Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises, Costa Crociere in Italian, is a Genoa-based cruise line that sells mainly to European travelers. It has been wholly owned by Carnival Corporation & plc since 2000, and its eight ships all fly the Italian flag. They sail the Mediterranean all year and spread out to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, South America and world voyages as the seasons change.
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About Costa Cruises
The Costa family business began in Genoa in 1854 trading olive oil and textiles and moved into shipping in the 1920s. After the Second World War it opened a passenger service to South America, and its liner Anna C began full service in March 1948, the date the company counts as its founding. It turned to pleasure cruises from 1959 and took the Costa Cruises name in 1986. Carnival and Airtours bought the company in 1997, and Carnival took full control in 2000. In 2019 Costa Smeralda made Costa the second line to run a ship on liquefied natural gas, and Costa Toscana followed. After the pandemic Costa sold several older ships and moved three others to Carnival Cruise Line, leaving a fleet of eight once Costa Fortuna left in 2026.
Ships are big and busy, with Italian names, Italian-themed venues and an emphasis on food: refits from 2022 to 2025 added the Archipelago restaurant, with menus by three Michelin-starred chefs, along with sushi, teppanyaki and pizza venues. Most Mediterranean cruises are seven-night loops that can be joined at several ports, and fares can be booked cruise-only or with drinks included. Daily service charges are added per guest on board.
What Costa Cruises is known for
Costa builds its appeal on Italian style, a strong focus on food and wine, and frequent week-long Mediterranean loops that guests in Italy, France and Spain can join close to home. It has invested heavily in newer tonnage, including two of the first LNG-powered cruise ships, and in a fleet-wide refit program completed in 2025. Its C|Club rewards repeat guests with fare discounts and onboard perks, although points are earned only on standard, non-promotional fares.
The line's record also includes serious setbacks. The capsizing of Costa Concordia off Isola del Giglio in January 2012 killed 32 people, and an engine room fire left Costa Allegra adrift in the Indian Ocean weeks later. In 2015 Swedish public television reported that Costa Luminosa discharged sewage at sea in the Baltic rather than using port facilities, and several Costa ships had COVID-19 cases on board in early 2020. Because the ships are large and sell in many countries, the experience tends to be lively and international rather than quiet or intimate.
Who it's for
Mainstream · big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets
- Families
- Couples
- Value seekers
- First-time cruisers
Costa suits travelers who want a lively, Italian-flavored big-ship holiday in the Mediterranean, with plenty of ports, pools and dining options at mainstream prices. Families will find water slides and children's pools on several ships, and Europeans can often board within driving distance of home in Italy, France or Spain. First-time cruisers get simple week-long loops and the option of fares that include drinks. Travelers from North America who want an Italian experience in Europe will find it here, but should expect a multinational crowd and an international rather than American style of service.
Those looking for a small, quiet ship, a luxury-level experience or an English-only environment should look elsewhere, as should travelers who want to sail from the United States: Costa's regular cruises start in Europe, South America and the Caribbean islands.
Cruising solo on Costa Cruises
Costa has no single cabins on its eight ships, so a solo traveler pays a single supplement on a double cabin that varies by sailing, with reduced single-occupancy offers appearing on selected departures. The ships are big, busy and multinational, with assigned shared dinner tables and a packed activity schedule rather than any solo-specific gatherings. Week-long Mediterranean loops that can be joined at several Italian, French and Spanish ports keep flights and logistics simple for Europeans traveling alone.
- Single supplement
- Costa's cabin categories run from inside to suites with no cabins built for one. A solo guest books a double cabin and pays a single supplement that varies by sailing and fare type; the line has run reduced single-occupancy promotions on selected departures.
- Meeting other solo guests
- Costa publishes no hosted solo program. Its large ships run a full daily program of pool games, dance classes, quizzes and Italian-themed evenings, and dinner in the main restaurants is at assigned shared tables, which is where most solo guests meet people.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 3.1/5
- Dining
- 3/5
- Entertainment
- 3.3/5
- Service
- 3/5
- Pools & decks
- 2.4/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 8 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Costa Cruises sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.3 ★Costa Smeralda2019 · 185,010 GT · 5,224 guests · Mediterranean · Canary IslandsCosta Smeralda is an Excellence-class ship of 185,010 tons, built by Meyer Turku and delivered in December 2019 as Costa's first ship that runs on liquefied natural gas, a year…#23.3 ★Costa Toscana2022 · 186,364 GT · 6,554 guests · MediterraneanCosta Toscana is Costa's flagship and largest ship, an LNG-powered Excellence-class vessel of 186,364 tons built by Meyer Turku, delivered in December 2021 and in service from…
#33.2 ★Costa Deliziosa2010 · 92,720 GT · 2,260 guests · World cruises · MediterraneanCosta Deliziosa is a 92,700-ton ship for about 2,260 guests at double occupancy, built by Fincantieri on a hybrid of Carnival's Spirit and Vista designs and a sister of the…Every ship, by class
Excellence class
2 ships · 2019–2022 · 185,010–186,364 GT · avg 3.3 ★
Dream class
1 ship · 2014 · 132,500 GT · avg 3.2 ★
Concordia class
4 ships · 2007–2012 · 113,216–114,500 GT · avg 3.0 ★
Luminosa class
1 ship · 2010 · 92,720 GT · avg 3.2 ★
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Fortuna | 2003–2026 | 102,669 | September 2026 |
| Costa Firenze | 2021–2024 | 135,156 | February 2024 |
| Costa Venezia | 2019–2023 | 135,225 | March 2023 |
| Costa Magica | 2004–2023 | 102,784 | February 2023 |
| Costa Luminosa | 2009–2022 | 92,600 | September 2022 |
| Costa Mediterranea | 2003–2021 | 85,619 | January 2021 |
| Costa neoRomantica | 1993–2020 | 56,769 | July 2020 |
| Costa Victoria | 1996–2020 | 75,166 | June 2020 |
| Costa Atlantica | 2000–2020 | 85,619 | January 2020 |
Where to fly in
- Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA)2 Costa Cruises ships sail from Savona, Italy
- Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat (BCN)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Barcelona, Spain5 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Hamburg, Germany4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Civitavecchia, Italy10 lounges on Lounge Frog
- São Paulo/Guarulhos International (GRU)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Santos, Brazil21 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)1 Costa Cruises ship sails from Venice, Italy2 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Costa Cruises known for?
