Cruise ticket stated 'Embarkation from 13.00; sailing 15.00', arrived at Savona at 12.55, given slot '20' and told to wait until number was called. By 15.00, they were dealing with batch 7! The terminal was loading two ships, about 6000 people, seats for about 1500. Noisy, crowded, cramped and bored children! Pay cafe had two staff serving, so again queues for service! No seating available for disabled! By 15.30, still on batch '7' ... Long queue at embarkation gate ... checked it ... two disinterested staff checking tickets ... No control of numbers! Saw '27' and '28' being put thru when signs said batch '7' only! So, threw my number away as it seemed everyone else had, and got thru at 16.30. After passing to gangway, then had photo done for security, and had to register credit card on board within 48 hours! (Barcelona / Norwegian several cruises, 25+ desks, greeted, photo'd, credit card recorded, room key/cruise card issued and on board in max. 20 mins and free soft drinks if any delay!)

Beautiful ship, great cabin, happy and friendly crew, eventually! NO hand gel at gangway and few people used it at dining rooms! Couldn't berth at Heraklion, watched from top deck as tugs dismissed 'cuz very strong winds. Took hour and a half for woman on info desk to announce on PA that ship was missing that call. NO WORD FROM CAPTAIN, never saw or heard from him! Maybe he stayed at home? After Concordia would expect captain to be sure to be seen ... He wasn't! Cabin was great, Food (Italian on Italian ship!) was varied and great quality. At disembark time, did as was told (meeting point at 9.15), nothing happened by 10.00, so having learned from embarkation process, did my own thing and made my way off at 10.15! A superb cruise, wrecked by useless shore based operation and apparently apathetic Costa management! So sad!