Costa Favolosa

The Costa Favolosa is one of (still) five cruise ships of the Concordia class established by Costa Crociere and its parent company Carnival Cruises. We have remembered this class of ship since the sinking of the Costa Concordia, the first ship of this type, off the Italian island of Giglio. 32 people lost their lives in the shipping accident. Sister ships: Costa Fascinosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Serena and Carnival Splendor.

The Costa Favolosa is 290 meters long and 36 meters wide. It has a gross tonnage of 113.216. Its maximum passenger capacity is given as 3.800. – In Italian, “Favola” means fairy tale. It seems that the shipping company wanted to create a “fairy tale ship”.

Costa Favolosa in Ålesund

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Costa Favolosa – the first impression

The "fairytale ship" has pleasing lines on the outside. An eye-catcher inside the ship is the atrium in the front area of ​​the ship with the glass elevators connecting all the passenger decks. The central area, which extends over three decks, is home to the reception, tour office, shops, bars, etc. The three-story on-board theater is also impressive.

Costa Favolosa - Atrium

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Eye-catchers in the public areas are individual art objects worth seeing as well as several tongue-in-cheek depictions of interpersonal themes in the passageways, some of which depict amorous encounters from times long past. Which brings us back to the fairytale aspect.

Life takes place mainly on decks 3 to 5 and 9 to 12. The remaining decks are mostly passenger decks. There is plenty of space inside the ship and on the open decks.

Worth knowing from an environmental point of view: The Costa Favolosa is set up to use shore power.

Costa Favolosa - Taking over shore power in Ålesund

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In the following we describe in words and pictures our impressions that we gained during a 14-day Nordic cruise on board the Costa Favolosa.

Cabin

There are around 1.500 interior, sea view and balcony cabins as well as various suites. Some of the cabins are designed for disabled guests. The majority of the cabins are on decks 1 and 2 as well as 6, 7 and 8.

The smallest cabins are the inside cabins, measuring around 9 to 12 square meters. Sea view and balcony cabins are around 13 to 17 square meters. The size depends on the number of beds. The suites are between 19 and 35 square meters in size.

Our cabin
We stayed in balcony cabin #9272 on deck 9. Cabin size: approximately 17 square meters plus the balcony area. As a standard cabin, it is large enough. A maximum of three people could live in this cabin, but then it would be tight.

The double bed is next to the window element. Wardrobes and chests of drawers offer sufficient storage space; the wardrobe required for two people on longer journeys can be easily stowed in the cabin. Large-format mirrors provide pleasant optical effects. We also like the styling and decor of the cabin.

Also included: a vanity or desk. A sofa bed is part of the furnishings. An outdated small television with few German channels, a telephone, a safe and air conditioning are part of the basic equipment. The lighting is satisfactory.

The bathroom is small but offers enough storage space. The balcony lacks depth. Two chairs and a tiny table are included. The backs of the balcony chairs cannot be tilted.

The service from our cabin steward is excellent. Special requests are dealt with as quickly as possible. Folding stuffed animals out of towels is something Costa rarely bothers with.

More cabins

Food and drink on board

Restaurants

With double occupancy of the cabins and good occupancy, there are an average of 3.000 guests on board the Costa Favolosa. Meals are served in nine restaurants. Three of the restaurants and the snack station in the pool area are included in the price. Suite guests dine in the Club Restaurant, which is included for them. "Normal people" can enjoy the sophisticated atmosphere of this restaurant for an additional charge. Other dining options for which a fee is charged are the Teppanyaki, the Sushino, the Archipelago and the Pizzeria.

Restaurants included in the tour price

The majority of passengers use the two full-service restaurants, Duca di Borgogna and Duca d'Orleans, located on decks 3 and 4, for dinner. Meals are served in two sittings. Both restaurants are supplied by a central kitchen.

Duke of Borgogna

This restaurant is located amidships on decks 3 and 4 and is the larger of the two restaurants. The tables are well spaced. The restaurant is open in the evenings. Dinner is served in two sittings with a fixed seating arrangement.

Costa Favolosa - Ristorante Duca di Borgogna

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The range of food is good. Vegetarians are taken into account. The meals are freshly prepared. The taste and decoration of the dishes are convincing. The kitchen usually works quickly and the service from the waiters is completely satisfactory.

Duke of Orleans

The Duca d'Orleans is located aft on decks 3 and 4. It is open in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening. The selection of dishes is identical to that of the Duca di Borgogna. Incidentally, in both restaurants, guests are regularly offered specialties for a fee in addition to the included dishes.

Breakfast is served buffet style; self-service is recommended.

