fares on the older ship will be dramatically lower.Of course, in exchange you won’t get the wild new things like waterslides and ten swimming pools. But if you’re the sort of person who simply wants to be out on the water, you can save hundreds of dollars by sailing on an older ship.
Interior cabins – cruise more
Many people claim they couldn’t sail in anything other than a balcony room and I’m definitely not one of them! Interior cabins can get you on the ship for hundreds sometimes even thousands less than paying for a balcony room. Considering that many of us are rarely in our cabins other than to sleep, it doesn’t make sense to pay a fortune for a room that you won’t use. Instead, you can sail a lot cheaper with an interior room… and potentially cruise a lot more! I’m such a budget cruisers that I’ve only sailed in balcony cainbs when I got free upgrades!
Cruise when the kids are in school
I live by this rule! They should call it the “law of cheap cruising”. If you want to save a ton, be flexible with your dates and sail when school is in session. When school is in, families with kids — a huge demographic in cruising — can’t take their trips. That means the cruise lines are looking to fill rooms and will offer up cheap fares to entice people to sail. In fact, it’s not surprising to find fares that double during holiday breaks when families can take their trips.
Travel insurance
Chances are that you won’t need the travel insurance you buy, but when you do, it’s a lifesaver. Travel insurance can cover a ton of different things, including if you get hurt or sick on your trip. It’s also handy if you lose your luggage or miss the ship and have to make alternate arrangements to meet your ship elsewhere (or get back home). Even if it turns out you that didn’t need to buy cruise insurance, it was still a good investment since it gave you a peace of mind during your cruise!
Seasickness tip
If you know you suffer from motion sickness generally I would recommend picking a mid-ship cabin on lower decks, they tend to “move” less. And also pick a cruise with no or not many sea days.
I’ve heard about this just recently on my last cruise, I don’t know if it works but green apples are supposed to be a natural cure for seasickness. That’s why you’ll always find them at the buffet. Grab one or two the next time you are feeling queasy and test it out.
Packing!
First day carry on
The cruise company will generally pick up your checked luggage and bring it right to the ship for you. Convenient, except that you might not get your bag back until late in the evening, so make sure you have a change of clothes, swim suit, prescriptions and any other essentials in your carry on.
Pack a USB hub/adapters
I carry so many devices that I constantly need to recharge like my phone, camera, power banks etc. and usually (epecially on older ships) there are just a few power plugs in your cabin. The situation is slightly better on newer ships but I would still recommend packing a USB hub just incase. I also always bring an american adapter with me since I’m from Europe and that way I can utilise one more power plug! Be aware that not all cruise lines allow you to bring power strips onboard!
Shoes
Shoes take up far more room in luggage than clothes do. Limit yourself to three pairs — a sturdy pair for active pursuits, a pair of flats or flip-flops for daytime wear and a pair of dressy shoes for dinner. Sometimes it’s hard to choose just three if you’re a person who loves shoes and if you’re going on a longer itinerary but they do take up a lot of space in your luggage so pack wisely!
Bring your own pharmancy
One thing I always bring with me is every medication I might need on a cruise! Bring all medications you might need from home because they cost about 10 times more in the cruise ship’s shop. I bring everything from motion sickness to allergies medications, you can never be to cautious.
Alcohol restrictions
The vast majority of cruise lines don’t let you bring on beer or hard liquor. Nearly all of them will let you bring on bottles of champagne or wine. Check with your cruise line, but the rule is usually either one bottle per cabin or one bottle per adult passenger. One or two bottles of wine likely won’t last your entire cruise, but considering the price of drinks onboard, anything you can bring saves you a lot of cash. But as I’ve said, check with your cruise line, so you don’t have to drink all of your wine in front of the cruise terminal, or even worse… throw it away!
