costa-romantica4

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Jonathan Golaner
Email: goalner@umbi.umd.edu
Age: 39
Occupation: University Administrative Management
NumberOfCruises: 21
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Costa-Romantica
SailingDate: 11/22/99
Itinerary: Christmas/Millennium - Eastern/Western Caribbean
Cabin: Deck 7 - Paris
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 50
CabinComfort: 65
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 60
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 60
CabinQuietness: 60
FoodMidnightBuffets: 65
CabinSteward: 75
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 60
CruiseActivities: 60
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 69
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Jan 2000
Time: 10:56:09
Remote Name: guest1.umd.edu
Remote User:

Comments

This was my 21st cruise. I selected this cruise for a variety of reasons, I have been on this ship
before and had a nice vacation **see May 28, 1998 review**, and I was looking for a
Christmas/Millennium combination cruise that was **fairly** priced. A few things have changed on
this ship since my last years sailing. Some good and some bad, unfortunately more bad than
good. If you are Italian, rude, like to smoke ANY place and ANY time you please, including
designated NON-SMOKING areas like elevators, lounges, and the dining room, and/or have wild
children, then this is honestly the ship for you! Sit down, relax, pour a glass of wine or cup of coffe,
and read on.... ***THE GOOD*** The ship appears to be be in even better shape than last year,
usually you expect as a ship gets older things slip, but not with this ship. It is cleaner than ever!
The food in the lunch buffet area has impoved over last year, with additional stations of food, and
slightly improved quality of food being offered. The entertainment in the L'Opera Theater after
dinner is still superb. Our top entertainer for this cruise was Al Martino, he was great!!! I wish there
was a bit more variety, but still very good entertainment! Room service food was prompt and tasty,
but again the selection is rather limited. The gym has improved!!! There are now four treadmills,
but sign up early on the daily reservation sheet they are popular! Embark/Disembarkation both
very smooth. The private island and tender service are both pleasant. This ship is very easy to
navigate, even for first time cruisers. The art auctions were done nicely by *Hemi* the auctioneer.
He was very kind, even to some very rude bidders that decided they did not want items after they
were awarded the high bid. I did purchase 4 pieces of art at reasonable prices.

***THE SO-SO*** The cabins on this ship are spacious, insides running about 175 square feet,
and typical outsides about 200 square feet. And for ship standards, bathrooms are spacious. The
problem is that mattresses need to be repaced, or atleast in our room they were *tired* or should I
say *re-tired*? This cabin was quieter than the one on the previous cruise, but these cabins are
still far from sound proof.

***THE BAD*** The only time I saw the cruise director was to announce the entertainment in the
show lounge after dinner. The cruise staff were NOT friendly. The cruise activities were definately
lacking in imagination, especially on sea days on the pool deck. Dining Room service - poor, this is
a high priority for me, I enjoy good service as much as good food, it may be why I do four or five
cruises a year. The service was EXTREMELY slow on this cruise. My table was always one of the
first seated in the dining room every night, and ALWAYS the last to be served, water and iced tea
glasses going empty for LONG periods of time and a few evenings never being refilled, even after
asking for refills. They also could not understand that I wanted coffee after dinner every evening,
even after asking each night, it only appeared about half the time. Ah, yes, service was flawless
one evening, guess which one, yes, tip night! SMOKING, if you want to smoke ANY place and ANY
time you want, this is your ship! I am an ex-smoker, and it really does not bother me, but in the
Dining Room while I am eating? In show lounges? In the elevators, YES in the elevators?? At the
NON-smoking side of the lunch buffett? And the staff made absolutely no attempt to eleminate the
smoking in non-smoking areas. I was told there were 262 children on this cruise, I will not even go
there!! Well, maybe it is not the children, could it be the parents are to blame, who think it is cute
to empty bottles of shampoo into the hot tubs and make a mess, go running and screaming
around the pool deck with glass drinking cups, and yes they did break them in the pool area. And
parents, why, why, why would you ever request late seating dinner, 9:30 pm on this ship, with
children??????? The children were falling asleep on the dining room table, and even worse,
taking them to the show after dinner at 11:30?

