Costa Cruises
Overview
Cruises
Dining
Tipping
Kids
Overview
Costa Cruises enjoys the reputation of being Europe’s number one cruise line. The Italian company, with its North American headquarters in Miami, has been hosting passengers since 1948, when the line switched from its business of transporting olive oil to a passenger line.
Costa’s Italian-style hospitality offers clients in-depth travel experiences aboard as well as ashore. Passengers will bask in European-style luxury and sophistication, while sharing their experience with fellow cruisers who are just as likely to hail from anywhere in the world.
For variety, value and satisfaction.you haven’t lived until you’ve cruised! Our state-of-the-art cruise ships are filled with everything you need for an all-inclusive vacation. Your cruise fare includes your room accommodations, all standard meals, entertainment, onboard activities and more. You’ll discover an amazing thing about Cruising Italian Style. So many pleasures await you onboard that you can indulge in the vacation of a lifetime without ever setting foot on land. Will you join in the dozens of shipboard activities like art auctions, horse racing, bridge games, Italian lessons and trivia contests? Or learn to prepare perfect pesto in an Italian cooking class. Explore all the possibilities available to you when you’re Cruising Italian Style.
Cruises
Dining
Costa offers all kinds of dining options, so you can eat formally or casually, in the open air, in a restaurant or in your stateroom – any time of day or night!
Dining choices abound from poolside dining to midnight buffets. Each day you may choose to dine Casual at the buffet, Traditional in the main restaurant or in one of our world-class Specialty restaurants (additional charge applies). Cozy bistros serve pizza, gelato, cappuccino and espresso and room service awaits your call 24 hours a day.
There’s a variety of dining experiences onboard every Costa ship:
“Trattoria Italiana” ~ Casual Dining in the buffet or by the pool deck.
“Tradizionale” ~ Traditional Dining in the main restaurant.
“Salute e Benessere” ~ Spa Menu for the health conscious.
“Dining di Lusso” ~ Deluxe Dining in one of our specialty restaurants.
“Piccolo Morso” ~ A Lite Bite from the buffet or room service 24 hours a day.
“Pizzeria” ~ Pizza in the bistro.
“Spuntino” ~ Treats to Sweets from the midnight buffet.
A LA CARTE CLUB RESTAURANTS
The magic of Costa’s exclusive à la carte Club Restaurants derives from the elegance and luxury of the environment we have created.
Indulge in an exceptional gastronomic experience, based on great taste and authenticity.
The excellence of the ingredients used in preparing our dishes, and the expertise and creativity of our highly trained chefs will make your dinners very special occasions, magical celebrations of the culinary arts.
Costa Cruises is proud to announce its new partnership withworld renowned Italian Chef Ettore Bocchia.
Executive Chef at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio on Lake Como, which was awarded 1 Michelin star in 2005, he is also the creator of the revolutionary molecular cooking. In the scope of this partnership with Ettore Bocchia, Costa Concordia and Costa Serena à la carte Restaurants and Samsara Restaurants, will be under the direct supervision of this award-winning chef.
By studying the physical and chemical properties of the raw materials, and adopting innovative cooking techniques, this outstanding chef creates state-of-the-art menus and new tastes that will surprise and satisfy even the most demanding Guests.
Book a dinner in one of our renowned à la carte Club Restaurants (for an extra charge) on board ship:
� Costa Mediterranea, Club Medusa
� Costa Atlantica, Tavernetta Club Atlantica
� Costa Magica, Club Vicenza
� Costa Fortuna, Club Conte Grande 1927
� Costa Europa, Club Europa
� Costa Serena, Club Bacco
� Costa Concordia, Club Concordia
� Costa Victoria, Club Il Magnifico
� Costa Allegra, Ristorante Amalfi
� Costa Luminosa, Club Luminosa
� Costa Pacifica, Club Blue Moon
Dining times
| Meal | Normal Sitting | Late Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7.30am-9.30am | |
| Lunch | 12.00pm | 1.30pm |
| Dinner | 6.15pm | 8.30pm |
Tipping
CARIBBEAN GRATUITIES
CARIBBEAN GRATUITIES
For your convenience, Costa will automatically debit your cashless account the following gratuities for services rendered: US$3.00 per person, per day to your stateroom steward/stewardess. US$3.00 per day per person to your waiter. US$1.50 per person to your waiter’s assistant. And US$1.00 per person, per day to your Head Waiter.
Should you wish to change the amount, contact the Guest Relations Desk. A 15% gratuity is added to all beverages checks, spa treatments and beauty parlor services, for your convenience.
EUROPEAN GRATUITIES
For your convenience, Costa will automatically debit your cashless account the following gratuities for services rendered per person, per day: US $6.00 (subject to change). Onboard currency is the Euro and suggested amounts may vary due to exchange rate.
Should you wish to change the amount, contact the Guest Relations Desk. Bartenders, servers, deck stewards, and other staff may be tipped as service is received. For your convenience, a 10% gratuity is automatically added to beverage purchases only.
Kids
Family Cruising
Today families are realizing the ease and enjoyment of cruising with Costa, which offers the perfect setting for a reunion. Onboard there are menus, activities and a variety of entertainment designed to suit every family member from kids to grandparents. From Italian language classes to cooking classes to duty free boutiques and “a la carte” body treatments, plus our youngest guests and their parents are invited to participate in our Costa Kids Program. Indeed, some of the best things do come in small packages – and that’s certainly the case with our Costa Kids Program. From pizza parties and pirate treasure hunts to face painting, masquerades, and even Italian language lessons, supervized activities like these are all in a day’s play for kids lucky enough to cruise with Costa. And that means you and your family can enjoy all the fun of Cruising Italian Style. Morning, afternoon and evening events are scheduled to entertain children from 3 (out of diapers) to 17. Whether it’s an ice cream social or a karaoke contest, Costa knows how to keep kids busy…and we aren’t kidding!
