If you’re considering a Costa Toscana Mediterranean cruise, you’re probably wondering how it compares to the other cruise lines that sail Europe and may be more familiar to Americans. After spending seven nights aboard Costa Toscana, Costa Cruises’ flagship vessel, sailing roundtrip from Barcelona with my teenage son, I’m sharing our experience, including the ship, food, entertainment, cabin, drink packages, and whether I’d sail Costa again.
For years, most of my travel has focused on multigenerational adventures with my mom and my son. This trip was a little different. Instead of planning for three generations, it was just me and my teenage son exploring the Mediterranean together, giving us the opportunity to experience one-on-one travel while visiting some of the region’s most iconic destinations.
Our 7-night Mediterranean cruise on Costa Toscana departed from Barcelona and included stops in Cagliari (Sardinia), Naples, Rome (via Civitavecchia), Genoa, and Marseille before returning to Spain.
This post focuses on the Costa Toscana ship experience, while future articles in this series will cover each port in detail. This was my first experience with Costa Cruises, and because Costa is much more popular in Europe than in the United States, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. After a week onboard, I came away impressed by the ship, the food, the entertainment, and the overall experience.
A Different Kind of Cruise Experience
One of the first things you’ll notice on Costa Toscana is that this is very much a European cruise.
The majority of passengers on our sailing were Europeans, not Americans. Announcements were made in both Italian and English, and while Italian was the language I heard most often around the ship, every crew member we encountered spoke English well. Communication was never an issue, although I found that I socialized with other passengers much less than I typically do because of the language barrier.
Our Mediterranean Itinerary
Our cruise began and ended in Barcelona, with stops that included:
- Barcelona, Spain
- Cagliari, Sardinia
- Naples, Italy
- Civitavecchia (Rome)
- Genoa, Italy
- Marseille, France
We also enjoyed a couple of scenic evening experiences from the ship, including views around Capri and the Faraglioni rock formations during sunset.
Future articles in this series will focus on each port individually, but this post is all about the ship itself.
Our Balcony Cabin
We booked a balcony cabin and found it surprisingly comfortable for the week.
The room was configured with two twin beds for us, although it can easily be converted into a king-size setup for couples. There was a sofa, a desk area, and more storage than I’ve found in many cruise cabins. One thing to note is that Costa Toscana cabins do not typically include a mini-fridge. If you need to keep medication cold or have another reason to store items at a lower temperature, the ship can provide a cooler bag and will replenish the ice regularly throughout the cruise.
As always, I appreciated having a balcony. There’s something special about starting the morning with coffee while watching a new coastline come into view or winding down after dinner with the sound of the sea outside your room. There was no lack of amazing sunset views on this trip.
The Food Was Excellent
If there’s one thing my son and I both agreed on, it was how much we enjoyed the food throughout the cruise.
The dinner service each evening was outstanding. Meals felt relaxed and enjoyable, and the quality was consistently very good throughout the week. Given that Costa is an Italian cruise line, perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the food exceeded my expectations.
Breakfast and lunch were generally buffet-style and could get quite crowded during peak hours. However, Costa manages the crowds well. One thing I appreciated was that passengers were not serving themselves. Crew members served the food, which helped keep things moving efficiently and felt much more sanitary than traditional self-serve buffets.
Was the Drink Package Worth It?
We purchased the Drink Package Plus package for our cabin, and for us, it was worth it.
One thing that worked particularly well for families traveling with teenagers is that Costa offers separate pricing for adults and minors. Everyone in the cabin must have a package, but my son’s package included all the non-alcoholic benefits while mine included alcoholic beverages.
My package included:
- Premium cocktails
- Wine and beer
- Bottled water
- Canned soft drinks
- Cappuccinos
- Espresso drinks
- Specialty coffees
My son’s package included:
- Unlimited bottled water
- Canned sodas
- Specialty coffees
- Other non-alcoholic beverages
Considering how much bottled water we drank during this Mediterranean summer cruise, the package alone saved us from constantly thinking about individual drink purchases.
Entertainment Highlights
There was no shortage of things to do onboard. Every day featured multiple entertainment options, games, activities, shows, and live music.
My personal favorite was a rock band that played in the pub almost every evening. They focused heavily on 80s and 90s rock, and they were genuinely talented musicians. I found myself stopping in multiple nights because they were just that good.
Another unexpected highlight was the silent disco. Held on the pool deck one evening, guests received wireless headphones with three music channels to choose from. Watching people dance enthusiastically to completely different songs was entertaining enough, but joining in made it one of the most memorable evenings of the cruise.
White Night Was a Hit
Like many cruise lines, Costa hosts themed evenings throughout the sailing.
Participation varied widely depending on the theme, but White Night was a different story. Nearly everyone seemed to take part.
Passengers dressed in white, the atmosphere felt festive throughout the ship, and the evening ended with energetic dance parties and some great photo opportunities. If you’re planning to sail Costa, I would absolutely recommend packing a white outfit. You’ll fit right in.
Activities for Every Age
Costa Toscana does a good job offering activities for a wide variety of travelers.
The ship features:
- A casino
- Shopping areas
- Arcade games
- Fitness center
- Dedicated kids’ clubs
- Children’s activities and check-in areas
- Dining options geared toward families with younger children
The gym was especially popular and often crowded. If working out is important to you, plan to arrive early or be flexible about timing.
World Cup Excitement at Sea
One unexpected highlight of our cruise had nothing to do with the ports or even the ship itself. We happened to be sailing during the World Cup quarterfinals, and Costa Toscana fully embraced the excitement with large watch parties throughout the ship.
One of my favorite memories from the entire trip was watching matches alongside hundreds of passionate fans from across Europe and beyond. The ship did a fantastic job with the viewing setups, creating spaces where large crowds could comfortably gather to watch and celebrate. It was a reminder that travel isn’t only about the destinations you visit. The excitement, cheering, suspense, and celebration created an incredible shared experience.
It was a reminder that travel isn’t only about the destinations you visit. The excitement, cheering, suspense, and celebration created an incredible shared experience.
The Spa Was Worth the Splurge
One of my favorite purchases onboard was a week-long spa pass.
The pass included access to several adults-only wellness areas that were noticeably less crowded than the public spaces around the ship.
These included:
- Adults-only hot tubs
- Steam room
- Dry sauna
- Salt room
- Snow room
After long days exploring ports in the summer heat, having access to these quieter spaces was a welcome retreat.
I also treated myself to a massage during the cruise, and it was excellent. Combined with the spa pass, it made for a relaxing break between our busy port days.
Final Thoughts
Costa Toscana turned out to be a wonderful way to explore the Mediterranean.
The European atmosphere, excellent food, varied entertainment, comfortable accommodations, and family-friendly environment made for an enjoyable week at sea. While it felt different from the major North American cruise lines, that’s actually one of the things I liked most about it.
Most importantly, it gave my son and me the opportunity to spend a week exploring new destinations together while still having plenty of fun onboard.
One of the things I love most about cruising is the ability to experience multiple destinations without constantly packing and unpacking your suitcase. For an entire week, our hotel room traveled with us as we explored Spain, Italy, and France, making it a stress-free way to see several amazing destinations in a single trip.
Stay tuned for future posts in this series where I’ll share our experiences in each port, including what we did, what we’d do again, and tips for fellow travelers.
Adventure on!
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