Would you ever book a cruise on a ship with a 2.8-star rating out of 5? I did. And by the end of my week onboard Costa Toscana, I was more than ready to get off the ship and onto solid ground.
I came across this budget-friendly 7-night Costa Toscana cruise while planning my European cruise earlier this year.
The price was $1,090 for a solo traveler, which is a steal for a cruise on the world’s 8th largest cruise ship (launched in 2021).
Curious about what Costa had to offer, I booked the cruise on a whim — keeping an open mind, not letting the Costa Concordia disaster or the ship’s low Cruise Critic rating sway me.
Here’s the thing: despite being open-minded and optimistic, by the end of my week on Costa Toscana, I couldn’t wait to disembark.
While I did enjoy certain aspects of the vacation (including the food and the ports), there were plenty of things that left me frustrated and disappointed.
In this post, I’m sharing the 6 Hated and 4 Loved Things About My Costa Toscana Cruise
What I Hated About Costa Toscana
1. The Main Buffet Was Chaos
Let’s start with the first thing that really got on my nerves: the main buffet.
On the first night, I walked into La Sagra Dei Sapori, expecting a quick dinner — but what I got instead was utter chaos.
It’s not unusual for cruise ship buffets to be busy, but this one was just poorly organized.
Here’s the deal:
- The buffet wasn’t self-service — you had to line up at individual food stations for each type of dish (salads, pasta, meats, fish, etc.).
- Lines for popular stations could be 10 minutes long. It was maddening, especially on a ship with 6,000 passengers.
To make matters worse, this chaotic buffet was the only option for dinner service.
Thankfully, breakfast and lunch buffets in the main dining rooms were self-service and less crowded, but dinner was another story.
While the food quality itself was great (especially the pasta), the experience was enough to drive me away.
I ended up avoiding the buffet as much as I could for the rest of the cruise, but I had no choice but to return for dinner.
2. Flexible Embarkation Sounds Great, But…
On the plus side, Costa offers flexible embarkation. Instead of everyone boarding at the homeport, you can choose your embarkation port.
So, I decided to board in Civitavecchia (Rome), which made things easy for me since I didn’t have to fly to the homeport in Savona.
My embarkation process was smooth and quick, as there were only a few people boarding at the secondary port. I was in and out in no time, which was a huge relief.
But as nice as the flexible embarkation is, it comes with some downsides. The constant flow of new passengers embarking at different ports creates a bit of confusion every day.
Imagine hundreds of guests wandering around with their luggage in the morning, and the traditional sailaway party happening midway through the cruise. Not ideal.
While my own embarkation day was easy, I could see how this would create a less-organized experience for other passengers.
3. Adults-Only Spaces Were a Joke
Here’s something that really bothered me: Costa claims to have adults-only spaces, including a special adults-only Solarium pool area.
The idea sounds great, right? Unfortunately, when I finally decided to check out this adults-only space, there were kids swimming in the pool — and not just one or two, but several.
It was clear that the adults-only rule wasn’t being enforced. And while I don’t blame the kids — the small sign saying “adults-only” was easy to miss — I was frustrated.
If you’re after a more adult-focused getaway, Costa might not be the best option. Costa clearly caters to families, and kids were everywhere on board.
So if you’re someone who wants to enjoy some quiet time in adult-only spaces, this could be a dealbreaker.
4. The Tolerance for Smoking Onboard
This is a big one for me: Costa’s smoking policy. Now, I get it — smoking is more common in Italy than it is in other places.
But there’s a much higher tolerance for smoking on board than I’m used to.
Here’s the thing:
- Designated smoking areas are available, but there seemed to be more smoke lingering in public areas than I’ve ever experienced on any other cruise line.
- Worse, guests are allowed to smoke on their balconies, which can make it feel like you’re constantly surrounded by smoke, even if you’re just trying to relax in your cabin. I was fortunate enough to have non-smoking neighbors, but I can imagine how uncomfortable it could be if you’re stuck next to a smoker.
If you’re someone who’s sensitive to smoke, this could be a major issue.
It’s not that Costa doesn’t have smoking rules — it’s just that they seem to be less strictly enforced than on other cruise lines.
5. The Seating at Entertainment Venues Was Terrible
If you love attending shows on your cruise, let me tell you — Costa Toscana’s entertainment venues will frustrate you.
The Colosseo (Costa Toscana’s main entertainment area) is a three-deck high atrium that doubles as the venue for most of the shows.
It’s a beautiful space, but here’s the problem:
- Seating with a full view of the stage is limited.
- Most seats are obstructed, so if you don’t show up hours ahead of time, you won’t be able to see the performance without watching it on a TV screen (which, let’s face it, isn’t ideal when you’re sitting just a few feet away).
