costa cruise main dining room menu

A Yummy Costa Cruises Food and Restaurant Guide

By: Author Melody Pittman

Posted on Published: July 10, 2022  - Last updated: October 26, 2022

Are you one of those travelers who research the food and restaurants for where you are going from the get-go? If you are anything like me, I peruse photos, menus, and vacation reviews on various sites before traveling, so I will know where to find the good stuff—and what I can skip. When I was booked on my first Costa cruise from Istanbul, Turkey, to Greece, I hardly found anything mentioning the food on this iconic cruise line. I went into my cruise blindly because there really wasn’t much online about the food on Costa Cruises vessels, and especially because my Costa Venezia was moving to a much different vacation route.

Not to worry, I researched it all for you. Never mind my calorie count; here is a Costa Cruises food and restaurant guide. It includes what to eat, where to eat it, and all your dining choices for sailing the high seas with Costa.

I was hosted by Costa Cruises to familiarize myself with their ship and features. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased. 

Main Dining Room

As on all cruises, meals in the main dining room are included in your cruise vacation. You will be assigned a seating time (first-early or second-late) and dining room (Canal Grande), denoted on the back of your cruise card. You have assigned seating, which can be based on your preference: a private table or with an open group. If you are up to meeting new people and sharing cultures, I highly recommend you mix with the other cruise guests for an even richer cruise experience.

Meals are placed and served in order of starters, soups and salads, main courses, and finally, the dessert course, possibly everyone’s favorite. A particular server will be around to take alcoholic beverage orders, which includes sodas and anything that payment is required for.

A few of my favorite dishes in the Costa Cruises main dining (and isn’t it beautiful?) were Vegetable Tempura, Meatless Cannelloni, and any and all steak dishes. Save room for soufflés and Caesar salads (the homemade croutons and heavy dusting of Parmesan were great!) in the event they are offered.

Lido Marketplace Restaurant

Found on Costa Cruises Venezia’s Deck 10 is the buffet restaurant, included in your cruise fare . You’ll find breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Lido Marketplace, with food choices changing daily. There are several areas to sit and enjoy your meal, ranging from inside and out, with different styles of dining areas to fit your specific taste.

My husband and I went to the Lido Marketplace daily for breakfast, except for having room service one morning. It’s always quick to grab your food and find a place to sit, often catching the first glimpse of the port of call you will be visiting that day.

You will find your classic morning eats, including an omelet station, pancakes, toast, potatoes, sausage, bacon, and fruit at the Lido Marketplace buffet. There are also granolas, cereals, meats and cheeses, and a massive spread of pastries. Europeans especially like their meats, cheeses, and delicious sweets for breakfast, so consider yourself lucky.

You can also get fresh and healthy detox juice drinks at the Lido Bar.

Lido Lunches

At lunch and dinner, expect to find a few vegetable dishes, 3-4 entrees, a few vegetarian options, and many seafood specialties on the buffet line. Europeans eat a lot of things from the ocean, so while I am good with shrimp, lobster, and crab, I balked at most of the choices as they were too foreign for me but an authentic luxury meal for most.

I loved having a made-to-order pasta station or the daily plates of pasta, which were assembled for each guest for the utmost freshness and flavor. Remember that there are two pasta makers at the same window, but each has a different item. I didn’t learn that until my last day of the cruise.

You’ll also find a coffee spot making all your favorite coffee drinks at the Lido Marketplace. This isn’t the basic coffees, which are still pretty darned amazing since Europeans know how to class up a cup of Joe, but the one I’m talking about is for mochas, lattes, and such. You’ll even find fresh-squeezed orange juice in the marketplace.

Want to know how you can cruise Europe and hit the best ports with the lowest prices ? We have info.

Specialty Dining: An Upscale Option for Costa Cruises Food

Cruise ships have level-up dining options (specialty dining) that involve a fee. They come in all shapes and sizes for all cuisines and budgets. Costa’s specialty dining is different than most cruises I’ve done (keep in mind it is an Italian line), so the fees were a little more expensive than I was used to.

I always favor visiting the steakhouse option of specialty dining, and  La Fiorentina Steak House  was superb on the Costa Venezia. I had two classic dishes: a Caesar salad and Lobster Bisque soup. The French Onion soup was another choice. For my main course, I chose Surf & Turf, a petite filet with a jumbo prawn. I enhanced my steak with a side of béarnaise sauce, but the star of the plate was the melt-in-your-mouth prawn. Wow, it was good. 

Fiorentina’s menu is priced à la carte, so each item has its own fee. I would consider this restaurant on a night when I wasn’t starving, for just the soup, salad, and probably dessert (the Carrot Cake Verrines was my favorite dessert of the trip). And I must add that these restaurants are lovely and have well-trained waitstaff, delivering a first-rate evening.

The Costa Toscana’s Heineken Star Club & Bistro is where my daughter, Taylor, and I hung out most nights. There was an additional fee for eating there, but we loved it so much it didn’t matter. I was addicted to the Chicken Nachos, and we often shared the Smothered Tots.

I had a salad from Heineken, too, and one night steak dinner. On the Toscana ship, this is the only steakhouse option, different than on the Venezia listed above. Heineken also offered live music, and it was excellent every night. The staff was uber friendly and helped make our vacation much more enjoyable.

A Memorable Costa Cruises Dining Experience

Casanova Restaurant is the gastronomic gourmet and the highest-rated specialty dining. Costa is the only cruise line where you can have a Michelin-star dining experience ; it is one you will remember. Created by three famous chefs:  Bruno Barbieri ,  Angel Leon , and  Hélène Darroze , Casanova delivers as much a memorable experience as a delicious one. There are three culinary paths to choose from, including three courses created and curated by three world-famous chefs. 

The three menus are incredibly different and diverse. As an American, I was unfamiliar with many of the ingredients. That didn’t stop me from trying them, though, and it’s things like that where you can sample things we often only hear about on TV or read about. Menu items ranged from cuttlefish rice to sea urchins and beef cheeks to crispy octopus and guinea fowl roulade.

Don’t worry; I didn’t leave hungry, that’s for sure. Many courses were absolutely delicious once I got past the “out of my comfort zone” part. Casanova’s restaurant service was impeccable. My favorite courses were the appetizer and dessert. Expect to be dazzled.

Specialty International Eats

Enjoy a hot pot meal while you are onboard your Costa Cruises vacation. I’m way too messy to try this dining option, but it is trendy. Dim Sum was another popular choice, offering three types of noodle bowls and a variety of dumplings (three each). The price for these was 2.50Euro per portion. Sushi was highly regarded amongst cruisers at Sushino on Deck 5.

I loved seeing the Lobster Bar carved display each night, with six choices of grilled, steamed, or fried prawns and lobster. I didn’t see anyone eating them, but our ship was only around 30% capacity, so perhaps I missed it.

My husband and I had a fantastic teppanyaki dinner experience at the Teppanyaki Restaurant on Deck 5. We enjoyed the cooking show, friendly entertainment, and encouraged participation. Our tasty meal was 36Euro per person. Eddie and I both had the chicken teppanyaki with soup, edamame, fried rice, and grilled vegetables.

There were several other meat options, plus tofu for vegetarians. Dessert is included.

At The Salty Beach Street Food on Deck 10, look for gourmet burgers, vegetarian, too, and focaccia sandwiches. The fries will set you back about 2Euro, but they are well worth it. Dip them in mayochup, mayo, and ketchup, perfect for this style of fries.

The sushi restaurant is incredibly popular, but we didn’t make it there. Judging from the lines and tables being full, I’d say it is a highlight when sailing with Costa Cruises.

Welcome Aboard Buffet Line

The late night we embarked on our cruise, there was a late night buffet open for us to enjoy. I had been traveling all day so vaguely remember it, but it was nice to have a near midnight dining option.

Costa Cruises Bars

I recommend purchasing a drink package to save money on a Costa cruise. There are a few levels to choose from, but remember that everyone in the cabin must have the same one. I purchased the basic drink package, including soft drinks, many beers and wines, and basic cocktails. The long list of basic cocktails included cruise favorites like Miami Vice, Between the Sheets (I haven’t had one since the 1990s), Negroni, Long Island Iced Teas, and White Russians. Many exotic and yummy coffee drinks were also available with the drink package.

The price for this deal is 22Euro per day per person age 18 and up, and 11Euro for younger cruisers, giving them liberties to sodas, a few virgin specialty drinks, and mineral water.

Pro Tip:   A banana daiquiri hits the spot if the weather is hot. 

Also included in the drink packages is bottled water, which we used to take on excursions and have in our stateroom throughout the day. This option alone made the package a value choice for us.

The bar I found to have the most fabulous cocktail menu was Lounge Delle Stelle, with hand-crafted cocktails such as Oakheart Ginger Mojito, Strawberry Caipirissima, and Jamaica Julep. These drinks are picture-perfect and a treat for your taste buds. The bar with the incredible energy and best photo ops is Aperol Spritz Bar on Deck 15, though it closes early.