One point of criticism:
We would like to point out that the shipping company expects its guests to open the daily menus using the Costa app on their smartphones. Sheets with printed menu suggestions will only be presented to passengers upon express request.

Buffet restaurant Ca'd'Oro

An alternative to the two full-service restaurants is the buffet restaurant located aft on deck 9. The dishes are almost identical to those in the full-service restaurants mentioned above.

Costa Favolosa - buffet restaurant Ca'd'Oro

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The decor doesn't appeal to us; it lacks any kind of chic or style. The chairs are painfully cramped, the aisles are mostly narrow and it's very loud. There is no beverage service. Guests get their drinks from vending machines or manned beverage stations.

There is no reason to complain about the quality, variety and taste of the food. The organization of the buffet is incomprehensible. The Costa concept does not have individual stations in the core area, as is the case on Celebrity Cruises or TUI Cruises ships, for example. There, separate stations spread across the room prevent long waiting times. Costa guests, on the other hand, are forced to line up and work their way through two mirror-image buffets. When the restaurant is very busy, queues and waiting times are inevitable. The clearing and cleaning of the tables leaves a lot to be desired, and not just at peak times.

The Ca'd'Oro offers its guests outdoor seating in the two pool areas.

An afternoon snack is served in the buffet restaurant between 16:00pm and 17:00pm It should be noted that none of the restaurants featured serve ice cream for dessert. Ice cream lovers can go to the Gelateria Bar Amarillo and pay for the pleasure, or use the ice cream counter on deck 9, which is adjacent to the pool bar. We find this unusual for a ship sailing under the Italian flag.

Restaurants subject to surcharge

Club Restaurant

Costa promises guests of the Club Restaurant an "exclusive" experience. The partially open-plan restaurant is one deck above the pizzeria and two decks above the buffet restaurant. We have not tested it. At least we know that Costa is trying to keep the restaurant busy with an attractive weekly offer. For an additional charge, the three main meals can be enjoyed in a quiet and sophisticated atmosphere. What is incomprehensible, however, is that this restaurant also has two fixed table times. That hardly creates an "exclusive experience".

Costa Favolosa - Club Restaurant

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Pizzeria Pummid'Oro

The pizzeria, located above the buffet restaurant on deck 19, is open between 00pm and 1am The absolutely plain restaurant with its retro look advertises "real sourdough pizza." We don't know why we would eat in this pizzeria given the quality offered by the main restaurants.

Costa Favolosa - Pizzeria Pummid'Oro

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Archipelago

The restaurant, which is manageable in terms of its size, initially impresses its guests with its unusual, exclusive furnishings. Costa speaks of an unforgettable experience, with dishes created by international star chefs such as Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Angel León. In 2024, the 5-course tasting menu will cost 59 euros.

Teppanyaki Restaurant

Within sight of the casino is the Teppanyaki with its show kitchen. Oriental specialties are prepared there in show format in front of the guests.

Costa Favolosa - Teppanyaki Restaurant

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Sushino at Costa

Guests who, despite the variety on offer, still crave original sushi will find what they are looking for in the unassuming sushi bistro. It also functions as a take-away.

Costa Favolosa - Sushino at Costa

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The Salty Beach Street Food

Our list would not be complete without the aforementioned snack stand in the covered pool area. It is open between 20pm and 00am to satisfy those who are a little hungry between meals.

Breakfast in the cabin

This little luxury costs the standard guests a few euros per person on board.

Selected bars & lounges

On our tour through the cafés, bars & lounges of the Costa Favolosa we work our way from deck 3 up to deck 12.

The Diamonds Bar

The Dei Diamanti Bar is located in the atrium on the 3rd deck within sight of the reception and the excursion desk. It is usually well attended. The coffee specialties are delicious.

Costa fFvolosa - Dei Diamanti Bar

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Gelateria Amerillo

On the fifth deck, the ship's guests inevitably pass the ice cream parlor when they head towards the casino. At Amerillo, guests are served tasty portions of ice cream for an additional charge.

Palatino Grand Bar

Amidships – also on deck 5 – is the always well-attended Palatino Grand Bar. It occupies a privileged position and is an important part of the daily entertainment program. In the evenings, the tireless dance couples meet there.

Other lovely bars and lounges on Deck 5 are the Camelot Wine Bar and the Molière Lounge. The latter is also used as a venue for various purposes.

Sunset Lounge Bar

On the starboard side of the 12th deck is the Sunset Lounge Bar, an ideal place to enjoy a sundowner.

Costa fFvolosa -Sunset Lounge

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A little criticism H4
As we already mentioned in relation to the Costa Fortuna, we associate Italy with coffee. We cannot understand why there is no quiet, intimate café on the Costa Favolosa. We are also surprised that we cannot find a single comfortable bar on the entire ship.