Boarding the ship
Documents
Going on your first cruise can be quite stresfull, especially when you don’t know how the whole “boarding a cruise ship” procedure works, what you need to know is that you NEED to have all the boarding forms, health questionnaries, cruise tickets with you when arriving at the cruise terminal. Don’t pack them in your luggage, keep them in your carry on/purse or in a folder like I do! Make sure that you know what documentation is required well ahead of the cruise (your cruise company will be able to help you with this if there is any confusion)
Don’t show up too early
If you show up to board right when the boarding window opens, you can expect to do a lot of waiting. Sometimes there is a mad rush to board the ship right as it opens, which leads to long lines. What most people don’t realize is that showing up later actually lets your board faster. Get to the port about an hour before the boarding window closes and you’ll find no lines. It usually only takes about 10-15 minutes to get checked-in and board, all without having to fight huge crowds. I know that waiting to board your ship can be quite tough since the anticipation to start your vacation is high, so I am the first person to admit that I don’t always follow this tip!
Boarding a cruise ship is not like boarding a plane
No, you don’t have to go through the same hassles that you see in airports. You don’t have to take off belts… or shoes… or carry only 3 ounces of liquids. You’ll just have your bags x-rayed and walk through a metal detector (no full body scanners!). Getting through security usually takes no more than a minute or two.
Onboard
First day ship exploring
You will be tempted to just unpack your luggage and hit the pool or buffet, which is totally fine. But some areas of the ship like the spa and thermal suite are open for tours during this time and you will be able to see all the ship has to offer. I know that some cruisers don’t even know certain features of the ship exsist until the last day of a cruise. There is nothing more exciting to me than boarding the ship and exploring it from top to bottom, but maybe that’s just me being a ship nerd!
Search for the “secret decks”
As a “ship geek” this is one of my favorite things to do! Many ships have decks that not easily accessible, but are still public. These are fun spots to find on the ship, especially if you are looking for a little more privacy and to get away from the crowds.
Take the stairs as much as you can, it’s faster!
With thousands of people on a cruise ship, the banks of elevators can get overwhelmed, making stops on every deck going both up and down. That means it can take a while for the elevator to reach your floor. Instead, if you are only going up or down a few decks, it’s definitely easier and faster to just hoof it with the stairs. The stairs definitely don’t look inviting, especially when they look endless since ships these days are floating skyscrapers but think of it this way, it’s faster and you’re burning off that cheesecake you just ate at the buffet!
Turn on airplane mode as soon as you step onboard
There are way too many horror stories of cruise passengers forgetting to turn off their phone’s data and then coming home to huge bills for international roaming. I should know…. I’m the main star in one of those stories…. That’s why you should either turn your phone completely off or turn it on airplane mode to where it doesn’t use up data or connect to wireless service.
Port days
I see a lot of first time cruisers running around each port trying to see as much as they can, if that’s what you like then certainly do that but know that you don’t HAVE to disembark at every port. Often the day trips can be expensive, unless you arrange them yourself. If you want to chill and enjoy the ship without all the people then staying on board can be great. Most of the facilities on board stay open. It’s a great opportunity for photographers to get some wonderful, people-free, photos. That’s at least what I do!
Specialty restaurants
Most cruise lines have specialty restaurant that require a slight upcharge of $25–$35 per person. While you might feel compelled to make the most of the meals that come included with your cruise, the specialty restaurants often offer a better dining experience and higher quality food. Just remember that you usually need to make your reservation right away on day 1 or day 2. I usually dine in complimentary dining venues but on special occasions it’s nice to splurge and go to a specialty restaurant, if anything, it’s worth because of the experience!
Breakfast and lunch in the main dining room
Everyone knows about dinner in the main dining room… but they usually head to the buffet for lunch and breakfast. If you want something of higher quality, head to the main dining room instead of the buffet. They serve both meals, but with much smaller crowds. Best of all, the food is usually better as well, since it’s made fresh. If your ship has two main dining rooms, usually only one will be open for breakfast and lunch, read your daily newsletter onboard for more information.
Diatery restrictions? No problem
Vegetarian? Gluten-free? Food allergies? No matter your dietary restrictions, the cruise lines can accommodate. Don’t wait until you are on the ship to tell the cruise line about your diet restrictions. Call as soon as you book and speak to a customer service agent. They can update you on food options and also make a note on your account to notify the crew.
