costa cruise ship smeralda

Costa Smeralda

Courtesy of Costa Cruises |

Find a Cruise on Costa Smeralda

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Debuted in December 2019, the Costa Smeralda accommodates more than 6,500 passengers and 1,600-plus crew members, making it one of the largest cruise ships within Costa's fleet. The ship was the first within the line (and within the Carnival brand, Costa's parent company) to be powered by liquefied natural gas, the world's cleanest burning fossil fuel.

Stateroom options on Costa Smeralda include Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Terrazza cabins, plus two different kinds of suites. While Inside and Ocean View cabins provide basic accommodations and amenities (including a television), the Balcony Terrazza and Suite rooms provide more space and a small- to medium-sized veranda with seating.

Outside of their cabins, cruisers have access to 11 dining options. Sushino at Costa is the cruise line's first sushi bistro delighting guests with an authentic Japanese experience. Those interested in learning more about cooking can test their skills in the kitchen lab and get tips from a top chef. When it's time for a cocktail, guests can head to the Aperol Spritz Bar for the classic orange aperitif.

The cruise ship also features a spa, a skywalk that lines the perimeter of the ship's top deck, boutique shops, a pool and a water park complete with a waterslide. Passengers with children between the ages of 1 and 3 can also take advantage of a supervised kids club.

Costa Smeralda sails throughout the Mediterranean. 

Pros & Cons

Ship runs on the world's cleanest fuel

Large passenger capacity with limited crew may mean less personalized service than competitors

• Expert Rating » 3.5
• Traveler Rating » 3.8
• Health Rating » 4.5

Costa Smeralda ranks # 1 out of 8 Costa Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 1 in Best Costa Cruises
• # 53 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 65 in Best Cruises to Europe
• # 95 in Best Affordable Cruises

Costa Smeralda contains 16 decks. Find out which features are available on each Costa Smeralda deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 25 guests have reviewed Costa Smeralda , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Costa Smeralda Decks and Cabins

• 4 - Palermo
• 5 - Taormina
• 7 - Positano
• 11 - Firenze
• 12 - Genova
• 14 - Venezia
• 15 - Milano
• 17 - Bellagio
• 18 - Torino
• 19 - Cortina
• 20 - Trieste
• Click here for ALL
• Grand Suite
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabins Check

Built in 2019, the Costa Cruise Line Costa Smeralda cruise ship weighs 183K tons and has 2641 staterooms for up to 6338 passengers served by 1678 crew . There are 19 passenger decks, 11 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 29 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for Costa Smeralda showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

Costa Cruise Line Costa Smeralda

Last Drydock: Dec 2021

LIVE SHIP TRACKING

STATEROOM CABINS COMPLETE LIST BELOW

GRAND SUITE

Floor Diagram Grand Suite

Sleeps up to: 4 8 Cabins Cabin: 350 sqft (33 m 2 ) Balcony: 100 sqft (9 m 2 )

Click for    

More Info [+/-]

Deck locations, stateroom cabin features, stateroom cabin perks.

Floor Diagram Suite

Sleeps up to: 4 20 Cabins Cabin: 287 sqft (27 m 2 ) Balcony: 54 sqft (5 m 2 )

Floor Diagram Terrace

Sleeps up to: 4 106 Cabins Cabin: 205 sqft (19 m 2 ) Balcony: 82 sqft (8 m 2 )

Floor Diagram Balcony

Sleeps up to: 4 1508 Cabins Cabin: 205 sqft (19 m 2 ) Balcony: 44 sqft (4 m 2 )

 Accessible Info [+/-]

Floor Diagram Oceanview

Sleeps up to: 4 181 Cabins Cabin: 243 sqft (23 m 2 )

Floor Diagram Inside

Sleeps up to: 4 818 Cabins Cabin: 158 sqft (15 m 2 )

Costa Smeralda Deck Page Menu

Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck.

Costa Smeralda Quick Stats

Big picture costa smeralda decks.

Opens in new window (warning: large file)

Costa Smeralda Links

• PDF of all the decks
• PDF (choose your own decks)
• Costa Smeralda DECK DRAG
• Costa Smeralda Cabin Check

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

What to Expect Aboard the Costa Smeralda Cruise Ship

How would you like to go to sleep in Spain and wake up in Italy? You can do just that when taking a cruise—you can be exploring caves in Mallorca one day and eating gelato in Sicily the next. And the Costa Smeralda cruise ship can take you there (and dozens of other places too!). Not only is it one of the largest ships in the world, it is also packed with top-notch entertainment, unique food choices and eclectic bars. Plus, you only have to unpack once. Don’t you love that about cruising?

About Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises is an Italian cruise line based in Genoa, Italy. Though they primarily cater to the Italian cruise market, their wide selection of itineraries will take everyone to different parts of the world. That means you’ll get to experience the rich cultures from the Mediterranean to South America to Dubai!

Plus, with over 70 years of experience in Italian style and hospitality, you will feel an authentic international experience while being wallet-friendly and safe for everyone.

