What’s Behind Carnival’s Gratuity Stickers?

The stickers, attatched to the Sail & Sign cards issued upon boarding, read “Crew love” followed by the phrase “I pre-paid my gratuities.” Additionally, a note is left in the stateroom of guests, also thanking them for having done so.

With rumors circulating about the stickers, Cruise Radio reached out to Carnival, who offered not only confirmation but a statement regarding the update.

“The Carnival gratuity program is an important way guests recognize our hard-working team members and ensure that gratuities are shared among both guest-facing and behind-the-scenes crew who make great vacations possible,” said Carnival.

“Our team members provide great service to every guest,” the statement continued. “The ‘Crew Love’ stickers and thank-you notes are simply a way to let our crew know that a guest has pre-paid their gratuities, while giving those guests a little recognition for their generosity. This is one component of a broader pilot, and we’re listening to feedback as we evaluate it.”

 So far, there’s been no word as to what else the pilot program might entail. While the stickers and thank-you notes have so far only appeared on select ships, it is assumed that should the pilot program prove successful, it will be rolled out across the fleet.

How Much Are Carnival Gratuities

Of course, not all guests pre-pay their gratuities, choosing to instead pay them on a daily basis once on board. And there’s absolutely nothing to stop those who have pre-paid from visiting guest services at any point during the cruise and having them removed.

Currently, Carnival’s daily gratuity charge is $17 per person, per day for guests in standard staterooms, while suite passengers are charged $19 per person, per day.

‘Tacky As Hell’

If Carnival is, as they say, listening to guest feedback, they might want to brace themselves while doing so. Across various social media platforms, guests are expressing both their opinions and concerns.

While Brand Ambassador John Heald has not, as of this writing, publicly addressed the program, his page has seen an influx of questions and comments regarding the stickers.

Toni Porter Karrer dubbed the move “tacky as hell,” adding that “just because I don’t prepay grauities does not mean I am not paying it. In 25 crruises, I have prepaid a couple of times, but I like to adjust mine up for excellent service. Carnival is quickly becoming a dumpster fire.” 

Darren Sharper mused that the stickers could lead to unforseen problems. “Prepaying gratuities or not is a hotly contested topic online,” he wrote, “and I can see this leading to more issues onboard if someone feels that a server is favoring someone that [prepaid or didn’t].”

Only time will tell if Carnival opts to roll the stickers out across the entire fleet. In the meantime, however, Cruise Critic member mikayla 73 offered the ultimate good advice: “If you want to let the crew know you appreciate them, give them cash, be kind, smile, ask them about their day, their home, their family or simply say ‘thank you,’” they suggested.

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Why CFAR Matters More for Cruise Bookings

Depending on the cruise line, things like specialty coffee, internet access, and even certain casual dining options can carry an additional charge.

After spending seven nights aboard Costa Toscana in the Mediterranean, I got a firsthand look at what passengers can enjoy without spending another euro and where the extra charges start adding up.

Some of those extras were worth the money. Others I’d probably skip next time.

What’s Actually Included in the Fare?

The basic cruise fare covers your stateroom, meals in the main dining rooms and the buffet, entertainment, and access to many of the ship’s public spaces and activities.

In other words, you could pretty easily take a weeklong cruise aboard Costa Toscana without spending extra for specialty dining or a drinks package.

That’s how cruising has traditionally worked, and Costa hasn’t abandoned that model.

But as they say, the devil is in the details. There’s a big difference between “some food is included” and “all food is included.”

So while there are plenty of places aboard the ship where you can eat to your heart’s content without forking over extra cash, that’s not true of every venue.  

The same goes for drinks. Certain beverages are available as part of regular dining service, but cocktails, specialty coffees, and other purchases may cost extra depending on the fare and package you’ve booked.

As is true when booking any cruise, it’s important to do a little research. You always want to know what’s included and what’s not.

Dining Without Paying Extra

The main dining rooms are included in the fare, so there is always a place for guests to enjoy a traditional sit-down dinner without paying extra.

I ate in the main dining room several times over the course of my cruise. As I mentioned in my earlier reports, the food was decent, the service attentive, and the dining operation ran on a very structured schedule.

The buffet, La Sagra dei Sapori, is another included option.

Costa also incorporates additional food stations around the ship during busy periods to help distribute passengers, something which was particularly useful on sea days. 

