Karl WP Beyer The 272 meter long Costa Fortuna is one of the larger cruise ships of the Italian cruise line Costa Crociere SpA. The Destiny class ship has been sailing under the Costa flag since October 31, 2003.
Costa Fortuna in the port of Ibiza town
The Costa Fortuna was built by the Fincantieri shipyards. She served in Asia in 2017 and 2018; She has been sailing in the Mediterranean since March 2019. In preparation for the European engagement, the ship was in Singapore retrofitted for around eight million euros to meet the needs of the European market.
Externally, Costa Fortuna presents itself with pleasing lines. Is eye-catching inside the ship the central atrium. The reception, tour office, shops, bars, etc. are located in the central area, which extends over three decks. The three-story on-board theater and the two show lounges are also representative.
Atrium of the Costa Fortuna
The public spaces are dedicated to maritime themes. But that's not all: Ship models are reminiscent of the transatlantic liners "Michelangelo" and "Raffaello", two sister ships that were put into service shortly after World War II. Life predominantly takes place on decks 2 to 3 and 5 to 9. The remaining decks are passenger decks. The space available on the open decks and inside the ship is generously dimensioned.
Enough space at the front pool
Offers Costa Fortuna
Overview of all cruises with the Costa Fortuna directly from the shipping company.
Staterooms
A distinction is made between 1.300 interior, sea view and balcony cabins as well as 58 suites. Some of the domiciles are handicapped accessible. The majority of the cabins are on decks 1 and 2 as well as 6, 7 and 8.
The smallest cabins at around 14 square meters are the inside cabins. Sea view and balcony cabins are around 16 to 17 square meters. The balcony areas are not yet included. The size of the suites is put at 19 to 35 square meters. Samsara cabins and Samsara suites have been set up on the higher decks. The elegant and particularly comfortable cabins offer free access to the spa area.
Our cabin
We lived in the premium balcony cabin 8339 on deck 8. Cabin size: approx. 17 square meters plus the balcony area. As a standard cabin, it appears spacious. Up to four people could live in this family cabin; but then it gets tight.
Balcony cabin 8339
The double bed is next to the window element. Cupboards and chests of drawers offer sufficient storage space; the cloakroom for two people can be conveniently accommodated in the cabin. Two large-format mirrors create pleasant visual effects, and we also like the styling and decor of the cabin.
Balcony cabin 8339
A small make-up desk or desk is available. A sofa bed and a small table complete the facility. A fairly small television showing many international programs, telephone, safe and air conditioning are of course part of the basic equipment. The lighting is neat.
The wet room is spacious and offers plenty of storage space. In contrast, the balcony lacks depth. Two chairs and a small table are part of the equipment. The backrests of the balcony chairs cannot be tilted.
Matching wall decorations
The service from our cabin steward is good. Special requests will be dealt with as quickly as possible. At Costa, you don't bother with folding soft toys out of towels. Compared to the previous year, the cabin service is only offered once a day. Welcome to the AIDA Cruises level. What the daughter has always mastered, the mother now also practices.
Food and drink on board
Restaurants
With double occupancy of the cabins and full occupancy, a minimum of 2.716 guests travel on board the Costa Fortuna; The maximum allowed is 3.470 passengers. Eat in five restaurants. Three of the restaurants and the additional burger grill in the pool area are included in the price; the club restaurant and the pizzeria are chargeable.
Restaurants included in the tour price
The majority of passengers use the two service restaurants on decks 3 and 4 for dinner Restaurant 1965 Michelangelo and Restaurant 1965 Raffaello. Eat in two sessions. Both restaurants can serve around 1.700 guests at the same time at each mealtime. The restaurants are supplied by a central kitchen.
Restaurant 1965 Michelangelo
The Michelangelo is located aft on decks 3 and 4. As the larger of the two restaurants, it offers around 1.000 seats. The spaces between the seats are sufficient. On the third deck, the volume under the galleries is difficult to bear. The restaurant is open in the morning, at noon and in the evening. The dinner takes place in two sessions. The choice of free table times is not practiced on this Costa ship.
Ristorante Michelangelo
Costa emphasizes that all dishes are freshly prepared. In the course of the tour, the kitchen offers typical specialties from selected Italian regions. The decoration and the taste of the dishes convince us. The kitchen works mostly quickly. On the other hand, we are not always satisfied with the service, and the beverage service could also be optimized.
