After cruising with Princess and Celebrity, we decided to book Costa for the western Mediterranean itinerary. This cruise hit several ports we were interested in and allowed us to disembark in Barcelona where we wanted to spend a few extra days; we booked primarily for the itinerary although we were concerned about uneven reviews for Costa.

The most disappointing part of the trip was the embarkation process. We flew into Milan and booked the Costa transfer. The transfer by bus was uneventful but, upon arrival at port, we were in a line of six buses and we had to wait for up to 40 minutes until our bus was able to pull up to the terminal and allow us off. Fortunately, we were booked in suites and so were allowed to board without further waiting.

Our cabin, 6320, a suite on the Rubino deck, far exceeded my expectations. The layout seemed a little strange with a large wall structure dividing the "dressing" room from the sitting/sleeping area, but there was great storage and a very large balcony. One of the best cabins I've had the pleasure to experience. The double sinks in the bathroom were a real plus! Read more