Wash your hands!
One of the plagues of cruise ships is, unfortunately, the gastroenteritis causing bug known as norovirus. This is because a closed off cruise ship, with a large number of people in close proximity and sharing meals, provides a near perfect environment for norovirus to spread. Norovirus can spread relatively quickly through cruise ships and it can knock you out for several days. Help yourself and other passengers out by using hand sanitizer before and after meals, and regularly throughout the day. It goes without saying that you should wash your hands regularly too!
Wi-fi expectations
I see people complaining about this all the time and it’s the wi-fi speed. Don’t expect fast wi-fi onboard a cruise ship! It can be a hit or miss depending on a ship but usually the wi-fi won’t be that fast, sometimes it’s annoyingly slow and not really reliable but you are on a moving ship in the middle of nowhere so keep that in mind. Wi-fi usually also costs quite a lot on ships so would I recommend it? Yes if you really need it, but what I tend to do is use my phone data in countries where I can do that or I connect to free wi-fi spots on shore (usually McDonald’s offers great wifi services haha!)
Stay updated
Cruise ships run daily newsletters which keep guests up to date about upcoming shows and shore excursions, opening and closing hours of dining and entertainment venues, fun little facts about the places you are going to visit, restaurant specials and new cocktails, and little pieces of information about upcoming guests’ birthdays or anniversaries. There are so many things happening each day and it is possible to have a lot of fun without having to pay for any onboard activities, just make sure to read your daily onboard newsletter!
Check your onboard account daily
Check your account statement every day to avoid some surprising costly items on your final bill! It is easier than ever to check your onboard account since now you can see all of your onboard spending on your TV. It’s easy, fast and this way you can avoid standing in a long line at guest services on the last day!
Smoking onboard
Smoking bans are becoming ever more ubiquitous in indoor spaces such as restaurants and bars. However, many cruise ships are exempt from such bans.On many cruiseships you will definitely be able to smoke outdoors in a certain area and on some ships still on your balcony. Cruise lines that allow smoking on your balcony are Aida, Costa, TUI and Fred Olsen.
Itineraries can change
Storms at sea, sickness warnings at one of the ports you were due to call at, or the opportunity of more enticing shore excursions at a different port, can all change your itinerary slightly when you are on a cruise.
So, it pays to be a little flexible in your thinking, and to prepare yourself for the possibility that the cruise may involve opportunities and adventures that are different to those advertised on the official schedule
Don’t be late!
When you are out on a shore excursion, or generally exploring the bars at one of your exciting cruise destinations, it can be so easy to let time slip through your fingers. The crew of your ship will be very scrupulous about ensuring that everyone is on board before you depart, but don’t keep everyone waiting – don’t be late to re-board the ship as cruise liners have to plan their timings according to tides and weather patterns. Ships will wait for a short time, but will depart eventually when you won’t show up.
Hopefully you will find some of these tips useful! Some of these are really helpful and I wish I knew about them before my first cruise! If you have any other cruise tips you’d like to share feel free to message me or email me! I’d love to add your cruise tips to my list!
One of the most anticipated cruise ships to debut in 2019 is finally here! Costa Cruises has taken delivery of Costa Smeralda, its new flagship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology and part of an innovative initiative to significantly reduce environmental impact.
The handover ceremony took place today (Dec. 5th) at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, where the ship was built. Costa Smeralda is the first ship in the Costa fleet to use LNG, both in port and at sea. It is part of an expansion plan that includes an investment of over six billion euros for seven new ships to be delivered by 2023 to the Costa Group, which consists of Costa Cruises, Germany-based AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia. Five of the vessels – including Costa Smeralda and her sister ship Costa Toscana, currently under construction at Meyer Turku and scheduled for delivery in 2021 – will be powered by LNG. With the arrival of Costa Smeralda, the Costa Group fleet rises to a total of 29 ships in service, all flying the Italian flag, underscoring the company’s leadership in Europe and China.