Ristorante Michelangelo - lower area
Breakfast is a mixture of buffet and service. In addition to the buffet food, perfect breakfasts for different nations are also served. We preferred the Norwegian breakfast with whole wheat bread and smoked salmon. Belgian guests will find the local waffle with cream. There is nothing wrong with lunch either.
Restaurant 1965 Raffaello
The Raffaello, which can seat around 700 guests, is located amidships on decks 3 and 4. The Raffaello is only open in the evenings. The offer is identical to the Michelangelo. By the way: In the Raffaello and Michelangelo, in addition to the included dishes, specialties are also regularly offered for a fee.
Buffet restaurant
An alternative to the two service restaurants is the buffet restaurant located aft on deck 9. The facility doesn't appeal to us; there is a lack of chic. There is an oppressive tightness between the chairs, the aisles are mostly narrow and it is very noisy. A beverage service is not offered. The guests take care of themselves at vending machines or at manned drinks stations.
Drinks station in the buffet restaurant
There is no reason to complain about the quality, variety or taste of the food. The organization of the buffet is incomprehensible. In the core area, the Costa concept dispenses with individual stations, such as those known from the Celebrity Cruises or TUI Cruises ships. There, separate stations distributed across the room prevent long waiting times. The Costa guests, on the other hand, are forced to line up at two mirror-image buffets and to work ahead. If the restaurant is very busy, there will inevitably be queues and waiting times. Inconsiderate jostling is also common. By the way, clearing and cleaning the tables leaves a lot to be desired, not only at peak times.
Commendable: 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 switch to the Gelateria Bar Amarillo and pay for the pleasure. The ice cream counter is connected to the pool bar on deck 9.
Amarillo ice cream shop
Restaurants subject to surcharge
Club Restaurant
Costa promises guests an "exclusive" experience. The partially open service restaurant is one deck above the pizzeria and two decks above the buffet restaurant. We haven't tested it. At least we know that Costa tries to keep the restaurant busy with an attractive weekly offer. For 180 euros, the three main meals can be taken in a quiet and sophisticated atmosphere. However, it is incomprehensible that two fixed table times also apply in this restaurant. That hardly creates "exclusive" experiences.
Club Restaurant
Pizzeria Pummid'Oro
The pizzeria above the buffet restaurant on deck 19 is open between 00:1pm and 00:10am It is an unadorned restaurant with a retro look that serves as an alternative to the buffet restaurant in the morning hours. We don't see why we should eat in the pizzeria given the quality of the main restaurants.
Breakfast in the cabin
This little luxury debits the on-board account of the standard guests with 5 euros per person.
Cafés, Bars & Lounges
On our tour through the cafes, bars & lounges of the Costa Fortunaa, we work our way from deck 3 up to deck 12.
Deck 3
The Costa Atrium Bar is located on the 3rd deck within sight of the reception and the excursion desk. It is mostly well attended.
Costa Atrium Bar
Deck 4
In front of the Ristorante Michelangelo is the two-storey one Discoteca Vulcania 1927. Disco goers should appreciate them.
Discoteca Vulcania
Deck 5
The large lounge amidships Grand Bar Conte Di Savoia 1932 occupies a privileged place. It is an important part of the entertainment program every day.
Show event in the Grand Bar di Savoia
Other bars and lounges on deck 5 are the Sala Conte Verde 1923 and the lounge Leonardo da Vinci 1960.
Our favorite is the wine and piano bar Conte Rosso 1921. Not least because of the musical entertainment offered there. However, the seating should be more comfortable.
Conte Rosso wine and piano bar
Deck 9
To the pool areas oceania (amidships) and Columbo (aft) are adjacent to two bars.
Deck 12
The is on the starboard side of the 12th deck Solarium bar.
Solarium bar
We always associate Italy with delicious coffee and don't understand why there is no quiet, intimate café on the Costa Fortuna. We are also surprised that we cannot find a single cozy bar on the whole ship.
After all, the menu and bar cards offer a wide selection of drinks. The price level is still acceptable compared to US ships. Costa also offers different beverage packages. A thorough examination of the content doesn't hurt.
Sport & Wellness
The sports offer
Costa Fortuna has a decent range of indoor and outdoor sports activities. Team players use the multi-purpose sports field Campo da Gioco on deck 12. The facility is suitable for football, volleyball or basketball.
Campo da Gioco
The 11 meter short one is on deck 180 Jogging course. Those who want to go more undisturbed should switch to the mostly deserted boat deck (deck 3).
