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The story behind Costa Cruises is a story of entrepreneurial success. It was established in 1854 under the name of the founder Giacomo Costa fu Andrea and was so successful in the trading of fabrics and olive oil between the markets of Genoa and Sardinia that it soon set up a fleet of ships transporting goods all over the world; and by the end of the last century its ships reached far-away shores such as Australia, where the constant flow of Italian emigrants generated a market for national foodstuffs. Costa was specialised in the purchase of raw olive oil in the Mediterranean countries for export overseas.

Additional Information About Costa Cruises

Costa offers all kinds of dining options, so you can eat formally or casually, in the open air, in a restaurant or in your stateroom any time of day or night!

Dining choices abound from poolside dining to midnight buffets. Each day you may choose to dine Casual at the buffet, Traditional in the main restaurant or in one of our world-class Specialty restaurants (additional charge applies). Cozy bistros serve pizza, gelato, cappuccino and espresso and room service awaits your call 24 hours a day.

Theres a variety of dining experiences onboard every Costa ship:

Trattoria Italiana ~ Casual Dining in the buffet or by the pool deck.
Tradizionale ~ Traditional Dining in the main restaurant.
Salute e Benessere ~ Spa Menu for the health conscious.
Dining di Lusso ~ Deluxe Dining in one of our specialty restaurants.
Piccolo Morso ~ A Lite Bite from the buffet or room sevice 24 hours a day.
Pizzeria ~ Pizza in the bistro.
Spuntino ~ Treats to Sweets from the midnight buffet.

Morning

You can have your breakfast served free of charge in your cabin. If you prefer a more substantial morning meal, special breakfasts are also available, for which you have to pay on some ships.

If you prefer to breakfast in the self-service restaurant, you will find newly baked croissants and traditional Italian coffee. Our bread and cakes are always fresh and fragrant, being prepared each day in the ship's bakery. And if your morning hunger is still not appeased, pizza is served free of charge as a late-morning snack.

Late Morning

Lunch, too, is an opportunity to enjoy some delicious dishes in the restaurant, in the buffet or beside the pool. There are special menus for vegetarians or people on a diet.

We have a special children's menu with some tempting choices. Using their 'boys and girls card', children can ask for a drink whenever they feel thirsty.

Don't miss out on special eating occasions such as the Pasta Festival or barbecues on deck.

Afternoon

The most elegant event is afternoon tea, served by the pool or in the ship's saloon. Teas from all over the world are dispensed in fine china cups to a relaxing musical accompaniment.

From time to time, Costa kitchen staff give cookery lessons, demonstrating their skills and inviting you to taste their handiwork.

Evening

In the evenings, you can relax and enjoy good food in the ship's restaurants, or don evening dress to take part in the more exclusive gala dinners.

On some ships, you can experience a gastronomic treat by booking a table in the a la carte Club restaurant, where dishes are prepared by renowned chefs. The atmosphere is luxurious, intimate and relaxing, an exclusive privilege for Costa Crociere clients.

Today families are realizing the ease and enjoyment of cruising with Costa, which offers the perfect setting for a reunion. Onboard there are menus, activities and a variety of entertainment designed to suit every family member from kids to grandparents. From Italian language classes to cooking classes to duty free boutiques and a la carte body treatments, plus our youngest guests and their parents are invited to participate in our Costa Kids Program. Indeed, some of the best things do come in small packages and thats certainly the case with our Costa Kids Program. From pizza parties and pirate treasure hunts to face painting, masquerades, and even Italian language lessons, supervized activities like these are all in a days play for kids lucky enough to cruise with Costa. And that means you and your family can enjoy all the fun of Cruising Italian Style. Morning, afternoon and evening events are scheduled to entertain children from 3 (out of diapers) to 17. Whether its an ice cream social or a karaoke contest, Costa knows how to keep kids busy...and we arent kidding!
	Costa Kids Program From morning to night our entertainment staff are here to entertain children and teens, giving you the time to relax and enjoy the whole cruise and, if you like, while on excursions. For all children between the ages of 3 to 17, Costa Cruises entertainment staff are available every day from 9:00 am to midday, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and from 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm. This is a free group service. There are four Clubs: 2 for children: Mini from 3 to 6 years, Maxi from 7 to 11, 2 for teenagers: Teen Junior from 12 to 14, Teen from 15 to 17. Teen Junior is only active during certain periods. Children under the age of 3 are allowed to enter and stay in the room only during certain times (not during busy times in high season) and must be accompanied by an adult.

	Ship Amenities for Kids *Games room* Younger guests can have hours of fun in a pirate ship or giant lego brick room, with a vast assortment of video games. *Shore Excursions* While Costa does not offer shore excursions specifically for children, there are, a number of shore excursion activities well suited to them at special rates. *Family Fun* Kids and their parents can get together and participate in fun activities like karaoke, bingo and even a talent show. These activities are a great opportunity for parents and kids to spend time together and have loads of fun while theyre at it!