The use of LNG is a major development in minimizing environmental impact and significantly improving air quality, with the virtual elimination of sulfur dioxide emissions (zero emissions) and particulate matter (95- 100% reduction). LNG also significantly reduces emissions of nitrogen oxide (direct reduction of 85%) and CO2 (reduction of up to 20%).
“Costa Smeralda will be a further boost to the use of LNG in cruise ships, a technology we were the first to believe in, setting a new course in the cruise sector. Our Costa Group has invested in the construction of five new LNG ships as part of our leadership in sustainable tourism. It is an innovation in the cruise and overall shipping industries, destined to mark a step change as it guarantees a significant reduction in our environmental impact without compromising the safety aspects that are an essential priority for us”
Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises
Costa Smeralda approaching Meyer Turku on her way back from 2nd sea trials.
Costa Smeralda will leave the Turku shipyard on December 6 en route to the Mediterranean for three presentations with travel agents: Barcelona on December 18, where the ship will be refueled with liquefied natural gas; Marseilles on December 19; and Savona on December 20. On December 21, Costa Smeralda will leave Savona for its first one-week cruise, calling at Marseilles, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia and La Spezia.
One of the greenest ships in the industry!
Costa Smeralda is truly a traveling “smart city”. Apart from the major innovation of liquefied natural gas, the ship incorporates a series of cutting-edge technological innovations designed to further reduce environmental impact.
The daily water requirement is achieved directly from the sea thanks to the ship’s desalination systems. Energy consumption is reduced to a minimum by using LED lights, recovering the heat generated by the engines, the particular shape of the hull designed to significantly reduce drag in the water, and newgeneration elevators that recover energy by re-introducing it into the electricity system.
Costa Smeralda leaving Meyer Turku to start her 2nd sea trials.
Single-use plastic, which for some years has already been eliminated from Costa ships for most catering purposes and replaced with alternative materials, will gradually be reduced well in advance of the European Directive objectives. One hundred percent separate waste collection and recycling of materials, including plastic, paper, glass and aluminum, will be part of an integrated approach designed to support circular economy projects.
Close attention will be paid to food on Costa Smeralda. The brand’s 4GOODFOOD program is dedicated to reducing food waste and recovering surpluses for social purposes. In addition, the new ship will feature the innovations of the LAB – Laboratorio del Gusto Restaurant — which takes an entertaining approach to involving guests in food sustainability.
With over 180,000 gross tonnage and over 2,600 rooms, Costa Smeralda is the result of a unique creative project led by Adam D. Tihany, created to immerse guests in experiencing Italy’s finest all in one place. Tihany relied on an international pool of four prestigious architecture firms commissioned to design the various areas of the ship. All of the furnishings, lighting, fabrics and accessories are made in Italy, either standard produced or designed specifically for the new flagship by 15 partners who represent Italian excellence. Italian design will also star in the CoDe – Costa Design Museum, the first museum created on a cruise ship. The extraordinary environment also features the Solemio Spa; various entertainment areas, including the Colosseum, with its screens for high-tech content shows; themed bars, in collaboration with major Italian brands; 16 restaurants and “food experience” areas, including a new restaurant for families
I love that Costa and Carnival corporation in general is rolling out these enviromentally friendly ships. What’s also commendable is that Costa is trying to reduce food waste onboard their ships, one of the biggest problems in the cruise indutry if you ask me…
I honestly cannot wait to explore this ship in January and bring you all along with me on this journey! I’ll be on the fourth sailing so I’m still expecting that “new ship smell”!¨Of course I will post and update you all about it on my instagram and twitter and you can, as always expect a full tour and review on my blog when I come back! Here I come, Costa Smeralda!