Check pricing and itineraries on the the Costa Cruise website .

About Costa Smeralda Ship 

Costa Smeralda is the flagship of Costa Cruises—it is their largest operating cruise ship and is the fifth-largest in the world. Within its massive 337-meter-long frame are 20 decks, 2612 passenger cabins, 19 restaurants, over a dozen bars and other amenities. It can carry a maximum of 6554 passengers and 164 crew members. Wowza!

Staying true to its Italian heritage, the cruise ships has severals areas that are designed and pay homage to Italy, like the Bel Paese (a type of Italian cheese) and landmarks such as Piazza di Spagna and Trastevere.

Another impressive fact is that the Costa Smeralda cruise ship is environmentally friendly. It runs entirely on liquefied natural gas, which helps improve air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions!

Construction of the ship started on July 4, 2018, by Meyer Turku (a shipbuilding company) and was launched to sea on March 15, 2019. After a series of sea trials, it was handed over to Costa Cruises on December 5, 2019. Costa Smeralda started its inaugural cruise on December 21, 2019.

Costa Smeralda Experience

Cruising aboard the Costa Smeralda is a one-of-a-kind experience. Aside from taking you to dream destinations worldwide, their excellent service guarantees a fun, safe, and relaxing cruise for everyone.

Excursions & Ports

There are many different fun excursions for each port/destination, from riding a historic train in Mallorca to wine-tasting in Messina to traveling around Barcelona on an electric bike.

My Mediterranean itinerary went from Barcelona to Rome and had dozens of different outings to choose from. And don’t you love it when you pick the right cruise excursion? That’s exactly what happened when our Costa Smeralda ship ported in Palma de Mallorca. I picked an excursion to the Caves of Drach. Have you ever heard of them? They consist of four connected caves that have a length of over 2 miles and depth of 80+ feet. As if that’s not bucket list worthy enough, there was a beautiful concert performed in the depths of the cave where the musicians glided in on lighted rowboats.

Our next port brought me to Sicily. It was my first time there, so it was hard to pick an excursion, but a tour of the pretty little hilltop town of Taormina was the winner.

We walked the cobbled streets peaking into picturesque narrow walkways and cute shops until we reached the ultimate historical gem—the Greek Theater that dates back to the 3rd century BC!

To see more Costa Cruise excursions visit their website .

Restaurant and Bars 

Once you get a taste of one of the two dozen restaurants and bars, you will be wishing for more sea days! From a Nutella bar to scoops of Gelato just as good as on the streets of Rome to an authentic Italian pizzeria where the pies are topped with mozzarella made fresh onboard, the tastes of Italy don’t disappoint. Did I mention the Campari bar that’s dedicated to the bitter Italian liqueur?

Though Italian-food centric, the cuisine onboard is also inspired by different regions worldwide and will surely make your tongue dance! Theres a poke bowl station, made-to-order sushi togo that can be enjoyed anywhere on the ship and a teppanyaki restaurant where the chef’s show is just as good as the lobster he put on my plate. Hungry yet?

Entertainment 

You’ll have as much fun as doing shore excursions onboard the Costa Smeralda ship. From watching dazzling live musical shows to zipping down the water slide, there is endless entertainment for all ages!

For the adults, don’t miss trying your luck in the casino, and at my personal favorite game—video roulette (bet on number 19 for me!). You can also lose yourself in music in their Silent Party, wearing headphones that play the songs you choose. 

Definitely pay a visit to the ultra-unique CoDe Museum that celebrates Italian design from the 1930s to today. It includes everything from furniture to fashion.

Cabins 

There are 4 types of cabins you can choose from in Costa Smeralda that will suit your needs: Inside, Ocean View, Balcony, and Suite. All have air conditioning, a flat-screen satellite TV, WiFi, hairdryers, a safe, 24-hour room service, and world-class comfort. Plus, I was super impressed by the roomy bathroom that had lots of storage!

My Premium Balcony let me enjoy the breeze while having a more open view of the sea through the balcony.  Waking up to different Instagrammable sights and places is definitely a perk for me!

Sports and Wellness

Your mind and body will thank you for pampering yourself with Costa Smeralda’s variety of wellness facilities. These include a swimming pool and jacuzzi, relaxing massages, beauty treatments, and so much more.

For two truly bucket list worthy experiences relax in one of their suspended chairs and visit the snow room that is literally filled with snow!

There is also a gym and a jogging track for those who want to work up a nice sweat while on vacation. 

For some people, going on a trip around the world is not complete without taking a souvenir with you back home. You’ll have tons of shopping opportunities while at port, but there’s also plenty of things to choose from inside Costa Smeralda. From beauty products and perfumes to accessories and clothing, even gifts and essentials, you’ll have the perfect item that suits your needs.

With brand names such as Clinique, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger, and Guess, you will know the quality is top-notch.