I was near the end of my cruise when I realized that many of the bars onboard the Costa Venezia also offer finger foods or nibbles. Enjoy fried mozzarella, a Milanese chicken skewer, or red tuna tartare at Gondola for between 1-2.5Euro. The mushroom and black truffle bruschetta was delicious, too.

Ultimate Coffee Drinks

Check out Bella Bar on Deck 5 for the ultimate in coffee beverages. Pictured here is a cruiser favorite, though the name escapes me, with a creamy liqueur added to espresso, fresh whipped cream, and bits of toffee. If you want to skip the alcohol and just go straight for the caffeine, the pistachio espresso and Tiramisü coffee are both recommended.

Room Service

Praise be…I’m a huge fan of the Costa Cruises room service options. While we never had crowds to wait in for food in the Lido Marketplace, it is still a terrific choice to have the knock on your door delivering breakfast in the comfort of your stateroom. I also found that room service has Eggs Benedict…really great Eggs Benedict, and crab cake Benedicts. We quickly became a regular for ordering this breakfast and a basket of tasty croissants with butter and jelly to munch on throughout the day.

There is a surcharge for room service, $5 per person. To browse the options, you can scan the QR code attached to your dresser in your stateroom. Call X6666 to place your order. Our deliveries were prompt, friendly, and exactly as ordered, even down to the extra side of hollandaise sauce. I wasn’t sure how to manage tips for room service, so we offered a Euro or more to each delivery person.

If you haven’t cruised in a while, you may be surprised to see a fee for pizza. Having owned restaurants in the past, I get the reasoning behind it and an easy solution to the long list of complaints at the pizza parlor when they run out or can’t keep up with the demand. So, for 5Euro, you can order the pizza at Pummid ‘Pro Pizzeria.

There are around 23 flavor combination options. My top pick was the Quattro Formaggi with gorgonzola, mozzarella, fontina, and taleggio. The pizzas were big enough to share, but most people ate the whole thing themselves.

Pummid ‘Pro Pizzeria has special hours, which you can verify on your OGGI A BORDO cruise ship newsletter. Rather than order from the counter, have a seat, and a server will be with you to place your order and help you. It took about 7-12 minutes to get our pizzas each time.

Another excellent option is to have the pizza delivered to your stateroom. You can order directly through room service and eat your pizza from your couch, balcony, bed, or wherever you choose to take it.

Pro Tip: Try the spicy oil or variety of toppings available for the pizzas. Yum!

Gelato and Crepes

I’m hardly ever tempted by the ice cream shops onboard cruise ships, but on the Costa Venezia, I was a sucker from day one. This lovely sweet shop, Gelateria Amarillo, is in the heart of the 10th floor, where you’ll find the best pool, dance parties, and much more. Choose from freshly prepared crepes, creamy Italian ice cream, sipping chocolate drinks, cakes, candies, and macarons. I’m willing to bet you can’t leave the cruise ship without trying it at least once and loving whatever you try.

Pro Tip: Have the Black Cherry ice cup for something exotic and yummy.

I had the Nutella and banana crepe a few times, while my husband preferred the dark chocolate strawberry version. He also had a bowl of gelato one night, which he complimented. Crepes have a fee of 4Euro, slices of cake around 2Euro, and gelato dishes for 6.50Euro. In the US, good macarons will easily run you $3-$4 each, so the three-pack for 3.50Euro was a great price point.

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Read more about cruising in these posts:

What to Do at the Cruise Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico

What to Do at the Cruise Port of Miami, Florida

Costa Toscana Review

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Costa Dining Information

Costa carries Cruising Italian Style to the next level through their partnership with Michelin-awarded Italian Chef Ettore Bocchia, a pioneer of molecular gastronomy. Many of Costa's a la carte Club Restaurants will be under the direct supervision of Chef Bocchia. The waitstaff and buffet attendants truly show Italian hospitality and go to great lengths to be sure that your dining experience is an unforgettable one. In addition to traditional Italian cuisine, Costa also features cuisines and specialties from around the world. Main Dining Room Policies: Costa guests are assigned to one of two seatings in the main dining room for their evening meal, early or late. The early and late seating times can vary by ship or itinerary, but are usually at 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., respectively. Dinner seating preferences may be requested at the time of booking, but are not guaranteed. Costa neoClassica and Costa neoRiviera offer an innovative concept that offers a flexible dining experience that gives guests the freedom to dine with whomever they wish, at their convenience between 6:30pm and 10:00pm in elegant, upscale venues. Reservations are not permitted in the main restaurants. Seating is based on a first-come, first-served basis. If the restaurant is full, guests will be provided a pager and will be called when a table becomes available. Dress Code: With the exception of two formal nights, the dress code is casual. Appropriate attire for men is slacks and a sports shirt (no jeans), while women are advised to wear slacks and blouse, a sundress or a pantsuit. On formal evenings, men should wear a dark suit or a tuxedo, while women should dress in an evening gown or cocktail dress. Shorts and swimwear are never permitted in the main dining room. Beverage Policy: All beverages except tea and water are at an additional cost. Juice and coffee are included with breakfast. Soft drink cards, good for unlimited soft drinks, are available for purchase onboard. Special Requests: Special meals including low-calorie, vegetarian, no MSG, low/no sodium and low/no cholesterol can be requested. Sugar-free and fat-free desserts are also available. All dining rooms onboard Costa ships are smoke-free.

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Dining Onboard Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises dining options provide cuisine to thrill the palate of every guest on board. From simple, casual dining options that will make you feel at home, to more traditional and even specialty dining options that will have connoisseurs leaving with a smile on their faces. A culinary love affair is something Costa Cruises strives to provide combining skilled and experienced chefs, the freshest ingredients and exciting dishes.

• CASUAL DINING
• MAIN DINING
• SPECIALTY DINING
• ROOM SERVICE

Spectacular sea views, al fresco dining, convenient proximity to the pool and a delicious variety of cuisine available at exciting action stations make the Botticelli, Muscadins, Cristoforo Colombo and others a daily hot spot.

Burger D'Autore

Signature burgers made fresh with Italian beef and still sizzling from the grill round out the menu at Burger D'Autore.

Coffee & Chocolate Bar

Hot chocolate, pralines, milkshakes, crepes, sachertorte, homemade ice cream, flavored coffee and more round out the menu in the Chocolate Bar. Dip your favorite fruit or biscuits in the flowing chocolate fountain. Make sure you stop here to thrill your sweet tooth.

Fresh and piping hot are not the only the words to describe the pizza onboard Costa's ships. Authentic and delizioso also ring true. From fiordilatte mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil to stone ovens and skilled pizza chefs enjoying pizza here is like a slice of heaven.

Pool Grills

Beef burgers, chicken burgers, all of the toppings and more are only steps from your lounge chair on the pool deck. This is the perfect destination for a mouthwatering mid day snack.

Trattoria Italiana

For a casual and accessible Italian dining experience, there is no better spot than Trattoria Italiana. If you want Italian favorites on your schedule with all of the flavors and expectations that you place on fantastic Italian food, Trattoria Italiana is your spot.

Main Dining Room

The beautiful, multi level, main dining rooms in addition to the other main dining venues are showcases for their chefs to create delicious international dishes. Of course, the highlights of the menu are typically Italian, everything is delightful. From prosciutto salad, sea bream filet, osso bucco to decadent desserts this restaurant is a fête for the senses.

The Club Restaurant*

Reserved for Suite guests and the highest level of CostaClub guests, this intimate and sophisticated setting is available for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Dinner service includes menus from both the main restaurants as well as gourmet specialty venues. Reservations Required.

Samsara Restaurant*

Samsara Restaurant’s elegant setting and Pacific fusion dining experience combines the innovation of skilled chefs with traditional recipes and ingredients. Lunch and dinner is complimentary for guests staying in Samsara cabins. Reservations Required.

Tavola Teppanyaki*

Japanese fare is perfectly prepared and presented in this stylish Oriental setting. From sushi and sashimi to other exciting and flavorful specialties everything about this restaurant feels and tastes authentic.

Room Service*

Room service is available 24/7. Suite and select CostaClub guests have a specialized menu including the best of breakfast, lunch and dinner on your schedule. For non suite guests, while the menu may be a bit limited, delicious appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts are available for all.

*Additional fee applies.

All menus and dining times are subject to change without notice. Some venues are only available on select ships.

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9 Tips For Cruising The Mediterranean With Costa

C osta Cruises invited me on almost back-to-back European cruises, and I learned a lot. I visited some of the most desirable and wonderful cruise ports (Rome, Barcelona, Istanbul, Athens), and I was also one of under 25 people onboard from the United States. Talk about an immersive vacation! I’ve cruised a lot, and never had I been in situations where English was not the primary language or not spoken at all and guess what? It was actually cool not having the upper hand for a change.

