This standard, large resort ship, spanning 14 decks, has the capacity to carry between 3,000 and 3,800 passengers to 1,090 crew. A wide variety of people would enjoy this cruise including young couples, families and single travellers. The majority of passengers will be Italian, giving a warm, Mediterranean feel to cruises. Service is of a good standard, with friendly staff, laid back ambience and casual dress code. There is also a children’s play area incorporating playground and splashpool.
Costa Concordia offers all-year round cruising in the Mediterranean. You can travel to all of the main destinations including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Gibraltar, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Sicily. North African countries such as Egypt and Tunisia are also included on itineraries.
Built in Italy for £282.50 million, this vessel entered service in 2006. The largest in the Costa fleet, it weighs in at 112k tons, measuring 290m in length and 37.5m in width. The indoor focal point has to be a rotunda atrium lobby (resplendent with glass dome) that spans 9 decks! A rather spacious interior affords a good selection of public rooms, lounges and bars for you to choose from.
There are a total of 1,500 cabins onboard, ranging in size from 16.7 sq.m to 44.8 sq.m. 914 cabins come with outside view, 586 are interior view, while 571 come with private balcony. Only 2 cabins cater for single occupancy and 12 have wheelchair access (it is useful to note that there are also 14 lifts aboard).
Cabins are divided into 20 separate price categories, which is dependent on location and facilities. All cabins come equipped with safe, air conditioning, toiletries (soap and shower gel), hairdryer, mini-bar, music, TV, telephone and shower. Mini, Panoramic, Grand and Samsara Suites also benefit from Jacuzzi, fresh fruit, slippers and bathrobe, butler service, priority boarding and choice of table and sitting in restaurants. You can also take advantage of continental breakfast delivered to your cabin along with in-suite dining for lunch and dinner. It is possible to book shore excursions through your butler and you will also receive invitations to enjoy cocktails with the captain.
| What are the cuisine/dining options? |
Depending on your accommodation grade you will be assigned to either of the two main dining venues, Milano or Roma. Both have two sittings. As one might expect you can look forward to a great selection of pasta dishes.
Other dining experiences include:
2 Samsara dining venues (100 seats in each) – attached to onboard Spa and offers healthy options including low salt, calories and fat options.
Club Concordia - Reservations required for this exclusive restaurant club. There is also a cover charge of £10 per person.
Parigi Buffet Restaurant -Casual self-service venue for breakfast and lunch. You will also get a pizza and a good coffee here.
Café Helsinki – Coffee (cappuccino and expresso) and pastries. There is a good selection and standard of coffees wherever you wish to enjoy a beverage.
24-hour room service.
You can enjoy food in many of the bars. Sala da Ballo Vienna is a lively café complete with ballroom if you wish to work off that snack! Grand Bar Berlin also combines live music with a café and bar as does Piano Bar Budapest and Salone Londra. Sports fans are catered for in Bar Sport Stoccolma, or try Bar Europa or the outdoor venue of Bar Scuderia Costa. If you want to peruse the whiskey menu while enjoying a cigar, head for the Bar Classico Dublino or give the disco a try in the Discoteca Lisbona. The amazing Athena Theatre is an outstanding 3-storey high show lounge, equipped with up to the minute sound and lighting. Here you can enjoy live music, dancers, big shows and cabaret acts.
Samsara Spa, sprawling over 2 decks and enjoying panoramic ocean views, offers impressive facilities including various treatments, steam and sauna rooms, solarium and fitness centre. Unusually passengers can also opt for Samsara grade accommodation, which is actually situated within the Spa area.
Keeping fit is easy on this ship; you can run around the jogging track or play tennis, basketball and volleyball on the sports court. Take a dip in the 3 outdoor pools (one comes with water slide and one has a retractable glass dome for harsher weather conditions), or simply relax in one of 4 whirlpools.
You will find all other usual forms of onboard entertainment including a library, casino and slot machines, selection of shops, Internet café and beauty salon with hairdresser. For any budding Lewis Hamilton there is also a new attraction in the formula one simulator.
The cruise fare includes all normal shipboard services and facilities. The company also operates an International Host Programme, providing a fluent English-speaking member of staff to assist with any communication difficulties you may encounter onboard. Surcharges relating to air fuel and landing taxes in ports and airports are all-inclusive; however if external agencies increase their prices this will be passed on and reflected in your fare, providing it is more than 30 days to departure date.
The cruise fare does not include airfare and transfers (except when purchasing Fly & Cruise Add On option). The company states that tipping is not required; however please be aware that a service charge is automatically added to your account on a per guest per day basis, rates differ according to which cruise you take and you can adjust the amount. You must also have appropriate insurance cover before you are allowed to sail. Charges are also made for all shore excursions, medical treatment and medicines, over night laundry services, beauty treatments along with fax and telephone calls. Special in-suite breakfasts are available on request at an extra cost. Also note that drinks ordered from room service are subject to an automatic 15% service charge, 10% charge applies to all onboard bar and wine bills.