**FINAL NOTES** I did have fun on this vacation, but there are too many other ships available that
offer superior service, superior food, superior staff cruise staff, superior activities, and non
smoking dining rooms at an equal or lower per diem cost. With many new and huge ships now
being offered, and on the way competition is extremely strong among the cruise lines. Costa will
have to make some fast improvements to stay afloat, or they will have to rename the Romantica
the Ranger, The Edsel Ranger. Will I travel Costa again, sorry - no.

Name: N. Kull
Email: nkull@n-jcenter.com
Age: 61
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 10+
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Costa-Romantica
SailingDate: 12-12-99 to 12-22-99
Itinerary: Southern Carib
Cabin: 7129 Cat C
FoodDiningRoom: 43
CruiseDirector: 89
CabinComfort: 93
FoodRoomService: 93
CruiseStaff: 81
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 86
DiningRoomService: 79
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 87
CabinSteward: 79
ShoreExcVariety: 81
FoodVariety: 79
DeckService: 71
ShoreExcValue: 81
GoodForHoneymoon: 89
CasinoStaff: 49
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 89
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 91
GoodForSeniors: 89
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 92
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 89
OverallPortsofCall: 84
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 89
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 42
DiscoNightclubs: 71
DeckSpace: 91
Stabilization: 94
ShopsOnBoard: 72
SpaceRatio: 92
OverallCruiseValue: 81
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Jan 2000
Time: 21:43:51
Remote Name: dbusr1-92.n-jcenter.com
Remote User:

Comments

Food and Food Service - The quality and preparation of the food served on this ship was many clicks below what to
me would be considered even marginally acceptable. As an example, on the first night I ordered veal cutlets. They
arrived at the table cold and I was unable to even cut them up due to the overcooked – extra well done - condition (I
had ordered the meat rare). Other evening meals on the average were just as bad. The only exception was the lobster
tail and the cold cream soups which, by the way, were the best that I have had on any recent cruises that I have taken.
My tablemates, as well as several other passengers around us commented on the poor quality of the food.

Far in excess of 60% of the evening meals arrived cold when served. I questioned the waiter about this and he stated
that it was a long way from the kitchen to where I was seated. I noticed that the wait staff brought the food out early
and then left it sit on the bus bar for an inordinate period of time before it was served.

All breakfasts and lunchs in the dining room were served with open seating. Here I ran into an exceptional waiter and
the food was, in most cases, at the right serving temperature when it arrived at the table. The problem here also was
in the quality and preparation of the food. I always enjoy eggs benedict on cruises. However, on this cruise, the eggs
were served almost at the hard boiled stage. The same was true of the poached eggs. I very seldom ever eat at the
buffets on a cruise. On this one, I would go to the dining room and get the soup for lunch. If nothing else was
appealing, I would go to the buffet where the food and choices were much better than I found on many other cruises
that I have taken.

I had taken a cruise on the Romantica approximately three years ago and the food was not up to par on that trip
either. I was hoping that it had improved in the interim. However, I was disappointed as there was no noticeable
improvement in this area.

Cabin and Cabin Stewardess – The cabin was comfortable in size and well appointed. The only concern in this area
was the thin, non-soundproof walls between cabins. There was almost always a constant infusion of noise from the
adjoining stateroom (especially the TV).

The first time I received cabin service was during the late afternoon of the second day of the cruise – and this was
only after I had gone to the reception desk and asked about service. The stewardess explained that she was unable to
come earlier as she ‘had to push single beds together and show the passengers how to use the in room safes’. This
workload did not permit her time to do her normal duties!!! Her attendance improved as the cruise progressed in time.

Entertainment – Lounges/Showroom/Disco – The quality and quantity of entertainment available on this ship far
exceeded the norm that I have experienced on other Cruise Lines. The showroom provided a well-rounded schedule
of entertainment of sufficient variety. The performers were a cut above the average of what I would expect to be
normal for a cruise ship.

There was always some type of entertainment underway in at least one of the many lounges. The Disco on this cruise
was worthless due, I feel to the lack of participation on the part of the passengers. But then, on my last cruise on the
Romantica, the same non-attendance conditions existed at that time also. It appeared that the main participants were
the crew.

