 Expert Review |  | | | | |
| | | | | Overview
Costa Crociere -- the most global brand in the Carnival family of 11 cruise lines -- is not content simply on expanding in Europe with big new ships. Last summer the company embarked on a daring venture in China: an attempt to offer Asia cruises for Chinese travelers. Though Costa clearly did its homework -- and we'll go into details shortly -- the challenges of attracting these passengers since the ship began sailing from Shanghai last year were a bit more difficult than anticipated. First, Chinese don't take long vacations. And second, few have been out of their own country, so some of Costa Allegra's itineraries, which included calls at ports in Japan and South Korea were a bit ... exotic. For Westerners, the good news is that while Costa's still committed to attracting Chinese travelers to its Allegra cruises, it's also now marketing them worldwide. And for cruise travelers who want to visit Asian ports and also feel as if their ship reflects Asian cultures and decors, Costa Allegra's an excellent choice. The 28,000-ton, 800-passenger ship was already considered small when it was built in the early 1990's, and as a result it offers a cozy, intimate ambience. Upon its move to Asia, the ship underwent a major $12 million refurbishment. Public rooms got a fresh new look and signage was replaced so that Chinese, along with English, was included. Other adaptations made to appeal to Chinese passengers included dining tables set with chopsticks and cabins outfitted with mini water heaters (for tea-making). Onboard cuisine and entertainment, by and large, is tailored to Chinese tastes but, interestingly, Costa's Italian roots have been a big draw as well. That's because China loves all things Italy. Despite many changes onboard, varying from open-seating dining to a larger emphasis on gambling, Western passengers will still be able to feel quite comfortable onboard. Crew members are sourced from China (many had been working at the country's top international hotels) and from other Costa ships (which means they'll contribute a Western dynamic). English is the official language onboard and every crew member is required, at least technically, to be capable of communicating with Western passengers. Whether Chinese travelers will interact much with Westerners is another story -- but because, culturally, the Chinese are rather reserved they don't "overtake" public areas in the way some nationalities do. | | |  top | | | | Dining
The pattern of dining that's typical on Costa's other ships is different here -- and this was one the major concessions to its Chinese clientele. Asians tend to dine fast (they're not terribly interested in three-hour, five-course meals). Menus are basic and choices somewhat limited -- and that suits them just fine. During dinner, for example, there is a choice of three appetizers, one soup and five main courses -- basically prepared for Chinese tastes and served with either steamed rice, wok-fried rice or egg noodles. However, the Italian corner (again capitalizing on Costa's Italian heritage) offers a few native specialties each evening. The primary dining venues are the ship's main restaurants. Montmartre and Veranda are both located on Deck 5. Breakfast is served from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m., lunch from noon - 1 p.m. and dinner from 6:30 - 8 p.m. All meals are open seating. Similar to the multi-tiered dining on Cunard's ships -- your dining room is based on your cabin category -- folks in Allegra's suites and mini-suites eat in the Veranda (an upscale offshoot of Montmartre), while all the others are assigned to Montmartre. If you are looking for a casual alternative, the Yacht Club on Deck 7 is open for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Asians like buffets, so the place gets crowded during meal times. Again, buffet options are rather limited in terms of choice. Expect Asian mainstays such as stir-fried fish, meat or chicken, and of course, steamed rice! Here, as in the dining rooms, there's also an Italian Corner, and you can find spaghetti with meat sauce, pizza, and other dishes. If you are looking for a quieter and more leisurely dinner, Amalfi Restaurant on Deck 7 serves Italian cuisine nightly from 6 - 8 p.m. (dinner ends earlier than does the evening meal at Western alternative restaurants because the room transforms into a disco). This is an a la carte venue -- you pay, restaurant style, for everything. Appetizer prices range between $6.50 - $8; different pastas and risotto cost $4.50 to 7.50; and a main course of fish, poultry or meat will run $11 - $18. Amalfi's wine list is the best onboard (not necessarily a big compliment as selections of vino in other venues are pretty limited). The Amalfi Restaurant itself is attractive with semi-circular glass walls facing aft and a glass dome featuring a starlit view. | | | | top | | | | Public Rooms