Here are nine tips for cruising the Mediterranean with Costa that will ease your apprehension and help you get the most out of your cruise vacation.

1. Expect Full Immersion

To reiterate. Costa Cruises will take you a bit out of your comfort zone if you are from the U.S. You will be fully immersed in a group of like-minded cruise-loving multicultural passengers, where there will sometimes be a language barrier. Of course, you won’t have trouble finding menus and newsletters in English, but often, activities are only in Italian ( this is an Italian cruise line ) and French. There are also a handful of other languages, too. 

On my cruises, Costa was just starting itineraries, and they hadn’t been back to work after COVID for very long. The ships were only running at about 33-60 percent capacity, which meant that the cruise tours and excursions were limited. Remember that Costa cruise excursions are in different languages, more so than any other cruise I’ve been on.

Once, I had to take a port excursion in Barcelona that was in two different languages, neither of which was in English. I had been there before and just wanted to get better pictures, so I took my chances and went anyway. One of the two tour guides spoke a bit of English, so he could advise when and where to meet during our free time. I couldn’t understand any of the narrated details, but I got what I came for.

Another time, we had three different languages on our bus and tour. That meant the times spent in churches and points of interest were longer than expected, as the guide had to switch hats and explain the scenery to each group, but I took that time to wander around on my own and take pictures.

2. This Brand Runs On Italian Time

Being an American on a European-based cruise ship means adjusting to things the way they do them in said country, which in this case is Italy. Dinner times in the main dining room were 7:00 p.m. for the early seating and 9:30 p.m. for the late seating. The first night I went to the main dining room with a group of other cruise friends; we didn’t leave until almost midnight. I’m an American. We eat around 6 p.m., so that took some getting used to. 

Pro Tip: There is no dinner buffet on Costa Cruises. The reason being is that Italians prefer to make the evening meal all about family and sitting down together as an experience, so to speak, rather than quick service. 

There are lots of other restaurant options, many of which require an additional fee. We dined at our favorite restaurants (namely Heineken Star Club & Bistro) at earlier times on most nights.

Nightlife is a big part of Italian culture, so expect the ship to get rockin’ around 11 p.m. and last until the wee hours of the night. That doesn’t mean loud, obnoxious drunks running around; quite the opposite. There were people of all ages (some even old enough to be my grandmother) dancing and having a grand time. Watching the Europeans enjoy the ship’s activities, DJs, dance parties, and festivities was a beautiful thing.

Pro Tip: I never had trouble understanding the Costa staff, nor did they have difficulty understanding me. I did encounter someone in the reception area who didn’t speak English, but she kindly and quickly got a colleague to answer my question.

3. Add On A Pre- Or Post-Cruise

If you are flying from the United States, it is a long way to Europe. I’m on the West Coast and flew to Rome once and Istanbul another. That is an 18-22 hour day, depending on flight connections. I highly recommend you add on Costa’s pre and post-cruise days. Not only will it give you time to sightsee on your own in the embarkation city, but the price for the extension is reasonable. This goes for after the cruise, as well.

In Rome, we disembarked at 8 a.m. But, if you were staying for the post-cruise, you could hang out on the ship and enjoy the food, pool, and activities before being bussed to the fantastic hotel. We did have to leave our stateroom, though. The hotel was within walking distance of the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. Transfers were included. 

We didn’t leave the ship until around 1 p.m. on our Istanbul disembarkation. It was fantastic having Costa Venezia almost all to ourselves. We had complimentary meals, our beverage cards still worked, and we just enjoyed the scenery. I felt it added some much-needed relaxation before our taxing trip back home.

4. Book Your Restaurant Reservations Early

Costa Cruises include the main dining room and buffet with your cruise. The other restaurants (there is an abundance) have a fee associated with them. It could be $5-$10 for a great meal in the Heineken Bar, $2 for the fries my daughter and I were addicted to daily, $3 for a bowl of gelato, a nutella and banana crepe, or $25-$30 for a four-course hibachi style meal.

I recommend you research the Costa Cruises website (or go to my website for a Costa food and restaurant guide) and check Cruise Critic to see what’s available. You can book some restaurants online before your cruise. If that isn’t an option, book them as soon as you board the ship. That way, you can be sure to eat at all the places you want to try; they will fill up. 

5. Familiarize Yourself With The Thermal Spa

Some people like me are spa junkies, and others shy away from the spa. If you aren’t familiar with the thermal suite, you should check it out. There will be a free walk-through on the day of embarkation.

Pro Tip: New to the spa? A hot stone massage is good for first-timers. 

You can purchase a day or a week-long thermal suite pass to enjoy its offerings in the Solemio Spa . The amenities include heated mosaic chaise loungers (a personal fave), rainfall showers, a fabulous sauna and steam room, a huge thermal pool, and… get this… a snow room.

Yep, my Costa Toscana cruise ship had a snow room with temperatures below freezing, where you could step inside to get cooled off instantly. I’m not a fan of cold, wintery weather at any time, but for some reason, after being in the hot thermal pool every day, it was a refreshing way to end my spa day. Can you imagine how incredible the photos were?

I can’t remember the exact cost, though I think it was $50 per day or $199 per week-long cruise. However, they had a special deal where you could get the weekly pass and spa service for $130. I always schedule a facial or body treatment, which is nearly the same price, so this was a major score for me.

Pro Tip: The thermal pool and heated lounger area have floor-to-ceiling windows, an excellent place for ultimate relaxation and watching the world go by.

6. Use The Costa App

Costa has a snazzy smartphone app to keep track of your cruise days, reservations, and such. However, the app was unavailable for those from the United States during my cruises. Fingers crossed they will get that fixed soon.

7. Bring A Converter

Our cruise stateroom had USB plug-ins and European outlets (220-240) but no 110-volt outlets (standard American). Luckily, we brought a plug adapter converter from home.

8. Board At Multiple Locations (Cruise Ports)

You can board Costa ships at multiple locations for the same cruise. Costa uses a ferry schedule, which is the term to describe making your round-trip cruise from multiple ports that the itinerary visits. So, if you’d rather spend more time in Naples or Savona, you could do the Mediterranean cruise I did from Rome , but board and disembark there.

9. Bring The Family

Multigenerational cruises are the best; I’ve experienced them and made family memories for years. Costa has the Squok (the name of the kid programs) Restaurant for families traveling with children. Though I didn’t have my granddaughter on these cruises, I would have loved a family outing that catered to her age group.

Fun Fact: Carnival Cruises brought the Costa Venezia ship to New York in 2023. The Costa Firenze will follow in 2024 for Long Beach, California, itineraries.

For more information on cruises and sailing, check out these articles:

• 11 Most Memorable Experiences On My AmaWaterways Rhine River Cruise
• My 8 Favorite Experiences Small-Ship Cruising Off The Coast Of France
• My 8 Favorite Experiences Cruising The Viking Homelands

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

7 Differences Between MSC and Costa Cruises – All Italian Cruise Lines Aren’t The Same

In this post, we look at the differences I have noticed between the cruise lines Costa and MSC .

Both are Italian cruise lines, and both offer very good value for money. They are very different from British or American cruise lines though.

I have taken many cruises with MSC, and two with Costa Cruises. One was on an older, smaller Costa ship, and one on a Mega Ship, Costa Smeralda.

These differences are related to the following:

• Dining format
• Buffet opening times
• Ship design
• Pizza & Ice Cream
• Housekeeping

My First Costa Cruise

In December 2018 I took my first Costa Cruise onboard the Costa Luminosa.

I’d always seen bargain Costa Cruises popping into my inbox and this time I decided to take the plunge.

We booked a last-minute deal two weeks before the cruise, and set off for Venice. That cruise took us around Italy and the Greek Islands.

Costa Luminosa has now transferred to a different part of the Carnival parent company and is sailing after a refit as Carnival Luminosa.

I took a Cruise on Costa Smeralda in January 2023. We got a really cheap out-of-season deal, and I was interested to find out what I would get for my money …

My Many MSC Cruises

I have cruised on:

• MSC Meraviglia
• MSC Virtuosa
• MSC Seaview
• MSC Preziosa

…and have another new MSC Ship booked.

My first was in 2011 onboard the MSC Opera. Since that original cruise MSC seem to have really “Upped their game.”

The newer MSC ships are large, modern – and very sparkly! I always feel I get good value for money on an MSC cruise.

If you are booking from the UK, service charges are included within the fare. This makes a big difference to the cost of your cruise.

On Costa, they charge a daily service charge, like the American Cruise Lines.

1 – Dining Format – Main Dining Room

The main difference in dining between MSC and Costa is the number of courses offered/format of the dining experience.

Both cruise lines offer similar food focusing on Mediterranean cuisine (think pizza, pasta,bread etc). They also both have speciality restaurants which cost extra.

Dinner on MSC

Most guests cruising with MSC have fixed dining.

