Ship Review

Costa Deliziosa - Class Act

Costa Deliziosa is an elegant exercise in sophisticated ocean sailing.

By Brian Major

Some 40 years following the debut of The Love Boat, which introduced North American consumers to cruise vacations, and 20 years after the launch of the first "mega" cruise ships, more than 10 million North Americans take cruise vacations each year. As a result, true differentiation among today's cruise ships can be difficult to come by. Not so for the newest Costa Cruises vessel, the 2,826-passenger Costa Deliziosa. This large new liner is very much a departure from the cruise ship norm.

Make no mistake: Costa Deliziosa is the latest in a seemingly unending line of immense, feature-rich floating resorts introduced by the major cruise lines in the past decade. As such, it shares much in common with other contemporary cruise ships, including a soaring, sunny atrium; multiple bars, lounges, and specialty restaurants; and an expansive, dual-level spa and fitness center. Yet Costa Deliziosa also offers intrinsic elements that set it apart from other cruise ships. It is infused with a singular European flair evidenced in a multitude of ways, from subtle to sublime.

Take the passengers, for example. The contingent aboard my 5-night preview cruise from Venice to Genoa consisted mainly of international media and travel agents, along with Costa corporate officials and their friends and families. The majority was Italian citizens, but other sizable groups were aboard as well, including passengers from other European cities and parts of Asia and South America. The diverse group actually offered a fair representation of a standard Costa voyage, with an international crowd composed mainly of Italians.

The cultural mix made for pleasant evenings spent in the ship's Atrio Delle Delizie atrium, which at times offers the relaxed bemusement of a Parisian café. Passengers gathered at this centrally located venue throughout the afternoon and before and after dinner, as well as in between shows and casino forays. An array of languages floated across the lively gathering spot at almost all times.

In the morning and early afternoon, friends met to sip espresso and cappuccino at the Bar Delle Delizie in preparation for their typically daylong Mediterranean shore excursions. In the late afternoon and early evenings, groups gathered for pre-dinner libations, and in the evening, countless passengers shared a post-dinner nightcap (or two), while enjoying a talented musical quartet and also getting in some prime people-watching.

Costa Deliziosa is finished in energizing, contemporary décor that continues the European élan felt throughout the ship. Staterooms and public areas utilize premium materials including marble, Zebrano wood, Wenge timber, and Murano glass. The décor features an exceptional art collection with 340 original works by contemporary Italian artists and 4,756 reproductions of classic and contemporary art curated by the Casagrande & Recalcati architecture firm of Milan. Both contemporary and elegant, this ship is simply a dream to explore.

Behind Closed Doors

Staterooms continue the ship's contemporary styling, featuring elegant, upscale materials and inspiring artwork. In addition, Costa Deliziosa features the highest percentage of balconies (68 percent) in the Costa fleet. In terms of raw numbers, inside staterooms measure 201 square feet, outside veranda staterooms are 258 square feet, mini-suites are 273 square feet, and suites measure 414 square feet. All are equipped with mini-refrigerators, ample closet space, and flat-screen TVs.

Samsara Spa staterooms and suites are the ship's signature accommodations; they are connected to the spa and offer direct access. The 52 spa staterooms, which include inside, balcony, and four suites with balconies, also feature special bathroom accessories kits, personal scales, bathrobes, organic cotton towels and slippers, a pillow menu, organic cotton bed linens, and a selection of teas that can be prepared in the stateroom.

Destination Dining

The two-level Ristorante Albatros is Costa Deliziosa's main dining room, offering seated breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Albatros is a sweeping room equipped with long dining tables, tables for two, and cozy banquettes, all finished in the same sophisticated, premium materials that distinguish the rest of the ship. The Ristorante Buffet Muscadins is the casual dining option featuring a variety of specialty stations that serve pizza, omelets, sushi, burgers, chicken, fries, and other ethnic and comfort food.

In addition, the ship features two alternative restaurants: the reservations-only Club Deliziosa and the Ristorante Samsara. Located on Deck 10 at the apex of the Atrio Delle Delizie, Club Deliziosa serves cuisine by Michelin-star restaurateur Ettore Bocchia, executive chef at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio on Italy's Lake Como. Club Deliziosa is akin to a plush private club, and its location at the summit of the ship’s atrium creates a truly special atmosphere.

The Ristorante Samsara offers an à la carte dining option with light and sophisticated fare that extends the wellbeing concept from spa to table. This intimate dining space is open at all times to passengers in the Samsara Spa staterooms and to all other passengers by reservation. The eatery is also used for special events.

Meet You There

The Atrio Delle Delizie was the ship’s point of emphasis throughout our voyage. Incredibly, this sophisticated space functions flawlessly as a combination of main reception area, comfortable lounge, hip bar, and all-around crossroads. Night after night, the Atrio proved the ship's liveliest night spot, and the late-dining European crowd took full advantage, as comfortable gatherings formed throughout the space both before and after dinner.

If you want to take it down a notch, the Lido Acqua Regina restaurant overlooks the ship's stern on Deck 9 and offers a tranquil and relaxing spot from which to enjoy a casual meal or a drink with friends while watching the ship's wake extend across the sea.

Great Escapes

The Samsara Spa is truly one of the most special areas of this extraordinary ship. The 37,000-square-foot "lifestyle center" is located on the two highest decks overlooking the sea. The spa boasts a Thalassotherapy pool as well as a Tridosha Sanctuary, which features an aromatic Turkish bath, a tepidarium (bath heated by a hypocaust or underground heating system), and a laconium (dry-heat sweat room).

Exclusive spa treatments include Ayurvedic rituals for self-realization and inner peace, plus therapeutic massages, facials, and body treatments, with couples’ packages also available.

After Dark

Most likely due to the international flavor of the ship's passengers, variety shows are the regular attraction in the Duse Theater, a two-level formal showroom on Decks 2 and 3. During our voyage Dance with the Stars and AbbaMania premiered at the Duse. The sight lines and lighting effects are excellent and the plush theater has the feeling of an authentic showplace.

Costa Deliziosa also offers a series of lounges featuring smaller musical groups and combos, including the Excite Piano Bar and the Vanilla Lounge Bar, both on Deck 3. Another nightspot is the Sharazad Disco, a high-energy nightclub featuring video monitors and dancer's cages. Entertainment options also include the Gaius Casino as well as the Tabac Blonde Cigar Lounge featuring the finest offerings from Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Adjacent to the casino is the Grand Bar Mirabilis, a comfortable lounge featuring a stage for performers. In addition, the Etoiles Cinema is a three-dimensional video experience enhanced with a "fourth" dimension — moving seats, jets of water, wind, and fragrances.

Got Kids?

Costa Deliziosa features full facilities and services for children and teenagers, including dedicated clubs. The Squok Club is designed for the youngest set and pre-teens, and features a children's pool, a playroom, and an arts-and-crafts room. The Teen's Zone is a hip hangout space adjacent to PlayStation World, a 24-hour video gaming facility dedicated to the latest generation PlayStation 3 games. Games can be rented from a vending machine installed in the area. Young (and older) passengers can also enjoy PlayStation 3 gaming from their staterooms via the ship's PlayStation on Demand service.

Must See

Don’t disembark until you’ve indulged in a spa treatment at the Samsara Spa. Afterward, spend an hour or two relaxing in the Temple of Peace, a meditation and relaxation lounge where passengers can sip tea and gaze across the ocean post-treatment.

The 411

Inaugural sailing: February 6, 2010
Passengers: 2,826
Staterooms: 1,130 staterooms; 52 Samsara Spa staterooms including four suites; 662 staterooms offer balconies; 106 suites all offer balconies
Pools: Two adult pools including one with retractable roof, and one children's pool
On-deck activities: Grand Prix driving simulator, golf simulator and outdoor golf area with putting green, Big Screen located on central Lido Pool Deck
Show venues: Duse Theatre, Etoiles Cinema 4D
Onboard shopping: The Galleria Shops on Deck 3 offer jewelry, apparel, souvenirs, and convenience items.
Communications: The Velvet Library on Deck 3 doubles as an Internet Center with multiple terminals; ship-wide Wi-Fi connection for laptops and 3G mobile devices; electronic information totems are available to book shore excursions, make restaurant reservations, and access other shipboard services.
Itineraries: Middle East, Norwegian fjords, Baltic capitals, and the Mediterranean. A 100-day World Cruise (the line’s first in 15 years) departs December 28, 2011, from Savona.