In March of 2019 I was lucky enough to be on the “vernissage” cruise of Costa Venezia. Yes! I was on the first cruise of a completely new ship! A first new Costa ship to debut in 5 years. To say it was amazing would be an understatement! Costa Venezia is a Costa ship specifically designed and made to cater to Asian guests. She is a ship built with the Chinese market in mind. At 135.000 GTs she is currently the biggest Costa ship, well at least until November when Costa Smeralda will debut at 180.000 GTs. If Costa Venezia looks familiar to you, I’m going to tell you why’s that. It’s because Costa Venezia is a Vista class ship. Other ships in that class are very well known Carnival fun ships Carnival Vista and Horizon, her corporate cousins! If you’re a ship geek like me here are a couple of quick facts about the ship:
Length: 324 meters
Passenger capacity: 5.260
Crew: 1.300
Passenger decks: 14
Venezia only did two cruises that were available to be booked by western guests. A Six-day “Vernissage” cruise and a 53-day repositioning cruise from Trieste to Tokyo! I was lucky and also quick enough to book a 6-day cruise on this beauty that is probably not coming back to Europe anytime soon! The cruise I was on started and ended in Trieste, Italy and visited Bari, Corfu and Dubrovnik. We were also meant to visit Zadar, Croatia but because of bad weather conditions we stayed in Dubrovnik for an overnight which I really can’t complain about since so many people pay extra for cruises that include overnight port stops!
I started my cruise by arriving in Trieste a day before the cruise to explore the city because I’ve never been to Trieste but to also see the ship docked there, since it’s christening happened just a day before, so it was tied up in Trieste for three days for the press to take a look at the amazing new ship before it’s started it’s first cruise! Trieste is a beautiful city, full of history and places to explore. You can spend a good amount of time just walking around and admiring the beauty of this small coastal city. Trieste is not a big city but it’s love for it’s sea and ships runs strong, since the city was established and fueled by fishers and shipbuilders, this was best shown in a way that all throughout the day visitors were pouring down to the city’s waterfront to snap a picture of a brand new ship that was built in a nearby shipyard located in the city of Monfalcone. You could sense an amount of pride that Italians have for these Italian built ships that sail all around the world.
I rented a room not too far from the cruise terminal (which is conveniently located right across the main city square) so walking to the ship next morning did not take too long. Boarding (from arriving to the terminal to boarding the ship) did take some time but you have to know that the cruise terminal in Trieste is not as big as terminals in larger cruise ports. Boarding did not last longer than an hour, and with good company time flies! And there we were, on a brand new ship. We stepped on to the ship around noon and the cabins were already ready, but that’s because NO-ONE stayed in them before us so crew had more time to get our cabins ready. Usually cabins are not ready that early! The ship is beautifully decorated and the theme you ask? Of course, it’s Venice! Everything is made to pay tribute to that unique Italian town but not in a tacky way. Costa found a way to pay homage to this Italian city while still making the ship look contemporary and classy. Main decks of this huge ship are decks 4,5 & 6 where everything from main restaurants to shops and the Main Atrium is located. And of course decks 10&11 where the spa, buffet and the lido deck is located.
I stayed in an ocean view cabin on deck 1. The cabin was pretty big, but the thing I did not expect was two washrooms! There was a washroom with a toilet, shower and a sink and there was another washroom with a tub and a sink! It was amazing to have this, I can only imagine how useful this is when there are 4 people in the cabin! The cabin number was 1392 and it was nicely decorated with the main theme ofcourse being Venice. There are many plug sockets and USB charging ports. There is also a flat screen TV where you can check your onboard account, book shore excursions and spa treatments. Storage space was also nice with three huge closets and drawers underneath the table. Weirdly enough there was no mini fridge. Oh well, that’s a feature I almost never use anyway! We had an amazing room steward called Dante, he was very helpful and took care of us and our cabin everyday!
One of my favorite parts of this ship was the ships Atrium. It was made to look like Piazza San Marco in Venice and somehow they did manage to cramp the charm and beauty of Piazza San Marco into this three deck high space. I was also impressed by the ships Lido pool area. It looked like a small city square with a pool and even two huge artificial trees. How crazy does that sound but trust me, it looks even better in person! Some other amazing features of this ship were it’s Main Theatre called Rosso theatre, which is all red and gold and takes your breath away. But be aware that the theatre on this ship is slightly smaller, so it does tend to fill up pretty quickly. I heard that this is a problem also on Carnival Vista and Horizon which share the same layout. There are also multiple lounges and bars where various events can be held, like trivia, dance classes etc. Costa Venezia also has a large number of high end shops and a huge casino. Much larger then I’ve seen on any other ship. One of the best design features of this class of ships is it’s outdoor promenade on Deck 5 which goes around the whole ship and offers outdoor seating for many specialty restaurants and loungers to soak up the sun!