For instance, sometimes there was a temporary buffet rolled into one of the dining rooms to alleviate crowding from the main buffet (and it needed it!). 

Unlike some ships which have food available around the clock, you shouldn’t assume you’ll be able to walk into a buffet or casual restaurant at any hour and find a full meal. That’s why it’s vitally important to pay attention to each venue’s operating hours.

Another complimentary option I appreciated was Street Eats, located near the pool, where burgers, hot dogs, and french fries were available during the afternoon. It’s a smart way to spread passengers around the ship rather than having everyone head to the buffet.

Late at night, however, the same venue switched to a paid menu. One night around midnight, I ordered a double cheeseburger and fries, which came to €7.

That’s not necessarily a bad price, but it did strike me as a little odd to pay for food at night that was complimentary only a few hours earlier.

For passengers who prefer sticking to included dining, my advice would be to check the daily schedule and plan accordingly. There were times late at night when complimentary food options were limited.

Specialty Dining on Costa Toscana

This is where those who want to splurge will find themselves paying extra.

Costa Toscana has several specialty restaurants, including Pummid’Oro Pizzeria, Teppanyaki, Sushino, and Archipelago.

During my week aboard Costa Toscana, I visited several additional-charge dining venues, including Pizzeria Pummid’Oro, Teppanyaki, Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Carlsberg Pub & Bistro, and Gelateria Amarillo.

Each offered something different, from pizza and freshly prepared crepes to a full Teppanyaki dinner. While all carried additional charges, I found some better suited to my tastes than others.

The important distinction, for the purposes of this article, involves the price points of each.

Pummid’Oro operates on an a la carte basis, meaning what you spend depends on what you order. 

During my sailing, a standard pizza at Pummid’Oro cost €9.50, while other varieties could run as much as €15.50. Fried mozzarella was another €2.50, making it possible to put together a reasonably priced meal without laying out the kind of money other specialty restaurants might cost.

Teppanyaki uses a different pricing structure which revolves largely around what proteins you pick. My dinner, which included scallops and lobster, was approximately €45. Less expensive combinations were available, and lunch was about €20 cheaper than dinner.

That’s a meaningful difference for anyone looking to experience the restaurant without paying the higher evening price.

I think that’s one of the more useful things to know about specialty dining on this ship. Sometimes when you choose to eat matters just as much as where.

But would I recommend eating at specialty restaurants every night? No. I don’t think that’s necessary, especially when your cruise fare already includes free options.

Costa also offers some specialty dining benefits through its loyalty program but I have not sailed them enough to earn any of those perks. What they offer depends entirely on the status a guest has achieved.

Drinks and Beverage Packages

Drinks are another area where passengers should pay close attention to their fare.

Costa sells beverage packages, but not every passenger automatically has one included.

If you book a fare that doesn’t include a drinks package, you’ll generally pay as you go for things like cocktails, wine, beer, specialty coffees, and bottled beverages. Essentially, you’ll wind up paying for any beverage that isn’t complimentary during regular dining service.

I ordered everything from cappuccinos to specialty cocktails during my week aboard.

I didn’t find the process of ordering drinks particularly different from other cruise lines, but there’s one thing I’d encourage passengers to do before sailing: compare the daily beverage package cost with what you actually drink.

A package might make sense for someone who enjoys cocktails throughout the day, wine with dinner, and specialty coffee in the morning.

For somebody who has an occasional drink, it might not.

My Drinks covers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including coffee, soft drinks, draft beer, wine, and standard cocktails.

My Drinks Plus expands the selection to premium spirits and additional beverages, with minibar access and other benefits subject to the package terms.

As I mentioned in my first report, I was unable to order an Aperol Spritz in the main dining room. This had nothing to do with what package I had or what it covered. Instead, this was due to cocktail service not being available in the dining room.

In other words, it was a reminder that having a beverage package doesn’t necessarily mean every type of drink is available in every venue.

One thing that caught me off guard with the My Drinks package was the bottled water allowance. Although unlimited glasses of water are included, the package only covers one 500 ml bottle per person, per day.

I found that out pretty quickly when I tried ordering additional bottled water and was told I’d reached my daily allowance. As someone who consumes a whole lot of water, this came as a shock. (But again, it’s on me for not having researched what was and was not included!)

