 Expert Review |  | | | | |
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On paper, Costa's latest new-build -- Costa Concordia -- is one of the most exciting and innovative ships to debut in Europe. As the fleet's 11th ship, Costa Concordia is not only the largest Costa vessel ever built it's also the largest ever constructed by Europeans to be aimed, primarily, at Europeans. That's not all, of course. As a result of the ship's itineraries, year-round sailings in the Mediterranean, Costa Concordia is the only vessel afloat to have both main pools covered by retractable glass roofs (it can get nippy in the Mediterranean in winter). Its Samsara Spa earns it another first; passengers who want an intensive cruise-spa experience can bunk up in luxurious, Samsara staterooms -- and dine in a health-conscious restaurant that is, by and large, off limits to the general onboard population. And nobody else has a Formula One race car simulator (though it would have been nice had it been operational at any time during our recent voyage). In Europe, Costa Concordia owns another distinction. No other European cruise line is building ships that more closely resemble those of North American companies. Look for Carnival's influence in particular; Costa, acquired in 1997 by Carnival's parent company, now builds its ships using the same basic design layout as -- you guessed it -- the Fun Ships. There are more similarities to Carnival's Destiny and Conquest classes than differences, from dining rooms to cabin decor (not to mention interiors that are designed by Joe Farcus, who's also responsible for Carnival's interiors). That's on the surface, anyway. Dig a bit deeper and Costa Concordia, even with its rather garish ambience and similar floor plan, is very much a ship designed to placate passengers representing a range of nationalities. Indeed, Costa Concordia caters to folks from Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain, France, North America -- even Japan. Other differences? The ship is operated more as a floating resort than a traditional cruise vessel. You can embark at almost any port of call on its seven-night itinerary; on our trip, which officially began at Rome's Civitavecchia, we also picked up passengers on our port stops in Savona, Barcelona, Malta and Palermo (but not in Palma de Mallorca or Tunis). The onboard product is also tailored more to Europeans. Dining hours are slightly later, dancing options abound, and the minimum age in bars is 18, which is more common in Europe than in the U.S. (where the minimum is typically 21). Europeans tend to party longer, so depending on the crowd, the disco really does rollick until the wee hours. For-fee cuisine options are far more prevalent here than on North American ships; there's a charge to order from the limited room service menu and at Concordia Restaurant, its big ticket alternative venue; all menu items are a la carte. Another difference: Europeans famously aren't huge gamblers (though they like slot machines), but they love to dance. So the casino onboard Costa Concordia is smaller than you'd ordinarily find on a North American ship and the dance floors are bigger -- and there are plenty of them. Catering to such a big number of international passengers from different language groups does create challenges. Costa cannot always guarantee English (or German or Japanese) speaking tables in the set-time, set-seating dining rooms, though there are a good number of tables for two. We love the ship's decorative theme -- the grand cities of Europe -- which means that metropolis' ranging from Helsinki to Berlin and from Paris to Lisbon are represented. The only challenge for North Americans, in some cases, is that rooms are named the Italian version of the word; it took us a few minutes to figure out that the Parigi buffet was the Paris buffet. It's a fun idea, though. Editor's Note: Prices onboard are listed in euros; at the time of my cruise the exchange rate was approximately 1 euro to $1.30; check xe.com's currency converter currency converter for more up-to-date rates. | | |  top | | | | Dining
The ship's two main dining rooms -- Ristorante Roma and Ristorante Milano -- operate on a fixed seating schedule for dinner, with the first beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the second at 8:30 p.m. Each seats 700, is decorated in a contemporary Italian style and spans two decks. Menus tend toward pasta, seafood and veal entrees. We found the service to be quite rushed though wait staff is friendly. During formal evenings the atmosphere is finessed with lit candles. For special evenings, Club Concordia Restaurant offers a menu created by an Italian, Michelin-starred chef. The atmosphere reminds me of the supper clubs on Carnival's newer ships but it's not quite as romantic (you look over the buffet area two decks below). Unusually, there is no service charge -- but prepare for a restaurant-style eatery in the true sense of the word with every item charged a la carte. Two menus are available: the Menu a la Grande Carte, from which you can pick and choose and a tasting menu, which incorporates several courses for a set price. Reservations are highly recommended. For more casual dining, Buffet Parigi (Paris), the ship's buffet venue, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is laid out more like a cafeteria than a food court. We loved the way that tables were set beside both of the major pools (Lido Riviera Magica and Lido Riviera Mediterraneo). Coffee for the early risers is served from 6:30 until 7 a.m., self-service buffet is from 7 until 10 a.m. Late risers can head over to the Lido Mediterraneo side because it stays open until 11 a.m. Breakfast items range from European mainstays (cold meats and cheeses) to American ones (eggs, French toast). At lunch, which lasts from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m., hot dishes and cold salads are featured. Complementing those offerings are specialized areas for pizza and pasta, and a grill serving hot dogs and hamburgers. For folks returning late from shore outings, these stations are open for longer hours -- until 4:30 p.m. or so (even later for pizza). Tea Time is served here, too; from 4:30 until 5:30 p.m. you can pick up light sandwiches and pastries. During the evenings, part of the buffet venue is transformed into an upscale pizzeria complete with linen tablecloths. On some nights, the opposite half of Parigi will offer themed menus for casual dining. Passengers residing in Samsara Spa accommodations have their own restaurant though it's oddly located (it's nowhere near the spa but rather on Deck 3, in the bowels of the ship). The cafe features wellness menus and is open seating for all three meals: breakfast between 7 and 8:45 a.m., lunch from 12:30 until 2 p.m., and dinner on a 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. schedule. Menus for the Samsara Restaurant are supervised by Ettore Bocchia, a Michelin-star chef and founder of molecular cuisine. Editor's Note: While the Samsara Restaurant is designed to accommodate just those passengers residing in spa cabins, on my sailing there was a special offer made for all onboard -- 200 euros per person to dine for all seven days. Cafeteria Helsinki is not a "cafeteria" at all by North Americans standards -- it is actually a midship, indoor coffee bar serving for-fee beverages, and various cakes and chocolates. This concept is new to the fleet. Editor's Note: There are no coffees traditionally served during lunch and dinner in the dining rooms, but most of the bars can prepare a cup of espresso or cappuccino for an extra charge. However, complimentary coffee is available at Parigi restaurant during the evening. | | | | top | | | | Public Rooms
The central design scheme focuses on architectural styles of European cities and public rooms are named accordingly (though as we noted, the spelling can be initially challenging for non Italians). Passengers congregate in the expansive, nine-deck-high Europe Atrium and watch evening theatrical performances in the Theater Atene (Athens). Bars include the Bar Budapest, a wine bar that serves complimentary hors d'oeuvres before dinner; Grand Bar Berlino (Berlin), the hot spot for nightly game shows; and the Lisbona (Lisbon) Disco. The Sports Bar Stoccolma (Stockholm) broadcasts popular sports events. Interestingly, they were broadcasting American wrestling on various evenings. The Internet cafe is located on Deck 4 and is staffed just a few hours daily. Cost per minute is 50 cents (euro) and there are no packages. For a ship so new, Wi-Fi is oddly not available. At the same time, Costa Concordia is state-of-the-art when it comes to cell phone reception; GSM mobile customers can chat anywhere onboard -- in port or at sea. | | | | top | | | | Cabins
European lines are still a bit behind North American ones when it comes to demand for balconies, but that's changing. On Costa Concordia, 575 cabins (out of 1,500) have private verandahs. This is rather on the low side for the newest ships being designed for North American passengers -- but on the high end among European ones. Cabins come in the usual configurations including insides (that measure at about 150 square ft.), more elaborate mini-suites (279 square ft.), a bigger suite (337 sq. ft.) and 10 Grand Suites (456 square ft.). There are 29 cabins designated for disabled passengers. I sailed in a standard balcony stateroom that measured 220 square ft., and if you've traveled on any Carnival ships lately you'll do a double-take as it looks almost identical. It features twin beds that can be converted into a queen size bed and a large leather sofa that can be converted to a third bed. There is a large working table. Closet areas are spacious enough for a seven-night cruise, and there is also a locked minibar (which will be opened upon request), a safe, a multi-function telephone and an interactive TV, although surprisingly, not yet a flat screen model (flat screen models are in the suites, though). The shower-only bathroom is spacious. The balconies are a decent size and have glass rather than steel balustrades. Unfortunately, many passengers still opt to smoke cigarettes on their balconies so your effort to get fresh air may feel more like a pub-stop. A round of applause: Costa Concordia has a handful of cabins -- insides only, measuring a cozy 150 square ft. -- to accommodate single travelers. It's one of the rare new-builds to include cabins for solo passengers. Guests who really want the full spa experience can book one of 55 Samsara cabins or 12 Samsara suites on Deck 10 with direct access (via spiral staircase or elevator) to the two-deck facility. Though no bigger than their non-spa counterparts, Samsara staterooms offer extras not found in "regular" staterooms, including flat-screen TV's and Samsara bath products. Passengers who book one of these spa-exclusive cabins receive a "Welcome Ritual" package, which includes an invitation to a relaxing tea ceremony, a personalized consultation, a choice of two spa treatments, a choice of two fitness or meditation lessons, two tanning sessions, unlimited use of in-spa perks such as the thalassotherapy pool, and a reserved table in the Samsara Restaurant (guests can also opt to eat in the main restaurants or Club Concordia). | | | | top | | | | Entertainment