Embarkation – The procedures used, in my opinion, were totally inadequate. I got to the pier at approximately
noontime. Looking into the building, there was a mass of humanity. I decided to stay outside until they decided to start
boarding passengers. This I found out later was a bad idea as, unbeknown to me, they were giving out boarding group
numbers inside. When I was finally told of this procedure, I went in and got a number which was so high that my wait to
get onto the ship was now extended by several hours. When my number was finally called, I proceeded through a door
expecting to go on board. To my surprise, this door just led to another large area with a long line for the purpose of
security screening and checking in. I was exhausted by the time I finally got to my stateroom! I feel that Costa needs to
examine, evaluate, and modify their embarkation procedures to favor the expeditious processing of incoming
passengers.

Casino – The layout of the casino was excellent and encompassed a large area. However, the utilization of the card
game area and the associated personnel were extremely poor. I enjoy playing blackjack and, when cruising, normally
will be at the table at least once everyday. This was not the case on this cruise. I counted six blackjack tables
physically located in the casino. Only four of the tables were ever manned by a dealer. Of these, one was of higher
stakes which was very seldom used by the players. This left three tables that were hard to secure a playing position. I
played only one time due to the apparent non-expertise of at least two of the dealers. One was new (extremely slow
and nervous/unsure of himself) and the other could neither speak nor comprehend English. I have run into and played
with inexperienced dealers on other Cruise Lines, but I found these conditions to be intolerable on Costa and
therefore I did not attempt to play blackjack again for the remainder of the cruise.

General – I do not believe that I would sail on the Romantica again. I might choose one of Costa's other ships. I heard
that the food problem does not exist on the Victoria. I have also sailed on the Riviera several times and found this to
be a delightful and enjoyable ship.

Name: Richard Bamberg
Email: dick@romaband.com
Age: 51
Occupation: Computer Programmer
NumberOfCruises: 18
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Costa-Romantica
SailingDate: 2/13/00
Itinerary: Western Carribean
Cabin: 5010/4
FoodDiningRoom: 72
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 88
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 78
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 65
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Feb 2000
Time: 16:10:55
Remote Name: gatekeeper.polaroid.com
Remote User:

Comments

Upon arrival no Costa Rep was present. Went to the cruise desk and finally another Rep paged the
Costa rep. There were others in the same situation whose boat was about ready to sail. But finally
was put in a bus. Was aboard the boat in about five minutes upon arrival! No crowds and this was
three hours to sailing.

The cabin attendant Antonio was always there and was very professional. His English could have
been better so we ended up communicating in Italian. The rooms were not very well soundproofed
but fortunately my neighbors were quiet. My cabin was huge and except for lack of soundproofing
couldn’t complain.

The ship was about sixty percent American and the rest Italian, French, German or Hispanic. This
does give the boat a Continental feeling. The ship itself was clean, spacious, and sleek.

Bar service my poolside was excellent. Drinks were strong and the bartenders remembered what
you drank.

Dinner the first night included pesto pasta, my favorite. Others at my table had huge steaks. The
second formal night the food was even better. At this point I thought I'd lucked out but except for the
other formal night it got worse. Tough tasteless veal, and steaks. Tiny questionable apetizers. Great
soup always. Lunch in the dining room was always superb though. Unfortunately it is real open
seating so the waiter you have for breakfast or lunch is not your regularly assigned one so you
friendly service is not guaranteed. Had breakfast on deck once and everybody who walked by my
table noticed the banana on my cereal I had begged from the kitchen.

Casino and shops were great. Never have I had glasses wrapped better. Maybe cause I speak some
Italian got good service.

The worse land tour one could ever imagine is the Jamaica Queen. Described as a party boat it is
nothing but a $55 shuttle to Dunn’s Falls. Was personally intimidated because I asked for a rum
punch on the way to the falls. On the way back it got rough and several people fell to the deck and
nearly went overboard. A speaker cover (wooden) just missed me as it fell. Stay away from this tour!

On the other hand the Jeep trip in Cozumel was great. A convoy of Jeeps goes to the beach via very
back roads with jumps and mud pits. Every one had a blast. The private island they take you to was
beautiful.