It turns out that My Drinks Plus includes unlimited bottled water. It’s a small distinction between the packages, but one worth knowing, especially if you want a bottle to take on your shore excursion or, like me, enjoy keeping water in your stateroom fridge.

Internet Access Isn’t Included

Costa Toscana uses Starlink as its onboard internet provider, with three packages available: WhatsApp, Social, and Full. Packages can be purchased before sailing through MyCosta, with the cruise line advertising savings of up to 20 percent compared with onboard pricing.

I had the four-device package during my cruise. While the connection worked on my MacBook and iPad, I encountered issues connecting my iPhone and Pixel, even after successfully accessing the ship’s internet login page.

For those looking to disconnect for a week, internet is an easy expense to eliminate. That’s especially true on a port-intensive Mediterranean itinerary, where you’re spending much of your time ashore and may be able to use your cellular data plan.

You can still access the Costa app without purchasing an internet package, as it is with most every cruise line.

Service Charges and Other Expenses

Beyond dining, drinks, and Wi-Fi, there are additional costs passengers should factor into their cruise budget when sailing on Costa.

Costa Toscana‘s published hotel service charge is €11 per adult, per night, or €77 for a seven-night cruise.

Whether that amount is included in the cruise fare or charged separately depends on the booking terms. Costa has introduced inclusive pricing for certain bookings, while other fares continue to carry a separate daily service charge.

Passengers should check their booking confirmation to see whether the charge is already included. I spoke with a European passenger during an excursion who told me their gratuities had been bundled into the fare.

Shore excursions are also, of course, an additional cost to be factored in.

Costa offers organized tours in the ports it visits, but these are separate purchases unless specifically included in a promotion or fare.

You can certainly explore many Mediterranean ports independently, and I’ve done that plenty of times over the years.

However, there are situations where booking an organized excursion makes sense, particularly when a destination is farther from the port or transportation arrangements become complicated.

Spa treatments and certain wellness experiences also carry extra charges. I thought some of the prices were reasonable, including €49 for a pedicure.

What I’d Actually Spend Extra On

After a week aboard Costa Toscana, there are definitely some things I’d spend money on again, and others I’d probably pass on.

Pummid’Oro would be an easy yes. I thought the pizza was excellent, and at €9.50 for a basic pie, it’s not exactly going to break the bank. I’ve paid more for pizza on land that wasn’t nearly as good.

I’d also go back to Teppanyaki, although knowing that lunch is considerably cheaper than dinner, I’d probably take advantage of that next time. And if the lunch experience is anything like dinner, saving around €20 makes that a pretty easy decision.

Ferrari Spazio Bollicine? I’d probably skip it. Not because there was anything necessarily wrong with the restaurant, but because I’m not much of a seafood person. The menu just wasn’t particularly appealing to me. Someone who loves seafood might have a completely different opinion.

As for beverage packages, that’s really going to depend on how much you drink. I enjoy my cappuccinos and the occasional cocktail, but I’d want to do the math before committing to a package for the entire cruise.

And knowing what I know now about the bottled-water restrictions, I’d definitely pay closer attention to the fine print.

Internet is another expense I’d reconsider. I needed it because I was working throughout the cruise, but if I were there strictly on vacation, I probably wouldn’t bother with a four-device package.

The nice thing is that you don’t have to spend extra money on every little thing to enjoy the ship. Between the included dining, entertainment, and public spaces, there’s already plenty to do.

And frankly, I’d rather put that money toward something I really want to experience than spend it just because it’s available.

Final Thoughts

One of the things I appreciate about cruising is that passengers can approach the same ship with completely different budgets.

Some people are perfectly content enjoying the included dining, entertainment, and public spaces. Others want specialty restaurants, beverage packages, spa treatments, and organized excursions.

Neither approach is wrong.

After seven nights aboard Costa Toscana, I’d say there are some extras worth paying for and others you can easily do without.

The important thing is knowing what you’re getting before you book. Because at the end of the day, it’s the total cost of the vacation that matters, not just the advertised cruise fare.

Miss our previous entries? Read our first impressions of Costa Toscana and a week aboard Costa Toscana articles.

Disclosure: Costa Cruises hosted my October 2026 sailing aboard Costa Toscana, including certain onboard experiences. All opinions and observations are my own.