A more flexible option is available to guests who have paid more for a more expensive ‘Aurea’ category of cabin – but mostly, dining is fixed.

Dinner comprises a starter, main and dessert.

There is late and early seating and we could be in and out of dinner within around an hour. This is pretty standard on American and British cruise lines too.

Dinner on Costa Cruises

All dining on Costa is fixed time dining, and they offer an early or a late sitting.

Late is usually far more popular, and I found that most other guests liked to dine far later than me. I personally would always choose an early sitting if I could.

On Costa Luminosa there were a number of courses and guests seemed to pick and choose from whatever courses they wanted at the time.

We were table sharing with 4 other English-speaking guests on Costa Luminosa. Dinner always took at least two hours – sometimes two and a half or three!

We usually skipped a number of the courses but because we were table-sharing we had to wait for everybody else to finish.

When we sailed on Costa Smeralda we also had fixed dining, but we didn’t have to table share with others. We had a table for our party of four to ourselves.

It was a very modern ship, and I was impressed by how the waiters could also speak multiple languages, swapping from one to the next with ease.

2 – Water

Drinking water on msc.

If you are from the UK and book an MSC cruise you’ll receive free tea/coffee and bottled water with main meals.

The waiters are always on hand to give you a top-up, and I make good use of this!

Water on Costa Cruises

On Costa Cruises, you don’t get free water with meals. You need to buy bottled water .

Considering how cheap Costa cruises are I don’t think this is a big deal, but it is something to bear in mind when budgeting.

We bought a water package on Costa Luminosa, which made it slightly cheaper per bottle.

It is always really important to stay hydrated when cruising so this isn’t something to cut back on. There is water available all of the time in the buffet – if the buffet is open.

Having learnt from our first Costa Cruise experience, we bought a soda package as soon as we stepped onboard Costa Smeralda!

We had soda with all of our meals, so no free water wasn’t a problem.

On American and British lines tap water is always free in the main restaurants.

3 – Smoking

On all cruise lines and ships, there are designated smoking areas.

Some cruise lines have smoking areas on the top deck or promenade deck and all have smoking areas inside.

The smoking area may be a special bar dedicated to smoking or a section of the casino or a bar.

Smoking on MSC

On MSC ships smoking isn’t allowed in cabins or on balconies.

MSC have designated smoking areas on the deck where smokers will find ashtrays.

They also have some bars/lounges where you can smoke but as far as I can remember they don’t have an entire lounge or bar dedicated to smoking. The same rules apply to vaping.

I don’t smoke and I’ve never really noticed anybody smoking on an MSC ship.

Smoking on Costa Cruises

On Costa Cruises, guests can smoke on their balconies and they usually have a designated cigar lounge where guests can smoke.

Electronic cigarettes can be used in the cabins. There also seemed to be a lot more smoking points around the ship on the top decks.

Smoking – cigarettes, cigars and pipes – is forbidden in all public areas of the ship except the areas marked as “Cigar Lounge”. Electronic cigarettes may only be used in the cabins and in the areas marked as “Cigar Lounge”. In some public areas, smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor Smoking Points equipped with ashtrays. Smoking is not allowed in cabins but is permitted outdoors on private balconies. Costa Cruises

The smoking really didn’t bother me at all but it definitely was more noticeable than on other cruise lines that I’ve been on in the past.

Find out which cruise lines allow their guests to smoke on their balconies in the post below:

Cruise Line Balcony Smoking Policies – On These Four Lines You Can Still Smoke On The Balcony

4 – Buffet opening times

Buffet opening times on msc.

On MSC the buffet is almost always open.

On newer bigger ships like the Meraviglia often one side of the restaurant will close when they transition from breakfast to lunch or lunch to dinner. This means that the buffet rarely closes completely.

The buffet on MSC ships are often open up to 20 hours a day!!! 

Buffet opening times on Costa Cruises

I don’t remember the exact times that the buffet was open on my Costa Cruises, but what I do remember is that the buffet closed between set meal times completely.

On Costa Smeralda, we were always waiting for afternoon snacks to open at 4 pm, as they served amazing Churos!

4 p.m. for afternoon snacks seemed a little late to us – but most of the Italians on board didn’t eat dinner until 9 p.m., so I suppose late afternoon snacks make sense.

On one day on Costa Luminosa, breakfast finished at 10 am (I was still asleep at this point) and it didn’t open until lunch at 12 pm.

Not a problem if you know this is going to happen and can maybe grab some snacks from the buffet the night before. I just didn’t expect there to be no “food-free time” on a cruise!

Find out all about what I ate on my Costa Smeralda Cruise, in the buffet, dining room and speciality restaurants here:

Everything I Ate on my Costa Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

5 – Ship design

The design of msc ships.

MSC ships are very glamorous, they’re all about sparkles and have very clean lines and a modern look.

The MSC style is very distinctive and no other lines really have ships like it. I would describe the style as “Italian elegance. “

Some of the newer MSC ships have a central “street” with an LED ceiling all the way along it. On this, they show a series of amazing animations, including ports of call the ship will be visiting.

Check out my video below to see what I mean:

The Design of Costa’s Ships

When I first stepped onboard the Costa Luminosa I was completely lost for words!

I’d never seen anything quite like it before. Costa ships are SO colourful and so fun, they’re full of life and there are quirky design pieces everywhere.

I particularly liked the statue of the big naked lady in the atrium. She is still there, even though the ship is now sailing as Carnival Luminosa…

Costa Smeralda was no different. Every deck was a different ( bright) colour. That made it very easy to find your way back to your own cabin! Just stop going down the stairs when you get to the right colour…

Don’t sail on Costa ships if you prefer a tasteful, muted colour scheme!

6 – Pizza & Ice Cream!

Most cruise lines will have Pizza and Ice Cream on their menus.

This isn’t anything particularly special but because MSC and Costa are Italian cruise lines I had slightly higher expectations on the Pizza and Ice Cream front.

Pizza and Ice Cream on MSC

There is access to Pizza on MSC ships at almost all times of the day.

Onboard the MSC Meraviglia there is access to pizza for something like 20 hours a day! Amazing. It’s also possible to get Ice Cream in the main dining room any day.

We often got late-night pizza and took it back to our room. I can’t eat dairy but they also had cheeseless pizza!

Pizza and Ice Cream on Costa Cruises

I expected the buffet and main dining room menus to be filled with pizza and ice creams.

However, we NEVER saw either on any menu. I suspect that this is because Costa has ice creams and pizza available at an extra cost, so don’t want to give these away for free.

A bit of a shame I thought – but as I said earlier, both Costa cruises were so cheap that I don’t think I can complain about the absence of pizza!

On Costa Smeralda, you could get mini pizzas, or you could pay to get a Pizza at an additional charge speciality restaurant.

I did go to the Pizza restaurant, but the experience was slightly spoilt for me by having someone else’s baby sat under our table as we ate! No, I am not joking…

Costa is a very popular line for families, probably because of their very cheap children’s fares.

Find out all about my Costa Smeralda experience, including the rogue baby in the pizza restaurant here:

7 – Housekeeping

On most cruise lines your cabin is made up and made down each day by your room steward. Your room will be tidied, your towels and bedding changed and things like your ice bucket refilled.

Your room steward will also bring you the daily schedule each evening and generally be around to help if you need anything.

Housekeeping on MSC Cruises

Like most American/British lines your room is cleaned twice a day on MSC Cruises.

The room is made up in the morning (bed made etc) and made down in the evening.

I usually end up getting into bed in the afternoon for a nap and I do feel a little bad about this considering they’ve just made it for me. An afternoon nap is an important part of a cruise for me!

Housekeeping on Costa Cruises

On Costa Cruises, your room is only cleaned once a day. Really this is all that is needed and it’s perfectly adequate.

My room on Costa Smeralda had one very unusual feature. Find out all about that here:

Similarities

The above differences are really small parts of the cruise experience.

In general, the cruise lines are pretty similar and I’m sure that if you like cruising on one, you’d like cruising on the other.

It is important to remember how cheap MSC and Costa cruises can be. The price that I paid for the Costa Luminosa and MSC Meraviglia cruises were both well under £50 per night. At that price, I find it very difficult to complain!

Below are some similarities between the lines:

• Passengers board at multiple ports during the cruise, this is unlike most American/British lines where there is a start and end point to each cruise.
• Many languages are spoken onboard. Entertainment and general announcements are done in multiple languages.
• The food is primarily Italian or Mediterranean, although other types of food are available.

I would describe MSC as an Italian cruise line, designed by Italians – but not for only Italian people

There are usually a lot of people onboard who speak English and I haven’t ever felt that language was a problem.

On Costa Cruises we were definitely more in the minority by being English-speaking – having said that, it wasn’t a problem at all and I had a great time on every cruise.

On Costa Cruises you get an “English Speaking Representative” who checks in with you to make sure you are having a good time and have no problems! A very nice touch, I thought.

