Costa Cruise Lines
OceanContemporary
An Italian big-ship line with a European atmosphere, sailing mainly in the Mediterranean.
The yellow funnel with its blue letter C has been a familiar sight in Mediterranean ports for generations. Costa traces its origins to a Genoese family of olive oil traders, turned to passenger shipping after the Second World War, and remains Italian in spirit, though it is now part of Carnival Corporation.
Its ships are large and lively, and the passenger list is mostly European, with Italian, French, German and Spanish heard at dinner and announcements made in several languages. Travellers used to American ships will notice the difference: later evenings, a stronger emphasis on coffee, pasta and pizza, and a sociable, slightly theatrical atmosphere on board. The western and eastern Mediterranean are the core of the programme, with seasons in Northern Europe and the Caribbean.
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