Costa neoRiviera Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Booked the cruise through Cruise Nation as it was advertised at a bargain price with a very low single supplement. First time with Costa, but I have sailed 4 times with MSC so I knew what to expect - particularly after reading Cruise CRitic reviews. And bonus - I got a free upgrade to an outside cabin.
We sailed from Savona although the nearest airport is Nice in France. The transfer was very smooth on a superb French/Italian autoroute with over 50 tunnels on the way.
The cruise is a bit of a hop on-hop off with arrivals and departures at Monaco, Barcelona, Malta, Salerno and Livorno so a changing passenger contingent, but the ship was never more than 60% full - and a number of them were travel agents on a special deal to push Costa to their clients.
Cabin Review
Very good and right by the central lifts.
Port Reviews
Barcelona
We had an overnight in this great city. Take the cable car to the fort above the port for a fabulous view of the whole city. Visit Gaudi's house but if you want to see his cathedral, either go on a tour, go early or be prepared to queue.
Malta (Valletta)
Went on the 10 euro open topped bus tour. Take the north tour and visit M'dina which is a beautiful historic walled city. Valletta, too, is really good in the tourist centre and have a drink in the Phoenecia where Churchill went in the 40's. Not a smoker myself, but tobacco and cigarettes in the duty free at the port are very cheap.
Florence (Livorno)
Livorno is a port best avoided. Either go to Pisa on your own (very cheap by bus-train-bus or if you have more time, Florence. Pisa is actually very nice at the cathedral/tower with very reasonably priced souvenirs if you are prepared to haggle a bit.