How to Book at Costa Smeralda

You can book a cruise at Costa Smeralda on their official site . They have a lot of itineraries to choose from. You can also filter the results by putting in your preferred departure port, duration, and price to see the ones that best fit your needs. I can definitely vouch for an epic Mediterranean cruise!

They also offer cruise and shopping discounts, as well as other perks for Costa Club members. If you are interested, you might want to check that out as well.

Going on a cruise is not just about seeing different places and experiencing new things on land and sea. It is also about going on that journey to the unknown and discovering more of yourself in the process. The Costa Smeralda can take you on that journey.

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Cruise Ship   Costa Smeralda

Cruises On Costa Smeralda

• CruiseMapper

Costa Smeralda cabins and suites

Costa smeralda staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Costa Smeralda cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Costa Cruises en-suite amenities and services.

The Costa Smeralda cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

Forward-Facing Grand Suite

Aft-facing balcony suite, terrace suite, balcony cabin, oceanview cabin, interior cabin, costa smeralda cabins review.

Costa Smeralda cruise ship has a total of 2612 staterooms (suites and cabins) for 5282/max 6554 passengers. The ship has 11 cabin decks - out of 20 passenger-accessible decks. Staterooms were designed by Dordoni Architetti (Milano-based Italian architect and designer) and differently decorated (depending on deck theme). For all passenger/cruise cabins were contracted Italian companies to provide their furniture (Molteni&C, Roda), lighting (Flos), fabrics and upholstery (Dedar Milano, Rubelli). Among the Italian suppliers are also the brands Kartell (tables, chairs, furnishing accessories), Poltrona Frau (leather sofas, chairs, armchairs, tables, side tables), Alessi (kitchen accessories).

Follows the review of Costa Smeralda staterooms as amenities, furniture and price-inclusive/complimentary services.

All Costa Smeralda cabins offer as standard amenities sleeping area (twin beds /convertible to queen, bedside tables, reading lamps), lounge/living area (sofabed, ottoman seat/couch, low/coffee table, mirrored vanity table/desk with chair, sliding wardrobe/closet with drawers and hangers), smart HDTV (infotainment system, satellite reception, Internet, on-demand movies), direct-dial phone, electronic safe box (in the closet), hairdryer, en-suite bathroom (WC, shower cubicle), mini-bar/fridge, individual air-conditioning, complimentary 24-hour room service, complimentary in-cabin Continental breakfast. Most staterooms are equipped with single/double sofa bed or Pullman/bunk beds for 3rd/4th person.

The largest Costa Smeralda Suites are category GS-Grand Suite (33 m2) with large balcony (9 m2). Each of them has private step-out veranda (equipped with 2 loungers, 2 deckchairs, 1 low table), dressing room, large bathroom (with whirlpool bathtub, shower, WC/bidet), larger living area (with a sectional double sofabed). Standard Balcony Suites are smaller-sized (27 m2) and with a smaller veranda (5 m2). Terrace Suite is a new for Costa Cruises cabin category featuring a large-sized (8 m2) step-out balcony furnished with 1 small table and 2 patio chairs (sunlounger and deckchair with footstool).

Bonus perks/amenities for all Suites include in-room dining service (sparkling wine, daily canapes, fresh fruits), VIP/priority services (check-in, embarkation/disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations, Captain's cocktail party invitations), pillow menu, cotton robes, slippers, butler service (packing/unpacking), upgraded/luxury bath products, complimentary specialty restaurant dinner for two.

All balcony cabins are with sliding glass doors opening to a private veranda (equipped with 1 small table and 2 deckchairs) and lounge area with additional bedding (double sofabed for 3rd/4th person). Oceanview cabins are with a large Picture Window (non-opening), while Inside cabins lack the window views. Both outside/inside cabin types offer additional bedding (upper/Pullman beds) for 3rd/4th person.

Costa Smeralda's Spa cabins are located in the Samsara Spa (wellness complex). Passengers booked in Samsara Spa staterooms (Suites and cabins) enjoy the following perks/bonus amenities: exclusive and unlimited Spa access (including to the Thalassotherapy pool), complimentary Spa treatments (your choice, 2 per cabin), bonus bath amenities. Samsara Spa suites additionally have a shower head filters, essential oil diffusers, Ayurvedic Dosha Teas.

Costa Cruises Suite passengers enjoy exclusive shipboard amenities and services. The list of bonus amenities (complimentary / ticket price inclusive perks) for suites includes:

• Intenditore Drink Package - all-inclusive beverage package (unlimited) that includes all up to EUR 9 priced bar menu drinks
• complimentary mini-bar, wine pairings in all restaurants)
• complimentary Club Restaurant meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), priority Main Dining Room seating, priority specialty restaurants reservations
• complimentary room service and full in-cabin dining
• welcome gifts (bottle of Ferrari sparkling wine, canapes)
• Illy coffee maker
• daily replenished fresh fruits
• luxury bathrobes and slippers, pillow menu, organic cotton bed sheets
• private butler service (shoeshine, reservations/bookings, luggage unpacking)
• suite-exclusive onboard events (wine tastings, Spa Thermal Suite day pass, private cocktail parties, reserved theater lounge front-row seats, assistance by dedicated shopping specialist)

Costa Smeralda cabin and suite plans are property of Costa Cruises . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Costa Smeralda

The  Costa Smeralda  was built in 2019 and is among Costa’s 12 ships in its fleet. The Smeralda is included in the cruise line’s Excelence Class. In the cruise ship stats below, you’ll find the Costa Smeralda vs all of the other Costa ships.