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Most mornings start with a coffee at one of the bars surrounding the Colosseo on deck six.

Settling in, I open my laptop to work on my Cruise News Today script, and listen to the conversations taking place around me. Once the script is done, it’s back to the cabin to get ready for the day’s adventures.

I’m always intrigued by the lengths to which cruise ships go when it comes to cleaning. On Costa Toscana, evidence of these efforts can be seen everywhere. For example, this morning I saw a crew member on their hands and knees polishing the baseboards. After decades of cruising, I’m pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve seen that!

This is just one of the many little details that go into maintaining a ship this size.

Given that the ship caters to an international audience, you hear everything from Italian and French to Spanish and German, whether via the daily announcements or simply being spoken around you.

I mentioned this previously, but it’s still a little odd to have people embarking or disembarking at each port. This means there’s a constant flow of new people.

But it can also be a bit disconcerting when the neighbor you spent the last two days speaking to in passing is suddenly gone, replaced by someone new. That definitely doesn’t happen on cruises following a more traditional disembarkation schedule!

That said, a member of the embarkation staff told me that most of the guests embark and debark in Barcelona. 

At least the neighbors to my left will be on the entire cruise because they also embarked with me in Barcelona!

All of Cagliari: Between Old Shops and Sailors

The older I get, the more I want to immerse myself in the ports and see what they are all about.

We did a 3.5-hour sightseeing tour of Cagliari, located on Sardinia, Italy’s second-largest island, just south of Corsica. Along the way, we learned quite a bit about the area.

One thing I wasn’t expecting was the number of flamingos living in the nearby wetlands. Ironically, just the week before, I was staying at the Flamingo in Las Vegas for a conference. 

The Between Old Shops and Sailors excursion also took us to a hillside offering panoramic views of the city and harbor, which made for some great photos. They’ll never truly capture just how breathtaking the view was, but the pictures will serve as a great reminder.

The excursion ended with a walking tour through Cagliari’s historic old town, where we learned about the city’s role during World War II. 

Cagliari was heavily bombed by Allied aircraft in 1943 because of its strategic location in the Mediterranean, leaving much of the city damaged. 

Much of the city has since been rebuilt, but reminders of its wartime history remain. Walking through the old town, you can see how the city’s past and present come together.

After parting ways with our tour’s operator — who was informative and a riot in equal measures — we opted to stay in town. There was still time to grab pizza and an Aperol spritz before heading back to the ship. 

Dinner With a Side of Entertainment

One of the highlights so far was dinner at Teppanyaki with a group of friends.

Most of us had done cruise ship teppanyaki before, so we knew the routine: the onion volcano, the egg tossed into the chef’s hat, and the usual jokes and cooking tricks.

Because these restaurants are all essentially offering the same dining experience, it all comes down to the personality of the chef. (Well, that and how much fun your fellow diners are willing to have!)

Our chef delivered in spades. His humor managed to make the old routines feel new again.

My scallops and lobster dinner came to around €45, although there were less expensive combinations available. Lunch was roughly €20 cheaper, making it a better deal for anyone looking to try the experience without spending quite as much.

Nightcaps After Dinner

Most nights end at one of the bars around the ship, usually the Aperol Bar on deck seven or the Leonardo Grand Bar on deck six, near the entrance to Poltrona Frau Arena, aka the main showroom.

It ran the full width of the ship and was large enough to accommodate a band and, of course, a dance floor.

The space attracted a very mixed and constantly changing crowd. Couples, families and groups of friends sat around the tables, couches and seating areas scattered throughout the area.

Every ship has “that space,” to which people are drawn again and again during the trip. On Costa Toscana, that’s the Leonardo Grand Bar and the surrounding area.

Interestingly, although the Poltrona Frau Arena is considered the main showroom, most of the big, splashy entertainment actually takes place in the Colosseo.

I walked into the Arena one afternoon during a behind-the-scenes presentation about how much food the ship goes through during a typical sailing. This was the first time I’d really noticed how relatively small the space is.

Then again, it doesn’t really need to be bigger because there are so many other venues around the ship which host a variety of events. And, of course, there’s the massive Colosseo.

Sea Days vs. Port Days

With everyone aboard, the public spaces get busy, especially around lunch. On one sea day, I walked into the buffet around noon, made it about 10 steps, looked at the crowd, and turned right back around.