Check out my MSC versus Costa Cruises video below:

Before You Go

If you’ve cruised with an American or British line before, check out this post about the differences between MSC and Royal Caribbean . They’re very different experiences, and it’s better if you’re prepared.

If you are looking to book a cheap cruise, read this post next. It tells you when is the best time to book to get the best possible deal.

When Are Cruise Prices At Their Cheapest? Hints and Tips To Help You Book At The Right Time

Free Insiders Cruise Line Guide

Ever wondered how the mainstream cruise lines compare? Cruise lines won’t tell you this, but I will.

This FREE guide shows you everything you need to know to find your perfect cruise line.

Friday 5th of April 2019

Based on the premise that when I go on a cruise I kind of expect there to always be free food available so that I can/could eat whenever I want ... I think I would/will stray away from Costa cruises. Would you be able to get room service on Costa Cruises for free when the buffet is closed? I guess I have only ever been on American cruise lines and they offer free room service so it would be interesting to know if Costa offers that when the buffet is closed?

Emma Le Teace

Sunday 7th of April 2019

Hey Lindsay, thanks for your comment! I believe they do offer room service but it is for a cost so isn't anything I would consider. This Costa cruise was less than £50 per night so I'm treating any food as a bonus! :)

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I worked on cruises for 3 years. Here are 6 things I'd never do on board.

• I used to work on cruises. After many days at sea, there are things I'd never do on a cruise .
• I never wear my room key around my neck and try to avoid misnaming the ship.
• I never buy the drink package or pay for meal upgrades in the main dining room.

I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee , and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand .

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after working on them for three years.

Pay for upgrades in the main dining room

Typically, main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks.

I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food.

So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.

Buy the drink package

I enjoy a piña colada by the pool or a Manhattan while listening to a jazz set after dinner. Even so, it doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day.

I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages , and the cost simply isn't worth it for me.

This is especially true with a port-heavy itinerary. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

Related stories

I prefer to buy as I go and take advantage of happy hour and other drink specials that are available on certain cruise lines. I also check the beverage policy in advance and bring on my own wine, if allowed.

Touch shared contact surfaces with my fingers

Fellow guests will never see me touching the elevator buttons with my fingertips. Knuckles and elbows do the trick.

Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently.

This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on. It's quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer . I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Wear my room key around my neck

I never walk around the ship with my room key around my neck, and I especially never do this when on land.

There are two reasons for this. First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status . It just looks pretentious.

The sophisticated cruisers with the highest status, with the most days at sea, never show off their fancy room keys.

That's because they know the more important reason — safety. In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."

Misname the ship

English is a funny language that has its quirks. Naming conventions make that even more complicated.

Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam."

If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"

Plan my port-day itinerary so tight that I may not make it back to the ship on time

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day.

I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

When I realized how late we were going to be, I forked over $8 per minute to be connected with the ship. I pleaded with them to wait for us. It was a sprint through the port to get back on and we received quite a scolding from the first officer.

That time, we got lucky. In the future, I'll be giving myself more time than I think I need to make it back.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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The 4 newest royal caribbean ships.

Explore the newest amenities onboard including surf simulators, fine dining and more.

The Newest Royal Caribbean Ships

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean's highly anticipated Icon of the Seas is set to debut in 2024.

The world's biggest and most ambitious cruise lines never stop building out their fleet of ships, and Royal Caribbean International is no exception. The Florida-based cruise line currently boasts 28 incredible vessels for cruisers of all ages, including the four newest ships that have been added to the fleet since 2021. An even newer ship, Star of the Seas, is also being constructed with a planned launch date during the summer of 2025.

If you're interested in trying out one of the most over-the-top cruise ships sailing the world today, consider Royal Caribbean's newest vessels from the last few years. Read on to learn about the brand-new Icon of the Seas, the jaw-dropping action offered on the Wonder of the Seas, the Utopia of the Seas and the Odyssey of the Seas and all the amenities and unique experiences they have to offer.

Book a Royal Caribbean cruise on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

Icon of the Seas

Scheduled to set sail in early 2024, the Icon of the Seas is one of the most celebrated and anticipated new cruise ships across all the major cruise lines. This Icon Class vessel was built to dazzle and entertain cruise passengers of all ages, and it features eight unique neighborhoods, seven pools and the largest waterpark at sea.

In total, Icon of the Seas offers 2,805 individual staterooms with space for 7,600 guests at maximum and 2,350 crew members. The vessel is 1,198 feet long with gross tonnage of 250,800.

• Sails to: The Icon of the Seas will offer alternating seven-night sailings between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The vessel's Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, Roatan in Honduras and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas . The alternative itinerary also stops at the cruise line's private island , as well as Basseterre in St. Kitts and Nevis and Charlotte Amelie in St. Thomas. All itineraries will depart from Miami .
• Cabin types: Cabins on the Icon of the Seas are spread across eight unique neighborhoods with their own themes and amenities. Cruisers will find the basic interior, ocean view and balcony staterooms they would expect. The ship also features 179 suites that vary in size and in terms of their features, with some really spacious and over-the-top options. For example, the vessel's Ultimate Family Townhouse (UL) is more than 1,700 square feet with three stories, a multi-level slide, an outdoor space with a ping pong table and more.
• Dining options: Icon of the Seas offers 11 included dining options plus room service that's available 24/7. There are also nine unique specialty restaurants on board, including options like Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, the Empire Supper Club and Chops Grille Steakhouse. A Starbucks is also available.
• Features: The Icon of the Seas boasts the largest cruise ship pool at sea, as well as seven pools and nine whirlpools in total. There are also six record-breaking waterslides located in what Royal Caribbean says is the largest waterpark at sea. Nightlife and entertainment options run the gamut from the ship's dueling piano bar to its jazz and blues club to its AquaTheater with mesmerizing shows that feature incredible diving feats and acrobatics.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is another vessel that is set to debut in 2024 with sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida. This Oasis Class ship will offer up a total of 2,834 guest rooms and is 1,188 feet in length and 236,860 gross tons in size.

The ship has space for 5,668 passengers at double occupancy and eight different neighborhoods with cabins for guests. Interestingly, this huge ship will not offer seven-night sailings throughout the Caribbean and will instead focus on offering three-night and four-night itineraries, at least at first.

• Sails to: The all-new Utopia of the Seas will offer shorter sailings to the Bahamas. The ship's three-night sailings will stop only at the cruise line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, whereas four-night sailings from Port Canaveral stop at the cruise line's private island and at Nassau, Bahamas.
• Cabin types: The Utopia of the Seas has interior rooms, ocean view rooms and balcony rooms just like other ships. Upgraded room options also abound and include a range of luxury suites at sea. For example, you can book the iconic Ultimate Family Suite, a Solarium Suite with Wraparound Windows, a Royal Loft Suite and more.
• Dining options: There are 10 different included dining experiences on the Utopia of the Seas, with room service also offered 24 hours a day. These include a Main Dining Room experience, several cafe options, a pizzeria, a coastal kitchen with California and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and more. In addition, there are 10 different specialty restaurants that can also be booked on the Utopia of the Seas, and a Starbucks is on board. Special dining experiences include a hibachi and sushi restaurant, a seafood restaurant, a Chef's Table experience for up to 16 diners at a time, a Johnny Rockets and more.
• Features: Utopia of the Seas has everything you would expect in a new Oasis Class ship from Royal Caribbean. For example, passengers will find five huge pools, eight hot tubs, three water slides, 23 different bars and two on-board casinos. Other features include an ice-skating rink, two rock climbing walls, a zip line, a basketball court, two FlowRider Surf simulators and of course the line's famous AquaTheater. Like other Royal Caribbean ships, Utopia of the Seas also features special spaces for kids and teens, including dedicated clubs, an Imagination Studio and an on-board arcade.

Read: The Largest Cruise Ships in the World

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Wonder of the Seas

Sailing the friendly seas since March 2022, the Wonder of the Seas boasts more individual rooms and suites than Icon of the Seas. The Oasis-class ship features 2,867 staterooms with a total guest capacity of 7,084. There are also eight unique neighborhoods for cruisers to choose from, each with its own decor and flair.

This Royal Caribbean vessel is also huge at 1,188 feet long and 235,600 gross tons. A total of 2,204 crew members run the ship and assist guests.

• Sails to: Wonder of the Seas is currently sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida and offers seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Eastern itinerary includes stops in Charlotte Amelie, St. Thomas and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten as well as Perfect Day at CocoCay. Meanwhile, the Western loop stops at the cruise line's private island as well as Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Roatan, Honduras.
• Cabin types: Wonder of the Seas also offers all the normal cabin types you would expect, including interior rooms, sea view rooms and balcony staterooms. There are also over-the-top suites to choose from, including an Ultimate Family Suite, a Royal Suite, an Owner's Suite and more.
• Dining options: Nine complimentary dining options are included on the Wonder of the Seas, with a main dining room, a buffet option and plenty of other eateries available to grab a bite to eat. There are also 11 unique specialty restaurants on board, including a steakhouse and a seafood restaurant, a Johnny Rockets, a sushi and hibachi restaurant and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. For coffee lovers, a Starbucks is also on board.
• Features: The Wonder of the Seas has its own Central Park, along with 11 different bars, as well as special kids and teens-only areas like a social club and an arcade. Other notable features include the vessel's AquaTheater, rock-climbing walls, whirlpools, laser tag and more. There are also 19 swimming pools, an ice rink and a casino on the Wonder of the Seas.