Costa Smeralda Size

How big is the Costa Smeralda? Below, you’ll find all of the relevant cruise ship stats, specs and dimensions for the Costa Smeralda. Included in these statistics are passenger capacity, length, year built, year renovated, cost to build, gross tonnage, engine info, number of rooms, deck counts and more!

Costa Smeralda Capacity

Passenger Capacity refers to the total number of people that the Costa Smeralda can accommodate. Of course, there are also crew members on board. Below, find the total onboard capacity, including staff and cruise guests.

Costa Avg: 3,769 guests

Costa Smeralda Passenger Capacity: The passenger capacity for the Costa Smeralda is 5,224 guests . The average capacity for the 12 active ships in Costa’s fleet is 3,769 passengers. The passenger capacity range for all Costa ships has a minimum of 2,680 guests and a maximum of 5,322 passengers.

Costa Avg: 1,201 staff

Costa Smeralda Crew Members: Staff on the Costa Smeralda include 1,646 crew members. That’s a guest to staff ratio of 3.2 to 1. The average Costa ship includes 1,201 employees and has a passenger to staff ratio of 3.1 to 1.

Costa Smeralda Passenger Capacity and Crew

vs Costa Fleet

Costa Smeralda Length

How long is the Smeralda? From end to end, the Costa Smeralda length equals 1106 feet (338 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 12 active vessels in Costa’s fleet, measuring 982 feet (300 meters).

Costa Avg: 982 feet

The smallest Costa ship (in terms of length) measures 893 feet (273 meters) from end to end. The longest vessel spans 1106 feet (338 meters).

Our chart below shows the length of the Costa Smeralda vs all other active Costa ships.

Costa Smeralda Ship Length

vs all Costa Ships

Costa Smeralda Built Date

When was the Costa Smeralda Built? The Costa Smeralda was built in 2019 and joined the cruise line’s Excelence Class.

Costa includes 12 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 2003. The average Costa ship is 12 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2011

Costa Avg: 2007

When was the last Costa Smeralda Dry Dock? The Costa Smeralda has not experienced dry dock improvements yet.

renovation date

Costa smeralda info, frequently asked questions, what is the costa smeralda ship class.

The ship belongs to the Costa class of ships known as the Excelence class.

What is the Costa Smeralda capacity?

We're often asked how many passengers are on the Costa Smeralda. The ship's capacity is 5,224. When comparing the occupancy to the average Costa passenger capacity, you'll find that the average ship in the fleet holds 3,769 guests. Feel free to look at our graph above to see where this ship falls in line with all other live Costa ships.

How old is the Costa Smeralda?

The Costa Smeralda was built in 2019. Costa includes 12 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 2003. The average Costa ship is 12 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2012

Is the Costa Smeralda a good ship?

Each of Costa's ships offers a unique layout with features and activities catered to all. Whether the Costa Smeralda is right for you will depend on your individual preferences. Do you prefer a larger or smaller ship with many or fewer guests? Are you hoping for many family activities or entertainment options for an older clientele. Our deck maps layout and activities list provide a helpful guide to what you'll find on board. Feel free to explore the see if this ship is suited towards your preferences.

How long is the Costa Smeralda?

From end to end, the Spectrum of the Seas length equals 1,106 feet (338 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 12 active vessels in Costa fleet, measuring 982 feet (300 meters). Please see our size comparison chart above to see how this ship falls in line with all other active ships in the fleet.

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Everything I Ate on my Costa Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

If you are taking a cruise with Costa you may be wondering what the food will be like. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are all included at no extra cost on a Costa cruise.

I have just disembarked a cruise on the Costa Smeralda and in this post we will look at everything I ate in the main dining room, buffet and room service. Menus are also provided.

I took my first Costa cruise in 2018 and the food quality has increased dramatically in my opinion.

Main Dining Room – Il Meneghino – Included in the Cruise Fare

There was more than one main restaurant. We were assigned Il Meneghino Restaurant on deck 6.

My parents and I had separate cruise bookings and so ended up with separate tables in the same restaurant at the same time. We asked if we were able to sit together, and they were very accommodating.

We were given a temporary table for the first night, then they sent a letter to our cabin with a permanent table number on the next day.

We ate at 5.45pm – the earliest time available. This suited us, as we rarely eat late at home.

There are no fixed dining times for breakfast or lunch. Guests are able to eat in the main dining room whenever it is open for breakfast or lunch.

Menus can be viewed in advance on the Costa Cruises App.