The Pirate Cruise in Grand Cayman was enjoyable.

Even thought I traveled alone had a fairly good time. They even called my cabin and asked if I was
enjoying myself. For the money received corresponding value.

Name: Janet D'Agostino
Email: jad52@hotmail.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Media/Communications Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 50+
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Costa-Romantica
SailingDate: 3/19/00
Itinerary: Eastern Carib
Cabin: 4123-outside
FoodDiningRoom: 70
CruiseDirector: 15
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 75
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 50
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 50
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 75
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 70
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Mar 2000
Time: 15:58:22
Remote Name: yuds-pc37.dining.yale.edu
Remote User:

Comments

I returned yesterday from my second cruise aboard the Romantica and needed to immediately sit down
and share with everyone out there my experience with Costa Cruise Lines. If I can spare just one person
anxiety, angst, and disappointment it will be well worth my time and effort.

I enjoyed my Romantica cruise approximately four years ago; food and service were 'fine', ship was
clean and comfortable, staff was friendly, ports were okay. I was on a ship at sea, my favorite place to
be, and so there was nothing to complain about, really. It was a very average week at sea and I just
enjoyed being on a cruise.

When a friend suggested we try sailing the Romantica for her 50th birthday, I agreed wholeheartedly
and proceeded to plan for another week in the Caribbean. I certainly didn't have extraordinarily high
expectations, Costa will always be just Costa, but I looked forward to the time with friends at sea.

Except for a decidedly improved embarkation/disembarkation process, Costa Cruises provided me with
the first ever 'bad cruise' experience I have had in almost 25 years of sailing.

Embark/Disembark: Costa is celebrating their 50th anniversary. Its taken them that long to devise a new
embarka- tion process, but it was definitely worth the wait! We were handed a number by a very nice
gentleman who ex- plained the process of boarding the ship who also made sure all our paperwork was
filled out appropriately. Our number was called, we were directed through a door into another room
where several agents were waiting to process our paperwork, issues on-board charge cards, and check
identification. We were then sent up the escalator to a large waiting room at the level of the gangway
where we were seated and waited in air-conditioned comfort for about 45 minutes. We reached the pier
at approximately 11:30 am. We were on the ship, having lunch at the buffet by 1:00 pm. We were
greeted and met by friendly and helpful Costa representatives every step of the way, even reminding us
to 'watch your step' at the escalator. It was dreamlike. A friend even remarked, about half-way thru the
procedure 'I can't believe I'm gonna be getting on the ship already'. We told anyone who would listen
how impressed and pleased we were with the new procedure. Disembarkation went just as smoothly. We
were given colors for our suitcases and then disembarkation times based on those colors were posted in
the daily program. When our time arrived, we just walked off the ship as we handed in our Custom's
forms. Simple, uncomplicated, perfect.

Food/Dining: The food at the welcome aboard buffet was lovely, well-managed and organized. (I work in
food services for Yale University and have some idea what I'm talking about.) Each of the buffets were
well-planned, and attempt is being made to identify the food with feature cards, trays were stacked with
plates, silverware & napkins, stations were utilized serving varying types of pasta and sauces, there was
a carving station at every buffet, seafood was a featured item every afternoon, and stewards were
available to find a table for you inside or out on the deck. I never went to breakfast or lunch in the dining
room. Dining al fresco is what one does aboard ship. If it were an option to eat on deck in the evening, I
would choose that optioin, no doubt! I can eat inside anywhere, anytime. I can only eat dinner on the
deck of a ship while gazing out at the ocean and the horizon when I'm on a cruise!

On this ship, that would have been everyone's option, I'm sure, since second seating dinner was truly a
nightmare. Food variety was limited. Food quality was very poor. Exciting recipes and/or prep was
uninspired. I will grant you that each evening there was a wonderful pasta offered as well as three to
four soup choices, all of which were excellent. There were actually some imaginative vegetarian options
as well. Just about all of the chicken, meat, fish, and seafood choices were awful. Steak was a waste of a
good shoe, one evening, as was veal cutlet another night. Fillet of ANY fish always came with tiny little
spiney bones, and some fish arrived with head and eyes staring straight up at you (which may be
acceptable in Europe but not generally so in the US). Desserts were usually soggy, tasteless or those
that were meant to be in a frozen state invariably arrived in a melted one.