Read: The Top Cruises for Teens

Odyssey of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship that's smaller than the other newest vessels from the line. The impressive ship completed its first sailing in 2021 when it became the first ship of its class to sail from the United States. Odyssey of the Seas currently departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and other ports and offers a range of six-night and seven-night sailings throughout the Caribbean in the coming months.

Up to 4,198 guests can sail on the Odyssey of the Seas with double occupancy, and 1,612 crew members are on board to tend to their every need. The ship is approximately 1,138 feet long and is 167,704 gross tons.

• Sails to: Odyssey of the Seas will depart from various ports in the United States and elsewhere in the world in the coming years. For example, there are upcoming six-night sailings from Fort Lauderdale that include stops in Labadee, Haiti and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in addition to Perfect Day at CocoCay. The vessel will complete a 14-day transatlantic cruise in April and May of 2024, which begins in Fort Lauderdale and ends in Rome, Italy. From there, the vessel will offer Greek Islands cruises from Rome before moving back to Cape Liberty (New York), New Jersey in the fall of 2024. At that point, itineraries will include stops in Port Canaveral, Florida, Nassau in the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• Cabin types: Odyssey of the Seas offers interior staterooms, ocean view rooms and balcony staterooms. Guests can also book interior rooms with a virtual balcony that boasts a floor-to-ceiling virtual view of the outdoors. Over-the-top suites available on the Odyssey include an Owner's Loft Suite, a Royal Loft Suite, a Grand Loft Suite and more.
• Dining options: As a smaller vessel with considerably fewer passengers than Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class and Icon Class ships, Odyssey of the Seas has fewer dining options overall. Guests can dine at seven included eateries including a main dining room, a bistro, a cafe and the main ship buffet. There are also seven specialty restaurants and experiences on board including the Chef's Table, a Chops Grille and a sushi and hibachi restaurant. Like other newer ships from Royal Caribbean, the Odyssey also has its own Starbucks.
• Features: The Odyssey has eight dedicated bars and lounges on board, bumper cars, laser tag, a rock-climbing wall, an outdoor movie screen and a casino, along with kid and teen features like an arcade, a kids' splash area and a social club. A FlowRider surf simulator is on board, as well as a sky diving simulator. Note that the Odyssey of the Seas doesn't have an AquaTheater like Oasis Class ships.

Find a Royal Caribbean cruise on GoToSea.

Look Out for Star of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is already offering limited information about its newest ship, the Star of the Seas. This vessel will also be an Icon Class ship like the Icon of the Seas, meaning it will be big and beautiful with all the bells and whistles.

The Star of the Seas is scheduled to debut in 2025.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a travel expert and content creator who has covered cruises and other family travel for more than a decade. She has cruised dozens of times with most of the major cruise lines and has ventured on itineraries throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to write this article, along with information provided by Royal Caribbean.

You might also be interested in:

• What to Pack for a Cruise
• Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival
• Cruise Line Drink Packages
• First-Time Cruise Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Tags: Travel , Cruises , Royal Caribbean Cruises

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Metropol Restaurant

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Busy place in the morning, lots of people, but also lots of food. Worth to eat here at least a few times during your stay, but also try some other places outside the hotel for some differences. The hotel buffet is pretty consistent, with little... change each day. More

An amazing variety of options to tempt your taste buds for everyone. From caviar and champagne to beans on toast...it is all here! Get here early enough to enjoy everything and take in the decadent surroundings as you set yourself up for the day!

We were staying at the Metropol hotel and we tried this restaurant . The food was really good and the atmosphere was even better. You must try this restaurant .

Terrible experience at New Year’s Eve at the Shalyapin bar. For 28.000 rubles for two people (460 US$...) an awful dinner with ugly service and atmosphere (cleaning ladies hoovering around the bar at 23pm, no champagne served for the midnight toast, lousy menu...). Never again!

Breakfast is served at the Metropol Hotel, Moscow, daily from 7-10:30 am. This is no simple continental breakfast; it's more like what we'd call in the US, a champagne brunch. (And, it's pretty decent champagne, too.) Add to that, freshly made blini, mountains of caviar,... every fresh and dried fruit imaginable, eggs the way you like them, smoked salmon, pickled herring, yougurts, pastries, and many other delicious items. (The coffee is great, too.) The setting is lovely--the main dining room of the hotel has a soaring stained glass ceiling and the room is elegant and lovely. There's live music played. And, the staff is excellent. They're pleasant, smiling, welcoming, and responsive. The price is RUR2000 pp, which is good by Moscow standards, especially considering how delicious and beautiful it all is. This is our favorite Moscow place for a special-occasion breakfast. For a large group, I'd suggest reservations. However, if it's only a few of you, just walk on in. More

First it's a very elegant hall of Art Nouveau style with high ceiling, marble fountain and strained glass roof. The lovely setting imparts freshness and tranquility, and is exceptional and well worth a visit. We went for the buffet breakfast which was at RUB2900 each.... Beside the standard high quality food items, there's caviar (red) and champagne. It's also a good idea to have just coffee and pastries and enjoy the space. They play the harpsichord at breakfast. I can almost imagine it a wonderful setting to propose. More

We had one meal on our own in Moscow and chose Metropol because of book, Gentleman in Moscow. While restaurant was closed for renovation, we were able to eat dinner in "bar/lobby" area - lovely. Our server took us to the 4th floor and showed... us the actual room and the ballroom on the first floor. Gorgeous. We had drinks and olives, and then dinner. The food was spectacular - duck, eggplant dish, and risotto - all were memorable! A definite must. More

We booked the tea ceremony at the Hotel Metropol to be one of the highlights of our trip to Moscow. The ceremony lived up to expectations in every way. The restaurant itself is grand and full of atmosphere. Our waitress, Katerina, could not have done... more to make our visit special. She took great delight in showing us how to drink our tea (adding thyme and honey to our black tea) and explained all the different treats to us. There was an amazing assortment of savouries (eg blinis with red caviar) and an even more amazing assortment of cakes/patisserie. Everything was served on beautiful china. We lingered for ages enjoying our tea but when we tried to go (because we had tickets to the Bolshoi) Katerina offered us more tea and encouraged us to stay even longer. It was so refreshing as some places make you feel unwelcome after a while - not so at the Metropol. If you are visiting Moscow, the tea ceremony at the Metropol is definitely worth doing - a very special experience. More

An absolute privilege to stay at the Metropol! Ideally located a few minutes walk from the Red Square and ideally placed for the Kremlin. We had a suite and all I can say is that it promotes solid Russian grandeur! Beautiful! Now the breakfast –... it really does deserve the global publicity for being the best. This has to be the best experience I have ever had. Champagne and caviar on the buffet in addition to literally anything you could dream of! A must! More

Dear StuartBosley, We thank you for your positive and valuable feedback and for your time. We are happy to know that you liked staying in Metropol hotel and visiting the breakfast in Metropol Restaurant. Our team at Metropol restaurant always tries to create a cozy... More

We chose the premium category but were extremely disappointed because there were no premium foods. We had all you could drink premium booze but there was no caviar or oysters and a small selection of fish dishes. We were hoping it would be worth the... heavy price but it wasn't. The room is fantastic and the service was excellent, but the music was sub-par and the food was average at best. More

Cant miss the breakfast in this fantastic hall with harp music, really stunning, the choice and quality of the breakfast is superb

Would definitely recommend and well worth an excursion to the Metropole hotel for breakfast (easily accessible from Teatralnaya metro). Relaxed and beautiful setting with the stained glass roof, live classical music on a harp, good service etc.

