Costa Deliziosa Cruise Review – Feedback for Future Cruisers

I’ve just returned from a cruise on the COSTA DELIZIOSA and wanted to share my thoughts for anyone considering this cruise line.

**Boarding in VENICE:** AVOID – it took a total of 3 hours before we could finally board!

**CABINS:** Our group had booked cabins with portholes. These were on the first deck, around cabins 1230 to 1257, and they were fine—no complaints. BUT some of us had cabins in the 13xx range, and that was a completely different story. These were right next to the engines, with an UNBEARABLE noise level!!! Those guests had to fight to get their cabins changed. One couple, after two days of hassle and endless discussions, finally got a balcony cabin. However, another couple was DOWNGRADED to a tiny INTERIOR CABIN—even though they had originally booked a porthole cabin!

COSTA clearly doesn’t care about its customers. Of course, these guests are still pursuing compensation, but their cruise was ruined.

Now, let’s talk about meals, the MY DRINK package, and the shows.

**Self-service meals:** NOT GREAT AT ALL. The buffets were chaotic—no pizza buffets like on MSC (because if you want pizza, you have to pay for it!). No pasta buffets either, unlike MSC.

**Restaurant meals:** Overall, they were okay, but whatever you do, don’t order the "3 Chefs" dishes—you’ll be very disappointed! And if you dine at the 3 Chefs restaurant, the menu costs 59 €!

**MY DRINK package:** In theory, ALL DRINKS ARE INCLUDED except for certain alcohols. They leave a large bottle of mineral water in your cabin, but if you drink it, they charge you for it despite the package. And on top of that, you’re only allowed 7 small bottles of water, while the number of alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails is unlimited?????

**SHOWS:** HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! They only lasted half an hour, with no elaborate costumes, no real choreography—just one or two singers or a juggler on stage performing the entire evening’s show.

And the sound system? UNBEARABLE—so loud!

We had dinner during the second seating—which we really didn’t appreciate—and since meals ended at 10:30 PM, we’d look for a quiet spot afterward, but there wasn’t one! Music was blasting everywhere, and it was WAY too loud!

Another issue: The satisfaction survey. **Would you recommend COSTA to your friends and family?** Then the presenter gives you this whole speech about how the staff works 24/7 and that if you say you’re not satisfied, you’re punishing the hardworking crew. It’s emotional blackmail—unbelievable!!!

The staff, though, was absolutely lovely—housekeeping, waiters, everyone was so kind!

**Final verdict:** NEVER AGAIN with COSTA. For them, it’s all about MAXIMIZING PROFITS. If I ever go on another cruise, it’ll be with MSC or another line.

hi, thanks for the feedback. As for preparing pizzas and charging for them, that’s definitely because the dishes served during meal services are actually cooked using leftovers from previous services. Anyway, to keep it short and simple, the leftovers from lunch and any uneaten food are re-cooked to be served in the evening. I saw this in a documentary about cruises on YouTube, and minimizing waste as much as possible helps keep operating costs down 😛

Hi there, I’ve traveled on the *Deliziosa* 5 times, including 3 world cruises—2 in an ocean-view cabin and 3 in a balcony cabin, with no issues at all. I was really surprised because every day at the buffet, there was a choice of pasta like spaghetti or other options. Meanwhile, on MSC (even though it’s an Italian ship), I had to ask the restaurant twice and wait 20 minutes just to get spaghetti! The quality of the meals, especially the desserts, is noticeably better on Costa. That said, if you're looking for a quiet, relaxing cruise without blaring music, try CFC’s *Renaissance* ship.

Wishing you future cruises with amazing ports of call—that’s what really matters!