Granted, I showed up at peak lunch hour. With a good number of cruises under my belt, I should have known better: on a ship this size, don’t do what everyone else is doing at the same time.

The buffet uses food stations like most large ships, and Costa offers pop-up buffet options elsewhere that are less congested. It’s a smart, sort of divide-and-conquer approach to spreading folks out during busy times.

My instincts led me straight to Pizzeria Pummid’Oro, one of my favorite discoveries aboard, which I covered in my first impressions report.

I like to consider myself something of a pizza connoisseur, if only because of how often it’s my go-to food. And given that I’m sailing an Italian cruise line with stops in Italy, I’ve certainly been getting my fill.

Of all the pizza I’ve eaten over the past few days, though, the one I had in Naples wins hands down.

Back home, I can eat a large pizza from Pizza Hut and feel like I need to sleep for the rest of the afternoon. In Naples, I finished a large pizza, walked another 10,000 steps, and could have kept going.

The pizza aboard Costa Toscana uses a similar style of dough, and you can taste the difference between this and what we typically enjoy in the States.

When I eventually returned to the buffet during a quieter stretch, I found the mozzarella and tomatoes to be excellent. Unfortunately, by that point, I was too stuffed from pizza to have much of anything else!

Back to the Main Dining Room

Meals in the main dining room have been consistent. I’ve been back several times since my first report, and the service has been just as attentive as on night one. The operation is super regimented, and the waitstaff clearly have a well-established routine.

It cracks me up because they have so many seatings, there’s no sitting around chatting after dinner. That’s what the lounges are for!

We had the 7:45 p.m. seating, and by 9:15 p.m., it was pretty clear that the message was “take the conversation elsewhere” because they had another seating at 9:30 p.m.

Not in a rude way, but they were basically saying, “Let’s go!”

The View From Halfway

Some of my best moments on this cruise have happened on the balcony of my deck 16 stateroom.

It’ll soon be five years since my dad passed away. He was a harbor pilot, and whenever I see a pilot boat come alongside a cruise ship, I think about him.

Sometimes I’d go to work with him. Other times, we’d stand on a lower deck together during sailaway and watch the pilots climb down to the pilot boat and head back to shore. I’ve seen it countless times since, and I feel my dad there, beside me, every single time.

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After a busy day ashore or a late night with friends, the balcony is where I want to be to decompress, read my book, or just get lost in the horizon. 

After a busy day ashore or a late night with friends, the balcony is where I want to be to decompress, read my book, or just get lost in the horizon.

That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about cruising.

You can spend the day exploring somewhere new, have dinner with friends, and still find a quiet moment to yourself watching the world go by.

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Why Villa Vie Odyssey’s Sailing Ended

Residences aboard the ship were in Cambodia when notified this week that their sailing had come to an end. Reading a statement provided by the owners, the captain — his voice illustrating his own dismay at the situation confirmed what guests already knew. “Unfortunately, they were unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue the fuel necessary to continue operations,” he explained.

“As a result, the Odyssey will officially enter warm lay-up this afternoon,” he continued. “All residents must disembark by 2 p.m. today.” He added that those unable to “collect all their belongings before disembarking” should coordinate with guest services.

“No Outcome Is Assured”

In a press release, the company explained that rising fuel costs were to blame. “We have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port,” they shared. “Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses.” 

The notion of passing the fuel increase on to residents, the company acknowledged, “is not a realistic solution.” 

The parent company said that it was continuing to seek “a path forward.” However, “that work is ongoing, and no outcome is assured.” 

What Happens Next?

Villa Vie Residences indicated that that they are “working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements.”

Passenger Randy Cassingham, author of the Residential Cruising blog, wrote that this news did not “come out of the blue: We’ve been well aware of problems.”

He went on to say that there was “no one thing: it was a cascade of problems piling up on one another, from the business model to mistakes by management to the mentioned crisis in fuel cost and availability and more.” 

In perhaps the most intriguing cliffhanger to thus far emerge from the developing story, Cassingham teased, “the ‘more’ part is a bizarre twist, but that will wait until I have time and energy to write more.” 

Residents Lanette and Johan posted a video to their YouTube channel, Life On a Cruise, chronicling their time on board. “We had prepared for something like this,” he says of recent indications that trouble was afoot, “but not really.” 