This hotel is only moments from both Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre. It is also handy for the shopping centres. The interior of the hotel is so elegant and the staff friendly and helpful. At present the signature restaurant SAVVA is being refurbished, so... the hotel are not using the main imposing entrance, but the only slightly less grand alternative. A stay here is well worth the expense, but be sure to read A Gentleman in Moscow either before or during your stay. More

When we had visitors in town, we took them for brunch at the Metropol Restaurant on the first floor of the Metropol Hotel. We knew it was going to be a bit of a splurge, but until we received the bill, we were not sure... how much. It ended up costing us 2750 rubles each, which I suppose was worth it for a special occasion with guests. However, I would strongly encourage you to come hungry and take your time to make sure you make the most of the experience. You can have a glass of champagne while eating traditional blinis (pancakes) with caviar and sour cream. You can also order as many cappuccinos, etc. as your heart desires. The service is excellent, and it allows you to visit the Metropol without all the formality of dinner. More

Dear Leslie S, Thank you for your valuable feedback! Happily I will let the team know that you appreciated both service and food. I am delighted that you have enjoyed your time with us, and we would be happy to welcome you back in the... More

I did not stay at the hotel, but did have breakfast here to soak up the feeling of the place that I so enjoyed in the book 'A Gentleman in Moscow' The expansive elegant room, atrium glass ceiling and live harp music and impeccable service... met every expectation. A treat when in Moscow. More

Dear Janet R, We thank you for your positive feedback and for your time. We are glad to know that you liked visiting Metropol Restaurant. Our team at Metropol restaurant always tries to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for all our guests and we... More

METROPOL RESTAURANT, Moscow - Boulevard Ring - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

• Service: 4.5
• Atmosphere: 4.5

Moscow Restaurants 2024

Top 20 restaurants you should definitelly visit during your stay in Moscow.

Looking for the best restaurants in Moscow? Checkout our latest list of the top places to eat in the capital of Russia.

Most of the trendiest restaurants are located around the famous Patriarch Ponds neighborhood, also known as the main gourmet center of Moscow and the neighboring Bolshaya Nikitskaya street. (our picks include Gvidon, Pino and Loro restaurants)

The list also includes a number of the beloved classics like Pushkin and White Rabbit that was awarded a Michelin star in 2022.

1 . Pushkin Restaurant

Pushkin restaurant is located in a 19th century mansion in the heart of the city. One of the best places to experience Russian cuisine. During summer they open summer verandah located on top of the restaurant's building and overlooks Pushkin Boulevard.

2 . Erwin Restaurant

Erwin is a seafood restaurant that occupies 2 floors of the building located at the bank of the Moscow River in close proximity to the Radisson Royal Hotel. Erwin's menu features an extensive selection of crabs that includes king crab, snow crab, frog crab, blue king crab, spiky crab and hairy crab.

3 . Dr Zhivago Restaurant

Dr. Zhivago is located in the heart of Moscow, just one block away from the Red Square and Kremlin. It occupies the ground floor of the legendary Hotel National built in 1902. The restaurant carries the name of the legendary novel, as well as creates its own intriguing story line.

4 . White Rabbit Restaurant

In October of 2021 White Rabbit received it's Michelin star. The restaurant represents the so called “new Russian cuisine”. At White Rabbit they use local products to cook traditional Russian dishes with a modern touch.

5 . Sixty Restaurant

The Sixty restaurant, located on the Federation Tower's 62nd floor, offers stunning panoramic views and stands as one of Europe's highest dining spots.

6 . Novikov Restaurant & Bar

Novikov Restaurant & Bar is located on the first floor of the Ritz-Carlton hotel on the central Tverskaya street. The menu is focused mostly on PanAsian dishes.

7 . Gvidon Restaurant

Gvidon restaurant is located in a restored mansion of the pre-revolutionary era. The historic building with large windows resembles old Moscow architecture. The extensive multi-page menu is divided into 3 sections that include seasonal dishes, raw bar, and main menu.

8 . Savva Restaurant

Savva restaurant is located inside the famous 5 star Metropole hotel right across from the Bolshoi Theater and TSUM department store.

Savva’s menu was compiled by chef Andrey Shmakov with a primary focus on Russian cuisine. Although you’ll find some French and Italian items in the menu as well. The menu also includes Raw Bar.

9 . Pino Restaurant

Pino is an Italian restaurant located in the heart of the trendy Patriarch Ponds area in the central part of Moscow. Pino’s extensive international menu has a dedicated section with dishes that can be shared among all guests at the table. Checkout their breakfasts served daily from 8:00 to 12:00.

10 . Bolshoi Restaurant

Bolshoi restaurant is located in the heart of Moscow next to the world famous Bolshoi Theater and TSUM department store. Local menu includes culinary classics from around the world. There are items from traditional Russian and Soviet era cuisine that are mixed with select Italian and French dishes.

11 . Sakhalin Restaurant

The Sakhalin restaurant is located on the 22nd floor of the AZIMUT City Hotel Smolenskaya that offers a 360-degree panoramic views of Moscow.

The restaurant’s menu features one of the best selection of seafood dishes in the city including crabs, shrimps, a variety of shells and fish brought directly from the Far East of Russia.

12 . Butcher Restaurant

Butcher on Tsvetnoy Boulevard is a premium steak house located on the first floor of the modern business center minutes away from the TSUM department store. Butcher specializes in premium meat from Argentina, Uruguay and Russia, so its a good place to have one of the classic steaks.

13 . La Bottega Siciliana

La Bottega Siciliana is a premium Italian restaurant located in the same building as the Four Seasons Hotel. The menu at La Bottega Siciliana listed on many pages is huge. It has all varieties of Italian dishes as well as some original items compiled by the chef Claudio Pirovano.

14 . Turandot Restaurant

Turandot is a premium pan-Asian restaurant located on Tverskoy Boulevard in the center of Moscow. The restaurant was created by the same restaurateur who created Pushkin restaurant located in the same building.

15 . Ivanka Restaurant

The Ivanka restaurant is located in the Neva Towers skyscraper in the Moscow City district. The main menu reflects the personal view of chef Ivan Negutarov on Mediterranean gastronomy with a primary focus on Italy. Checkout the menu’s dedicated “Carpaccio”, “Tartare”, “Crudo”, “On Ice” and “Caviar” sections!

16 . Le Pigeon Restaurant

Le Pigeon is a restaurant that specializes in Parisian cuisine where traditional French dishes are served with some creative modern twists. For those that are just starting their acquaintance with French cuisine, the chefs recommend trying some snails in white wine.

17 . Boston Seafood & Bar

Boston Seafood & Bar has 2 major advantages that make it stand out among other restaurants in Moscow also serving seafood. The first advantage is pricing policy that is extremely attractive considering high quality of their food.

18 . Aist Restaurant

Aist restaurant is located in the trendy Patriarch Ponds area in the center of Moscow. The restaurant is mainly focused on European cuisine but also has some signature Asian dishes. The restaurant is located in its own 3 story building and has one of the best summer verandahs in Moscow.

19 . Loro Restaurant

Loro was originally opened in the winter of 2019 and became famous for its fresh Moscow take on Italian classics. The menu consists of just one sheet and six sections. There is a raw section that has oysters, sea urchins, several kinds of carpaccio and tartare. The desert menu has all Italian classics like Tiramisu, Pistachio ice cream and Crème Brûlée.

20 . Yug 22 Restaurant

Yug 22 restaurant’s name is translated from Russian as “south” and the number refers to the building’s address. The restaurant is located on Bolshaya Nikitskaya street, famous for its restaurant scene and pedestrian area.

The front door of the restaurant is decorated with yellowish tones. You will definitely like the restaurant’s floor to ceiling windows that they open during warm summer months.

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Restaurant SIXTY

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

The food was okay and the service was pleasant however it was not as good or as memorable as the other restaurants that we dined at whilst visiting Moscow. The restaurant itself was beautiful and the view was still impressive despite it being a cloudy... day. It had a nice atmosphere but we were quite cold! It's not a place that I would return to in a hurry. More

This restaurant is NOT for couples on a romantic date. The music is too loud, the people watching is too distracting, the interiors are wowing, and the views command abandoning one's table in a rash to snap that one more perfect photo. The visit starts... with a lush lobby and a high speed lift that takes you up 62 floors in a swoosh. Ears still clogged, you are greeted by gorgeous welcome girls who escort you to your table in a huge hall cleverly divided into intimate cosy zones, all surrounded by floor to ceiling windows and a glass ceiling. Despite the sanctions imposed by Russia on foreign food imports, only 3 items were not available on the extensive menu: buffalo mozzarella, asparagus and foir gras. I am appalled by the reviewer who chose a burger from the menu. Seafood hot starters could be a meal in themselves: Wasabi grilled prawns, crab legs and other shell fish are superb in freshness, taste and presentation. Salads have fresh and crispy greens (where do they come from?) and delicate dressing. The mains include, just to name a few, all usual cuts of beef, rack of lamb, black cod, australian baramundi, halibut. The service was superb, one meal followed another seamlessly. The waitress had little English but menu contains English and we had no difficulties at all. The wine list has great choices served properly. People watching was fun. The restaurant had probably the highest concentration of gorgeous russian women under one roof, which proved a bit distracting to some of our party. Every half hour or so, the restaurant will turn up the music which is a sign that they are about to open the windows exposing the most spectacular views of Moscow. It's quite exciting and provides a welcome wave of fresh cool air. In conclusion, the food and service are superb, the atmosphere is fantastic, the views are spectacular - an absolute must in Moscow. More

Very good service and indeed having good food and atmosphere. The only thing I can criticize is the size of the raw oysters, just a bit disappointed. But overall, fantastic experience!

