Embarkation was from the Costa terminal at Savona and was both efficiently and professionally handled. Within an hour we were on board and in our cabin with our luggage and Costa cards. Aesthetically pleasing initially, the cabin soon revealed some unpleasant surprises. There was a strong odor of former passengers which persisted throughout the first half of the cruise, and only dispelled through the constant use by ourselves of a disinfectant and air freshener. The bed linen too, was also "tired" and the mattress and pillows too hard for comfort. The bathroom towels were also very well used and quite gray in color from frequent use. Our feeling was that the cabins at least were in dire need of refurbishment. We also discovered that our cabin had an inter-leading door into the next cabin, and even though it was locked, did not block out sounds from next door.
Our first overall impression of the ship met with our expectations and indeed, the decor in the public rooms on the Costa Mediterranea lives up to its four star status. The wooden paneling, luxurious furnishings and Murano light fittings faithfully live up to its theme of a Venetian palace. Unfortunately, one major disadvantage is that there are too few areas designated for non-smokers, and this proved to be most unpleasant throughout the cruise. Smoking and non-smoking areas run alongside each other, and therefore one is forced to inhale smoke even in a non-smoking area.
Generally the food is of an acceptable standard although presentation in the main dining room, compared with three other cruises we have enjoyed during the past five years, was not very imaginative. Breakfasts in the self-service buffet were the same every day, and did not meet the four star standard of the ship. Being an Italian vessel, Mediterranean type dishes and pastas were excellent, but when it came to catering for those requiring a low cholesterol diet, it was often difficult to find anything suitable on the menu. The afternoon teas were enjoyable and very welcome to those returning from a day's outing on shore. The drinking cups and glasses provided in the buffet area were plastic, and more suitable for children, whereas even melamine could have been more preferable.