Spacious ships with Italian design and upbeat night life for budget travelers.
Costa Cruises was founded in Italy in 1854, and today still caters largely to a European market — though it has plenty of itineraries departing from the US, too. Its fare tends to be low upfront, because it doesn’t include extras like alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi or gratuities. The onboard experience is complete with roomy deck space, live music, and a night club that comes alive after midnight.
Amy Stoltenberg writes about lifestyle and money for Finder, researching the best options for shopping, banking, insurance and authentic travel experiences. After studying writing and fashion at Savannah College of Art and Design, she worked designing apparel at a corporate behemoth before opting for a career with unlimited travel time. When her laptop’s closed, she can be found wandering the streets looking for happy hour and hole-in-the-wall eateries.
Where do Costa Cruises’ ships depart from?
While most of Costa Cruises’ itineraries depart from Rome, Savona, Marseille and Barcelona, it also sails from cities in the US. Here’s where you can begin:
Costa currently sails from:Baltimore, Barbados, Barcelona, Bermuda, Charleston, Copenhagen, Dover, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Honolulu, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, New York City, Norfolk, Port Canaveral, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Tampa, Tampa/St.Petersburg, Vancouver, Venice
Costa Cruises destinations
Costa Cruises sails around the world, but as an Italian-based company, it offers a wide breadth of itineraries to Europe and the Mediterranean. Here’s where you can go:
Here’s where it sails to:Alaska, Bahamas, Baja Mexico, Canada and New England, Eastern Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal, Southern Caribbean, Transatlantic, Western Caribbean
Do they speak English on Costa Cruises?
Yes, there are representatives on board your Costa cruise that speaks English who introduce themselves to you at the start of the ship. Chances are high that many of the staff members speak a bit of English, as well.
However, on cruises departing from Italy in particular, the nightly events and game shows might be hosted in Italian — limiting your ability to interact. But hey, that’s an authentic travel experience, no?
Why you should (or shouldn’t) cruise with Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises offers budget trips with rich itineraries to help you cross legendary cities off your bucket list.
But American travelers should take note that Costa has a reputation for onboard service that’s distinctly European — buffets aren’t necessarily open at all hours of the day, and the focus isn’t more, more, more like you’d find on a Carnival or Royal Caribbean sailing. So instead of roller coasters and zip lines, you’ll find adequate aqua parks and a handful of organized activities each day. At night, you can enjoy live music, themed parties and a night club with a lively dance floor.
On a Costa cruise, embrace la vita Italiana — just don’t forget your wallet.
Pros
Passengers from around the world
European cruise focused on families
Fitness classes included
4-D cinema screenings
Programming for kids and teens
Festive entertainment at night
Cons
A la carte costs for Wi-Fi, gratuity and alcohol
Gourmet food at the specialty restaurants cost extra
Onboard activities tend to be in languages other than English
How much are gratuities on Costa Cruises?
Costa Cruises automatically charge gratuities to your account on a per person, daily basis. The exact amount varies, depending on where your cruise departs from.
Departure location
Gratuity (per person, per day)
Mediterranean
$11.10
Northern Europe
$11.10
United States
$12.50
Caribbean
$11.10
South America
$12.50
Dubai and UAE
$11.10
Indian Ocean
$11.10
Japan
$16.50 for suites, $13.50 for all other cabins
China
$17.50 for suites, $14.50 for all other cabins
Singapore
$17.50 for suites, $14.50 for all other cabins
World Cruises
$11.10
For passengers age 4- to 14-years-old, you’re only be charged 50% of the full gratuity amount. For kids younger than four, no service charge is added. You pay for gratuities after the cruise, and you can’t change the amount.
Bottom line
A cruise with Costa can be a lovely way to see new parts of the world without using your entire vacation budget to foot the fare. But if you’re looking for a more luxurious all-inclusive experience, you may want to consider a cruise line like Crystal or Viking Cruises. If that’s not quite your style either, keep browsing to find the cruise that’s right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Costa Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc.
The currency used on board Costa’s ships depends on the departure location. Here’s the breakdown:
Currency type aboard Costa Cruises
Departure location
Onboard currency
Mediterranean
Euros
Northern Europe
Euros
United States
US dollars
Caribbean
Euros
South America
US dollars
Dubai and UAE
Euros
Indian Ocean
Euros
Japan
US dollars
China
US dollars
Singapore
US dollars
World Cruises
Euros
No, Costa Cruises doesn’t offer its own branded credit card.
Join Costa Club for discounts of up to 20% on cruises worldwide
As a CostaClub member you will enjoy a wide range of benefits, and they will increase over time. On land you’ll have special discounts of up to 20% on lots of departures, while on board gifts, privileges, surprises and further. T&Cs apply.
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