I was a little anxious about this cruise, but it was booked by my wife's parents as a present for the family and I had hoped that some of the reviews on this site were wrong. They are not. We had a great time, but not because the boat, or Costa provided a great experience. The communal areas and bars are very dated. The rooms (we had a balcony room) were spacious and reasonably comfortable for a boat, but the food was awful and the whole atmosphere of the cruise was really not great. Incredibly busy, impossible to get tables for breakfast or lunch. Huge crowds of 20 somethings paying no regard to anyone else's peace and quiet. We did not once sit down for dinner at the allotted time as they were still clearing the restaurant from the earlier sitting. Entertainment was limited for the children. One football table and one table tennis table. The pools are very small and crowded. I really would not recommend. I am still recovering from the shock.