From The Main Restaurants Lunch Time Menu

The main restaurant on Deck 5, The Colombina Restaurant, was sometimes open for lunch.

The menu below shows a typical lunchtime selection :

Buffet – Included In the Cruise Fare

The buffet on the Costa Smeralda was open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner. It was shut in-between times, so consult your daily schedule or Costa Cruise App to check it is open before you visit.

The buffet is called La Sagra dei Sapori, and can be found towards the back of deck 8.

The buffet at dinner time consisted of:

• Mini Pizzas
• Ethnic Corner (Usually Chinese)

The sections would be different for breakfast and lunch.

The above photos are of lunches I had in the buffet. The great thing about the buffet is that you can combine anything that you think looks interesting .

The last photo is of the Costa Mini Pizzas, which were delicious!

Afternoon Snacks in the buffet for us meant Churros!

Everyday from 4pm there were a selection of afternoon snacks in the buffet

Churros became a daily routine, in the absence of my normal cookies .

There was also a good selection of sandwiches, paninis, cakes and desserts.

The Salty Beach – Street Food – Additional Charge Fast Food Restaurant

The Salty Beach snack bar can be found on deck 16, under the dome where the indoor pool is situated.

Here you can order either a meal – burger or toasted Panini with fries and a cake for €5 – or just a burger or toasted Panini for €3.50.

At time of writing, this is around $5.50/£4.50 for the meal, or $3.80/ £3 for just the burger or panini.

The burger and chips meal was huge, and we struggled to eat that – and then there was an included cake too.

Both the burgers and toasted paninis were delicious !

Burgers came in a variety of options, including a veggie burger.

Toasted Paninis had a selection of fillings.

There was a variety of cakes, none of which looked familiar to me. Nice to try something different when on a cruise. Some I liked, some I didn’t…

The food was always cooked to order, so was hot and tasty.

Pummid’Oro Pizzeria – Additional Charge Pizzeria

Pummid’Oro Pizzeria can be found on deck 8, towards the middle of the ship.

They serve a selection of Pizzas, and you pay per item, as in a normal restaurant on land.

The pizzas we chose were €9 and €11.

At time of writing, this is around $10/ £8 for one pizza and $12 / £ 9.70 for the other.

If you are a member of Costa Cruises Loyalty Club, you receive a 25% discount. Worth joining for that alone. Joining the Costa Club itself is totally free.

Other Speciality Restaurants Onboard That I Didn’t Try – Additional Charges Apply to all.

There are many other restaurants onboard that you can try at an extra cost, some formal, some informal. Here is a selection of other options available:

Archipelago Restaurant

This is a gourmet restaurant with menus consisting of 5 courses.

You can choose one of 3 different menus, and these are apparently an interpretation of a route you are travelling around the world! (They serve specialities from different places along the way.)

Costa donates € 5 to the Costa Cruise Foundation for every meal sold In the Archipelago Restaurant. This goes towards Social and Environmental projects.

Teppanyaki Restaurant

Food is served in an Oriental-style environment. Here you ca order Japanese seafood specialties. Restaurant tables are arranged around a large cooking table where the chefs prepare each meal at a time.

The Food Lab

The Food Lab is a “Seaside Cooking School” and specialty restaurant where you can try your hand at making your own dinner creations!

An onboard Sushi Bistro which offers dine-in or takeaway lunch or dinner.

Room Service

Room service is available 24 hours a day, at an extra charge. I never ordered from the room service menu on this cruise.

Check your daily schedule or onboard Costa Cruises App to find the latest details on the additional charges for these alternative restaurants.

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Costa Promotes Late Summer and Fall Cruises in the Mediterranean

• June 24, 2024

Costa Cruises is promoting its late summer and fall itineraries in the Western Mediterranean onboard the Costa Smeralda.

According to a press release, the seasons offer cooler temperatures in the region, as well as dwindling crowds.

The Costa Smeralda will sail week-long cruises to the Western Mediterranean that visit destinations in Italy, France, and Spain.

According to Costa, the ship’s itineraries are enriched by the company’s new “Sea Destinations” program, which features unique experiences that bring locations onboard for immersive activities and celebrations .

With multiple homeports and embarking on different weekdays, the cruises offer guests “the ultimate flexibility,” the company added.

The Costa Smeralda’s regular seven-night itinerary sails to Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Genoa, Cagliari and Naples, Italy.

Passengers can sail roundtrip from Barcelona, Genoa, or Civitavecchia.

As part of Costa’s “Sea Destinations” program, guests will be able to experience a “journey within a journey,” the company said.

Activities include “Balearic Sea – Sea of Stars,” which allows guests to discover planets and constellations with a ship officer out on deck.

According to the company, the stargazing takes place at sea, “away from light congestion in the darkness of the Mediterranean.”

Passengers will also be able to take part in the ”Capri Bay – Caprese Breakfast” with a View of Faraglioni activity.

