Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    I believe you mean the COSTA Cruise Lines. I have heard of them
    but don't believe that their a major player, but can't say they
    aren't. All I know is, that for what it costs to cruise you want
    to check it out before you plunck those$$$ down. I don't see what
    the rush is for a November off season cruise is. I can't believe
    they will book it full that soon unless it is a special event cruise.
    Anyway, good luck and have fun. I am leaving this saturday for the
    NORWAY Easter cruise.
    
    Len Uronis

    There's an article on one of the Costa ships (can't recall the name
    offhand) in this month's (March/April) issue of Cruise Travel magazine.

							-- Nina

    P.S.  Perhaps the title of this note could be changed to reflect the
    correct spelling? (Assuming Costa is really what was meant.)

    We have sailed on the Costa lines twice.  Two years ago we cruised on
    the Carla C and had a wonderful time.  The itinerary was interesting, 
    the staff friendly, and although the food wasn't magnificent, it was 
    good and the Italian pastries were delicious and plentiful.  We sailed 
    from San Juan and stopped at Curacao; Caracas, Venezuela (doubt if they're
    stopping there now!); Grenada; Martinique; and St. Thomas.  We had 
    such a good time we decided to cruise with Costa again.
    
    So last year we sailed on the Carla C's sister ship, the Daphne.  What a
    disappointment!  The ship was in very shabby shape, the crew was glum
    and unfriendly, our departure from San Juan was delayed from midnight
    until 4 a.m. and consequently we spent a day at sea that was supposed
    to be spent in St. Maartin.  We liked the itinerary, which included
    St. Maartin (although we never saw it), Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, 
    Antigua, and St. Thomas.  We had a good time despite the Daphne. 
    
    We have decided not to sail the Costa lines again.  We still get
    literature from them and this year they have completely refurbished the
    ships.  I hope they have replaced the crew and upped salaries (a major
    reason for poor crew).  I can't highly recommend them.  There seem to 
    be better cruise lines mentioned in this notes file, e.g., NCL and RCCL.
                                      

    CASTA changed to COSTA.
    
    Mr. Maderator
    
        ooops!
    
    Mr. Moderator
    

    Went on the Costa Riveria this May.
    
    Nothing to rave about. Enjoyed the others better (Norway '84, Festival
    '79, QE2 73).
    
    Jon

    I just came back from a cruise on the Costa Riveria (24-Feb-90 through
    3-March-90).   It was our first cruise and probably our last.  The ship
    was very clean and well run but the majority of the customers were much
    older and the ship's activities were definitely slanted to the bingo
    games, casino, card games etc.  It was very laid back, too much so for
    my taste.  To be fair, about half our traveling group of 29 enjoyed
    themselves and would do it again.  
    
    A couple of general comments from a first timer:  Even the big ships
    rock!  From Ft. Lauderdale to St. Thomas we had 2 days of sloppy seas
    and many, many people got sick.  This was not just our ship.  We met
    people from the Celebration and Viking Princess (I think it was) who
    also experienced a rough trip, so much so that at least one couple left
    the ship in St. Thomas.  It was probably a good idea as the 4th day was
    also difficult.  By this point the ships store sold out of Dramimine,
    sick bay was doing an incredible business dispensing 'shots', and several
    prescription remedies were being traded.
    The other stops were Nassau and San Juan.  San Juan replaced St. Croix
    after we had booked due to the devastation of Hurricane Hugo.  Both
    Nassau and San Juan were disappointments.  The advantage of Nassau was
    that you could more easily get away from the down town area than you
    could in San Juan.  The frustrating part was that the stops in each
    port were too short to see and experience much of the areas.  
    
    _Stan   

    My cruise on the Costa Riveria was also a disappointment.  I will try 
    another ship in the future.  An anniversary is coming up..any ideas on
    which is the most popular for a middle-age couple (Costa was definately
    the Seniors ship).
    Thanks
    Myrna