Boat deck
The fitness center is well equipped and the devices are state-of-the-art. The access, separated by gender, is through the spa and past the saunas.
Two Swimming pools and four Hottubs form the pool landscape. As is so often the case on cruise ships, the size of the pools is more suitable for refreshment than for sporting activities. The aft basin is located under a retractable glass roof. It is incomprehensible that this pool and the two hot tubs are used almost exclusively by children of all ages and individual family members. The associated noise development is accordingly.
You can slide on the Costa Fortuna. A winding one Slide leads from the top deck three decks lower.
Slide
Sun worshipers can enjoy the spacious Sundecks comfortable. It is probably not a problem to get hold of a deck chair. However, there is a lack of shady places.
The Samsara Spa
Wellness treatments are available in Club Salute Saturnia 1927. The 1.300 square meter spa area offers guests all kinds of things. Saunas, steam baths and massage therapies create good wellness experiences.
Samsara Spa
Entertainment
The entertainment on offer is as colorful and varied as the day is long.
During the day, guests are entertained in a variety of ways. The program includes bingo, handicraft lessons, quiz events, dance lessons, beach parties or a pasta party by the pool. The name of a well-known Italian pasta manufacturer is of course mentioned.
Pasta feast by the pool
Twice evenings in the three-story Rex Theater organized varied stage shows. The technical equipment of the theater is apparently state-of-the-art. The connection between video effects and stage reality is remarkable.
Rex Theater
As for the live music in the bars and lounges: there is a lot on offer, from classical to pop. The ability and repertoire of the musicians are to be commended. The volume associated with the performances is often criticized. With our southern neighbors, constant noise is evidently a sign of joie de vivre.
It's on the 5th deck Casino Neptunia 1932. The game is played at tables and machines. We have little understanding that children are allowed to be in the casino at any time. Shopping gallery is well done: fashion, bags and cosmetics are on offer.
One of the on-board shops
They are on the 4th deck Gallery, internet point, the little one Ship library and the Chapel. We know the prayer room from all Costa ships. Children are supervised between 9am and midnight in the Squok Club on deck 12.
Squok Club
Information about the Costa Fortuna
|
Commissioning |
2003 |
|
Size: |
Length 272 m; Width 35,50 m, draft 8,20 m |
|
measurement |
102.587 GT |
|
Passenger decks |
12 decks |
|
Power Type |
diesel-electric |
|
Cruising speed |
approx. 22 knots |
|
Shipyard |
Fincantieri |
|
modernized |
December 2018 |
|
Staterooms |
1.358 |
|
passengers |
2.716 with double occupancy; 3.470 max. |
|
Manning |
about 999 persons |
|
Flagge |
Italy |
|
home port |
Genoa |
|
Board language |
Italian; Notifications are made in German |
|
Currency on board |
Euro |
Current position Costa Fortuna
Rating of the Costa Fortuna
We tested the Costa Fortuna in May 2019 as part of a one-week Mediterranean trip from / to Genoa.
In general, speaks for the ship
- the generous amount of space in the public areas;
- the general cleanliness on board the ship;
- the tasty dishes;
- the varied entertainment offer;
- the appropriate price / performance ratio.
Our points of criticism
- the cabin service, which is limited compared to previous years (service once a day);
- the not always convincing services in the included restaurants, there is still potential for optimization;
- the extremely high level of noise pollution in public areas;
- Zones for those seeking peace and quiet are completely absent;
- Small children and toddlers enjoy unlimited access to all rooms until late in the evening;
- the disrespectful or reckless behavior of many fellow travelers, which we have not yet experienced in this way on international ships.
All in all
Costa Fortuna is visually a neat, spacious cruise ship. However, certain signs of wear cannot be overlooked. The presentation is of that opulence that is typical of Costa ships. Costa Fortuna is by no means a ship for lovers of cool, Nordic birch wood designs. She is - like other ships of the shipping company - a ship for the "Italian moments" in life! It does not come close to the other Costa cruise ships that we previously tested. We very much regret that.
Atrium of the Costa Fortuna - glass elevators
Note: The trip with the Costa Fortuna was supported by Costa Crociere. Our special thanks go to the shipping company and our contacts. With regard to our journalistic independence, we refer to the chapter "We are independent".
Cruise diary
A detailed report on our trip can be found at Costa Fortuna cruise diary.
