Costa Cruises, Costa Victoria

We have just got back from a cruise around the Greek islands. My opinion is very mixed about the whole experience!

On the plus side, the staff were generally very good. Attentive, friendly, helpful. The excursion into Athens in particular was very good and well worth the money. We thought the food was excellent, although the lunch time menu lacked variety. Generally, the cruise was very well organised, although you often felt like a sheep being herded.

Unfortunately, there were quite a few negatives. On arrival, we entered our cabin to find it absolutely stinking of smoke. Given that the cabins are very small, the smell was very oppresive and obviously not what you expect after paying all that money! The hospitality staff tried three times to do what they called a 'deep clean', which was basically emptying a can of aerosol. We had to insist on getting the linen changed, and even then it was dirty. Other than that, no help was offered, and no apology given which was disapointing. As other people have commented, the other guests were extremly loud, refused to queue, and had no respect for personal space. The spa was freezing cold and the treatments ridiculously expensive! Drinks were also expensive, especially when the 10% 'tax' was added on to every order. The most galling thing though was the new 'service charge' which was added at the end of the week. We were not made aware of this charge - an extra £45.50 - and when we tried to complain, no help was given, and the staff we spoke to did not have any authority to do anything. In addition, our complaint regarding our cabin had miraculously 'disappeared'! We found the whole experience extremly frustrating, and don't hold any hope of our complaints being acknowledged. I wouldn't recommend this cruise line.

We had a good holiday, met some very friendly people nice places to visit and if we had known about airport wait would have sorted something out e.g trip round rome. Also Italians do not like queing and can be a bit pushy but I think that's just their way. The main gripe was leaving boat at nine but not flying to six o'clock some even later. It was as if they said: "you've had your holiday now go!".

Overall a great holiday with the Costa Victoria, and we would go again! Service fantastic! The crew work flat out to ensure a good holiday is had by all.

The organisation is excellent, from the transfers to the daily news sheet.

The ship is clean and the itinery imaginative.

Were moved to a friend's upmarket cabin mid week, as they sadly needed to leave - staff very accomodating.

Many Brits were upset by the manners of many of the Italian passengers. Being an Italian cruiseline about 70% were Italian. We were told in the first day's briefing that this is just cultural, and therefore not rudeness.

This was our 5th cruise, but the 1st and last with Costa.

We were locked out of our cabin on-board the Costa Victoria Mediterranean cruise. It took two hours and a lot of running around on our part to find help.

We missed going off to the island of Mykenos due to the lack of help from the staff.

We were told that security were all busy with disembarkation and we would have to wait. It didn't bother them that we wanted to disembark too.

Security finally came and the maintenance men broke the lock off the door.

Please don't have any emergency, ie. locked out etc., while the ship is at the dock, as the security staff are too busy.

We heard lots of complaints from fellow passengers at the airport on the way home.

We would not recommend this cruise line to anyone.

Sailed from Venice 30 October 2005. First experience of cruising with Costa Cruises, Costa Victoria. Will be going again next year.

From the time of arrival at Venice airport, everything was organised to make the trip as easy and stress free as possible. Costa staff took our cases to a Merc or the transfer to our hotel (we booked two nights in Venice before the cruise), then took them to the hotel. When we left the hotel Costa collected the cases from the hotel and delivered them to the cabin. This level of service was maintained throughout.

The cabin steward serviced the room every time we left it.

Every room service order arrived within 5 minutes

Every mornings breakfast in bed arrived within five minutes of the booked time.

As this was a second honeymoon we didnt see that much of the sport facilities but what we did see was extremely good