Costa Cruise Lines
Costa Mediterranea Cruise Review
Western Caribbean

Beth Caldwell

We went on the Costa Mediterranea on the November 20, 2005 sailing of the Western Caribbean.

Our group age range was my Son is 18, I am 42, my Husband is 49, and my Dad and his girlfriend (Liz) are 79.

My family has sailed on the Costa Mediterranea in March of 2005. She is as beautiful now as then. The ship is always very clean and staff very friendly. It is funny that we had the same cruise director and Captain as our first sailing.

The cruise was the first sailing in the Caribbean for this season. So it took them longer to get through customs. So everyone had to wait in line till 1pm to board instead of the 11am. But you think about that being our only complaint.

We had two balcony cabins next to each other and they opened the door between the balconies without a problem. The cabins were category 6. They were very clean and room steward wads great. Our luggage was to both cabins within 2 hours of boarding. Yeah, unlike Carnival were I did not get my luggage till after dinner.

The buffet was for lunch was great; to be honest my son and Liz went to the buffet and the pizza and hamburgers for lunch. We explored the ship the rest of the afternoon.

We did have to order my Husband and Son tuxes with the cruise line since a week before we left my Son said his suit was too small and my husband did not want to be the only one in the group not wearing a tux. The tuxes were in our cabin by 3pm the day we arrived on the ship.

Out first port was Key West we did the Conch Train not purchased from the Cruise ship but in town it was a little less per ticket but you saw a lot more of Key West. The only bad thing was it did not leave much time to go shopping.

Our second stop was Cozumel. I have never seen happier people as we did when we got off the tender, they welcomed everyone with a big “Welcome to the New Cozumel, we rebuild just for you!” Everyone is so friendly. Since the last time we were there was a lot of damage that we noticed... But we believe that they are going to come back better and stronger. We took the Dune buggy and snorkel tour. The first beach we went to was in bad shape. But the second one was beautiful and we had dinner there at sunset. The dune buggies were in bad shape but I think it was the first time they were used since Wilma. We all enjoyed the tour and the adventure that went along with it.

Our third port was Ocho Rios Jamaica. We did the Martha Brae raft tour. It was beautiful we all enjoyed it. If you want a relaxing tour with beautiful scenery this is the tour. They pick you up at the pier and you take a bus about forty miles across the island. To what we would call a rain forest, this is you take the bamboo rafts on the river. It was one of the most beautiful areas that we have seen. The ride on the raft takes about one hour long, our tour guide was telling us all about each plant and what it was used for. It is sad to think of all the medicines we are losing by cutting down these forests.

Our forth and finale port was Grand Cayman. We swam with the Sting rays. All I can say is want to do it again and the rays are just like puppy dogs. They liked kisses, patted, and just like dogs when you run out of food they leave.

Back to the ship the shows were wonderful; we had everything from the ships production shows to singers brought aboard for just that night.

The Gala Farwell Midnight buffet is on the most wonderful and beautiful productions that I have ever seen on a ship. They use lights and music in the presentation of it. I have noticed only Costa cruises do that.

The meals and service is wonderful and defiantly 5 star... The staff always very helpful and friendly.

The only bad thing I noticed this time on the ship is that it is becoming Americanized and what I mean by that Is that the people do not dress up as much for dinner as on the past cruises with Costa. Also not as many people dressed in Toga’s and before when they would have them specially made for that night.

But all in all we have no complaints and highly recommend Costa Cruises. We all plan to do many more.

If anyone would like any pictures or more information please let me know.

Beth Caldwell
A Touch of Gold Travel
bethcaldwell at earthlink.net