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Name: Pat M.
Email: webmaster@cruiseopinion.com
Age: 26
Occupation: Cruise Travel Agent
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Costa-Romantica
SailingDate: 11/06/94
Itinerary: 7 Day Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 70
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 70
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets: 75
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 80
EmbarkDisembark: 70
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 70
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Aug 1996
Time: 21:38:45
Remote Name: 127.0.0.1
Remote User:
Well, if you've been on 12 cruises, one has to be your most favorite and one has to be your least favorite. And unfortunately… this was the latter. That’s not to say it wasn’t still an enjoyable trip-it was. But several things did not live up to our expectations.
I’ll start with the positive. Service was excellent (except our waiter!) - smiles were everywhere. You’re taken to your cabin by a white-gloved steward. The cabin stewardesses were all very friendly and worked very hard. The ship has a very "European" design, with lots of marble. It’s very contemporary, which we liked. The only problem was that the dining room was also all marble (including the floor) - making it so noisy that during dinner you could not hear the person sitting across the table from you. The desserts were excellent, as were the flavored coffee drinks, which I love. Breakfasts were usually quite good. While most of the entertainment was nothing special, there were two acts that stood out - comedy jugglers, "Ernie and Bert", or something like that - and a real Italian (yes, he was really a real Italian) opera singer named Renato, whom the crowd of mostly over-60 passengers simply loved.
Now the downside. The dining room food, overall, was lackluster. Some nights it was fairly good, but there were other nights where we sampled three entrees that were not good at all. The dining room service, at least our waiter, was not very good. One evening we had asked for coffee to be brought to our table of eight. We asked three times. After waiting ½ hour, we finally got up, went to the waiter’s station, and brought the coffee pot back to our table. The service from other waiters was professional, but not what you’d call overly friendly. Next, the ship rocked - constantly. Rough seas or calm, you were always aware of a gentle side-to-side or front-to-back motion. Not enough to make you sick, but still it was constantly noticeable. The cruise director did a good Bill Murray imitation, but his style seemed more suited to a younger crowd than was on this ship. The cabin had many rattles and squeaks that made it difficult to sleep (although it was beautiful, and the bed was very comfortable). The ship was not that clean; elevators went days on end with no vacuuming. We tried a couple of times to call room service and the line was always busy. The ship calls at San Juan in the evening - after all the shops have closed, and when it doesn’t feel too safe walking around on your own.
This was the most dressy cruise we’ve been on - tuxes and sequin gowns were in abundance on the two formal nights. The average passenger age was probably around 60, with maybe 25% European and 75% American passengers.
Since we’ve been on the cruise, we’ve spoken to other agents that were on the Romantica and felt the food and service were much better than our experience. Maybe we caught them on a bad week - we’d certainly be willing to give Costa another chance. Oh, and for those of you that have been on the ship - "Ci, Ci, Ci, Ci, Romantica, Ci, Ci, Ci, La La La La La La"!
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