And all of that could have been ignored if only the service had been even a slight bit better. In the past, I
have always ignored the food quality, quantity, taste, etc., if my waiter and busboy, as well as the table
caption and wine steward were warm, friendly and at least trying their best. Table captain and wine
steward were more than great, but the waiter and busboy were another story altogether. In fact, I didn't
even know we HAD a bus boy until close to the end of the cruise when a fellow passenger pointed him
out at another table. I had to ask for water each and every time I needed some. Small complaint, yes,
but for seven nights each time I was close to choking from lack of water (I don't drink anything else with
my meal) I had to literally flag down my waiter (remember now that I never saw the busboy), have him
walk over to the table and ask him for a glass of water. A couple of times he brought an additional water
glass with him so he wouldn't have to come back to refill the one for me! Very ingenious - but cruise
quality? I don't think so. Everynight I was asked if I wanted coffee. Everynight I would say 'no, I don't
drink coffee, but may I have some tea?' The response was invariably 'tea?' I would say 'yes, tea with
cream, please' and whoever was taking the order would then walk away into some abyss, since I never,
ever got a cup of tea after dinner. Not once. The first time I was served tea was in the dining room at
breakfast on the morning of disembarkation when a busboy in training brought me a lovely cup of hot
tea, obviously from a secret stash meant only for those poor souls in trianing!

The table had crumbs on it from the moment the first passenger broke bread, through appetizer, soup,
salad and main course to dessert. Not a single swaitperson even thought about cleanining off the table.
The night I lost my patience was when I was the only one at the table who ordered ravioli. I waited
patiently for grated cheese. Then I started looking for someone, anyone, whose attention I could get to
bring some cheese. Finally, a friend at the table got up and got the cheese from the serving station. The
waiter seemed surprised, followed her back and then offered to put the cheese on my ravioli when I
remarked that he was now putting cheese on ice cold ravioli. He then told me not to worry, which is now
when I expected him to say he would go back to the kitchen and get fresh, warm, ravioli for me. Instead
he said 'there is a microwave right over at the doorway to the kitchen, I'll put the ravioli in there and heat
them up for you'. Can you imagine? On a cruise ship that advertises high quality, luxury cruising, I'm
being told my food will be reheated with a microwave? I completely lost my control and told him to take
his hand off my dish and to go away, please. He then offered to bring me ravioli on the dish with the
lobster tail, or two lobster tails (I don't eat lobster!), and then he offered me a baked potato. No joke.
What in the world was happening here?

I believe the waiter was trying to do the best he could at his assigned job but was somewhat limited in his
efforts since he didn't seem to know he HAD a busboy. The same kindly passenger that pointed the
busboy out to me also did the same favor for the waiter. From the expression on the waiter's face, he
had never seen him before, either.

In another instance, at another table, the passenger whoordered the inedible steak asked the waiter if
she could instead of the steak have some pasta and was told 'no'. She said 'what do you mean 'no'?
The waiter said 'look, there is no more. I'll bring you another steak'. The passenger said 'I don't want
another steak. I'd like some pasta, please'. The waiter said 'Look, I'm not getting you pasta. Eat the
steak'. My friend asked to see the Table Captain, who personally went back and got her pasta. The
attitude was fairly rampant throughout the ship. I asked if anymore chocolate eclairs were left during
4pm tea and the steward said 'Not now. I'll have to check'. I then asked if he was going to check right
then and he said 'No, not now. Eat something else lady. I'm not checking'. So I did, but it wasn't the
answer I expected - on a cruise ship - if you know what I mean.

Generally, the staff and crew seemed disinterested in being helpful, or even very nice. I never ran
across my cabin steward/stewardess but he/she managed to keep the room clean and neat, so I guess I
had no complaints. It would have been nice to meet the person, however, at some point, but I suppose
as long as they did their job I shouldn't complain.

