April 30, 2008-04-30 We just returned from a cruise on the Eastern Mediterranean aboard the Costa Serena. The cruise lasted one week (April 20-27, 2008). We are basically very independent people, not in favor of large crowds, and generally travel on our own. Reading reviews and commentaries by others before departure allowed us to adjust our expectations. I wish to thank all the people who wrote about their experiences on cruise lines. Their comments were of great help to us. . The result was a very enjoyable experience.

We found the cabins very comfortable: we had a good bed with a solid mattress, enough storage space, a nice bathroom, and a neat balcony. The windows were washed in one port only, but, since we had decent weather, they remained clear throughout the trip. The cabin was cleaned twice daily. We were generally impressed with the overall cleanliness of the ship. The decorations are really not our style, but the ship is not my home. So....

FOOD If you wanted to, you could eat all day. Breakfast was very complete: eggs, bacon, cold cuts, cheeses, fresh fruits, yogurt, preserves, and an array of breads. True, the breads, although fresh every morning, are not the greatest. But, in my experience, Italians are not good bakers. On the other hand, their pastas and gelatos are superb. I found the meals always quite acceptable. After all, you cannot expect gourmet meals from a chef who feeds 3500 customers three times a day. We had also purchased Costa's X-1 wine, beer and water package for each of us and found that to be a good deal. Read more