Just returned from the Costa Mediterranean on a 7-day cruise to the western caribbean. I have cruised in the past with Royal Caribbean on the same western caribbean itinerary. I found the Mediterranean to be gaudy and distastefully decorated. Overkill is the word. The cabins were very nicely done and very comfortable. We had an outside cabin with a veranda. I was travelling with an adult and one child. We had no complaints about the room or our steward Francis who was more than accommodating.
The food on this ship was mediocre at best. The deserts were dry and non-extravagant and repetitious when eating cafeteria style. Ice cream but no cones. I found our table staff to be polite but not friendly. Couldn't get them to warm up to us. Completely opposite of what we experienced on the past cruise.
The entertainment was just OK. Also, not up to par with other cruise lines. The guests aboard this ship were mostly European, I'd say 75% of them were from Italy and France and with the staff aboard the ship who were mostly Italian and French made me feel like a 3rd class citizen. From talking with other Americans who were on this cruise, they felt the same way. I have never experienced such rude, pushy, arrogant people in one place at one time as on this cruise line. All instructions were tedious and boring because we had to listen to them in four languages at all times.