Ports: We bypassed San Juan due to a medical emergency which caused us to back track and then go
straight to St. Thomas. That wasn't a problem, naturally. The private island is fine, but I think its a waste
of time. Go to some real port and let people choose if they wanna spend the day at the beach, or doing
something else. Time in Nassau is too short - 1pm to 6pm - but we managed to get to the beach, and
into town, in the time we had.

All in all, the cruise was okay. I was with friends, and made some new friends along the way. That's the
important part. Next time, I'll do the friends thing on another ship, however. My Costa cruising days are
definitely over.

Oh, one more thing, I didn't even talk about all the problems we had with the Costa office in Florida
BEFORE we sailed. Suffice it to say this cruise was booked for early January and my cabin mate's mom
died on New Year's Day which caused the need for us to reschedule. Costa informed us there would be
a $200 change fee and we needed to tell them immediately which date we wanted to rebook before the
end of April. We picked March 19th since we had all received postcards earlier in the month explaining
that certain dates of cruises had been discounted - one of them was March 19th. We figured there was
probably space on the ship so that there would be no problem accommodating our change. Costa got
back to us and charged an additional $250 per person, per cabin, (plus the $200 change fee) since
they said we were now sailing in a different season! They were the ones who told us when we needed to
reschedule for, they were the ones who sent out those discount postcards, how could they be charging
us more money? We didn't make the change on a whim, for heaven's sake. One of their customers had
a death in the family! We've been back and forth on this and to this day, even upon our return, have
heard nothing. Not a word.

Seems that's how they do things at Costa. Avoidance, acting stupid, and never hearing from them again.
Well, they'll never hear from me again now, that's for sure, nor will they hear from the other 6 people I
travelled with or the couple of thousand people who will read about this and think twice about the cruise
line they choose.

Name: Diane Brescia
Email: dbrescia@snet.net
Age: 53
Occupation: self-employed
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Costa-Romantica
SailingDate: 3/19/00
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 410
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 89
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 98
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Apr 2000
Time: 07:05:22
Remote Name: trtn-sh1-port38.snet.net
Remote User:

Comments

This is our fourth time on the Romantica. Why do we like it? Our objectives in cruising are to get out of
the New England winter and visit some beaches, enjoy warm weather and to dance. We are ball room
dancers and have found the music and dance floors on this ship to be among the best. We have been
on Celebrity, Carnival and NCL. This ship has by far the best bands. In the lounge outside the dining
room, the Orient Express played. This duo could play anything and were happy to take requests. Some
of the older folks would listen as if at a concert, we danced. In the Tango Ballroom the Aristocats played
great music. The dance floor here is bigger. We did quick step, mambo, waltz, fox trot, rumba. If you
dance, try it.

I have read a lot of complaints about the lunch buffet. This year Costa upgraded the lunch buffet. The
main buffet is smallish but good. They have added an inside food station that served specialities such
as mussels stir fried in garlic and olive oil tossed over linguini, tacos, pasta with stir fry seafood (shrimp,
squid and scallops). Outside on deck, two pasta stations have been added...one with white sauce, one
with red...except the day they had pesto (very good). They have also added an outdoor grill that served
burgers, hot dogs, fish, steak and chicken. A nice addition.

The passengers are very international. All announcements are made in at least 5 languages. Some
fellow American passengers crumbled about this, where we find it fun to talk to people from all over the
world.

The cabins do need better sound proofing, but they are very spacious. We always buy the cheapest
inside cabin and they are fine. Lots of storage space.

The Italians enjoy eating and serving food, so the back deck is covered by a canopy. This is possibly
the nicest place at sea to have a breakfast or lunch and watch the ocean trail away behind you. The
shaded tables are perfect to use during the morning and afternoon as a quiest place to read or sit. I do
not like to eat lunch around the pool, so this eating area is great.

The decor of the ship is modern Italian. Marble, sleek with few adornmments, the designer felt less is
more. I like it, but it does not appeal to all people.

I would go back on the Romantica again for the large cabins, sleek design, fellow passengers, size of
the ship (I am not a mega ship fan) and most of all for the music and dancing. The food is good, the
pasta outstanding. The atmosphere is very light hearted and not stuffy.

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