Costa Magica Review

4.0 / 5.0
177 reviews

American kids-European vacation

Review for the Western Mediterranean Cruise on Costa Magica
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ejatczak
6-10 Cruises • Age 50s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
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Fitness & Recreation
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Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Mar 2011
Traveled with children

We booked this cruise because it fit the kids spring break, good price, good ports. I liked that it left from Rome because you need more than one day to see Rome. But getting from Rome center to port was long and expensive. We took the train to port, not expensive but train station had no elevator, had to carry luggage up and down stairs, signs at station were horrible, no one to help, no announcements for stops. Cruise port to airport we sucked it up and took a taxi for $200.00.Only 10% of passengers are native English speakers so it was interesting hearing all the different languages, crew does speak English. Cleanest ship I've ever been on-never saw a dirty glass or dish even early morning! My 14 year old LOVED hanging out with European teens in the disco and made lots of new friends! 9 year old only went to kids camp once- intimidated by kids speaking italian and Spanish. Really nothing for the 12 year old she was between age groups. We loved the smerelda lounge after the show, they played bingo every night then had a game with audience participation. Kids were allowed which you don't see on American ships! Music was from all countries and everyone danced-it was great fun!! Their version of the midnight buffet is great-every night at midnight waiters walked through the whole ship with trays of appetizers and sweets, much nicer than one night gluttony. We did not care much for the food but did not go hungry. Shows were great-many different kinds not just same dancers every night. Ports were great! Very different experience for kids with all the languages, they saw that the United States is not the center of the universe!!! Europeans are lots of fun and more free spirited than Americans-they must not need much sleep because all ages were in lounge dancing after midnight and up by 7 in the morning!! This is a circle cruise meaning passengers are getting on and off at all ports-this was great because there was not 2000 people trying to disembark at the same time! Cruise was a great cultural experience for all of us!!

Cabin Review

For 2adults, 3kids we got a verandah cabin and an inside cabin. Of course teenagers wanted verandah! We put them in inside cabin, once on ship they actually wanted inside cabin-they gave us a handicap inside cabin which was enormous compared to verandah cabin, it had a bathroom 3x the size of a regular bathroom!! If you are getting an inside cabin try to book a handicap room!

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