	Kids Menu and Beverage Card Children will love the special Kids Menu that is served at every meal for it contains all of the foods that kids like best! Spaghetti, Pizza, Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Grilled Cheese, Ice Cream and more - there is always something to please even the most finicky eaters! Plus, Costa offers a Boys & Girls beverage card for 10 non-alcoholic drinks so kids can have fruit juices and carbonated drinks at any time during their cruise!

	Parents Night Out Costa gives parents traveling with children some time off by organizing two events where kids spend the evening with other guests their age at a fun themed dinner (Squok, Pirates, Circus, Video games world, Halloween, WWF in the Jungle or Underwater) and fun activities designed especially for them. While the kids are being entertained, parents can relax as they enjoy sumptuous cuisine and a romantic evening together, feeling secure that their children are having fun while being supervised by our dedicated Youth Counselors. With this program, parents and children will both be pleased with the variety of shipboard activities and the warmth of Italian Style cruising.

	Babysitting While cruising is a vacation for the whole family, Costa also provides quiet time for Mom and Dad. That can be during the day, while the kids are entertained in the Kids Club program, or at night, while the kids are with group baby-sitters. Mini and Maxi Club nighttime group baby-sitting, held in the childrens area, is a free of charge baby-sitting service until 1:30 am. There is no night time baby-sitting service available for children under 36 months of age.

So many pleasures await you onboard that you can indulge in the vacation of a lifetime without ever setting foot on land. Will you join in the dozens of shipboard activities like art auctions, horse racing, bridge games, Italian lessons and trivia contests? Or learn to prepare perfect pesto in an Italian cooking class. Explore all the possibilities available to you when youre Cruising Italian Style. Costa cruise ships are floating resorts with all the choices a fine resort has to offer. Most days are filled with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures, educational classes and lounging by the pool. During the evenings theme nights, bands, discos, dance extravaganzas, musical revues and a lively casino take the stage.
	Excursions Costa holidays are big journeys in total comfort! Lots of discoveries every day: beaches and islands, fjords and mountains, major capitals and picturesque villages, museums and monuments, exotic shopping in the most beautiful locations on earth.

	Casino While the ship is sailing, there's time to have a go at everything, which includes placing a bet at the Casino. Slot machines, roulettes and poker tables await you, so why not try your luck, have fun with your friends and spend an evening that's out of the ordinary? Remember that you'll need cash in order to play, with the exception of a few ships where you'll be able to use your Costa Card as well. Entry to the Casino is restricted to people over the age of 18.

	Fitness No doubt, a Costa cruise offers an atmosphere thats just right for romancecozy dinners for twostrolling on deck at sunset and dancing the night away. And families love cruising too with the childrens programs, kid-friendly menus and dedicated childrens areas keep children happy. A cruise vacation is the perfect opportunity to relax and reconnect with family and friends. Because its so easy to meet new people, its a favorite vacation choice for singles and couples. Lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air and soak up the sun while reading a book. But if youre more active, join in exercise or dance classes and sports contests, practice your tennis stroke or golf swing, go jogging on deck, swim, take a steam in the spa or work out in the gym. From the casual fitness enthusiast to the fitness devotee, Costa ships offer state-of-the-art fitness facilities as well as a wide range of conditioning activities including fitness walks, aerobics, stretch and relaxation.

	Entertainment Your days and nights onboard can be as active or relaxing as you wish. Shipboard entertainment options and organized activities are orchestrated by your cruise staff and you may participate or not as you see fit. A complete schedule of the next days events is listed in the Daily Program that is delivered each evening to your stateroom. Youll discover an amazing thing about Cruising Italian Style. So many pleasures await you onboard that you can indulge in the vacation of a lifetime without ever setting foot on land. Will you join in the dozens of shipboard activities like art auctions, horse racing, bridge games, Italian lessons and trivia contests? Or learn to prepare perfect pesto in an Italian cooking class.

	Shops Remember that perfume you've always wanted? Designer clothes for a special occasion, jewellery, watches, accessories, cosmetics, souvenirs: somehow the objects you buy on holiday always remind you of the pleasure you experienced at the time. Why not take the opportunity therefore to visit all the stores on the ship? They're open while the ship is sailing and offer attractive duty free deals.

	Photographers Cruises create so many happy and carefree moments: from cocktails by the pool to romantic dinners, evenings at the disco, children playing... It really is like in the movies. Luckily, our on-board photographers are always ready to capture the moment and any special occasion, allowing you to take the most beautiful memories home with you. Remember also to visit the Photo Shop, where you'll find all the photography and telephone services you might need on your holiday.

	Spa Therapeutic massages with essential oils, sauna, Turkish bath, yoga, ancient body care rituals inspired by oriental disciplines and a wide range of options to purify and rebalance your body. Discover all the benefits of exclusive beauty and relaxation treatments every day in the on-board wellness centres. Costa Serena and Costa Concordia also offer a unique experience: Samsara SPA, the biggest and most stylish cruise ship SPA.

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Additional Information About Costa Cruises

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