Hello everyone, I’m not at all surprised by your reaction about the Deliziosa, or the other ships in the fleet. I’ve done 24 cruises with Costa, including 3 world tours (on the Luminosa and Deliziosa) before Covid—back then, it was okay (except for the same old issue with Italian cruisers who think they can do whatever they want: cutting in line, cheating, and so on…). My last cruise was last year in the Caribbean, and that’s when I said “enough” to Costa. The same dishes every day at the buffet, and what’s worse, really poor quality. The shows were pretty mediocre too. They’ve become a low-cost, bottom-of-the-barrel cruise line. Too bad—I used to really like Costa… but that was before. It’s true that MSC, after trying a few of their cruises, feels a step above Costa. Otherwise, some other foreign cruise lines are really stepping up their game in Europe, and a lot of cruisers are pretty happy with them.

Hello, After stopping traveling with Costa following a disappointment, we took several cruises in the Yacht Club with MSC. One of them was really great, the other two were just so-so... Now traveling with adult children and grandchildren, we took an MSC AUREA cruise, but were disappointed by the meals in the restaurant, apart from the fact that we could have a flexible schedule, which, I read on this forum, is disappearing. Also, we paid the AUREA supplement for the grandchildren with only a 10% discount, I think, even though they don’t drink alcohol or have access to the spa. I find that a bit out of line, really. Note that MSC suites don’t offer any advantages except a slightly larger cabin and NO open balcony... So, we decided to try COSTA again during the EASTER holidays, this time in a SUITE, and I must say we were very satisfied. First, the price—kids were practically FREE, drinks in MY DRINK were free for them, and we got an extra cabin for the two teens at a great price. The club restaurant was amazing; we had all our meals there as a full family, morning, noon, and night. We had the premium drinks package, but honestly, only three of us drank alcohol, and very little at that. For us, it wasn’t very cost-effective, but so convenient! A small downside: the shows, in my opinion, weren’t as good as they were a few years ago. The organization was perfect, except for their new GO ROUND, which still lacks experience! In short, we’re reconciled with COSTA, but only in a suite. My son checked out the other restaurants and the buffet but came back saying: don’t even think about it, you won’t like it... I’ll add that booking directly went smoothly, and all seven of us were on the same reservation, with two suites and an extra cabin for the teens, whereas MSC had refused—and still refuses—to book multiple cabins under the same reservation. Everything was well respected and confirmed in writing (I had some concerns about this, but no, everything was perfect). Boarding in MARSEILLE was a bit meh despite the set time, and priority wasn’t well respected, unlike with MSC’s Yacht Club. That’s my take—shows we don’t all have the same experiences...

Hi, I don’t usually reply without being asked, but I wanted to confirm what you’re feeling. I’ve done two Costa TDM cruises: the Luminosa in 2017 and the Deliziosa in 2020. Two completely different experiences, and I’m not just talking about Covid, which obviously didn’t help things.

In 2017, right from the start, there was a magnificent welcome cocktail—it was sumptuous. The entertainment team was top-notch, the food was carefully prepared, and the staff was friendly. In short, I have nothing but good things to say from boarding to disembarkation—everything was perfect.

In 2020, though, from the very start in Venice, it was complete chaos. There were way too many people, and it was very poorly managed. Even though it was a Perla Diamante cruise and theoretically prioritized, we spent hours waiting. Then, no welcome cocktail in the evening—second disappointment. The entertainment team, led by a young Italian woman, spent more time flirting than offering quality activities. The entertainment was uninteresting, and the crossing-the-line ceremony was just a simple gathering, whereas on the Luminosa, the same event turned into a grand evening. As for the food, no complaints—the staff was perfect, even if the pandemic precautions made them a bit less cheerful due to worries about their future.

To wrap it up, I don’t cruise with Costa anymore. I’ve done two MSC world cruises, which I was happy with. My next one will be with Cunard, which I enjoyed when I did Le Havre/New York. Sure, it’s more expensive, but so much better!

Unfortunately, COSTA has now shifted to the LOW-COST segment! Attractive introductory prices, but everything is charged on board and services have been cut to the bone. It’s really sad to see what this company has become 😕