The menu and bar cards offer a wide selection of drinks. The price level is acceptable compared to US ships. Costa also offers various drink packages. A thorough check of the contents is recommended.

Sport & Wellness

The sports offer

The Costa Favolosa offers a great range of indoor and outdoor sports activities. Team players can use the multi-purpose sports field in the rear area of ​​the ship on deck 12. The facility is suitable for football, volleyball or basketball.

Costa fFvolosa - Field for ball games

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The short jogging track is on the same deck. If you want to walk in more peace and quiet, you can go to the boat deck, which is usually deserted.

The fitness center (deck 11) is well equipped with modern equipment.

Costa Favolosa - Gym

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Two swimming pools and several whirlpools make up the pool area on deck 9. The size of the pools is – as is often the case on cruise ships – more suitable for cooling off than for exercise. The central pool, the Piscina Central, is under a retractable glass roof. It is hard to understand that this pool and the two whirlpools are reserved exclusively for children of all ages and their family members. The associated noise level is appropriate.

The aft pool, Piscina di Popa, is reserved for adults.

On the Costa Favolosa you can slide. A winding slide leads from the top deck to three decks below.

Costa Favolosa - water slide

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Sun worshippers make themselves comfortable on the spacious sun decks. It is apparently no problem to get a deck chair. However, there is a lack of shady spots.

The Solemio Spa

Wellness treatments are offered to guests in the spa area on decks 11 and 12. Saunas, steam baths and massage therapies create a great wellness experience.

Costa Favolosa - Spa - Reception area

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Entertainment

The entertainment on offer on the Costa Favolosa is, as expected, colourful and varied.

Guests are offered plenty of entertainment, especially on days at sea. The program includes bingo, arts and crafts sessions, presentations by officers, quizzes, dance lessons, beach parties and ... and ... or a beer festival by the covered pool.

Twice in the evening, varied stage shows are held in the three-story theater. The theater's technical equipment appears to be state-of-the-art. What is remarkable - as on other Costa cruise ships - is the combination of video effects with the reality of the stage.

There is a lot on offer when it comes to live music in the bars and lounges. The musicians' skills and repertoire are to be praised. The volume of the performances is often criticized. Constant noise is evidently a sign of joie de vivre for our southern neighbors.

Younger guests may be attracted to the discotheque, a mixture of plush and glass.

Costa Favolosa - Discotheque

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The spacious casino is on the 5th deck. You can play at tables and slot machines. Next to it, somewhat hidden, is the video arcade. The shopping gallery is well done: attractive fashion, bags, watches and cosmetics are on offer.

The photo gallery, the Internet Point, the tiny ship's library and the chapel are on the 4th deck. We know the prayer room from all Costa ships. Children are looked after under expert supervision between 9:00 and midnight in the Squok Club on decks 24 and 00. The Teen Zone awaits young people.

Information about Costa Favolosa

Commissioning	July 2011
Size:	Length 290 m; Width 35,50 m, draft 8,30 m
measurement	113.216 GT
Passenger decks	13 decks
Power Type	diesel-electric
Cruising speed	approx. 19,6 knots (39 km/h)
Shipyard	Fincantieri Marghera
Staterooms	1.484
passengers	2.968 with double occupancy; 3.800 max.
Manning	1.110
Internet connection	Starlink from SpaceX
Flagge	Italy
home port	Genoa
Board language	Italian; communications are also made in German.
Currency on board	Euro

Current position Costa Favolsa

Summary

We tested the Costa Favolosa during a two-week trip to Norway from/to Hamburg.

Positive criteria

The following criteria speak for the ship:

• Costa Favolosa is a family ship, with children at the centre of the action;
• the generous space in the public areas;
• the general cleanliness on board the ship;
• the tasty dishes;
• the varied entertainment offer;
• as well as the appropriate price/performance ratio.

Our points of criticism

• the not always convincing service in the buffet restaurant, there is potential for optimization here;
• the extremely high level of noise pollution in public areas;
• Zones for those seeking peace and quiet are completely absent;
• Keyword family ship: toddlers and small children enjoy unlimited access to all rooms until late in the evening;

summary

Costa Favolosa is visually a well-maintained, spacious cruise ship. Signs of wear and tear typical of ships are barely noticeable. The design is of the opulence that is typical of Costa ships. Costa Favolosa is by no means a ship for lovers of cool, Nordic birch wood design. It is more - like other ships of the shipping company - a ship for the "Italian moments" in life.

Note: The trip was supported by Costa Crociere. We would like to extend our special thanks to the shipping company and our contacts on board. Regarding our journalistic independence, please refer to the chapter “We are independent”.

September 2024