A last minute purchase, at the urging of my wife I took the plunge (so to speak) and bought our 14 day Buenos Aires to Rio De Janeiro cruise. By the time I got to the actual purchase pickings were slim and I had to agree to have my cabin selected by the Costa staff. I bought the tickets, and only a few days later got to sit down and read reviews of the Fascinosa.

I actually told my wife "I'm prepared to eat the lost $2k, I made a mistake, sorry".

But what with anticipation and Rio's carnival looming, she persuaded me to go anyway. Read more