| Overview
CostaVictoria is a middle child in the Costa fleet. It offers more style and options than the line's earlier ships -- and yet bears little resemblance to the Italy-on-steroids decor of the line's later vessels. Originally launched in 1996, CostaVictoria is considered mid-sized, features genuinely Italian-style decor (think northern rather than southern), and has just recently returned from a major refurbishment in which balconies, among other improvements, were added to some cabins.
On CostaVictoria you'll find the best of both worlds: up-to-date facilities combined with attractively understated decor and lots of Italian elan. Thanks to a major refurbishment last year, you'll also find more balconies available. In all, 242 balconies were installed at Germany's Lloyd Werft shipyard (where the ship was originally built). The complex procedure -- only possible on some ships, as it depends on the exterior configuration and the location of lifeboats -- results in a 44 percent ratio of balconied cabins, bringing her somewhat closer in that amenity to the company's most recent ships CostaAtlantica, CostaMediterranean and CostaFortuna (which have balconies on 72 percent of their outside cabins).
It has also consolidated Costa's position as the Continental European cruise line with the highest proportion of balconied accommodation.
The upshot is that travellers used to feeling the sea breezes in their hair on America's balcony-heavy big ships will feel right at home on CostaVictoria. And yet, the big difference is the onboard style; xenophobes need not apply, but if you love Italian style you'll be in your element.
Public Rooms
CostaVictoria's public areas will also be popular with lovers of elegant surroundings that engage the attention without bringing on a headache.
By day, the Tavernetta Lounge on Deck 12 is a soothing retreat for those who like to doze over a book and watch the world go by. Honey wood walls and coffee tables, creamy cane furniture, big windows and soft furnishings in ice cream colours -- pistachio, cream, pale gold and pink -- give this lovely lounge the feel of an elegant conservatory. Next door is a small (six computer) Internet cafe.
The prettiest watering hole onboard is the Capriccio Bar on Deck 7, which has eye-catching (and no doubt, eye-wateringly expensive) mural-covered walls depicting brightly coloured jugglers and acrobats in shades of vibrant orange, red, cream and terracotta on a midnight blue "dreamscape" background. The lovely deep-cushioned sofas are cozy and welcoming. The only downside is the continuous flow of traffic through the bar to the Casino Monte Carlo, which rather prevents drinkers from enjoying an intimate atmosphere.
Another highlight is the Orpheus Grand Bar, which lies on Deck 6 -- just above the Fantasia and Sinfonia restaurants -- and is a popular venue for pre- and post-dinner drinks.
Mushroom-shaped white pillars inlaid with brass and surrounded by circular seats give this lounge the retro feel of a trendy 1960's nightspot (though thankfully, without the mind-bending psychedelic decor).
The Concorde Plaza -- at the forward end of Decks 7 to 10 -- is even more striking, a lovely multi-tiered monochrome area with large, sloping windows and cream, grey and white marbled floors. At the bottom is a substantial bandstand and the walls surrounding it are designed to look like the house fronts in an Italian square, complete with plant-laden balconies.
While the top tiers of the Plaza are multi-level lounge areas, the bottom level (on Deck 7) houses the ship's main shops, selling Italian fashion accessories including silk ties, dress jewelry and affordable evening wear. Beyond these shops is the Portobello Market Place -- the top level of another three-tiered, airy atrium space with more shops, windows on two sides and glass elevators. This is very much the heart of the ship and is frequently filled with bargain hunters checking out the latest offers.
One deck down on Deck 6 is the Squok children's centre, the photo gallery and the Rock Star Disco, an L-shaped room with a long bar opposite a DJ station. Beech laminated walls give this disco a trendy look but the polka dot bucket chairs and chrome topped tables are showing their age and could use an update.
A quieter haunt is the small Planetarium piano bar on Deck 5, which stands opposite the Reception Deck at the bottom of the atrium.
Bookworms will find a small, basic and rather gloomy library tucked away on Deck 7, near the ground level of the ship's Festival show lounge, adjacent to a small meeting room and opposite the ornate (and very Roman Catholic) chapel.
The library offers a few board games and a limited but acceptable range of English language books by well-known authors including PD James, Ian Rankin, Michael Crichton, Ed McBain and Tom Clancy, but there are no reference books or comfortable chairs to sit and read in -- it's really a takeaway affair. And its opening hours are very limited (typically an hour in the morning and another in the afternoon), so you have to be quick.
Fortunately, there are enough bars and plenty of space out on deck for reading, and drinks prices are fairly moderate -- cocktails cost 5.75, liqueurs 4.75 Euros and excellent Italian coffees range from 1.75 Euros for a cappuccino to 4 Euros for a specialty coffee with whiskey, cognac, rum or Amaretto. A 15 percent service free is added to bar bills.
Fitness and Recreation
CostaVictoria has a substantial double outdoor pool on Deck 11 and an indoor pool on Deck 6, flanked by the gymnasium and the Pompeii Health Spa. Deck 6 also has a jogging track and a hair and beauty salon.
The indoor pool is attractively presented in clean white, pale blue and blonde wood, and has classic wooden steamer chairs for swimmers to relax on, but it is very popular and can get crowded.
There is a tall, enclosed wooden counter for booking spa treatments rather than a spa reception room, which means queues build up (the Italians love their health treatments) --but once you get past the booking process and into the treatment rooms, the atmosphere is more soothing.
The spa has free-to-use men's and women's saunas and a unisex steambath; treatment rooms include a thalassotherapy suite, several massage/facial rooms and a room designed for Shiatsu massages with a mattress on the floor. All are simply designed, with Indonesian batik wall hangings and drapes adding a hint of exoticism.
As in most Steiner-run cruise ship spas, treatments are far from cheap, but these are more affordable than some. Shiatsu massage costs 99 Euros for 50 minutes, as does a La Therapie galvanic facial. The most expensive treatment is the Elemis Seaweed Massage which -- at 160 Euros for 80 minutes -- will, I suspect, leave your wallet looking slimmer than your thighs.
For those who prefer to tone up the hard way, the spa offers free shape-up and general fitness classes but charges 10 Euros a head per session for more specialist exercise programmes like Yoga, Pilates and Kickboxing.
Personal fitness training is also available; 75 Euros buys you one hour in gymnasium hell, while 45-minute sessions on Back Care or Flexibility cost 35 Euros, and a half-hour "Butt, Legs and Tums" session costs 30 Euros.
Family
The Squok children's club on Deck 6 caters to children up to the age of 12, while teens get their own area on Deck 12. The Squok facility is fairly basic: a big, wooden-floored room with TV, a basketball net, arts and craft supplies, chairs, tables and big porthole-shaped windows overlooking the deck.
But activities -- including basketball tournaments, Coca Cola parties, craft classes and treasure hunts -- are offered from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., so parents do get some peace. And although there is no outdoor play space, kids' sessions are scheduled in the pool on Deck 11.
Teens have their own hang-out, complete with funky furniture, surfboard-themed decor and a wall full of photographs depicting jolly groups of gorgeous, pouting Italian girls -- this area will be very popular with teenage boys.
Gratuity
Drinks and service charges in the Magnifico restaurant all have 15 percent gratuity added automatically; to cover service from waiters, bus boys and cabin stewards, gratuities of 6 Euros per adult traveller (3 Euros per child aged 4 to 17) per cruise day are automatically added on to the final bill. Dress Code
By day, CostaVictoria is a casual ship, but be warned: the Italians are stylish dressers, so show up in a singlet, baggy shorts and a baseball cap and -- unless you're under 12 --you'll look rather silly (as, indeed, you would anywhere). There is a Captain's cocktail party, gala welcome and farewell dinners for which passengers tend to dress smartly, but black tie isn't obligatory. Fellow Passengers
Italians predominate, with a smattering of French, Spanish and other Europeans. The crewmembers speak good English but unless you're a confident polyglot you'll spend most of your time with your travelling companions.
A word to the wise -- the Italians don't do "manners" as we do, so don't expect many thank yous if you hold a door open or show other courtesies. They don't mean to be rude, it's just their way. And since the introduction of technology enabling passengers to use their cell phones at sea, most are too busy babbling into their ear-clamped mobiles to notice you exist.
Cabins
Inside accommodations range from four-berth to twin-bedded cabins. Twin sea views with picture windows and balconied outside twins are available. At the top of the range, 300-square-ft. mini suites and 430-square-ft. top-grade suites feature separate seating and dining area.
All cabins have individual air conditioning, televisions, direct dial telephones, safes, minibars and hairdryers.
I stayed in an oceanview cabin on Deck 9 and was impressed by the simple but stylish decor -- cream walls and curtains, cherry wood fittings, a deep red carpet, and a cheerful poppy-patterned bedspread and cushions on two bucket-style chairs flanking an oval coffee table.
The lighting was cozily subdued but strong enough to read by, and there was ample storage space -- including a triple wardrobe, deep drawers and two substantial bedside cabinets -- as well as a small balcony with two sit-up chairs and a coffee table.
And the bathroom, though equipped with space-saving white plastic shower and wash basin units, had a pretty grey and white marble floor and sink top, six storage shelves and plenty of towel rails.
Entertainment
One of the problems on a multilingual ship is creating an entertainment programme accessible to all passengers. CostaVictoria achieves this with some good magic acts, a few Classical Music recitals and "fishnet and feathers" song-and-dance shows interspersed with acrobatic displays and performances by crooners.
It's all fairly standard cruise ship stuff but a fair way to pass an hour or two in the evening. Main entertainment venue is the two-tier, theatre-style Festival show lounge but dance bands perform throughout the ship and the disco is well attended by snake-hipped Italian youngsters.
Dining
CostaVictoria's two main restaurants -- the Sinfonia and the Fantasia -- are located on Deck 5. Both are elegantly presented with beech and cream walls, linen curtains, glass-screened waiter stations, deep carpets and comfortably padded wooden chairs, and both offer two-seating dinners as well as formal, waiter-served breakfast and lunch.
Menus feature well-presented international dishes and there are themed French and Italian nights. Not surprisingly on an Italian ship, the pasta (made fresh daily) is excellent, salads are crisp and there is a good choice of desserts (though, oddly, only salt and white pepper on the tables -- not the black pepper mills so beloved of Italian waiters the world over).
Lunch menus are also substantial, with grilled chicken or steak always available alongside daily specials like Reuben sandwiches and pasta dishes, and treats like ricotta cake with apricots and ice cream sundaes.
However, staff seem overstretched at lunchtime and service can be slow -- possibly because both restaurants offer open-seating lunch. A solution might be to open only one for lunch, extend its opening hours and concentrate staff there.
For casual breakfasts and lunches, there is the roomy Terrazza Cafe and indoor Bolero Buffet on Rigoletto deck, where passengers can enjoy a semi-al-fresco lunch under the shade of a huge sail-like canopy.
Outside main dining hours, you can visit the Pizzeria on Deck 13, which has large windows along one side, fresh pale green, blue and green decor , and an attractive fruit-laden market stall as its centerpiece.
This serves pizza slices, salad and ice cream by day and offers a full pizza service at night, but opening hours are limited (typically from 3 until 7:30 p.m. and from 9:30 p.m. until 1 a.m.), and I felt the atmosphere on the ship would be more easygoing were this to be open longer, allowing guests to eat whenever they like.
As it stands, the only truly 24-hour option is room service -- which offers a limited selection of snacks around the clock at a 2 Euro supplement per item ordered.
The ship also pays lip service to the old cruise tradition of the midnight buffet with "Midnight Surprise" snacks served in the bars and lounges. The night I checked these out, they turned out to be slices of watermelon and pancakes, which certainly surprised me!
However, lovers of fine food and wine will not be disappointed, as CostaVictoria's Magnifico Restaurant by Zefferino -- located in the ship's pretty Tavernetta Lounge and open daily from 7:30 until 10 p.m. -- delivers both. Candlelit, with spacious tables and seductive music provided by a smoky-voiced torch singer, this is the perfect venue for a romantic meal, and the menu -- designed by the owner of Italy's legendary Zefferino's restaurant chain -- is superb (I can particularly recommend the hot shrimp in batter, cheese-stuffed cuttlefish and light-as-air almond cake).
Reservations in the Magnifico cost 22 Euros a head, and a 15 percent service fee is added to your bill, but the food is worth stumping up for. Wine, priced from 17 Euros for a perfectly respectable Dolcetto d'Alba red to 110 Euros for a bottle of Dom Perignon, is affordable.
Elsewhere on the ship, wine prices are even lower; in the Bolero buffet, 7 Euros buys a small carafe of house wine (Soave or Valpolicella), a bottle of Pinot Grigio costs 17 Euros, and Chianti ranges from 18 to 22 Euros a bottle.
|