The passenger decks of Costa Allegra are named after famous painters, such as Gauguin, Lautrec, Modigliani, Degas and Rousseau. The size of ship is one of its pluses because, though there's no question it's got mass market leanings, its compactness makes it easy to navigate. Depending on the location of your cabin, all services and public rooms are a short distance away and do not require walking up or down stairs from one deck to another like on many of today's mega-ships. Most of the public rooms are located on Deck 6. Most forward is the Folies Bergeres Ballroom, the venue for the major events, such as the evening shows or the Captain's Cocktail Party. Although it's only a single deck high, the room has good sightlines. Piazzetta Allegra is the ship's newly introduced coffee and chocolate bar (having replaced the original sushi bar) and acts also as a venue for the Musical High Tea (an upscale tea that comes with a $5 price tag). Later in the evening, the cruise staff organizes karaoke here. Meanwhile, Grand Bar Murano is the ship's center for social interactivity, where live music is played, and where the ship's Italian officers gather for an espresso or pre- and post-dinner drinks. There is also a small Internet cafe on the portside of Deck 6. There is a fixed charge of .50 cents per minute to use the Internet. There are no packages available. The Flamenco Club, once a secondary lounge, has been transformed into a large casino, and there's a separate gambling area for high rollers. | | | | top | | | | Cabins
Costa Allegra was constructed during an era when affordable balconies were not yet incorporated into blueprints. Therefore, if you are looking for a cruise experience with a private veranda, book early, as there are only 10 mini-suites available with this feature. If you are looking to splurge (or are traveling with a larger group), there are three suites available just under the bridge and facing forward of the ship. However, these suites do not have private balconies. The accommodation includes a living room plus two separate bedrooms, and a shared large bathroom complete with a separated bath/Jacuzzi and a shower. Both suites and mini-suites also have butler service. Standard inside and outside cabins are located on Decks 4, 5 and 6. Outside cabins feature double portholes and an inside area of 146 to 156 square ft. -- considered pretty cozy these days. There are also single cabins available. Staterooms are decorated with cheerful designer fabrics and teak-like furnishings, and have a yacht-like atmosphere. Eight inside cabins accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities. | | | | top | | | | Entertainment
Entertainment on the Costa Allegra is geared towards Asian passengers, but it's built on the roots of Italian culture. Being a smaller ship with more modest production capabilities, you can forget the large Las Vegas-style production shows found on the larger ships! Instead, in Folies Bergeres passengers can enjoy the taste of Italy or the taste of Broadway -- in a style that was typical on North American ships perhaps 10 to 15 years ago. A particularly interesting show was "Made in Italy," which reviewed Italian history and culture from the era of Caesar to the present. Karaoke is popular in Asia. If you are looking to entertain your friends more privately, Allegra has a karaoke room available for private groups at a price tag of $20 per hour. During the day, Asian passengers love the "Arts & Crafts" hour. During one evening, the cruise staff assisted passengers in preparing fancy costumes from paper, and later they paraded through the ship modeling their creations. On American ships, this activity is usually reserved for kids only! | | | | top | | | | Fitness and Recreation
Costa Allegra boasts very comfortable outdoor decks. There is a large sun deck area amidships on Deck 7 complete with a pool and Jacuzzi as well as a bar. Another sun deck area is just aft of the same deck, and fitted with a Jacuzzi. When carrying Asian passengers, there is usually plenty of space available on outdoor decks since Asians don't seem to enjoy the sun. They'd rather stay in the shade or remain indoors. The Caracalla Spa is operated by Elemis. There are several different therapies available from a 50-minute Spa Taster ($99) to a 75-minute Face and Body Massage ($140) and Aroma Stone Massage. The adjacent beauty salon offers the usual manicures and hair services. Look for spa discounts when the ship is in port. | | | | top | | | | Family
There is a small Mini & Maxi Club on Deck 8 for children. It's open on sea days during certain hours only. Video games can be found on Deck 6. | | | | top | | | | Fellow Passengers
On the shorter cruises, Costa Allegra predominantly carries Asian passengers, most of whom hail from China. The longer voyages carry more Western passengers because Asians tend not to take long trips. | | | | top | | | | Dress Code
On the five-night cruises there are only informal nights. Asians prefer "smart casual" dress codes over formal ones. | | | | top | | | | Gratuity
There is no tipping onboard, but a 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills. The currency onboard is U.S. dollars, and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted credit cards. --by Teijo Niemela, who contributes to Cruise Critic from Helsinki, and publishes and edits Cruise Business Review, an industry business-to-business magazine. | | | | 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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