Well The Savvy Old Lady is on a roll or perhaps, I should say on a wave with two cruises back-to-back, following her passion for cruising and love of the sea. Last week I was on HAL's beautiful "Zuiderdam" with their Dutch staff and this week I'm cruising Italiano style on Costa's charming "Fortuna" with the ever present romantic Italians. Since The Crabby Old Guy had to return to work this week I took the opportunity of cruising with an old friend of thirty years to share some excitement and adventure on the High Seas. All too often our lives become so hectic with our families and children that old friends are relegated to the occasional phone call and dinner. Now that my friend, Irma, and I have become "empty nesters" we have decided to renew our friendship and catch up on years of news and what better way than to enjoy a relaxing and fun-filled seven days onboard the "Fortuna". Since Irma is a third generation, jewelry designer, who has traveled all over the world her perspectives on cruising and shopping in the Caribbean were a real asset and an unbelievable eye opener to this Savvy Old Lady.
As we arrived at the Port Everglades Terminal at 11:15 AM we could see at least five ships in port. The passenger lines for RCCL seemed to extend for at least two blocks outside the terminal. I was keeping my fingers crossed that we wouldn't be facing the same lines at Costa. Once at the Costa terminal, our luggage was quickly and efficiently taken from the van by the terminal baggage handlers and our only concern was our carry-on luggage. Although there was a line it went very quickly and within 15 minutes we were boarding the ship. We were greeted by the staff and crew with smiling faces and a lovely buongiorno. From the moment you board the ship it is not hard to realize that the flair and charm on this ship is one of European flavor and the wonderfully romantic Italians deliver a cruising experience that you will not find on any other ship.
The Fortuna's dEcor is quite impressive in a European or perhaps an Italian style and is quite different from most other cruise ships. The central atrium has an enormous fresco by Giampaolo Amstici depicting all the ships in Costa's fleet both past and present and a sculpture composition created by Joseph Farcus with models of Costa's twenty six ships suspended upside down. I was told that these glorious ships are reminders of all the millions of passengers that have been welcomed and cruised on Costa since their first passenger ship the Anna C. which sailed in 1947 on route to South America. There are close to 5,000 works of art aboard the Fortuna for passengers to look at and enjoy. For the nautical history buffs there are small niches and display cabinets that encompass various antiques and historical artifacts.