Cruise Frog guide
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises, Costa Crociere in Italian, is a Genoa-based cruise line that sells mainly to European travelers. It has been wholly owned by Carnival Corporation & plc since 2000, and its eight ships all fly the Italian flag. They sail the Mediterranean all year and spread out to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, South America and world voyages as the seasons change.
Style
Mainstream
big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets
Best for
- Families
- Couples
- Value seekers
- First-time cruisers
Fleet rating
No ships rated yet.
About Costa Cruises
The Costa family business began in Genoa in 1854 trading olive oil and textiles and moved into shipping in the 1920s. After the Second World War it opened a passenger service to South America, and its liner Anna C began full service in March 1948, the date the company counts as its founding. It turned to pleasure cruises from 1959 and took the Costa Cruises name in 1986. Carnival and Airtours bought the company in 1997, and Carnival took full control in 2000. In 2019 Costa Smeralda made Costa the second line to run a ship on liquefied natural gas, and Costa Toscana followed. After the pandemic Costa sold several older ships and moved three others to Carnival Cruise Line, leaving a fleet of eight once Costa Fortuna left in 2026.
Ships are big and busy, with Italian names, Italian-themed venues and an emphasis on food: refits from 2022 to 2025 added the Archipelago restaurant, with menus by three Michelin-starred chefs, along with sushi, teppanyaki and pizza venues. Most Mediterranean cruises are seven-night loops that can be joined at several ports, and fares can be booked cruise-only or with drinks included. Daily service charges are added per guest on board.
What Costa Cruises is known for
Costa builds its appeal on Italian style, a strong focus on food and wine, and frequent week-long Mediterranean loops that guests in Italy, France and Spain can join close to home. It has invested heavily in newer tonnage, including two of the first LNG-powered cruise ships, and in a fleet-wide refit program completed in 2025. Its C|Club rewards repeat guests with fare discounts and onboard perks, although points are earned only on standard, non-promotional fares.
The line's record also includes serious setbacks. The capsizing of Costa Concordia off Isola del Giglio in January 2012 killed 32 people, and an engine room fire left Costa Allegra adrift in the Indian Ocean weeks later. In 2015 Swedish public television reported that Costa Luminosa discharged sewage at sea in the Baltic rather than using port facilities, and several Costa ships had COVID-19 cases on board in early 2020. Because the ships are large and sell in many countries, the experience tends to be lively and international rather than quiet or intimate.
Who it's for
Costa suits travelers who want a lively, Italian-flavored big-ship holiday in the Mediterranean, with plenty of ports, pools and dining options at mainstream prices. Families will find water slides and children's pools on several ships, and Europeans can often board within driving distance of home in Italy, France or Spain. First-time cruisers get simple week-long loops and the option of fares that include drinks. Travelers from North America who want an Italian experience in Europe will find it here, but should expect a multinational crowd and an international rather than American style of service.
Those looking for a small, quiet ship, a luxury-level experience or an English-only environment should look elsewhere, as should travelers who want to sail from the United States: Costa's regular cruises start in Europe, South America and the Caribbean islands.
- Families
- kids' clubs, family cabins, things for every age
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
- Value seekers
- low fares and frequent deals
- First-time cruisers
- easy to book, short itineraries, nothing intimidating
How it rates
None of Costa Cruises's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.
