Costa Cruises
MV CostaRomantica
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Operator: Costa Cruise Lines
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1993
Length / Tonnage: 718 / 53,700
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 654 / 1,308
Officers / Crew: Italian / International
Operating Area: Winter in the Caribbean, Summer in Europe
Telephone / Fax:
Tel 115 2232 / Fax 115 2231
Review by Christopher E. Smith, TravelPage.com, Associate Cruise Editor
Almost identical to her sister ship COSTA CLASSICA, the
newer COSTA ROMANTICA epitomizes the sophistication of Italian
design. Like her sister, this ship is "CLASS!" Now sharing
top billing for Costa's " Cruising Italian Style" these ships,
along with the COSTA VICTORIA, position Costa Cruises in a
special and very separate niche. Like the CLASSICA, the ROMANTICA
was developed in the design office of shipbuilder Fincantieri
under the direction of Claudio Fornasini, the shipowner's
technical representative. Responsible for the development of this
ship's interiors were the same crew - senior architect Pierluigi
Cerri and his assistant Ivana Porfiri of Gregotti Associati of
Milan and in the creation of this slightly larger ship they
repeated all the basic essentials of the older one.
So the COSTA
ROMANTICA shares her sister ship's unique form which generally
elicits quite a strong response from any observer. Theirs are
stark, modern profiles yet externally, they refer to the look of
the traditional ocean liner through the use of such features as
circular cabin portholes and a line of deck windows of the public
areas separating the cabin decks from the upper decks,
reminiscent of the sheltered promenades of the great liners. The
original feature of the COSTA CLASSICA's set of three elliptical
funnels makes the COSTA ROMANTICA immediately recognizable as one
of the two sisters.
Drawn from the original plans of the COSTA CLASSICA, where
interiors were conceived with passenger flow in mind, interiors
in the COSTA ROMANTICA differ from many cruise ships in the
American market by utilizing an overall concept of its decor.
Nearly as bold as her sister, yet softer in tone and execution,
the COSTA ROMANTICA embodies the best of contemporary Italian
Style without falling into the trap of overdecoration. While it
is not particularly cozy, there are some very private spots
tucked away throughout the public spaces of this ship.
Interior furnishings and lighting were chosen from the best
of contemporary Italian designs and the COSTA ROMANTICA differs
from her sister ship in the choice of warmer and softer colors
and materials. After all, this ship's name is "Romantic" and much
of her atmosphere does that name justice. Ten different kinds of
marble were used to decorate the interiors of the COSTA
ROMANTICA. Yet stone as well as glass, chrome, brass and steel
stand backdrop to the refined elegance "Euroluxe" needed to
provide. Not everyone likes the bold modernity of this ship's
interiors, but I find the COSTA ROMANTICA the most exciting ship
I've seen in over thirty years.
Costa Ships are destinations unto themselves, so
please forgive this detailed description of ROMANTICA's decor.
Besides the trio of funnels, a circular lounge set atop the
bridge stands as a signature piece for the COSTA ROMANTICA. After
serving as observation lounge by day this room comes alive at
midnight as the Diva Disco. As in the CLASSICA, a central feature
of this ship is the glass roofed entrance foyer. Soaring to the
dramatic height of five decks, this one also incorporates a
suspended staircase linking the two uppermost decks and looks
down to the centerpiece, a kinetic sculpture in titanium and
synthetic fibre by the Japanese artist Susumu Shingu.
All of today's cruise ships must have a show lounge, and the
COSTA ROMANTICA is no exception but her L'Opera Theater is
perhaps the ship's most spectacular location. It's two decks high
and the lower part of its walls are panelled in mahogany bordered
by brass, while the upper parts are clad in glass mosaic in blue
and gold. An idealized recreation of a Renaissance theatre, this
630 seat theatre is quite an exceptional duplex space.
One of the more suggestive settings is PIAZZA ITALIA, the
ship's Main Lounge and Bar. Centrally located on Deck 8 and
extending both upwards through five decks and down three, the
well at the center overlooks the main foyer and Shingu's artwork.
Crossroads of the ship's social life, Piazza Italia's shades of
green and blue furnishings soften the coolness of walls and
pillars clad in pink marble and Venetian stucco. A very
strategically placed room, it has three main attractions: a long
and semi-circular bar, the bandstand with its teak dance floor
and the suspended central staircase linking this area with the
Patisserie, Pizzeria and shopping areas on the deck above. Most
importantly, the sofas in this area are dreamily comfortable!
On Deck 9 are more public rooms. Located at the stern and
enclosed by glass walls on three sides and in shades of green,
the Tango Ballroom seats 320 revelers. Especially eye-catching is
the emerald green marble standing as backdrop to the bar at the
forward end of the room. Next is the Excelsior Casino. Here
arranged in a great circle under a huge deco light fixture are
the gaming tables. Walls at the forward end are covered entirely
in mosaic from a design by the artist Roberto Sambonet. So deep
are the greens and blues in here that some say the room has the
distinct atmosphere of an Amazon forest. The COSTA ROMANTICA
seemingly lacks for nothing. There are public rooms for all kinds
of moods and desires - from pizzas and pastries to cards and
books, from business meetings to holy devotions, the COSTA
ROMANTICA has a place for that.
Kids traveling with you? Deposit them in the Costa Kids Club
youth center and you may forget they're aboard. Same goes for
teens who seem to like the Teen Club.
In a very refined atmosphere 756 diners at a time take a
meal in the "Botticelli" Restaurant aboard the COSTA ROMANTICA.
