Costa Serena Review

Total disorganisation

Review for the Middle East Cruise on Costa Serena
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Flanchop
6-10 Cruises • Age 70s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Jan 2015

Check in was a nightmare, first check in and drop luggage at Dubai cruise terminal 10am, 2.30pm start queueing for second check in before heading for ship, 3.30pm (and I was near beginning of queue) queue again to have photo taken before boarding, then queue again to collect key card, if you've travelled in Europe you will be aware they do not queue but push in wherever they can. I am a female pensioner travelling alone and felt like the whole day had been spent in a scrumage and to top it off you are not allowed in your cabin until 8.30pm. Had to go into dinner in clothes had travelled in, no head waiter to show you to a table just find one yourself and sit down. Received restaurant seating the next day but again no-one to assist you find the table and they were not set out in numerical order, but all on it were British and friendly. The signage on board was very poor and no plan to show where things are eventually found out that wherever you want you need to go either up or down to deck 5 and walk full length of ship through casino and then either up or down to where you need to be as you cannot go up or down in centre of ship, the casino is in the way! Italian staff were only interested in serving Italians but the rest of staff, particularly bar and waiters were very nice and helpful. The restaurant food and service was very good but buffet was very mediocre. Plenty of entertainment which was mostly very good. The ships decoration is very tacky and cheap looking but everything was very clean and my cabin was great, on my own but had a double bed and bathroom was roomy. Go up to deck 11 for a bit of peace and a sunbed, less popular but suited me. I had bought the drinks package which was a good move as the cost of soft drinks, water and coffee all mount up before you hit the alcohol and aren't cheap. The buffet is only open between certain times and the drinks machines are switched off. Coffee is not served in the restaurants you have to go to a bar and buy it.

Cabin Review

Cabin was excellent, plenty of storage space,bathroom larger than other ships and very clean, bed very comfortable, very quiet hardly heard anything from corridor and couldn't hear announcements clearly even when I opened the door although this probably wasn't really good as there may have been one I needed to hear!. Only small complaint was that the pool towel was taken away and not replaced but asked the steward and he got me another so no problem.

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