The breakfast takes place before the ship’s arrival in Naples and includes Neapolitan coffee and a torta Caprese with Capri at dawn as background, the company explained.

The ”Sea Destinations” program also includes a light show named “Cetacean Sanctuary – Cetacean Light Show.”

According to Costa, the activity “reveals the secrets of the most fascinating sea creatures” and takes place on the open sea, against the backdrop of the ship’s funnel.

For North American guests, the Costa Smeralda offers an authentic European-style cruise experience, Costa said.

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Futura, l'expert en tourisme numérique développé par Reply, a été lancé à bord du Costa Smeralda pour aider les clients à choisir des expériences terrestres.

14 may 2024 

The on-board staff of Costa Smeralda , flagship of Costa Cruises' fleet, can now count on a very special new collaborator. The collaborator is Futura , the Digital Tour Expert who accompanies the ship's guests' vacations in the Mediterranean Sea and provides personalized suggestions and ad hoc experiences to explore each of the destinations included in the itinerary. 

This innovative project, already live on the Italian company's ship, was build by Reply , combining the expertise of Infinity Reply and Technology Reply , which specialize in 3D content & Spatial Computing and Data & AI, respectively.

Futura is a real virtual assistant, which uses generative AI and real time 3D models to introduc a new customer experience model, both in terms of approach and functionality. 

Every Costa Smeralda guest can talk to Futura fluently in one of the six enabled languages (Italian, English, Spanish, French, German or Portuguese) to request information that can help them make their vacation even more memorable. The solution is designed to help guests plan their visit to each port included in their itinerary, providing recommendations on key points of interest, based on their profiles and expressed preferences. Futura not only identifies and proposes personalized itineraries to guests in land-based destinations, but also proactively suggests the best tours organized by Costa Cruises that allow guests to explore the destinations. In particular, it is worth highlightinh the identification of points of interest, which makes the vacation experience even richer, more engaging, and at the same time simpler in all aspects of logistics. Once guests have chosen their favorite excursion, they can book it directly with Futura with just a few taps.

Thanks to GenAi's advanced algorithms, the virtual assistant communicates in natural language with guests, making the exchange of information simple and bidirectional, while using their feedback to offer recommendations and suggestions that become increasingly accurate and refined over time. In addition, the range of touristic itineraries shown is accompanied by pill presentations on individual cities, acquired from a specially created knowledge base. 

“Innovation has been part of Costa Cruises' DNA for more than 75 years. Thanks to the collaboration of an excellent partner such as Reply we are exploring the possibilities offered by generative AI and real time 3D to further enhance our guests' vacation experience. Futura is a very valuable support to the work of Costa Smeralda's on-board staff, integrating the services they offer in an engaging and effective way. The exploration of destinations is one of the strengths of our cruises, which always arouses great interest from guests who request more in-depth information. This is why we decided to start experimenting with generative AI precisely in this area, with very satisfactory results"-said Domenico Alessio, IT Vice President of Costa Cruises .

“As Reply, we are collaborating with several entities in the enterprise-level use of AI-driven digital humans. These digital figures, which enable fluid interaction in natural language, and use real-time 3D and graphical hyperrealism technologies, allow for extreme personalization (of appearance, personality and expertise), enabling brands to employ them a wide variety of contexts, from entertainment to education and all the way to online services and marketing” - commented Filippo Rizzante, CTO of Reply . 

Costa Smeralda offers week-long cruises exploring Italy, France and Spain, including timeless atmospheres, art cities, beaches and beautiful landscapes, with stops in Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples and Civitavecchia/Rome.

Reply Reply [EXM, STAR: REY] specialises in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. As a network of highly specialised companies, Reply defines and develops business models enabled by the new models of AI, big data, cloud computing, digital media and the internet of things. Reply delivers consulting, system integration and digital services to organisations across the telecom and media; industry and services; banking and insurance; and public sectors.  www.reply.com

Costa Crociere Costa Cruises is an Italian company, headquartered in Genoa, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, the world's largest cruise group. For more than 75 years, Costa ships have been plying the seas of the world, taking guests to some 300 different destinations to be discovered through unique experiences, both on board and ashore. Currently the Costa fleet consists of 9 ships, all flying the Italian flag, sailing in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as offering "Around the World" and "Grand Cruises," to visit different continents in a single vacation.  www.costacrociere.it

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The top 10 biggest cruise ships in the world

M odern cruise ships continue to grow in size, with the biggest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas , launching at the start of this year, and her sister ship the Star of the Seas expected to surpass her in size.

Both of these ships are operated by Royal Caribbean International, which operates five of the ten largest cruise ships in the world. Carnival Corporation, arguably the biggest cruise company in the world, features three times on the list through its subsidiaries P&O Cruises and Costa Cruises.

All of the heaviest cruise ships in the world were built within the last 20 years, although the majority – six of the ten – were built within the last five years.

So, here are the top ten biggest cruise ships in the world, by gross tonnage. 

