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Costa Marina |
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| The unique-looking Costa Marina is one of the older ships in the Costa cruise fleet. In fact, she was actually built back in 1969 as a container ship known as MS Axel Johnson (for a Sweden-based shipping company). She was later sold to Regency Cruises, in 1986, who had the intentions of transforming her into a cruise ship (which was planned to be named MS Regent Sun). However, this transformation did not happen. Instead, she the ship was laid up for a year, until she was sold to Navyclup (in 1987). At that point in time she was renamed MS Italia, and again did nothing for a year. She was sold to Costa Cruises in 1988. At that point in time she was (finally) rebuilt into a cruise ship and entered service in 1990 for Costa as Costa Marina. She received a significant refurbishment in 2002, during which many changes were made to help Costa market her specifically to the German cruising market. Costa Marina is filled with windows! From a glass enclosed atrium roof, to a transparent roof over the night club, she offers great views of the sky to those onboard. The Marina really seems to bring the outside indoors and has a Italian art theme onboard. |
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| Costa Marina will be featuring cruises in the following regions (subject to change, based on the cruise line's discretion): 2010: Mediterranean |
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| Costa Marina doesn't feature quite the range of accommodations as the younger Costa ships. However, she does offer a nice selection, with basic inside staterooms all the way up to decent sized suites. Unfortunately, since she's an older ship that was originally built for a different industry, there are no standard balcony staterooms onboard the Marina (only suites have a private balcony). All of the staterooms onboard the Marina come with a private bathroom, mini bar, safe, hair dryer, TV and phone. Inside Staterooms: The inside staterooms onboard Costa Marina (categories I1 through I4) are a somewhat tight 138 square feet. Inside staterooms can be found on decks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. A category IS stateroom is a single occupancy inside stateroom, a rarity in today's cruising world. Such a stateroom is about 115 square feet. There are nine Single Insides onboard the Marina, which can be found on decks 3, 4 and 5. Outside Staterooms: The Marina's oceanview staterooms (called outside staterooms), categories E1 through E4, are about 164 square feet in size. Outside staterooms on the Marina are located on decks 2, 3, 4 and 5. A category ES stateroom is a single occupancy outside stateroom, and is about 141 square feet. There are only two ES staterooms onboard the Marina, both of which are located on deck 3. Suites: The eight (category S) suites onboard the Marina are each about 312 square feet in size (including their balconies). All of the suites onboard this ship get daily delivery of the lunch and dinner menus, bathrobes and slippers (to use for the duration of the cruise), and a special kit of bath products. Suites feature a whirlpool bath, queen bed and sitting area. |
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| Crystal (Cristallo) Restaurant, located aft on Modigliani (deck 5), is the 440-seat main dining room onboard Costa Marina. This venue features floor-to-ceiling windows. Each night of the cruise typically has a different theme in the main dining room, with a menu that reflects that particular evening's theme. For example, there may be a Caribbean Dinner, an Italian Dinner, an American Dinner, or even a Bacchanal Dinner (a classical Rome-inspired evening, where guests may wear togas to dinner). Besides the varying menu each night, there will always be a few additional options on the menu that remain constant (for those that aren't crazy about that particular theme's selections), including various meats, fish and pasta dishes. The menus in this venue are printed in Italian, with a second language (such as English, Spanish and German) below each description. The main dining room has an assigned seating setup for dinner, where you are assigned to either a main or late seating and dine at the same table each night (with the same wait staff serving you). Be sure when initially booking your cruise that you select the dining time you want, and please be aware that it may be on a waitlist. The 260-seat Yacht Club Buffet, located on deck 7, is a casual dining area with indoor and outdoor seating. Breakfast and lunch are served at this venue. Unlike most of the (younger) Costa cruise ships, there is no (à la carte) specialty restaurant onboard Costa Marina. Don't forget that 24 hour room service is available for all passengers onboard Costa Marina. There is a basic complimentary menu, but it's an excellent option for a late night snack, or for when you're feeling a little lazy and would rather the food come to you. There are a few items on the menu that you can order at an additional cost, such as bar drinks. |
