Costa Pacifica Review

costa pcifica 3/13 eastern med

Review for the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Costa Pacifica
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mondo carne
10+ Cruises • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Mar 2011

(I am a former tour mgr/director with 40 yrs-on and off-under my belt and a restauranteur who has done it all from PEARL DIVER to owner)....my wife and I normally travel by land....train/car or just rent and apt so we can immerse ourselves in the local culture....most of my cruising was done for work...bringing 100-200 clients aboard(lived 4mos on NCL's Starr Odyssey)so this was our first Costa cruise and only our fourth cruise together....we choose the pacifica because of the itinerary and the timing met our schedule....we were concerned about missing out on Egypt and reading some negative reviews on the ship/food/service/entertainment and the mix of passengers(noisy/pushy/and smoking)and added to our concerns were the problems with Costa's web site and personnel who were at the end of our phone calls....but off we went and very glad we did....the ship was spotless/all the staff was very helpful/the food was great and plentiful/the smoking was confined to certain areas on the ship/the mix of passengers added to our enjoyment/and no one was pushy rude or whatever the negative comments suggested and the shows were more than adequate (actually some very good)....we spent 3 nights in Rome prior to our cruise and took the train to civitavecchia where we exited the train(no climbing stairs etc like I had read)and took a taxi right to the ship ($20)....check-in was very organized....places to sit/juice and toilets available...(we were given a number after they took our luggage)by 1:30 we were in our room with bags and info on our beds....we went up to the matre'd(Simone) to reschedule our seating from late to early with no problem and actually as the dinning rooms were quite full and we wanted a table for 2 we were put into one of the Samara's DRs with only 10-20 other guests with the same menu as the main DRs but very quiet and relaxed....we did eat 2 nights in the main DR and both venues had excellent service our cabin was on deck 2 at the rear of the ship and I picked it because of price and the fact that it was bigger then the normal cabin with 2 large windows(it was very QUIET)....at each port the debark and embark was handled very smoothly whether you were on tour or going off on your own....x-ray/pasport check etc....never a problem....Savona on our own where met friends and went to lunch....at sea then to Katakolon for a trip to mt olympus by rent-a-car(no problems locals helpful as they were everywhere)....at sea then Israel(Ashrod) for Bethlehem and Jerusalem(very long day on ship's tour but you have to do it)then on to Haifa for a ships tour of Galilee and Nazareth(well worth the time and money)....at sea then to Turkey(Izmir)and on to Ephesus(the highlight of the tour for us and our biggest adventure as we rent a car for the day)it has to be seen....vast and beautiful(pictures do not do it justice)a stop in Kusadarsi for lunch by the sea and again very friendly/helpful locals....at sea and finally Athens and the Acropolis(we take the metro-about 20 min walk along the pier-easy metro info and a nice walk at the end to the Acropolis and a walk through old Agora and a visit to the Plaka with lunch at a local rest then metro back to the ship....what a perfect ending to our trip....

Cabin Review

Cabin E2

cabin 2471 is on the right side of the ship (costa pacifica)....it is a pie shapped room with two large windows so...very quiet and plenty of natural light....closets/and draw space adequate....the bathroom more than adequate

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