Costa builds its appeal on Italian style, a strong focus on food and wine, and frequent week-long Mediterranean loops that guests in Italy, France and Spain can join close to home. It has invested heavily in newer tonnage, including two of the first LNG-powered cruise ships, and in a fleet-wide refit program completed in 2025. Its C|Club rewards repeat guests with fare discounts and onboard perks, although points are earned only on standard, non-promotional fares.
Who is Costa Cruises best for?
Costa suits travelers who want a lively, Italian-flavored big-ship holiday in the Mediterranean, with plenty of ports, pools and dining options at mainstream prices. Families will find water slides and children's pools on several ships, and Europeans can often board within driving distance of home in Italy, France or Spain. First-time cruisers get simple week-long loops and the option of fares that include drinks. Travelers from North America who want an Italian experience in Europe will find it here, but should expect a multinational crowd and an international rather than American style of service.
Is Costa Cruises good for solo travellers?
Costa has no single cabins on its eight ships, so a solo traveler pays a single supplement on a double cabin that varies by sailing, with reduced single-occupancy offers appearing on selected departures. The ships are big, busy and multinational, with assigned shared dinner tables and a packed activity schedule rather than any solo-specific gatherings. Week-long Mediterranean loops that can be joined at several Italian, French and Spanish ports keep flights and logistics simple for Europeans traveling alone.
Where does Costa Cruises sail?
Costa Cruises's ships in service sail Mediterranean (8 ships), Caribbean (3 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships), South America (2 ships), World cruises (2 ships) and Canary Islands (1 ship).
How is Costa Cruises rated?
Costa Cruises's fleet averages 3.1 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 8 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Costa Smeralda at 3.3.
How many ships does Costa Cruises have?
Costa Cruises has 8 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Costa Deliziosa, Costa Diadema, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Serena, Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana.
What ship classes does Costa Cruises sail?
Costa Cruises sails 4 classes of ship in service: Excellence class (2 ships), Dream class (1 ship), Concordia class (4 ships) and Luminosa class (1 ship).
Who owns Costa Cruises?
Costa Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Where is Costa Cruises based?
Costa Cruises is headquartered in Genoa, Italy. It has operated since 1948.
What is Costa Cruises's loyalty program called?
Costa Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is C|Club.
What is the largest Costa Cruises ship?
Costa Toscana is Costa Cruises's largest ship at 186,364 gross tons, carrying 6,554 guests.
Cruising with children
Costa’s Squok Club gives families a starting point for onboard planning. Check the actual sailing’s language and activity arrangements so the child can take part comfortably.
Read the Costa Cruises family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Costa Cruises? Enter the price the line quotes and what you'd pay for a drink on board. If your fare already includes drinks, you can skip this one.
We haven't found a published wine price for Costa Cruises yet, so enter your own.
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Costa Cruises and its ships
- We aged every ship at 10 big cruise lines. Holland America and Carnival have the oldest fleets
Cruise Frog's ship data shows how old each big line's fleet really is. Virgin's ships average about three years. Holland America's average 18.
Cruise lines
- Solo on Costa Cruises: big Italian ships, shared tables and a supplement to watch
Costa has no single cabins and no solo program. What it has is an easygoing Mediterranean loop you can join from a dozen ports, and a table that fills up.
Cruise lines
- Beachcomber is a new Margaritaville ship, not a newly built ship: what to check
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will be new to the line, but the ship itself began life as Costa Fortuna. I would use that distinction to ask better booking questions, rather than assume either that a refit fixes everything or that an older hull cannot offer a good holiday.
Ships
- Margaritaville's Beachcomber reaches Belfast for its refit before a January 2027 debut in Miami
The former Costa Fortuna is in Belfast for new venues and updated cabins. It sails from PortMiami in January 2027, then moves to Galveston.
Ships
- PortMiami names 16 new ships for its 2026-27 season, from Explora III to Hero of the Seas
Miami regained the title of world's busiest cruise port. Five Silversea ships arrive this winter, with Norwegian Aura and Hero of the Seas in 2027.
Ports
- 5 things Costa Cruises does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Costa Cruises, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines