Costa Cruises: Our Cruise Line Guide

The back story

Fleet: 8 ships, all flying the Italian flag: Costa Smeralda, Toscana, Deliziosa, Diadema, Fascinosa, Favolosa, Pacifica and Serena (costacruises.co.uk, Oct 2026) · Flagships: Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, powered by LNG · Since: 31 March 1948, when the Costa family’s Anna C. left Genoa for Buenos Aires (costacruises.com) · Service charges: Mandatory hotel service charges are included in the price for UK bookings (costacruises.co.uk) · Kids’ clubs: Squok Club for children; Baby Squok Club for ages 1–3 on Costa Smeralda (costacrociere.it) · Sails to: The Mediterranean above all: Costa Smeralda’s and Toscana’s itineraries are listed on costacruises.co.uk

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   The back story

   Costa Cruises: the back story

   Costa Cruises·In depth

   A Genoese family, an ocean liner to Buenos Aires in 1948 and the idea of cruising Italian style.

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The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: A Mediterranean week in an inside cabin, with children under 18 sharing with two adults paying no cruise fare on Costa’s family offer, and hotel service charges already in the UK price. Mid-range: A balcony on Costa Smeralda or Costa Toscana with the My Drinks package added at booking. Luxury: A suite, which includes My Drinks Plus, and an evening at Archipelago, the 12-course tasting menu by three star chefs.

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   Flagship

   Costa Smeralda

   Costa Cruises·Ocean ship · LNG·€

   Costa’s flagship of Italian style, with spaces inspired by Italy’s squares, an aqua park on the top deck and a new spa.

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   The new flagship

   Costa Toscana

   Costa Cruises·Ocean ship · LNG·€

   Costa’s newest flagship, inspired by Tuscany, with the widest choice of restaurants in the fleet and LNG engines.

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   Refurbished

   Costa Serena

   Costa Cruises·Ocean ship·€

   ‘The Myth Goes POP’: Costa Serena is back, refurbished, with the gods of Olympus given a Pop-art twist.

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   Launched 2014

   Costa Diadema

   Costa Cruises·Ocean ship·€

   A ship for relaxation and fun, with bars, gourmet restaurants and a spa area.

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   Four ships

   Costa Deliziosa, Fascinosa, Favolosa and Pacifica

   Costa Cruises·Ocean ships·€

   Costa’s other ships: the art-filled Deliziosa, Fascinosa with its modern artworks, the fairy-tale Favolosa and Pacifica, ‘the sea in music’.

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The suites

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   My Drinks Plus included

   Costa suites

   Costa Cruises·Suites·€€

   Costa’s suites come with the My Drinks Plus package included: selected wines, cocktails and spirits from prestigious brands.

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Dining on board

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   Barbieri, Darroze, León

   Archipelago

   Costa Cruises·Tasting menu · speciality·€€

   A 12-course ‘Sea & Land’ menu by Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León, served over two hours in a room of driftwood.

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   Widest choice in the fleet

   Costa Toscana’s restaurants

   Costa Cruises·Italian and international·€

   The widest variety of Italian and international restaurants in the Costa fleet.

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   Italian squares

   Costa Smeralda’s restaurants

   Costa Cruises·Italian·€

   Italian food in spaces modelled on Italy’s squares, with Archipelago for a special night.

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Spa and wellness

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   Next-generation on Smeralda

   Costa spa and gym

   Costa Cruises·Spa·€€

   A spa and gym on every big Costa ship, with a ‘next-generation’ spa on Costa Smeralda.

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Life on board

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   By age group

   Squok Club and Baby Squok Club

   Costa Cruises·Kids’ clubs

   Costa’s children’s club, divided by age, with Peppa Pig activities for the youngest and a Baby Squok Club for ages 1–3 on Costa Smeralda.

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   Under-18s sharing with two adults

   Costa family offer

   Costa Cruises·Families

   Children under 18 sharing a cabin with two adults do not pay a cruise fare, and a second inside cabin can be up to 50% off.

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Where it sails

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   All year

   The Mediterranean with Costa

   Costa Cruises·Where it sails

   Mediterranean cruises, the heart of Costa’s programme, on the LNG flagships among others.

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What’s included and how to book

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   Included in UK prices

   Costa service charges

   Costa Cruises·Service charges

   For UK bookings, Costa states that mandatory hotel service charges are included in the price.

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   Add at booking

   Costa My Drinks packages

   Costa Cruises·Packages

   My Drinks covers wine with meals, coffees, soft drinks, cocktails and spirits; My Drinks Plus adds premium brands and is included with suites.

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