Ron Pare

Costa Fortuna (March 3-13) Visited Egypt, Italy, Cyprus, Rhodes, Greece, and Turkey

Ok, we got snowed in for a night in Frankfurt and missed our connecting plane. We missed a day of the cruise as well as missed an excursion day in Rome, got hit with a SAND storm in Egypt, a HAIL storm in Cyprus, a RAIN storm in Katakolon (home of the Olympic games) and we didn't get any luggage AT ALL for 7 days (thank you Lufthansa) and still had a pretty good time.

The Costa Fortuna is a new (2003) ship. It is clean, bright and attractive. It is huge. So even when winds hit 100kph (which they did) and seas were 9 feet, it was very smooth and stable.

The company personnel worked hard to help out. Due to a snow storm in Germany, many passengers did not have their luggage get to the ship. The company contacted the airlines several times a day to locate our bags and kept us informed as best they could. They gave us FREE, express (4 hour) laundry service until we got our luggage.

HINT: It is an Italian ship with mostly Italian and other European country passengers. That means that pushing and shoving to get in the elevator before you get out, cutting in line at the reception desk, buffet table or any other place is to be expected. Just remember it isn't the crew's or company’s fault. Just do what my wife did, tell'em to stop pushing, don't get in front of me and show some manners and pretty soon they get the message!

The food at dinner and in the restaurants at lunch was excellent. The buffet (if you wanted to skip the restaurants) was disappointing. When the brochure says "pizza buffet" DONT YOU BELIEVE IT!

Summary:

Service people were great!
Restaraunt food very good, buffet not so good.
Ship is very good. Facilities very good (gym, pool etc)
Excursions were pretty good except for the weather as noted.
1. Listen to the guides and watch out for the guys at the Pyramids! Big time hucksters and major pains in the ...
2. Got to Ephesus in Turkey (sp?)!!! It is amazing!
3. Cyprus tour was not very good. Our guide was very monotone so that didn't help.
4. Rhodes is great! The walled city is worth seeing as is the acropolis on the other side of the island
5. Parthenon trip is worth it.

PS LUFTHANSA lost all our luggage on the trip home too!