If you follow me on Instagram or Threads, you might have seen I’ve been wanting to book a Dubai and the Emirates cruise for February/March 2025. My options were either MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, or Celestyal Cruises. Well, I took the plunge and booked Costa Cruises’ Costa Smeralda.
There were so many factors to consider, and each one of them is outlined below.
Costa Cruises are the worst rated cruise line according to Cruise Critic.
First things first—Costa Cruises is currently rated as the worst cruise line according to Cruise Critic. That’s quite a statement! While I’m aware of their reputation, I wanted to dive deeper into why that is, so I read each and every one of their 42 reviews. And honestly, I don’t think they sound that bad…
If you’ve read my Oasis of the Seas series or the Norwegian Viva series, you’ll know I don’t expect or ask for much on a cruise ship. I don’t care for five-star, white-glove service, nor do I need the most expensive cuts of meat (I’m veggie). I certainly don’t mind if each bartender isn’t serving me the most premium gin in a -1-degree chilled glass. I simply enjoy a glass of wine, lounging in the sun, and having some straightforward pasta from the main dining room—I’m happy. According to the YouTube reviews, that’s what Costa does well. More on those reviews later.
Italian Style Cruising onboard Costa Smeralda
Costa Cruises is known for its Italian flair, and I’m excited to experience that firsthand. I’ve only done cruising the American-style, so I’m looking forward to doing something a little bit different. Plus, I’ve heard Spanish is a popular language onboard, so I can’t wait to practise.
Concerns from the Past
I can’t overlook the fact that my concerns about cruising with Costa stem from the Costa Concordia disaster. It’s hard not to think about safety when considering a cruise line with such a notorious incident in its history. The images of the capsized ship and the loss of life are hard to shake off, and they linger in the back of my mind whenever Costa comes up in conversation.
However, I don’t think it’s fair to hold an entire company accountable for one captain’s mistake. The cruise industry has undergone significant changes since that tragic event, with improved safety protocols and stricter regulations in place to ensure passenger security. Many cruise lines, including Costa, have made substantial investments in training and technology to prevent such disasters from occurring again.
That said, I can’t lie and say it hasn’t crossed my mind. Every time I think about setting sail with Costa Smeralda, a small part of me wonders if I’m making the right choice. It’s a natural instinct to weigh the risks, especially when past events have shaped public perception. Ultimately, I’m hoping that my experience will be a positive one, and that I’ll be able to enjoy my cruise without letting those fears overshadow the adventure ahead.
Costa Smeralda was Cheaper Than EVERYONE!
One of the biggest draws for me was the price. I booked a seven-night cruise for just £694, which includes all meals and their “My Drinks Package.” That’s an incredible deal considering the luxurious experience I expect from a cruise. The drinks package is especially appealing; it allows me to enjoy the cruise without constantly worrying about the bill.
If you were to compare that to Royal Caribbean and their Deluxe Drinks Package, or Norwegian’s More at Sea, you’ll be looking at a four digit budget, and that would just be for the cruise.
Amazing Itinerary
Ultimately, it came down to a neck-and-neck decision between Costa Smeralda and MSC Euribia. Both cruise lines are Italian, have similar pricing, the same departure dates, and ships of comparable size, etc. The only difference was that Costa Smeralda calls at Muscat, Oman—a port my partner has wanted to visit ever since working there. That was it. That was the singular deciding factor between MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises.
Here’s the full itinerary for reference:
- Embark in Dubai, UAE (Overnight in port)
- Dubai, UAE (Leave at 1pm)
- Muscat, Oman (08:30 – 19:00)
- Day at Sea
- Doha, Qatar (07:00 – 17:30)
- Abu Dhabi, UAE (07:00 – 23:00)
- Dubai, UAE (Overnight in port)
- Disembark in Dubai
Flying Direct to Dubai from Edinburgh
Lastly, I’ll be flying direct to Dubai from Edinburgh with Emirates. This is a huge plus! I was also considering doing a Caribbean cruise for Feb / March 2025, with NCL, Royal Caribbean, or Celebrity Cruises out of Miami, but it would have been indirect via London, plus taking an extra day off work. Not only is the direct flight absolutely amazing, but it’s an overnight flight too! This means I can fly out Saturday evening, land Sunday morning, and embark straight in Dubai! No need for a hotel stay. Less time off work, which means more vacation days for more cruises.
Now, the cruise isn’t all the way until February 2025, so you’ll need to check back afterwards to see if it was one massive regret.
Further Reading
Before making my decision to book with Costa Cruises, I read numerous blog posts, watched countless YouTube reviews, and asked many questions on Instagram. If you’re considering booking the Costa Smeralda, I’d love to share those references with you to hopefully save you some trouble.
The Flip Flop Traveller
Kevin at The Flip Flop Traveller has done an excellent job of providing two videos that cover the Costa Smeralda ship and Costa Cruises as a whole. What’s especially great is that he even includes a full tour of the ship too, so you can really see it in all it’s glory.
Very unOfficial Travel Guides
Beyond just standard ship tours and first impressions, Morgan at Very unOfficial Travel Guides has compiled all the things he loved and hated on the Costa Smeralda, so if you’re looking for some quick, easy to digest content, that’s the one!
Fraser At Sea
If you follow Fraser on YouTube, Instagram, or his blog, you’ll know he has now sailed on three Costa ships and shared his thoughts on each across all platforms! His videos were super insightful to me in Costa Cruises as a whole, regardless of this specific ship. He’s even posted multiple cabin tours, so whether you’re booking an inside, oceanview, or balcony cabin, you’ll find a video that fits your needs. Instead of sharing just one video, why not check out his entire playlist here!