10. P&O Cruises MS Arvia : 185,581 gross tonnes

The MS Arvia is P&O Cruises’ fourth ship to be built by German shipyard Meyer Werft. Weighing in at 185,581 gross tonnes, the 345m (1,130-foot) Arvia is slightly larger than her sister ship, the MS Iona . The 20-deck ship is the largest ship commissioned for the British cruise market and has a maximum passenger capacity of 6,264 passengers, with 1,800 crew onboard. 

The ship is the second liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered Excellence-class vessel for P&O, following the Iona . Arvia is powered by a 61,760kW LNG drive system, with a propulsion power of 37 megawatts. The LNG-powered propulsion system allows the vessel to sail at a maximum speed of 21.5 knots.

After being floated out in August 2022, the Arvia mainly operates itineraries around the Caribbean or the Mediterranean.

9. Costa Cruises – Costa Smeralda : 185,010 gross tonnes

The Costa Smeralda is the first LNG-powered vessel in the Costa Cruises fleet. With a gross tonnage of 185,010gt, the 20-deck Excellence-class ship measures 337m (1,106 feet) in length. The second LNG-powered cruise ship to enter operation in the world, she has a maximum capacity of 6,554 passengers with 1,646 crew and a service speed of 21.5 knots.

Construction of the Costa Smeralda began at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, in September 2017. Meyer Turku collaborated with the Meyer Werft Papenburg shipyard to develop and integrate the LNG propulsion plant for the ship. She is fitted with four 16-cylinder, Caterpillar MaK 16VM46DF engines, with 15.4 megawatts (20,710 horsepower) output per engine, resulting in a maximum power of  37 megawatts (50,000 horsepower).

The ship, which was named after the Emerald Coast of Sardinia, entered service in December 2019 , departing Savona on its maiden voyage in the Mediterranean, where it has sailed since.

8. Costa Cruises – Costa Toscana : 186,364 gross tonnes

The Costa Toscana is the sister ship of the Costa Smeralda and is also powered by LNG . measuring 337m (1,106 feet) long and weighing in at 186,364 gross tonnes, the Toscana has a maximum capacity of 6,338 passengers and 1,678 staff across her 20 decks.

Like her sister ship, the Toscana was also built at the Meyer shipyard in Finland, with construction completed in 2021. She is also powered by four MaK-Caterpillar engines, with a total power of 57.2 megawatts (76,706 horsepower), and two ABB Azipod motors , resulting in a service speed of 17 knots.

Named in homage to the Tuscany region of Italy, Costa Toscana mainly sails around the Mediterranean Sea but Costa Cruises has also used the ship to sail itineraries further afield, such as around Brazil and the UAE.

7. MSC Cruises – MSC World Europa : 215,863 gross tonnes

The only entry in the top ten from MSC Cruises, MSC World Europa measures 333m (1,094 feet) in length. With 215,863 gross tonnage, she can house more people than any other ship in the MSC fleet: up to 6,762 passengers across 2,633 cabins spread over 22 decks, in addition to 2,138 crew.

Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, the World Europa ’s LNG-power propulsion system was subcontracted to Finland-based Wärtsilä. Five LNG-powered, 14-cylinder Wartsila 46DF dual-fuel engines power the vessel, with a propulsion power of 44 megawatts ( 59,005 horsepower). She also features nitrogen oxide reduction (NOR) units, two Wartsila LNGPac fuel storage and supply systems, seven thrusters, and two fixed-pitch propellers. 

The MSC World Europa was floated out at the end of 2021 and was initially used as an accommodation vessel for fans attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the ship berthed at Doha Port in Qatar during the tournament. Following the competition, the ship subsequently travelled several routes around the UAE, before sailing to the Mediterranean, where it has sailed itineraries since.

6. Royal Caribbean International – Allure of the Seas : 225,282 gross tonnes

The first of many entries on this list operated by Royal Caribbean, Allure of the Seas weighs in at 225,282 gross tonnes. Measuring 362m (1,187 feet), she is only 50mm (2 inches) longer than her sister ship the Oasis of the Seas . The Allure has a maximum capacity of 6,780 passengers and 2,200 crew across 18 decks.

Built at the Turku Shipyard in Finland, the Allure took two years to build , floating out in 2010. She features six Wärtsilä 46 diesel engines with a total power output of 97 megawatts (130,053 horsepower). It is propelled by three electric Azipod azimuth thrusters. The ship can travel at a cruising speed of 22 knots.

With a homeport of Galveston, Texas in the US, the Allure mainly serves itineraries around the Bahamas but she is scheduled to sail routes around the Mediterranean in 2025.

5. Royal Caribbean International – Oasis of the Seas : 226,838 gross tonnes

The oldest ship on this list, the Oasis of the Seas has been in service for over a decade. She was the biggest cruise ship at the time when floated out in 2009, with a gross tonnage of 226,838gt and a length of 360m (1,181 feet). The Oasis has a maximum capacity of 6,699 passengers and 2,181 staff across 18 decks.

