{"version":"1.9","identifier":"3514c9d5-7050-4534-aba7-1596c48d5346","language":"en-US","title":"5 things Costa Cruises does well—and 1 it doesn’t","layout":{"columns":7,"width":1024,"margin":32,"gutter":20},"componentLayouts":{"text":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"maximumContentWidth":720,"margin":{"top":12,"bottom":12}},"photo":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"margin":{"top":20,"bottom":20}}},"componentTextStyles":{"default":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"textColor":"#171717"},"headline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue-Bold","fontSize":36,"lineHeight":42,"conditional":[{"conditions":{"maxViewportWidth":480},"fontSize":28,"lineHeight":34}]},"intro":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":20,"lineHeight":28,"textColor":"#555555"},"caption":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":19,"textColor":"#666666"},"byline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":20,"textColor":"#666666"},"body":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"paragraphSpacingAfter":14,"linkStyle":{"textColor":"#00704a"}}},"metadata":{"canonicalURL":"https://crusiefrog.com/news/costa-cruises-five-things-well-one-drawback","datePublished":"2026-10-14T17:46:26.634397Z","dateModified":"2026-10-14T23:50:22.898347Z","authors":["Cruise Frog"],"excerpt":"Five strengths of Costa Cruises, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.","thumbnailURL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/3514c9d5-7050-4534-aba7-1596c48d5346/4c461666688f0d9f7e3f6add60313330.jpg","keywords":["cruise_line"],"generatorName":"Frog News","generatorVersion":"1.0"},"components":[{"role":"title","text":"5 things Costa Cruises does well—and 1 it doesn’t","textStyle":"headline","layout":"text"},{"role":"intro","text":"Five strengths of Costa Cruises, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.","textStyle":"intro","layout":"text"},{"role":"byline","text":"By Cruise Frog · Published October 14, 2026","textStyle":"byline","layout":"text"},{"role":"photo","URL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/3514c9d5-7050-4534-aba7-1596c48d5346/4c461666688f0d9f7e3f6add60313330.jpg","caption":"Costa Toscana in Savona, 2022 · Photo: Gérard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons","accessibilityCaption":"Costa Toscana in Savona, 2022","layout":"photo"},{"role":"caption","text":"Costa Toscana in Savona, 2022 · Photo: Gérard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons","textStyle":"caption","layout":"text"},{"role":"body","format":"markdown","text":"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.\n\nThis assessment looks at the product and its fit for different travelers. The strengths are reasons to consider the line, rather than a promise that every guest will value them equally. Ship details and fare terms still matter.\n\n## 1. An Italian holiday atmosphere\n\nCosta makes its Italian identity visible in food, venue names and the overall style of the ships. That can make a Mediterranean cruise feel connected to its setting. It suits guests who welcome an international crowd and a more European holiday rhythm.\n\n## 2. Several Mediterranean boarding points\n\nMany weeklong loops allow embarkation at different ports. Travelers in Italy, France or Spain can choose a convenient starting point. This is a practical strength when it reduces flights or hotel nights, though the full trip cost still needs to be compared.\n\n## 3. Food options beyond the main dining room\n\nPizza venues, specialty restaurants and the Archipelago concept on eligible ships give guests several ways to eat. Food is part of Costa's brand identity. Check the charges and ship details, since the most distinctive restaurant experience may require a separate reservation and payment.\n\n## 4. A lively family setting\n\nPools, children's areas and attractions on selected ships support a busy family holiday. Guests who want a social resort atmosphere have a clear fit. Compare the deck plans for the child's age rather than assuming that every Costa ship has the same facilities.\n\n## 5. A range of seasonal regions\n\nThe Mediterranean anchors the program, with Northern Europe, the Caribbean and other regions adding variety. Repeat guests can carry a familiar onboard style into a different setting. The seasonal pattern also lets travelers choose warmer destinations when European coastal weather is less appealing.\n\n## The drawback: It does not provide an English-only environment\n\nCosta sells across several countries, so the ship's social life and entertainment are international. That is a strength for some guests and a limitation for others. Travelers who want an entirely English-centered program should evaluate the sailing's language arrangements before treating the fare as a bargain.\n\n## What I'd check before booking\n\nBefore choosing a departure, compare the cabin plan, the balance of sea days and port days, and the facilities on the named ship. Add the extras your party would actually use. A lower base fare is useful only if the complete holiday still fits the budget and the people traveling.\n\n## The cruise format\n\nShips 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.\n\n## Sources\n\n[Cruise Frog’s Costa Cruises profile](https://crusiefrog.com/cruise-lines/costa-cruises); [official cruise line information](https://www.costacruises.com/).\n\nEditorial assessment of published product information; no firsthand sailing experience is claimed. Ship features, inclusions and departure programs vary. Updated October 14, 2026.\n\n## Photo credit\n\nCosta Toscana in Savona, 2022. Photo: Gérard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. [Original source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Costa_Toscana_in_Savona.jpg). [Image license](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The image is cropped and resized for this page. The adapted image is distributed under the same license.","textStyle":"body","layout":"text"}]}