Costa Diadema

Costa Diadema entered service in 2014 as the line’s flagship at the time, and she remains one of the largest and best-equipped ships in the Costa fleet. Her standout feature is a long outdoor promenade lined with bars and terraces, ideal for an evening passeggiata. She has a large theater, a 4D cinema, a spa with dedicated spa cabins, and a choice of restaurants that includes a pizzeria and teppanyaki. Her guests are largely Italian, French, German and Spanish, so evenings start late and the atmosphere stays lively until well after midnight. She is usually found in the Mediterranean, where she makes a good-value, high-energy introduction to Costa.

Best for: Families and groups who want a large Italian ship with plenty of entertainment and a sociable European feel.

Costa Cruises is Italy’s biggest cruise line, built for Italian and continental European holidaymakers who want an affordable, sociable ship with Italian food and late nights. Most sailings are in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, with winter seasons in the Caribbean and South America. North Americans can sail happily, but should expect English to be one of several languages onboard rather than the main one.