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?
What to Expect Aboard the Costa Smeralda Cruise Ship
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.
Shopping
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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