We have cruised several times before with Costa and we were very happy with our second cruise on the Fascinosa. We are young retirees and we love the constant buzz of this lively Italian cruise line. Embarkation in Barcelona was smooth and efficient.

We personally think the itinerary on this Mediterranean cruise is really nice with some beautiful and interesting ports. We like to do our own thing and for us there is always plenty to see and do in the ports themselves (Barcelona, Valencia, Palma, Palermo, Naples, Savona). There are plenty of excursions on offer, however, and they seemed extremely popular.

The ship is beautiful, takes a little bit of time to find your way around but it's fun! It's a massive ship but it can feel a little crowded in the bars at peak times but you just need to go with the flow and enjoy the European atmosphere - lively and loud during the evenings in particular. The outside areas around the pool tended to be very busy on the sunnier days but you can always find a little quiet spot somewhere if you want to (this was in late September so during the school holidays it would be very different).. Read more