Having cruised on Princess, Holland America, Oceania etc. Lots of disappointments with services of Costa Deliziosa. Strike 1 - the boarding procedure was hurry up and wait in line. Costa there are more efficient ways to embark passengers on a ship. Strike 2 - entered our stateroom, king bed...when 2 beds were requested upon reservation. It took 4 hours to separate the beds as they did not have available twin sheet bedding. Strike 3 - 1st - 2 minutes in the stateroom my travelling companion stepped on a hard object, which turned out to be a "cherry pit" . Strike 4 - no toiletries in the bathroom, except for a bar of soap, this is the standard of Motel 8. Strike 4- we prepaid the "all inclusive beverage package" only to be disappointed to find out it was not "all inclusive" . Again only to find out there were certain drinks on the bar menu, if the drink name was marked with an (*) this drink was not included. We paid for an "All inclusive" drink plan $240 USD per person. This is totally false advertising. Strike 5 - they appointed us the late dining sitting for 9:30pm Dining room, doors did not open until 9:45pm - strike 6 - the first evening dinner, we placed are stateroom cards on the table, ordered a glass of wine, then told we would have to pay for the wine. I explained we prepaid the beverage package. Waiter said no we did not. Strike 7 - I had notified ahead of time my travelling companion has a dietary need and a special menu was to be given. Nobody new nothing of it. Dinner was a fiasco. Strike 8 - dining staff- not friendly or engaging. Strike 9 - the lengthy time that passed between the meal courses and now yawning. By the time you left the dining room it was midnight. Going to bed on a full stomach does not work. Strike 10 - Bar Staff EVERY WHERE totally ignored you and no ability to be friendly or engaging. Its was like they are all having a bad day. At 1:00am , I finally had enough of this bad service, went to the customer service desk and asked to speak with a supervisor in private. This experience is sooo below standard. It was my friends first time being on a cruise and I was totally embarrassed at the sub standard treatment. The ship is Italian and caters to the European market. I new ahead of time European cruising is very different to the North America cruise market. The buffet was extremely limited, same food items "every" day.

Breakfast was a disappointment cheese, cold cuts, pasties, buns, yogurt and a limited variety of fruit. ( no eggs & toast) Buffet was always TOO Busy! Dining room did have great meals. The meal serving was just way to much of event for lunch & dinner. Pools were over crowded not a lounger to be had in most cases, you had to search the different sun levels of the ship and there were many ...just to get away from the noise to find a lounger. The pool activities and music extremely LOUD! It was not relaxing. We gave up and went to the spa, purchased a daily use package for the Samsara Spa. It was totally worth it! $189 Euros for 2 persons, use of the Jacuzzi spa, saunas, tea room, private sun deck etc. Totally worth the price. One thing I have to say Samsara Spa facilities -2 floors is the best I have seen on any ship! It offered lots of "quiet". The shore excursions were fantastic. No Captains cocktail party - they called it a " Galla" event. That was a joke! Nothing formal about it and no speeches or thank yous. I was amazed at the lack of people who dressed up! Even our dining room table companions arrived in golf shirts and kakis. Entertainment was good in the theatre and the lounges...but the volume is turned up waaayy too loud! Onboard duty free shops were no deal and Guess brand outlet store stock sold at much higher prices...LOL. The ship has a very Carnival Cruise Line décor. The art was really weird. The atrium lounge area has no wow factor. On board the ship I felt like I was at an Italian Family Camp week. Truth! The ship holds 2800 passengers and you could never get away from them outside the spa. CONS: Yes my biggest negative the service sucked, and the staff were very abrupt. PROS: balcony staterooms are large, bathroom large, balcony large. Great Spa facilities, dining room food did not disappoint. There are other Cruise line options that are well versed with North American Cruising passengers and would make a more enjoyable cruise. Avoid Costa & also MSC Cruise Lines. I am an avid cruiser, its just my experience and my opinion. Cheers!