Dining
This ship has two main restaurants, Marco Polo Restaurant(mid-ship, one deck) and Grand Canal Restaurant (aft, two decks). I was assigned early seating in the Grand Canal Restaurant and that’s the more beautiful one in my opinion since it literally has a canal in the middle of the restaurant with a real gondola in it! You can also dine in four specialty restaurants onboard. On the lido deck you will also find Burger bar and Dim-Sum (wok food restaurant) and at the back of the buffet there is a Pizza bar and a sea food shack. These we all complimentary on or cruise but I believe that there was a fee added when the ship arrived in China. Now about the food and service. The food in the main restaurant was great and I have nothing to complain about there, food in the buffet was also great but throughout six days I saw little to no change in what they were offering. On Costa ships you will find best desserts in my opinion, from cakes to sugar free soufflés, everything is amazing! Service on the ship was excellent and I have nothing bad to say about any of the crew. Of course it was the first sailing so it would be crazy to expect everything to be perfect. It’s new ship for the crew as much as it’s new to you! So go on inaugural sailings with a bit of understanding that some things will go wrong, or take longer or be confusing so pack some patience and you’ll be good to go!
Now about the itinerary!
To be quite honest as a passionate cruiser and cruise ship “geek”, on this cruise the itinerary took a backseat. After all it was all about the brand new ship! Having said that, this itinerary was great for a short cruise! I did not take shore excursions at any of the ports, but made sure to at least see main attractions of each city. On the first day we visited Bari, Italy, a bustling port city, more oriented towards industry than tourism. It has an old city in which you can explore narrow old ally ways. The old city is a short, 10-minute walk from where the ships docks. We walked for a bit, bought a mandatory fridge magnet and returned back onboard to enjoy the ship!
On the second day of the cruise we visited Corfu, Greece, a beautiful town which is really picturesque and charming. I bet everyone who’s gone on an eastern Mediterranean cruise visited Corfu, but it’s a town worth visiting many times since it’s so nice to just walk around the town and enjoy the Greek culture all around you. You can take some amazing photos in Corfu and find some good bargains in it’s plentiful street shops which offer basically everything and anything! Don’t judge me, but in Croatia we do not have Starbucks so whenever I see one, it’s a must go for me. There are also many cafés, and the prices are really good. The city center, is not that close to the cruise port. You can take a shuttle bus which takes you to the city center for a small fee or go on foot, which I did and I would say it is a half an hour walk along the main road.
Our final stop was Dubrovnik, Croatia, or as many tourists know it as the city where massively popular TV show Game Of Thrones was shot! This was supposed to be a one day stop but it turned into an overnight stop in Dubrovnik. Which when you think about it sounds really elite since many luxury cruise lines offer overnight stops to explore the city you’re docked in. I got really lucky in a way! In Dubrovnik you can explore the old town which is not big but it’s full of historical places you can read about all day long. It’s a city so rich with history that one day is not enough to learn about everything this city can tell you! But be aware, thousands of tourists flock to this city during the summer season so better avoid Dubrovnik from June-September! Port of Gruz, cruise port in Dubrovnik is a good 30-minute walk away from the Old town, but every cruise line offers shuttle buses which take you from the pier to the city center. Prices can vary, on my cruise it was 10€ pp and buses were leaving every ten minutes.
