Costa Cruises

From European Cruise Guide

ABOVE: The 2,720-passenger Costa Magica entered service in November, 2004. INSET BELOW: The Costa Mediterranea departs from Barcelona; close-up of stacks and waterslide.

Costa Crociere is the largest cruise line in Europe, with 16 ships in service and another six on order as of January, 2008. The company, which is based in Genoa, Italy, welcomes English-speaking travelers aboard its multilingual voyages.

Unlike most cruise lines, Costa has a Mediterranean season that runs throughout the year and Northern European cruises in the warmer months. Several transatlantic crossings are also sandwiched into the schedule, since a number of Costa ships operate in the Caribbean during the winter months. The line's vessels range in size from the Costa Marina, with 388 cabins, to the new Costa Serena, a 114,500-ton flagship with 1,500 cabins.

Costa Cruises attracts a younger crowd in Europe than many U.S. and British cruise lines do (especially during school breaks, when children and teens are likely to be on board). If you're looking for a chance to cruise with a middle-class crowd from the Continent instead of fellow Americans, Canadians, or Britons, Costa should be on your shopping list.

Cruise line's Web site:

Costa Cruises
This site will open in a new browser window.

Top photo copyright © Costa Crociere S.p.A. Used by permission.

Copyright © 1996-2008 Durant and Cheryl Imboden and their licensors.
All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy