Why Costa Cruises Can Be So Cheap – And What You’ll Really Get

Looking for a cruise that doesn’t make your wallet cry into a tiny towel animal? Costa Cruises might be worth a look, especially if you’re already trying to save money on your next cruise.

These Italian ships are often among the cheapest options out there, with fares that can come in far lower than many other cruise lines. Naturally, that raises the big question: what’s the catch?

Because when a cruise is that cheap, most of us start mentally checking whether the lifeboats are optional extras.

The truth is, Costa Cruises can offer some very tempting prices, but the experience is a little different from what you might find on other lines. Here’s what’s really going on, what you can expect onboard, and whether a Costa cruise could be a clever bargain or a “maybe not for me” situation.

Costa Cruises Ships Are Actually Pretty Nice

Costa Cruises ships are generally nicer than you might expect, especially the newer ones in the fleet.

Take Costa Smeralda, for example. She’s clean, modern, and smartly designed, with a layout that feels fresh rather than tired. Her hull is also shared with other Carnival Corporation brands, which helps keep building costs lower behind the scenes.

That doesn’t mean everything onboard is flawless. The décor is largely appealing, but there are a few little quirks here and there.

You might find theater seats with less-than-perfect views of the stage, or an oddly placed window in the shower that makes you wonder, “Which architect signed off on that?”

Costa’s fleet also varies quite a bit. Newer, larger ships like Costa Smeralda usually offer more facilities and a more modern feel. Older, smaller ships like Costa Fortuna can feel very different; for reference, she’s around half the size and more than 20 years old.

Reviews can swing pretty widely too. Some Costa ships have received poor ratings, while others do much better. Your experience may depend heavily on which ship you choose and what you personally care about most.

What To Check Before Booking

Before booking a Costa cruise, it’s worth looking at:

• The ship’s age and size
• Onboard amenities
• Recent guest reviews
• Your budget and expectations

A little checking before you book can make a big difference. Pick the right ship for your travel style, and Costa can still deliver a very enjoyable cruise.

Guests Can Get On And Off At Every Port

Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises work a little differently from many other cruise lines.

Instead of everyone starting and ending at the same port, guests can join and leave the ship at different stops along the route. So you don’t always have to book a neat little round-trip cruise from one place. You can hop on at one port and finish at another.

This setup is especially common in Europe, and it means you’ll often meet passengers from Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and plenty of other countries. It gives the ship a very international feel, which can be fun if you like meeting people from different places.

It also opens the door to shorter sailings.

For example, you might spot a three-day cruise from Marseille to Savona. These shorter trips are often cheaper because the cruise line wants to fill cabins that would otherwise sit empty. Empty cabins don’t buy drinks, book excursions, or complain about the buffet labels, so the cruise line would rather sell them at a good price.

There can be some excellent bargains if you’re flexible. Does a two-week transatlantic cruise for around $400 sound enticing? It can happen.

The catch is that you may need to fly to a less common starting point, such as Guadeloupe. But for that kind of saving, some cruisers will happily become amateur flight-route detectives.

Ship Updates Might Happen During Your Trip

One thing to know about Costa is that ship repairs and updates can sometimes happen while guests are onboard.

That means certain parts of the ship may be closed during your cruise. The main pool might be unavailable. A hot tub could be out of action. Outdoor areas like the promenade deck may be blocked off, and some cafes or other venues might be shut for a while too.

This can affect your plans, especially if you had your heart set on a certain pool, lounge, or quiet outdoor spot.

The best thing to do is ask the crew when you board. They’ll usually be able to tell you what’s open, what’s closed, and whether anything is expected to reopen during your sailing.

It’s not ideal, but at least you won’t spend half the cruise wandering around like you’re hunting for a secret door.

Costa Cruises Has More Guests Per Crew Member

Costa Cruises keeps costs down partly by having a higher guest-to-crew ratio than many other cruise lines.

For every crew member, there are around four guests. On other cruise lines, you might see more like two or three guests per crew member.

That may not sound like a huge difference, but onboard, it can show.

You might wait a little longer at the front desk when you need help. In the dining room, food may take extra time to arrive. Around the ship, empty plates and glasses may sit out for longer before someone clears them away.

It’s not that the crew aren’t working hard. Quite the opposite. They’re often doing a lot with fewer hands available.

Staff wages are one of the biggest costs for any cruise line. A typical ship can have more than 1,000 crew members onboard, so reducing staffing levels helps Costa offer cheaper fares.

For passengers, that means the cruise may cost less up front, but you may need to pack a little patience alongside your swimsuit.

Costa Cruises Adds Staff Tips At The End

Costa Cruises doesn’t include gratuities in the ticket price. Instead, they add a daily hotel service charge to onboard accounts, depending on cruise length, destination, ship, and onboard currency.

Generally, adults pay around $13 per day, while children pay about $6.50 per day. It’s worth adding this to your budget before you book, because it can bump up the final cost more than you might expect. It’s one of those cruise costs that can sneak up on you if you only look at the headline fare.

You may be tempted to ask for the gratuities to be removed, but that’s not a great idea.

The crew work incredibly hard, and many rely on tips to boost their pay. While it might feel like an easy place to save money, those gratuities make a real difference to the people looking after guests every day.

Some cruisers prefer to give cash tips instead, but that can also cause problems. Crew members working behind the scenes may miss out, even though they’re still part of the service you receive.

Drinks also come with an extra charge. A 15% service charge is added to every drink you buy, so the menu price isn’t always the final price you’ll see on your bill.

Basically, if you order a cocktail, remember the receipt may arrive wearing a little extra hat.

Water Costs Extra In The Main Dining Room

Costa Cruises has one policy that can surprise passengers: bottled water in the main dining room isn’t free.

If you want bottled water with dinner, you’ll need to pay around $5 for a one-liter bottle. That can feel odd if you’re used to restaurants or other cruise lines where water simply appears on the table. It’s also a good reminder that “all-inclusive” on cruises can mean very different things, depending on the line.

There are still free options, though.

You can get water from the buffet when it’s open, and you can drink tap water in your cabin. But there aren’t water fountains dotted around the ship, so it’s not quite as simple as filling up whenever you like.

If you buy a bottle at dinner and don’t finish it, the staff will save it for you and bring it back to your table the next night. So at least the water you paid for won’t vanish into the cruise ship abyss.

Tea and coffee are free in the buffet, and fruit juices are available at breakfast without an extra charge.

It may also be worth looking at a drinks package if you think you’ll be ordering a lot onboard. A drinks package calculator can help you work out whether buying one makes sense for your trip, and there are also ways to get cheaper or even free drinks on a cruise if you know where to look.

Costa Cruises Food Can Be Hit Or Miss

Food on Costa Cruises can be a mixed bag.

Some people enjoy it. Others… not so much. If food is a major part of your cruise experience, or if you have dietary needs, this is something to think about carefully before booking.

Some travelers find Costa’s buffets simpler than what they see on other cruise lines with reports of unclear labeling. That can be tricky if you need to know exactly what’s in each dish. Language barriers may also make it harder for staff to answer questions about ingredients.

In the main dining room, you can expect a multi-course dinner. But some dishes have been known to arrive undercooked or at the wrong temperature. You may also come across some flavor pairings that feel a bit experimental — and not always in a “chef’s kiss” kind of way.

It’s not all doom and questionable gravy, though.

The pasta at the buffet is excellent, and some main dining room dishes can be genuinely tasty. It’s just not always consistent. One meal might be great, and the next might have you quietly reaching for your backup snacks.

And yes, packing a few snacks is a smart move.

You should also know that some foods cost extra, including poolside pizza, chips, and ice cream. These usually only cost a few dollars, but they’re another example of how Costa keeps cruise fares low by charging separately for certain extras.

The Shows On Costa Ships Might Not Wow You

Costa Cruises tries to offer entertainment that works for a very mixed crowd, which isn’t easy.

Passengers may speak different languages, come from different cultures, and have very different ideas of what counts as a good night out. Trying to please everyone is a tall order, even before you add sequins.

The shows usually feature dancers in flashy outfits performing some impressive moves. They’re perfectly watchable, but don’t expect big, polished productions on the same scale as some other cruise lines.

If you’ve sailed with lines known for major theater shows, Costa’s entertainment may feel more basic.

That said, it can still be fun after dinner, especially if you’re with family or friends and just want something easy to enjoy before bed.

Final Thoughts

Costa Cruises offers an interesting mix of low prices and flexible itineraries, which can make it very appealing for travelers watching their budget.

With different ships and routes available, you may be able to find a cruise that gives you the getaway you want without paying the prices you’d see on some other lines.

But there are trade-offs.

Food quality can vary. Service may feel slower because of the higher guest-to-crew ratio. Some onboard extras, like gratuities, drinks tips, bottled water, pizza, chips, and ice cream, can add to your total cost.

Still, Costa Cruises gives many travelers a way to get to sea for far less than they might pay elsewhere.

Whether you’re looking at a short European sailing, a transatlantic bargain, or simply something different from the usual cruise options, Costa can be worth considering.

The key is knowing what you’re booking. Check the ship’s age, read recent reviews, and be ready for a few quirks and policies that may feel different from other cruise lines.

Go in with the right expectations, and Costa Cruises can be a memorable, budget-friendly vacation at sea. Go in expecting luxury perfection at bargain-bin prices, and you may spend the week side-eyeing your water bottle.

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