Dancing is a popular pastime for Europeans, and Costa Concordia provides an excellent choice of venues. What is more, the ship offers no less than twelve live bands or musicians nightly -- playing everything from classical music to piano melodies, and from popular dance music to the latest hits. During the daytime, there are even Latin dance classes in the pool area. The enclosed, double-deck Lido Riviera Magica features another novelty for Costa. It's got a poolside movie screen. Here, passengers are required to pay to watch the movie; admission fees range from 6.95 euros (and includes one complimentary non-alcoholic drink) to 8.69 euros (with an alcoholic drink). As there are so many language barriers, passengers wear earphones. Typically movies are shown, but you can expect to see major sporting events, too, such as soccer matches. The most popular nightly event is the aforementioned interactive passenger game shows in the Grand Bar Berlino. Despite the need to translate everything into multiple languages, the cruise staff is able to charm cruise passengers into participating in games such as "Election of Ms. Human Cannon Ball," "Election of the Ideal Couple," or the Gypsy Night. More mature programming can be found some nights in the disco, such as "Sexy Night" with a striptease theme (no nudity, however), which, not surprisingly, attracted huge crowds to watch a too-short performance. For Formula One fans, the sexiest new feature onboard is cruising's first ever Formula One simulator. A racecar aficionado myself, I'd love to tell you how it works -- but it was broken throughout my cruise. | | | | top | | | | Fitness and Recreation
Costa Concordia has four swimming pools, two of which are located under the sliding glass roofs. Adjacent to both of them are whirlpools. Generally, the new magrodomed midship pool area (Lido Riviera Magica) is reserved for adults only, while families with kids can use the smaller Lido Riviera Mediterraneo pool (at aft of the same Deck 9). There is also a small kids' splash pool and an outdoor pool with a slide on Deck 11, but it is not used during cold weather. In line with operating Concordia year-round in the Mediterranean, its Samsara Spa is one of the most elaborate afloat. Measuring in at over 20,000 square ft., the two-deck Samsara Spa (Samsara is a Sanskrit word meaning "the continual spiritual search for nirvana") features rooms with varying ambience; one might carry a Japanese theme, another is Indian-Bollywood and a third evokes tropical jungle (there's an actual shower in the couples' sauna that's designed to resemble a rainforest -- the water rains down from tiny holes in the ceiling). The facility also features two tanning areas: on one side, there are loungers for catching rays from the actual sun, while on the other side you can bake under a lamp with a timer adjusted specifically for your skin type. There's also an indoor thalassotherapy pool, and 10 out of 12 treatment rooms feature access to a spa-only balcony. The fitness facility is state of the art and there are daily classes for yoga, spinning and Pilates, each for a nominal fee of 9 euros. | | | | top | | | | Family
Squok Club, located Deck 10 amidships, is the best kids' facility in the Costa fleet (though it's no match for the more sophisticated and spacious children's centers on North American ships). Part of that is because it's larger and better equipped; the outdoor component, with splash pools, is also positive. The multilingual staff provides activities for four age groups: Mini Club is for 3- to 6-year-olds, Maxi Club for 7- to 11-years-old with areas for treasure hunts, sailor knot lessons, drawing, miming and theme parties; the Teen Junior Club, for 12 to 14 year olds and TeenZone for 15- to 17-year-olds. For them, activities include sports competitions, photography and graffiti lessons, pool parties with a midnight swim plus music, dancing and karaoke. A 24-hour arcade is located on Deck 5, next to the Casino Barcelona. | | | | top | | | | Fellow Passengers
Costa has the most wide ranging appeal, geographically speaking, of any cruise line in Europe. It appeals hugely to families -- you can see many generations onboard, and surprisingly, during my Thanksgiving cruise, there were also many American teenagers onboard. | | | | top | | | | Dress Code
There are two formal/gala nights during a seven-night voyage, while the rest are casual and informal. But even during formal evenings, many Europeans tend to dress rather casually. | | | | top | | | | Gratuity
There is a hotel service charge of 6 euros per person, per day. 15 percent is automatically added to bar bills. --by Teijo Niemela, who contributes to Cruise Critic from Helsinki. He is also publisher and editor of Cruise Business Review, a business-to-business industry magazine. Video appears courtesy of Teijo Niemela | | | | top | | | | | Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation. | |  | |
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