Where Costa Cruises sails
Ships
Costa Deliziosa2010 · 92,720 GT · 2,260 guests · World cruises · MediterraneanCosta Deliziosa is a 92,700-ton ship for about 2,260 guests at double occupancy, built by Fincantieri on a hybrid of Carnival's Spirit and Vista designs and a sister of the…
Costa Diadema2014 · 132,500 GT · 3,724 guests · South America · Northern EuropeCosta Diadema is a modified Dream-class ship of 132,500 tons and about 3,700 guests at double occupancy, delivered by Fincantieri in October 2014. When new it was the largest…
Costa Fascinosa2012 · 113,321 GT · 3,780 guests · Mediterranean · CaribbeanCosta Fascinosa is the last Concordia-class ship to be built, delivered from Fincantieri's Marghera yard in spring 2012, four months after the loss of its sister Costa Concordia…
Costa Favolosa2011 · 113,216 GT · 3,780 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsCosta Favolosa is a modified Concordia-class ship of about 113,000 tons, built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard and in service since July 2011 as part of a five-ship expansion of…
Costa Pacifica2009 · 114,500 GT · 3,780 guests · MediterraneanCosta Pacifica is a Concordia-class ship of about 114,500 tons, handed over by Fincantieri in May 2009 and christened in Genoa in a joint ceremony with Costa Luminosa that set a…
Costa Serena2007 · 114,147 GT · 3,700 guests · Mediterranean · South AmericaCosta Serena is a Concordia-class ship of about 114,000 tons, built by Fincantieri at Sestri Ponente and in service since 2007. Its public rooms follow a Mount Olympus theme, and…
Costa Smeralda2019 · 185,010 GT · 5,224 guests · Mediterranean · Canary IslandsCosta Smeralda is an Excellence-class ship of 185,010 tons, built by Meyer Turku and delivered in December 2019 as Costa's first ship that runs on liquefied natural gas, a year…
Costa Toscana2022 · 186,364 GT · 6,554 guests · MediterraneanCosta Toscana is Costa's flagship and largest ship, an LNG-powered Excellence-class vessel of 186,364 tons built by Meyer Turku, delivered in December 2021 and in service from…Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Fortuna | 2003–2026 | 102,669 | September 2026 |
| Costa Firenze | 2021–2024 | 135,156 | February 2024 |
| Costa Venezia | 2019–2023 | 135,225 | March 2023 |
| Costa Magica | 2004–2023 | 102,784 | February 2023 |
| Costa Luminosa | 2009–2022 | 92,600 | September 2022 |
| Costa Mediterranea | 2003–2021 | 85,619 | January 2021 |
| Costa neoRomantica | 1993–2020 | 56,769 | July 2020 |
| Costa Victoria | 1996–2020 | 75,166 | June 2020 |
| Costa Atlantica | 2000–2020 | 85,619 | January 2020 |
Where to fly in
- Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA)2 Costa Cruises ships sail from Savona, Italy
- Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat (BCN)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Barcelona, Spain5 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Hamburg, Germany4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Civitavecchia, Italy10 lounges on Lounge Frog
- São Paulo/Guarulhos International (GRU)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Santos, Brazil20 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Venice, Italy2 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Costa Cruises known for?
Costa builds its appeal on Italian style, a strong focus on food and wine, and frequent week-long Mediterranean loops that guests in Italy, France and Spain can join close to home. It has invested heavily in newer tonnage, including two of the first LNG-powered cruise ships, and in a fleet-wide refit program completed in 2025. Its C|Club rewards repeat guests with fare discounts and onboard perks, although points are earned only on standard, non-promotional fares.
Who is Costa Cruises best for?
Costa suits travelers who want a lively, Italian-flavored big-ship holiday in the Mediterranean, with plenty of ports, pools and dining options at mainstream prices. Families will find water slides and children's pools on several ships, and Europeans can often board within driving distance of home in Italy, France or Spain. First-time cruisers get simple week-long loops and the option of fares that include drinks. Travelers from North America who want an Italian experience in Europe will find it here, but should expect a multinational crowd and an international rather than American style of service.
Where does Costa Cruises sail?
Costa Cruises's ships in service sail Mediterranean (8 ships), Caribbean (3 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships), South America (2 ships), World cruises (2 ships) and Canary Islands (1 ship).
How many ships does Costa Cruises have?
Costa Cruises has 8 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Costa Deliziosa, Costa Diadema, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Serena, Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana.
Who owns Costa Cruises?
Costa Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Where is Costa Cruises based?
Costa Cruises is headquartered in Genoa, Italy. It has operated since 1948.
What is Costa Cruises's loyalty program called?
Costa Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is C|Club.
What is the largest Costa Cruises ship?
Costa Toscana is Costa Cruises's largest ship at 186,364 gross tons, carrying 6,554 guests.
Cruising with children
Costa’s Squok Club gives families a starting point for onboard planning. Check the actual sailing’s language and activity arrangements so the child can take part comfortably.
Read the Costa Cruises family guide →