- The alternative? Standing behind a row of seats, but let’s be honest — that’s no fun either.
Even the Poltrona Frau Arena (the second entertainment space) had similar issues, where seating was cramped and the layout didn’t feel ideal for performances.
I love attending live shows on cruises, but the design of Costa Toscana’s venues made it way more frustrating than it needed to be.
6. Wi-Fi Was Overpriced and Not Very Reliable
If you’re hoping to stay connected at sea, brace yourself — Costa’s Wi-Fi comes at a steep price and isn’t always dependable.
They offer several packages: a WhatsApp-only plan, a social media plan, and a full unlimited internet plan.
Unsurprisingly, the full package isn’t cheap — around €14 per day for unlimited access.
Even when you pay up, expect slow speeds or spotty connections — especially during peak usage or when you’re in port.
Satellite connections and the sheer number of users mean it’s rarely smooth sailing on the internet.
So, if you’re a digital nomad or need reliable Wi-Fi for work, Costa’s setup could be more hassle than it’s worth.
What I Loved About Costa Toscana
1. The Italian Vibe Was Fantastic
Now for the good stuff! One of the things I absolutely loved about my Costa cruise was the Italian atmosphere.
From the food to the décor to the itinerary, everything felt authentically Italian.
- The primary language onboard is Italian, which gave the whole cruise a charming European feel (don’t worry, the crew speaks English).
- The ship’s design was all about Italian cityscapes, with themed venues like Gelateria Amarillo (designed to feel like an Italian piazza) and the Aperol Spritz Bar (for fans of the famous Venetian apéritif).
As someone who loves Italy, this was a treat. The vibe onboard was laid-back, with plenty of Italian classics in both the food and ambiance.
2. The Specialty Restaurants Were Amazing
After surviving the chaos of the buffet, I decided to treat myself to a 3-night dining package at Costa Toscana’s specialty restaurants.
For €110, I got to try three exclusive restaurants, and honestly, it was worth every penny. The quality of the food was fantastic.
From teriyaki salmon Teppanyaki to Ligurian pesto pizza, the ingredients were fresh, and the flavors were incredible.
Specialty dining packages on Costa are a great way to elevate your experience, and this splurge was definitely one of the highlights of my cruise.
However, a small downside was that the rules around the dining package weren’t very clear, which left me confused about what was included.
Still, I’d recommend investing in it if you want better food than what’s offered at the main buffet.
3. The Itinerary Was Amazing (Even If the Weather Wasn’t)
Let’s talk about what makes a cruise unforgettable: the itinerary. For me, the ports were absolutely the highlight of my Costa Toscana experience.
Despite the issues onboard, I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to explore five amazing ports:
- Savona (Italy)
- Marseille (France)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
- Palermo (Sicily)
While we did encounter poor weather in Barcelona (it rained all day long), the diversity of the destinations more than made up for it.
I explored historic cathedrals, tasted delicious local food, and checked off several new cities from my bucket list.
If the ports of call are more important to you than the ship itself, Costa Toscana has you covered with a solid mix of Mediterranean gems.
4. The Lack of Daytime Programming
Here’s where Costa really lost me: the lack of daytime activities.
On sea days, the schedule was largely empty until around 7 PM, when most of the ship’s entertainment kicked off.
I’m someone who loves to stay busy while cruising, but there wasn’t much to do during the day.
Sure, there were some exercise classes and the occasional trivia session, but that was about it.
What did happen was mostly related to selling something: a demo on how to tie a sarong at the bikini store or a presentation about the ship’s shopping options.
For a ship this size, I was expecting more onboard activities to keep me entertained during the day.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the midnight silent disco and the few activities I did attend, but it felt like there could have been so much more to do.
Would I Sail on Costa Cruises Again?
After spending a week onboard Costa Toscana, I’m torn. While I loved the food, itinerary, and the Italian atmosphere, some major issues left me questioning if I’d cruise with Costa again.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Crowd management was a mess, particularly at the buffet and entertainment venues.
- Smoking tolerance onboard was way higher than I’m comfortable with.
- I also felt the ship was too crowded, even though it wasn’t anywhere near full capacity.
If you’re after a budget-friendly European cruise and don’t mind a little chaos, Costa is a solid choice.
However, if you want a more organized, relaxing experience, I’d probably choose another line.
Comparing Costa to other European lines like MSC Cruises, I found MSC to offer a bit more variety and smoother service, even if Costa did win me over in the food department.
Would I sail Costa again? Maybe — but only if the itinerary was unique enough to make it worth the challenges. For my next European cruise, though, I’m definitely going to explore other options.
