Launched in 1996,
CostaVictoria was Costa's most ambitious building project at the time—the company's largest ship, at 75,200 tons—until the
CostaAtlantica came along four years later. Registered in Italy, this ship comes in at 828 ft with a beam of 105 ft and a cruising speed of 23 knots. She was designed by well-known naval architect Robert Tillberg. The vessel's larger size permitted some dramatic design features, as well as additional choices in dining and entertainment. During a winter 2004 refit, she had 246 balconies clipped on, so that 43% of her outside cabins now have them.
Costa Crociere started out in shipping in the 1920s and expanded into the passenger trade in 1948. Its principle business was the migrant trade between Mediterranean ports and the East Coast of South America. Thereafter the line turned to Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising. Carnival Corporation bought a substantial interest in Costa in 1997, then took on the entire company by 2000. Investment in new ships has more than kept pace with the growing cruise industry, and the line's fleet numbers more than a dozen, with others under construction. Its chief rival is MSC Cruises, which also trades on Italian-style cruising.
CostaVictoria carries mostly Italian officers, an 800-person international crew, and a multinational mix of 1,928 passengers. Public announcements and literature are offered in several languages. Italians, Germans, French, Spanish, Portuguese and British form the primary clientele during the European season, while Brazilians board during the South American season. Two long positioning Atlantic voyages in the spring and fall link the two cruising regions.
The summer season is divided between Northern Europe with cruises to the Arctic, Norway and the Baltic and the Western Mediterranean extending out into the Atlantic Isles. She repositions to Brazil for coastal cruises to Brazilian, Argentinean and Uruguayan ports.
The 10 decks, each named after an opera, center on the Planetarium Atrium, a glass-domed space with modern sculpture and glass elevators rising through seven decks. Most of the varied entertainment is aft in the large two-deck Festival Show Lounge. The splendid forward-facing Concord Plaza is Costa's signature Italian piazza, with floor-to-ceiling windows affording wonderful views and a center stage with a waterfall as a backdrop. Here, tiers of dance platforms, leather chairs, and 10-ft video screens span four decks under bedazzling disco lighting. A smaller disco pulsates amidships, and the glass-enclosed lounge offers music with a view.
Meals are in two sittings in twin Italian-accented dining rooms. The food preparation and presentation are uneven, including the pasta and pizza. The service, furthermore, lacks polish. Other dining is in the bright Bolero Buffet, at the canvas-covered Terrazza Cafe, in the spacious pizzeria one deck above, and in the reservations-only Ristorante Magnifico by Zefferino, where passengers pay extra to dine. An ice-cream parlor and poolside grill round out the food options.
The immense casino and a shopping gallery range three-quarters the length of Carmen deck. The gym, spa, small indoor pool and whirlpool complex are additional assets. Most of the accessible deck space lies amidships, where symmetrical stairways wind around two outdoor pools, four whirlpools, table tennis and bars. A covered jogging track rings Traviata Deck, and a solarium and promenade top off the ship. The miniature tennis court onboard also doubles for basketball and volleyball. Supervised youth programs entertain three age groups during school holidays. The top deck Teen Club awkwardly shares space with the Internet Cafe.
The 964 cabins show simple modern decor and come with small desks, phones, TVs, safes, ample stowage, and baths with showers, hair dryers and marble accents. Outsides (60% of the total) boast unobstructed views through either circular or large, square windows. Studios add sofas and armchairs, dressing areas, whirlpool tubs and window-walls. Many cabins have a third berth and 16 (interiors) have four. Suites boast butler service, sitting rooms, dressing rooms with two extra bunks, commodious stowage and extra-large baths, and lovely views over the bow. Six cabins near the elevators are wheelchair-accessible. Cabin service is 24 hours a day from a limited menu for the standard cabins.
Passengers of all ages and nationalities love the spectacular design, the varied activities, and the lively atmosphere. This fun, German-built ship has an Italian feel even though most of the crew hails from elsewhere. English speakers will need to feel comfortable as a tiny minority to lap up the cultural experience.