Don't go to Sixty. The reception was rude. When we got seated they said, we can only have the table for one and a half hours, the food is too expensive to be told that. Service is awful, we got served a little bit of... water in the beginning, and that was it. The waiter never came by and asked if we wanted more. Luckily I brought some water myself, so I survived my stay here. It was also not possible to book a table over the phone for lunch, which is weird. There was also a camera lady forcing us to take a picture. We said no, but she insisted on taking a photo and didn't tell us what she needed it for, we assumed it was for their Instagram. She even asked us to stand up and move more together while we just had received our food. We told her no, but she did not understand. After a while, she left, but she managed to take one picture of us while we were sitting down, and after lunch was over, she came back and asked if we wanted to buy a framed photo she had taken of us. We said no thanks. I'm happy I didn't go here in the evening because it would have completely ruined my evening. I don't recommend this place. More

There are a tables near the windows, but it's impossible to reserve these tables in advance. It's so strange, because if I book a table in advance I'd like to have a choice and garantee the table near the window with view to Moscow. Why... do I need a reservation at all? We booked a table and came to the restaraunt 30 min.later than the table was booked. Hostes said that our reservation was cancelled because of our late visit. They didn't call us and didn't ask us to confirm our visit. It's Moscow, a lot of traffic jams and it's impossible to be in time. And the last one- there is no table in non-smoking place. Many people smoke during the dinner and other guests have to smell this. The restaraunt should have tables for non-smoking people! There should be a choice! This restaraunt was much better when it was opened 2 years ago (I visited it in august 2011). Now it has become much worse! It seems like night club. not restaraunt. More

I went to this restaurant hoping for a nice Borsch with a good view of Moscow city, but was rather disappointed with the usher. Left me in the central area and there was no one who attended to me despite having been there for a... good 15 mins or so. I decided to leave the restaurant soon after. Food can be fantastic, view can be fantastic but bad service just drives your customer away! More

Crooked restaurant. Very bad. Forget it. Definitely. Noisy, impossible to have a conversation. Bad service. They even do not consider ladies, they are not served first... My dish was cold when served. At the end of your dinner they are asking you cash first for... paying the bill and then if you cannot pay with cash they are asking you for a black or gold credit card instead and if you cannot provide it they charge you 10% more... More

We've celebrated my wife's birthday there. I specifically mentioned this in the order and loudly declared this once more when we've arrived (it was Friday, 15.01.2016). No Birthday cake and/or song for us. I've specifically told the waiter once more before we've order the desert.... No result. Awful. Furthermore, we've being promised a discount on my premium (platinum) Mastercrad, but instead we've being over-charged for USD 50!!! Unfortunately we didn't keep the bill (check) - our mistake. And now we cannot even claim the fraud. Awful!!! More

My girlfriend and I decided to try out the "famous" sixty restaurants. Actually I could never complain about reatauranrs of the Ginza chain. Usually they would have friendly, more or less skilled and especially English speaking waiters. This general rule obviously does not apply on... Sixty. The restaurant itself is really beautiful, we liked the interior design, the view and just the overall setting. The waiters in there though are just worse than peasants. We had around 5 different waiters serving us, constantly switching and not knowing about what the other one is doing. Instead of sending an English speaking waiter to our table, we had someone not speaking a single word, just taking to my girlfriend in Russian, and not giving me the feeling of being involved in any way. There was not only a lack of language skills, but also a lack of any kind of education. This person was the worst waiter I have had for a while. I asked for extra wasabi when our sushi came and the wasabi arrived when the sushi was gone, the 2nd order of drinks arrived after we were done with dinner for a long time. He was not smiling, not charming, not good looking, not caring about his customers at all,b just overall the lowest performance of a waiter. I've been eating in a lot of high class restaurants all over the world and I am absolutely willing to pay a lot of money if I get a return on my investment. I feel myself capable to judge that sixty is just overrated and overpriced for what you get. The service is worth nothing at all. The food is just average with too high prices. The crowd visiting that place is almost as bad as the waiters. It is full of wannabe new rich thugs, who would not even be allowed to enter a restaurant in Paris the way they look and behave. So all in all I can only say it is a palace full of peasants More

Actually the dinner was fine. And we are normally good spenders. But: 1) the waiter tries to sell you the most expensive food and much much more than what you really can eat 2) we paid more than USD 240 per person and we asked... for a vodka after the bill and we had to pay again for it. 3) And, sincerely, Mr Novikov, is unacceptable to put a person who doesn’t speak english at the concierge. We had to use google translator to get a damned taxi after 30 minutes!!! I UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY ON FRIDAY... More

Pre-booked a table by the window to enjoy the view from 60th floor. Upon arrival the staff impolitely denied having made such a reservation. Very bad start of the evening. This is disappointing, since the view is really the main attraction here. Food is decent,... service is medium, despite plenty plenty of staff, and hence a somewhat overpriced experience. One can see that a lot of attention is paid on presentation. Starters were nice, but portions are merely samples. Fish was overcooked, decently presented. The wine list is short and grossly overpriced, which is - unfortunately - not unusual in Moscow. Overall, Sixty was a somewhat disappointing experience! More

Worst restaurant ever!!! Service was terrible, no English spoken and food never arrived!!! They didn't care about us at all because they didn't understand. Moscow has better places!!!

The first we want to sorry about the “worst dinner”. We will immediately solve the problem with service and no English spoken waiters. Thank you for your review, we have to know all the problems to become better every day.

Bad and slow service, so so food, arrogant staffs. If you like a combination of these 3 qualities then step this way. To be considered only as a place to take photos and then leave immediately elsewhere. The staffs could not care less about quality... of services but are more than ready to check on the way you dress up for the occasion. My suggestion: order one drink, take photos and go elsewhere for real delicious dinner or lunch. Moscow has a lot more to offer than this place. More

Most of this has been said before on this site, but it's worth reiterating just how awful this place is. Yes, the view and the decor are great but the positives are far outweighed by the negatives. The door staff are spectacularly rude. It was... clear that even though we had a reservation they didn't think we were fabulous enough to eat there. Our waiter was totally inept. We waited 45 minutes for our drinks, our starters and mains all came together, and, after we sent out mains back because we wanted to eat our starters first, the same mains came back later on when we were ready for them, stone cold. They hadn't even bothered to reheat them. We sent them back again and complained to the manager. By way of an apology he brought us some free desserts - only we hadn't eaten our mains at that point. The whole evening was a total farce and not cheap either. This restaurant may not be extremely expensive by Moscow standards but for £100.00 a head the food simply isn't good enough and the service is unforgivable. AVOID! More

Nice location with perfect views to Moscow city and Moscow. What is bad you can not reserve by phone a table if want one to be close to windows. You have to reserve, visit them for deposit and then come again for dinner/lunch. The food... is average and Ginza has much simple locations with much more better food. So this is mainly a place to visit for views. More

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RESTAURANT SIXTY, Moscow - Presnensky - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

• Atmosphere: 4.5

Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya

Dining and drinks

Janus serves a range of Russian and international fare, including a breakfast buffet featuring syrniki and traditional options. We offer room service and a summer terrace, and our Lobby Bar serves cocktails and light bites.

Janus Restaurant

Monday – Friday

7 am – 10:30 am

Monday through Friday 7 am through 10:30 am

Saturday – Sunday

7 am – 11 am

Saturday through Sunday 7 am through 11 am

Start your day with a breakfast infused with local flavors. Full buffet menu includes made-to-order eggs, omelettes, cold cuts, hot items, oatmeal, and fresh bakery items. We offer fruit, vegetables, nuts and cereals to those guests that choose the healthy lifestyle. Famous local dishes include “blinis”, Russian pancakes, and “syrniki”, fried quark pancakes, both topped with sour cream, jam and honey. Sparkling wine is available throughout the breakfast.

Monday – Sunday

8 am – 11 pm

Monday through Sunday 8 am through 11 pm

Set in the hotel’s impressive grand lobby, the bar is a popular place for meetings with business colleagues and friends. The bar provides an a la carte menu, featuring international and seasonal meals. In a display case, the classic Russian desserts are available throughout the day.

Room Service

12 am – 12 am

Monday through Sunday 12 am through 12 am

We serve four types of breakfast in the privacy of your room: continental, American, healthy and a la carte. All day and night menu feature a selection of salads, sandwiches and soups, meat and fish dishes, and delicious desserts. We will add a 15% service change to all orders.

Summer Terrace

12 pm – 8 pm

Monday through Sunday 12 pm through 8 pm

Ideally located beside the hotel's main entrance, the summer terrace is decorated in country style with sofas, armchairs and soft cushions. Watch the hustle and bustle of the Moscow city while tasting our delicious summer dishes or simply enjoying a fresh drink. The summer terrace serves lunch and dinner offering the lobby bar menu, as well as seasonal menu from the chef.