Costa Kids Progamme
From morning to night our entertainment staff are here to entertain children and teens, giving you the time to relax and enjoy the whole cruise and, if you like, while on excursions. For all children between the ages of 3 to 17, Costa Cruises entertainment staff are available every day from 9:00 am to midday, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and from 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm. This is a free group service. There are four Clubs: 2 for children: Mini from 3 to 6 years, Maxi from 7 to 11, 2 for teenagers: Teen Junior from 12 to 14, Teen from 15 to 17. Teen Junior is only active during certain periods. Children under the age of 3 are allowed to enter and stay in the room only during certain times (not during busy times in high season) and must be accompanied by an adult.
ART & CRAFT
Preparing costumes for themed evenings
Painting t-shirts
Young sculptors! With plasticine and balloons
Edutainment activities in collaboration with the WWF Hoops
Let’s color the giant Squok
Creativity and imagination courses
Sailing knots course
SPORTS TOURNAMENTS
Volleyball, Basketball
Table tennis
Table football
Games and tournaments in the pool and “steal the flag” in the water
Bowling
Shuffleboard
BIG GAMES AND DAYTIME ACTIVITIES
Treasure hunt
Interview with the Captain
Sea game and WWF Giant Memory Game
Squolympics (Olympics for young athletes and friends of Squok)
Group dancing lessons
Ship rally
Fun Quiz
..and also SLURP SLURP!!!
PARTIES IN THE EVENING
Ice cream, Nutella and chocolate parties
Spooky Halloween party
Pirate party
An evening at the circus
Games at the Squokkotheque (Squok’s disco)
Fun fair and face painting
Fancy dress parades with Squok
2 THEMED DINNERS PER CRUISE JUST FOR KIDS with a menu designed by our chef for our younger guests. The children’s program is called Fun@sea and is handed out to all children upon boarding by a member of our entertainment staff. The program shows the exact times of the different daytime and evening activities.
TeenZone activities for teens and junior teens
(varying from ship to ship and high or low season):
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES
Tattoos and body painting
Painting on TeenZone t-shirts
Murals
Ethnic or pearl necklace making
Preparing costumes for themed evenings
SPORTS AND GAMES TOURNAMENTS
Volleyball, basketball, football, tennis
Table tennis, rotating table tennis, table football
Waterpolo, water basketball, water volleyball
Darts, hoops, Bowling, Shuffleboard
Video games on giant screen
DAYTIME ACTIVITIES
Treasure hunt
Olympicteen and swimming pool games
Video quiz and quiz on modern culture
Ship rally
Talent show
International karaoke
EVENING EVENTS
Music match
Election of Miss Teen and Mr Teen or Beato tra le Teen, Beach party
Boys against Girls
Peace & Love, Kitsch, Tribal, Rave and Funk evenings
Cupid’s night, surprise messages
Pool party with midnight dip
LESSONS OR MINI SHOWS BY ARTISTS, DANCERS
AND/OR TEEN ENTERTAINERS
Capoeira, Hip-hop dance
Latin and group dances
Juggling, Pantomime, clownery
Magic and micromagic
Video recording and editing
F&B;: BREAKFAST, APERITEEN, DINNERS, SNACKS
Aperitif at sunset
Tex Mex or Asian dinners, barbecues and pizzas
A group breakfast
Nutella party
Guitar party under the stars with pizzas and soft drinks
Ship Amenities for Kids
Games room
Younger guests can have hours of fun in a pirate ship or giant lego brick room, with a vast assortment of video games.
Shore Excursions
While Costa does not offer shore excursions specifically for children, there are, a number of shore excursion activities well suited to them at special rates.
Family Fun
Kids and their parents can get together and participate in fun activities like karaoke, bingo and even a talent show. These activities are a great opportunity for parents and kids to spend time together and have loads of fun while they’re at it!
Kids Menu and Beverage Card
Children will love the special Kids Menu that is served at every meal for it contains all of the foods that kids like best! Spaghetti, Pizza, Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Grilled Cheese, Ice Cream and more – there is always something to please even the most finicky eaters! Plus, Costa offers a Boys & Girls beverage card for 20 non-alcoholic drinks – so kids can have fruit juices and carbonated drinks at any time during their cruise!
Parents Night Out
Costa gives parents traveling with children some time off by organizing two events where kids spend the evening with other guests their age at a fun themed dinner (Squok, Pirates, Circus, Video games world, Halloween, WWF in the Jungle or Underwater) and fun activities designed especially for them. While the kids are being entertained, parents can relax as they enjoy sumptuous cuisine and a romantic evening together, feeling secure that their children are having fun while being supervised by our dedicated Youth Counselors. With this program, parents and children will both be pleased with the variety of shipboard activities and the warmth of Italian Style cruising.
Babysitting
While cruising is a vacation for the whole family, Costa also provides quiet time for Mom and Dad. That can be during the day, while the kids are entertained in the Kids Club program, or at night, while the kids are with group baby-sitters. Mini and Maxi Club nighttime group baby-sitting, held in the children’s area, is a free of charge baby-sitting service until 1:30 am.
There is no night time baby-sitting service available for children under 36 months of age.
