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Costa Cruise Line

MS CostaTropicale

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Reviewed by:Paolo Degrandi
# previous cruises: 10+
Date of Trip: November 26, 2001
Itinerary: Transatlantic

The Costa Tropicale, originally built for Carnival Cruises, is a nice ship, that caters well all the passengers who love an intimate atmosphere for cruising.

The complete refit of the ship has created an elegant european atmosphere onboard. There are many public lounges including a large theater and a ballroom.The most intimate places are the Duke piano bar and the Casablanca grand bar. The casino is functional but a bit small if compared with other ships. There are also two large covered promenade equipped with a photo gallery, an internet cafe' and a card room. The library is well stocked and offers good panoramic views.There are three pools,including one for children and a wading pool, plus three jacuzzis. The Fitness center is well equipped but a bit small for the number of passengers carried by the ship.

The food is very good, offering the best of the italian and international cuisine, but the portions served in the large Corallo restaurant are small. The Giada buffet offers great choices, including a grill and a salad bar near the pool.A real plus is the elegant Bahia club with true brazilian cuisine ( extra charge $ 20 ). The service is excellent and particularly attentive.

The cabins are of a medium size ( 14,5 meters of surface ), but very functional and well equipped.The bathroom have a good size and are equipped with a large shower. Don't reserve a suite on this ship: they are small with a minimal sitting area and the view from the balcony is partially obstructed by the lifeboats.The soundproof is excellent.

The entertainment was the weak point of my cruise, with minimal shows performances in the theater.There were three talented Italian and Brazilian singers but the show Voyages Voyages was repeated two times in three days !!!. The animation team was very nice but didn't work well, offering too many amateurish activities.

The Itinerary was simply superb, with calls at Casablanca ( Morocco ), Tenerife, Lanzarote ( Canaries ), Recife, Maceio', Salvador de Bahia, Ilheus, Rio de Janeiro and Santos ( Brasil ). I suggest you to not reserve any excursions, particularly in Brasil, where the taxis have excellent prices and the drivers work very well with the tourists.For the beaches I recommend you Maceio' and Ilheus. For the culture don't miss the unforgettable colonial churches of Olinda and Salvador the Bahia.The shopping lovers will find their paradise in Brasil with great opportunities ( coffee and chocolate, typical hand craft and precious stones ).

There were many senior passengers on board, with a good mix of Italians, Brazilians, French and Germanies.As on many Costa Cruises the english speaking guests are a small minority ( a great pity because I interact well with them ).