Costa Cruises

Costa’s roots are in a Genoa family business founded in the 1850s, and the family began carrying passengers in 1948, when the Anna C sailed from Genoa to South America. Costa Crociere grew into Italy’s leading cruise brand and joined Carnival Corporation at the end of the 1990s. Today it markets mainly to Italians, Germans, French, Spanish and other Europeans.

The fleet is compact at around eight ships after the 2026 departure of Costa Fortuna. Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana are the flagships, large LNG-powered ships with a three-deck Colosseo atrium and a celebration of Italian design, food and products throughout. The rest of the fleet, including Costa Diadema, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Serena and Costa Deliziosa, are mid-size ships from the 2000s and 2010s that handle Northern Europe, the Caribbean, South America and world cruises.

The core product is a week in the western Mediterranean from ports such as Barcelona, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Genoa, Savona and Marseille, where passengers can board at several ports on the same loop.

This is a European cruise with an Italian accent. Expect families, couples and friend groups, many from Italy, with a lively, late-night rhythm: dinner often starts later than on American lines, kids stay up and the disco gets going after midnight. Announcements are usually given in several languages, and while English is widely spoken by crew, it isn’t the primary onboard language, especially in the Mediterranean in summer. Dress is casual, with one or two elegant gala evenings on a week-long cruise. Onboard prices are in euros. Ships carry roughly 2,000 to over 6,000 guests, and the Mediterranean sailings in August, the Italian holiday month, are especially busy and family-heavy.

Italian cooking is the focus, with pasta, pizza and regional dishes in the included main restaurants and buffets. On Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, the Archipelago restaurant serves menus created by chefs Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León for an extra charge, and there are pizzerias, teppanyaki and other specialty venues. Coffee bars serve proper espresso and cappuccino, which most guests buy à la carte or through a package. Dinner times run later than on American lines, often with two seatings.

Evenings feature production shows, live music, themed parties such as a white night and a large disco scene. On the flagships, the Colosseo atrium hosts performances under a giant screen dome. Daytime brings pool games, dance lessons and sports, with water slides on several ships. Most entertainment is designed to work across languages, relying on music, dance and acrobatics rather than spoken comedy.

The Squok Club, named after Costa’s mascot, runs supervised activities for children by age group, with teen spaces on most ships. Many fares let children sharing a cabin with adults sail free or at a reduced price, so summer and school holiday sailings are full of families, many of them Italian.

Cabins are comfortable but straightforward, from interiors to balcony cabins and suites. Samsara Spa cabins on several ships include spa access and perks. Suites on the flagships add extras such as priority services and a dedicated dining option. Families can choose cabins sleeping three or four, and connecting cabins are common.

Drinks are extra. Costa sells several drink packages, ranging from meal-time packages to all-day options covering cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee, with names that vary by market. Water at meals and many coffee drinks are charged unless you have a package.

Costa adds a daily service charge per guest to your onboard account, with a reduced charge for children, and the rate varies by market and itinerary. A service charge is usually included in bar prices or packages.

CostaClub awards points for nights sailed and money spent onboard, with tiers including Aqua, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum that unlock discounts, priority services and member events. It is shared across Costa’s European markets.