Hello Cruise Lovers!
Today I am very happy to write a new article about Costa Cruises.
If you don’t know yet, I am Italian so I know Costa very well and I like when I talk about it.
I also know that many people abroad do not consider it a good cruise line. It certainly has problems, but I think it has improved a lot in the last period.
Anyway, in this article we are going to analyze Costa Cruises’ ships.
Through user reviews and my own opinions, I decided to create a ranking of the ships from best to worst.
As I always tell you take the rankings as indicative, tastes vary and you always have to try for yourself to make a final judgment.
1. Costa Diadema
Costa Diadema is considered the best ship of all Costa Cruises.
It offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and entertainment spaces. Guests love the outdoor promenade and the theater that spans three floors.
A few reviews noted that the size of the ship can sometimes result in long lines in common areas such as the buffet. In addition, some guests have reported that some areas need a bit of renovation.
Despite these small problems, the high number of positive reviews makes the Costa Diadema the most highly-rated ship in the entire fleet.
2. Costa Deliziosa
Costa Deliziosa was a sister ship to the Costa Luminosa that is now part of the Carnival fleet, we saw her in position number 21 in the ranking of Carnival ships by size.
They both offer similar experiences in terms of comfort and space, with a spa, a golf course, and a skating rink.
Passengers also really like the entertainment on the ship, with many of them saying that you will never get bored while on board!
Many positive marks were also received for the quality of the food, which was considered very good both at the restaurant and the buffet.
On the other hand, the majority of criticisms are related to the size of the pools, which some passengers consider to be too small for a ship like this one.
3. Costa Toscana
Costa Toscana is the newest ship of this cruise line. She was launched only in 2022.
As the name suggests, the Costa Toscana is a tribute to the Italian region of Tuscany, with a design inspired by its art, landscapes, food, and wine.
What do passengers who tried her think? Well, there are very positive opinions on the environmental sustainability and efficiency of this ship.
Passengers appreciate the wide variety of choices for restaurants, bars, and relaxation areas and love the staff members who are always ready to help.
There are positive reviews also for the modernity of the ship. Many passengers think that, with this ship, Costa manages very well to keep up with the most cutting-edge companies like Royal Caribbean.
The only complaints are about the difficulty of getting around the ship. Some passengers consider her too large and scattered.
4. Costa Pacifica
Costa Pacifica is known as the “ship of music“. On board, there’s a unique atmosphere and everything revolves around the theme of music.
When you are in the public areas of the ship, you will hear background music recorded specifically for the ship. Passengers therefore love the attention to detail on this ship and the relaxed feeling on board.
However, Costa Pacifica only ranks fourth because several passengers complained about customer service issues.
5. Costa Fortuna
Costa Fortuna is Costa Cruises’ oldest ship.
It is inspired by the great cruise ships of the past and seeks to combine history and modernity, offering a traditional cruise experience but with all the modern comforts.
It was refurbished in 2019, and nowadays it’s particularly appreciated by travelers who like small ships.
I personally traveled on Costa Fortuna several years ago. it was an enjoyable experience but I don’t consider her as one of the best cruises I’ve been on.
In other passengers’ reviews, I read a lack of maintenance and attention to detail, I can absolutely confirm these problems.
Plus I don’t like ships that are too small, so I find it right that she is on the lower end of the ranking. Costa Cruises definitely has better ships than this one!
6. Costa Favolosa
Similar to the Costa Fascinosa, the Costa Favolosa is dedicated to beauty and glamour, with fairy-tale thematizations, a luxury spa, and a crystal-covered swimming pool.
Guests are impressed by the public areas, which are all well-maintained.
The real problem with this ship is that many passengers complained about the level of crowding, especially during peak times.
I cannot understand why this ship presents this problem. Perhaps the spaces are not optimized in the right way?
7. Costa Fascinosa
Inspired by movies and movie stars, the Costa Fascinosa offers an elegant and glamorous setting with contemporary artwork, a huge theater, and a 4D cinema.
Passengers really love the pools, the different entertainment options, and the food on this ship.
However, some reviews highlighted that customer service could be improved in terms of efficiency and responsiveness and that some areas of the ship need refurbishment.
For these reasons, the Costa Fascinosa ranks second to last.
8. Costa Smeralda
According to reviews, Costa Smeralda is Costa Cruises’ worst ship. I have to admit that it’s a real surprise considering that it is one of the newest and most innovative ships in the fleet. She was launched only a couple of years ago!
Passengers are impressed by the ship’s state-of-the-art technology, interior design, variety of restaurants and bars, beautiful water park, and areas dedicated to Italian art and design.
But why is it among the worst ships then? Essentially, because many people found it way too crowded, especially during the high season.
I saw dozens of people complaining about the inability to find free tables at the buffet or free loungers at the pool.
I hope Costa Cruises can solve this problem because, in my opinion, this ship does not deserve last place.
I will update the article in a few months and we’ll see if Costa Smeralda has managed to gain some positions.
