We went on this cruise on an invitation to join another couple. It was cheap. We have cruised before and had good experiences. This was not one of them. Ship was small and inefficient. small overcrowded in every way. 2 small pools. 2 tiny hot tubs, that were luke warm at best. But due the ridiculous overcrowding on the boat, even getting access to them was a challenge. The website said there was a roller rink, there was not. Cabin was fine, good service each day. Dining was just ok. Not 'Italian' in nature in the least. Buffets were just ok, if you like being fed like a herd of cattle. They actually were so stingy that they turn off the juice at like 10 in the morning. Of course no beverages were free and one person in a cabin can't buy the package, both have to. Even the late night pizza bar, as it was, was pathetic and not free. 8 dollars for a tiny pizza. I thought this was a cruise, and an Italian one at that. Since when do you pay for food? The late night pizza treat is a given on a cruise, no? Water machines not working regularly either. I swear they would make you pay to use the fountain if they could. Shows were good. What else can you do anyway?

Ports were the same old cruise line ran, chaotic, people herding, noisy,affairs they always are. The poor countries we visit don't get a cent. So sad. We did excursions , Bahamas was lovely as we managed to get away from the crowd. Grand Turk nice too. Miami was a disaster for weather. We did a hop on hop off bus tour and there was more water inside the bus than out. They can't do anything about the rain, I understand, but the guide said she calls the boat to inform them to let passengers know that it's not good weather for this and they should tell us. They didn't. And of course the boat charges the excursion to your room card, cuz they own everything. It's infuriating. So we spend a day docked at Miami, then at night, we race out to see again, 30 miles (so they can run the casino and serve alcohol, international waters) and we just sit there, drop anchor and get tossed back and forth all night. I threw up from the motion sickness that I don't usually suffer from. Then we head back into Fort Lauderdale and get off. My teenagers were so unimpressed and miserable. You actually had to pay to play ping pong. Can you believe that? We have done a Holland America older crowd cruise which they loved. I will never ever go on a Costa boat again and am avidly warning others not to go. Check your boat people, find out about the little details. The whole landscape of cruising has changed and not for the good.. It's not a vacation. You are not pampered. The 'amenities' are terrible. You are crowded and miserable on a floating tank of greed.