In conclusion, I would have to say that I was amazed by the beauty of this new Costa ship and by the new direction Costa is taking, regarding to their interior designs. I was not expecting perfect service and food since I am familiar with the fact that some inaugural cruises do not go as planned but on this cruise nothing was that much different from any other ordinary cruise. I found out that on my cruise there were only around 3.600 passangers so it’s was no wonder that I never felt like the ship was overcrowded or had any problems with passanger flow. This ship also has these new “smart elevators”. You can find these elevators only on this ship and Carnival Horizon. They are made to handle a bigger number of people in a way that you press a deck on a screen you want to go on infront of elevators banks and the screen directs you to an elevator that’s going to that deck. It makes sense since elevator can then take a direct route to that deck. The problem is not many people were familiar with this technology so I did not really see the difference in crowding and waiting times compared to traditional elevators.
Smart elevators.
I would definitely recommend this ship and Costa to anyone who wants to have an Italian experience at sea. It is a lively cruise line with most of the passengers coming from many European countries. On Costa ships you will always find live music being played in various lounges and also many activities take place during the day and run well into late night, for those who want to party! Service and food is amazing so if you haven’t tried Costa yet I definitely recommend that you at least try the Italian way of cruising!
This is my first blog post, so don’t be too hard on me!
People who haven’t cruised often think that you just walk up to a terminal, show some ID, collect your ID card and get on the ship. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. Embarkation can vary a lot depending on the cruise line and the embarkation location.
Arrival at the port.
When you get to the cruise port you will have to find where you should drop off your luggage. If you have already printed off luggage tags at home with your name/stateroom number on them, you can just drop off the bags with a porter. If not there is usually a desk to go to where they will help you fill out the tags. It’ll all be clearly signposted.
A cruise terminal in Hong Kong, be aware, some ports do NOT have these fancy huge terminals, but rather tents or older smaller building which makes the embarkation process slightly longer.
Security.
When boarding a cruise ship you have to go through security the same way that you would at an airport. Your hand luggage will be checked and you will have to walk through a metal detector. It usually feels slightly less scary than airport security but it is the same kind of thing.
Queing
Next, you have to join a queue to check in. The size of the queue can vary a lot. If you arrive just as the desks are opening you might be in for a long wait.
Identification
Once you’ve made it to the front of the queue you will be asked to show your travel documents and some ID. If you want to charge your onboard account directly onto a credit card you will also be asked to provide this. You don’t have to set up the account on a credit card but if you didn’t you would have to settle the balance before disembarking.
Time for a photoshoot!
Your photo will be taken for your cruise key card. This usually happens when you’ve been travelling for hours or have got off a long flight and as a result look a state. The photo is only used when you scan onto and off on the ship to check that they have got the right person, so it doesn’t really matter.
Key card
You’ll be given your key card. The key card is what you use to get on/off the ship, into your room and is what you charge everything to when on board the ship. Actual physical money isn’t used anywhere onboard. If you loose it on the ship or it stops working do not worry, just head to the reception and ask for a new card!
My key card on Costa Venezia on her inaugural journey. I love it when the ship you’re sailing on is on the card!
Head to the ship
If the ship is ready to be embarked then you will go straight onto the ship. You’ll only have your hand luggage with you at this point as your bags will be making their way to your cabin, so make sure you have anything that you may need for a few hours in your hand luggage. In my experience, the bags usually turn up a couple of hours after embarking.
There are a couple of things that you can do to make sure that embarkation day goes smoothly.
Embarkation tips:
Firstly, make sure you’re not rushing, it is far better to be waiting in the gate for an hour than running late and missing the ship completely.
It can be a good idea to put a luggage tag on your hand luggage. That way you can check if you forget the number, your keycard doesn’t have your stateroom number on it for security reasons.
Don’t be surprised if they try to take a photo of you standing in front of a picture of the ship. Cruise lines seem to love taking photos of you at every opportunity (they can make money from these I suppose).
Embarkation is where they will try to sell you beverage packages. If you would like an alcohol/soda package make sure you buy these as soon as you embark to ensure that you can starting drinking straight away.
Embarkation day usually does go smoothly, but like all travel it can be stressful. I know in my case that I always worry do I have everything I need to board the ship, do you?
Cruise Ship Paradise 