In white and the palest of tans, it is a stunning room with
sidewalls of oversized windows and floor of white Carrara and red
Verona marble. Modern yet formal and elegant furnishings and
sliding panels painted by eminent scenographers allow the staff
to create different atmospheres at will. There are several
distinct sections besides the main room, so if noise bothers you,
ask for a table in one of the forward wings. Food is the point
here, though, and a meal here was memorable for both the
wonderful pasta and warm bread.
Casual dining devotees opt for breakfasts and lunches in the
Giardino Buffet. An improved version of her sister's "Trattoria",
this room is similar in concept and furnished to the same high
standard. As is the case on so many ships, Costa vessels among
them, the food is frankly better in the Botticelli Restaurant,
but the Giardino is popular for its informality and unstructured
eating style. (Meaning:if you want dessert first, eat dessert
first, no one will notice). This is an indoor/outdoor eatery and
a large canvas canopy covers the open-air buffet terrace at the
stern for those who enjoy al-fresco dining. Devotees of air
conditioning prefer to eat inside. Consider this arrangement
another point in the ship's favor - the COSTA ROMANTICA is one of
the few ships to offer enough outdoor eating tables. And for
those who never get enough, there is Romeo's Pizzeria, an Italian
bistro for freshly baked pizza, pasta and caesar salads. Those
with a sweet tooth will enjoy the "Juliet" patisserie, the ship's
Viennese Cafe where pastries and an espresso or cappuccino invite
you to linger over convivial conversation.
The reason the COSTA ROMANTICA is 3,100 gross tons bigger
than the COSTA CLASSICA is a grouping of 24 "panoramic" suites on
the lido deck. With floor to ceiling glass walls overlooking the
sea, all of these suites have pear wood panelled walls decorated
with tapestries. Bathrooms are lined in Portuguese pink marble
and fitted with a shower and whirlpool bath. One deck below are
ten suites with private balcony and veranda but the suites
above are so compelling, most devotees of private decks seem
eager to forego their own sunspot for one of the panoramic
suites. Fans of luxury accommodations should find the minisuites
an especially good value. Don't worry about getting a balcony on
this ship because there is so much to her you won't miss a
balcony if you don't have one. Suites are serviced by butlers and
additional staff, to ensure occupants a high level of coddling.
At 200 square feet, standard outside cabins are among the
largest found at sea, but the cabins aboard the competition
don't come with the decorative panache exhibited here. All cabins
come equipped with luxury linens and have high quality fabrics,
teak or cherry wood trim and veneer, television, radio, hair
dryer, safe deposit box and 110 volt electricity.
To permit the COSTA ROMANTICA room for
those 24 panoramic suites, the Fitness centre with its gymnasium,
Beauty Parlour, Sauna and Turkish Baths have been scaled down and
repositioned aft of the location they occupy on the COSTA
CLASSICA. The spa offers a wide range of beauty treatments at
costs ranging from a haircut for about $20 to a full body
makeover for some $299 (price subject to change!).
The Capri swimming pool is located aft in a teak panelled
ampitheater while amidships is a series of waterfalls terminating
in a fountain of blue glass mosaic that stands as backdrop to the
main pool.
Like most European cruise operations, the COSTA ROMANTICA
does not have the emphasis so common here on a floorshow after
dinner. There is one on most nights, but the typical Costa
passenger usually wants more participatory and less passive
entertainment. Ballroom dancing, parties and tˆtes … tˆtes are
more popular here than in corresponding ships. Thus many American
observers consider the ship's entertainment weak. But on no other
line can passengers enjoy the final night of their cruise dressed
in bed sheets for a toga party night.
During the summer season of 1995 28% of all
passengers aboard cruise ships in European waters were aboard
a Costa ship. In the Caribbean this year, the COSTA ROMANTICA's
passenger mix is approximately 80% American and 20% European. In
the Mediterranean, passenger mix is about 20% American, 80%
European. What European city offers an American such a high
percentage of his co-nationals? But keep in mind, if you are
uncomfortable in foreign ambiance and don't like to hear other
languages, if you wonder what the crew is muttering about,
if you fear you will miss out on the best jokes because they are
in Italian, if you feel EVERYONE should speak English as a first
language, this is not the ship for you.
For the winter 1996-97 season, the COSTA ROMANTICA
is cruising the Caribbean on 7 cruises from Miami. After her
repositioning cruise to Italy this spring, she will offer twenty
five 7 day cruises from Genoa to the western Mediterranean ports.
Sails on Sunday for Naples, Palermo, Tunis, Palma, Barcelona and
Marseilles. At affordable rates, Costa Cruise Line offers
air/sea/land packages using this ship. Also popular are the
ship's two yearly positioning voyages linking the USA and Italy
or reverse. Ask your travel agent for details.
Costa Cruise Line discounts frequently and there are
bargain rates galore! Keep an eye on the Sunday travel section or
ask your travel agent to find out for you. Many travel agents
are unfamiliar with Costa so if you want something out of the
standardized American cruise market experience, consider Costa.
It's the little things aboard the ROMANTICA that
make a Caribbean cruise on her seem as if you've just visited
Genoa. The COSTA ROMANTICA features wicker "rocking" chairs
outdoors, shaded and comfortable and the perfect place to laze
the day away. The pool area's decor mixes nautical themes with
Italian design, so though you know you're on a ship, you might
also think you are reclining at a fine villa at Portofino. The
key to Costa's charm is it's dedication to making you feel as if
you are in Europe. The few weaknesses I've found on board are
when the line has necessarily conceded to American
demands.....hamburgers and hot dogs at lunch, for example. I
applaud Costa and its fleet for having an identity...their ships
truly stick out of the crowd and cry "Benvenuto"!
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