The Oasis took two years to build at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, with the keel laid on 12 November 2007 and the ship arriving at her homeport of Port Everglades in Florida, US, on 13 November 2009.

The Oasis is powered by eight Wärtsilä V12 diesel engines, which generate 5.6 megawatts (7,500 horsepower) each, alongside four bow thrusters. The main propulsion system consists of three 20-megawatt (26,820 horsepower) electric Azipod motors, resulting in a combined propulsion power of 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower) and a standard cruising speed of 23 knots.

The Oasis mainly operates routes around the Caribbean, but occasionally repositions to offer itineraries in the Mediterranean.

4. Royal Caribbean International – Harmony of the Seas : 226,963 gross tonnes

The third Oasis-class ship built by Royal Caribbean, Harmony of the Seas weighed in bigger than her existing sister ships at launch in 2016, with 226,963 gross tonnage, but she has since been surpassed by newer vessels. With a total length of 362m (1,188 feet), Harmony has a maximum capacity of 6,780 passengers and 2,300 staff across 18 decks.

Royal Caribbean placed an order with STX France for the construction of Harmony of the Seas in December 2012. The first steel for the ship was cut at STX France’s Saint-Nazaire shipyard in September 2013, while the keel-laying ceremony was held in May 2014.

The Harmony is powered by three 18.9-megawatt Wärtsilä 16V46 16-cylinder main generator diesel engines and three Wärtsilä 12V46 12-cylinder engines producing 13.9 megawatts each. The propulsion power is provided by three electric Azipod azimuth thrusters and manoeuvring is assisted by four 5.5-megawatt Wärtsilä CT 3500 tunnel thrusters. The propulsion system results in 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower) and enables the ship to sail at a standard speed of 23 knots.

Harmony of the Seas embarked on her inaugural seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, Spain, in June 2016, and currently operates itineraries around the Western Caribbean from her homeport of Galveston, Texas in the US.

3. Royal Caribbean International – Symphony of the Seas : 228,081 gross tonnes

At launch in 2018, the Symphony of the Seas surpassed the Harmony as the biggest cruise ship, weighing in at 228,081 gross tonnes. Measuring 361m (1,185 feet), the Symphony has a maximum capacity of 6,680 passengers and 2,200 staff across 18 decks and was the testing ground for Royal Caribbean's new muster drill . With a total length of 361m (1,185 feet), She is roughly 30 metres (98 feet) longer than the largest military ships , the US Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and the USS Gerald R. Ford .

The keel-laying ceremony for the Symphony of the Seas was held in October 2015 at STX’s Saint-Nazaire shipyard in France, and the ship sailed out in June 2017. She is powered by six diesel sets, each composed of three Wärtsilä 16V46D engines and three Wärtsilä 12V46D engines, as well as three 20-megawatt electric Azipod main engines – resulting in 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower) of propulsion power and a standard cruising speed of 22 knots.

The Symphony commenced her seven-day maiden voyage from Barcelona in April 2018, and since then has mainly operated itineraries around the Caribbean from her homeports of Miami, New York, and Fort Lauderdale.

2. Royal Caribbean International – Wonder of the Seas : 235,600 gross tonnes

Royal Caribbean's flagship, Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis-class cruise ship built for the cruise company. Weighing in at 235,600 gross tonnes, the Wonder was the largest ship in the world when she was completed in January 2022. Measuring 362m (1,187 feet) in length, the 18-deck Wonder has a maximum capacity of 7,084 guests across its 2,867 staterooms, as well as housing 2,369 crew.

Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, Wonder is powered by two Wärtsilä 16V46D engines and four Wärtsilä 12V46D engines; and uses three 20-megawatt electric Azipod engines for propulsion, combining for a propulsion power of 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower and a standard cruising speed of 22 knots.

The Wonder sailed her maiden voyage in March 2022 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has since served itineraries around the Caribbean from her homeports of Miami and Cape Canaveral.

1. Royal Caribbean International – Icon of the Seas : 248,663 gross tonnes

Weighing 248,663 gross tonnes and measuring 365 metres (1,1967 feet), the Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. Christened on 23 January 2024, the Icon has a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew across 20 decks. She is the lead ship of the new Icon-class, with a sister ship the Star of the Seas due to be delivered in 2025 and another ship planned for delivery in 2026.

Built by Meyer Turku in Finland, the Icon is the first ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet that can be powered by LNG. It uses three Wärtsilä 14V46DF and three Wärtsilä 12V46DF for its main generator engines, which provide 67.5 megawatts of energy to run the ship. She is propelled by three 20-megawatt Azipod thrusters as well as five 4.8-megawatt Wärtsilä WTT-45 CP bow thrusters, with a cruising speed of 22 knots.

After sailing her maiden voyage on 27 January 2024, the Icon now sails year-round itineraries of seven-night trips around the Eastern and Western Caribbean from her homeport of Miami, Florida.

"The top 10 biggest cruise ships in the world" was originally created and published by Ship Technology , a GlobalData owned brand.

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