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| Being an older ship, especially being one that wasn't originally meant to be a passenger ship, Costa Marina doesn't feature quite the onboard features of the younger Costa cruise ships. For example, you're not going to find spa staterooms onboard this ship. However, you can usually get a nice price for a cruise on the Marina, and she's quite spacious, with a courteous staff. Among the entertainment options onboard Costa Marina is the 380-seat main show lounge, Tropicana Showroom, located forward on Marina (deck 6). A different show is performed at this venue each evening. Examples of possible performances may include comedians, cabaret-style shows, singers and musicians. Casino Sicilia (located on deck 6 as well) is another popular place to be onboard the Marina, especially in the evening after a show ends. There are a few bars and lounges onboard Costa Marina. Among them are Harry's Bar, Marina Lounge, Club Laguna (a spacious cocktail lounge) and the Pool Bar. The two-story spa is located on decks 8 and 9 (towards the front of the ship). The spa features a variety of treatments (such as facials and massages), saunas and steam rooms. Within this area of the ship is also an aerobics area (with fitness classes available) and various fitness machines. The jogging track is located on deck 8. The ship's outdoor pool is located mid-ship on deck 7 (inside the Marina's Solarium), with a bunch of outdoor lounge seating nearby for taking in some rays or just relaxing. There's a few Jacuzzis located nearby the pool. Costa Marina doesn't have quite the range of things to do onboard for children and teens like the newer ships in the Costa fleet. However, she does have the Squok Club (the main base of her children's club, located on deck 6), a children's pool (aft on deck 7) and an arcade (on deck 6, adjacent to the Squok Club). The Marina's children's program is for those ages 3 to 17 (see below for more details). The library and internet center is located on deck 6 (they're in the same room), right next to the card room. Located on deck 4 is the photo gallery (where you can purchase the pictures that the staff takes of you during the cruise), a beauty salon, the Marina's atrium, a chapel, the info office and the shore excursions office. |
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| During the day people dress casual while onboard a Costa cruise. Examples of such dress include light, cotton clothing or swimwear with cover up when indoors. Some tours prohibit shorts and sleeveless shirts, and may require ladies to wear knee-length skirts or slacks. Almost every night on a Costa cruise is informal. Costa asks you to feel free to dress comfortably in resort attire, as jackets are not required. Depending on your cruise's length, there are usually one or two formal nights. If you choose to dress formally, Costa recommends a suit for men and a cocktail dress for women. You may also dress more casually on such nights, in elegant resort wear. |
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| Costa's children's program, called Costa Kids Program, varies based on the number of children onboard each sailing and on the particular ship and itinerary. When in full effect, this program offers four age-based children's programs: Mini: ages 3 (out of diapers) to 6 Maxi: ages 7 to 11 Teen Junior: ages 12 to 14 Teen: ages 15 to 17 The Costa Kids Program is an interactive program that provides daily activities for children and teens. Activities vary based on age-group and include activities such as costume parties, sports tournaments, evening parties, treasure hunts, board games and junior aerobics. The parents of children in either the Mini or Maxi groups are able to take advantage of free nighttime group babysitting (held in the children's area until 1:30 am). Nighttime babysitting is not available for children under 36 months of age. Children have special counselors and a room designed for their activities. Children under the age of 3 are allowed to enter and stay in the room only during certain times (not during busy times in high season) and must be accompanied by an adult. Children's activities vary by ship and itinerary, as the number of children varies by sailing and programs are adjusted accordingly. Infants under the age of 6 months at the time of boarding are not allowed on board. This lower age limit is raised to 12 months for cruises lasting 15 days or more. |
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| Costa will automatically charge your onboard expense account a per person, per day "service charge" to cover many of the staff members (such as the dining room staff and room stewards) that service you throughout your cruise. Costa's service charge is based on your cruise's destination and duration. It is as follows (subject to change):
If you'd like to increase or decrease the amount charged by Costa for service charges, you may do so by contacting your ships' Guest Relations Desk (prior to the end of your cruise). A 15% gratuity will automatically be added to any beverage purchases you make. It is at your discretion to tip bartenders, servers, deck stewards and various other staff members, if you so desire. |
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| The minimum drinking age on all Costa cruise ships departing from a US port is 21 years of age. If the ship departs from a non-US port, the minimum drinking age is 18 years old. Any bottles of alcohol that you purchase onboard the ship (in the gift shop) or at a port of call will be held for you by the staff, until disembarkation. |
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| The minimum gambling age on all Costa cruise ships is 18 years of age. |
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