From the beginning, Odyssey and her guests experienced numerous issues, including an extended delay in her launch which left many who’d sold their homes in order to purchase a stateroom frustrated. Meanwhile, despite current residents being forced to leave the ship, the Villa Vie website remains active, inviting would-be guests to inquire about becoming residents.

“

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Take direct trains between the cities, then book road transport for an airport arrival or a day out in Tuscany if the group needs it. With a week, Florence gets a brief visit; ten days gives it room for a proper stay.

Before anyone books a flight, settle the less glamorous questions. Can everyone carry their case up steps? Who needs a twin room? Does the group want art galleries, long lunches or a bit of both? Those answers will shape a group trip in Italy more than another list of famous sights.

Plan the Rome Florence Venice route around nights

Seven days means six hotel nights when arrival and departure fall within that week. Give Rome three, Florence one and Venice two. Florence is the squeeze here: a morning arrival helps, but there’s still only part of one day before the next move.

For ten days, the split becomes four nights in Rome, three in Florence and two in Venice. That Italy itinerary for groups leaves space for breakfast without a suitcase beside the table. It’s a better fit for a family that needs afternoon rests or friends who want to see Tuscany.

Where flights allow, arrive in Rome and leave from Venice. Compare the total cost with return flights, including any final transfer back to Rome. A cheaper airfare can lose its appeal once everyone needs another train ticket and an extra hotel night.

How to get between Rome, Florence and Venice

A fast train is an easy answer for friends with small cases and hotels near the stations. The high-speed train versus coach comparison changes once the plan includes a rural hotel, several pick-ups or a lunch stop outside town.

Rome to Florence takes roughly an hour and a half, while Florence to Venice is around two to two and a half hours, depending on the service. Check the actual departure before booking.

For those days, compare a charter quotation with the train fares and the transfers at either end. BCS Bus arranges bus charter and coach hire across Italy through vetted local carriers, with pick-ups at hotels and airports, for anything from small groups to full tour parties.

The company acts as a transport management partner; the local carrier operates the journey. Send the planned stops when requesting a quote, including the hotel addresses. Hotel pick-up is useful, but the entrance on the booking confirmation may face a street that a coach cannot use.

For a charter bus in Italy, don’t select the vehicle by seat count alone. Twelve passengers with twelve large cases may need more luggage space than a small vehicle provides. Send the bag count and dimensions of any pushchair or mobility equipment, then ask for capacity to be confirmed.

There’s no need to use one form of transport throughout. Take the train to Florence, spend two days on foot, and use a charter for the countryside outing. This avoids paying to keep a coach available while everyone is inside a gallery.

Quotes for coach hire in Italy need a little reading. Are tolls, access permits and parking included? What happens if lunch runs late? If the vehicle and driver stay overnight, check the accommodation arrangements too. A transfer booking ends at the agreed destination unless further service has been arranged.

Moving through Italy with luggage and hotel pick-ups

Book the rail party together where possible and look at the seats allocated before the travel day. Give everyone one meeting point at the station, with the address saved on their phone. Bags still have to be carried aboard and stowed; the departure time isn’t the time to arrive at the entrance.

Use station names precisely: Roma Termini, Firenze Santa Maria Novella and Venezia Santa Lucia are useful central arrival points for this route. Venezia Mestre is on the mainland, so it isn’t interchangeable with Santa Lucia when the hotel is in historic Venice. Check what the selected train actually serves.

For airport transfers in Rome, name the airport: Fiumicino and Ciampino are different arrivals. The transport contact needs flight numbers, not just an expected landing time. If friends land hours apart, price separate transfers before asking the first arrivals to wait with their cases.

Before confirming a road transfer, send these details:

• The final passenger count, including children who need seats.
• The number and size of suitcases, plus any bulky equipment.
• Hotel addresses and the agreed legal boarding points.
• Child-seat or accessibility requirements for confirmation.
• A lead passenger’s contact number and the planned departure time.

Check those details against the confirmation while changes are still possible. Passports and medication belong in a small bag that stays with its owner, rather than in a case loaded out of reach.

Historic centre restrictions need a separate check. Under Rome’s official tourist-coach rules, ZTL BUS C excludes tourist coaches except for specific authorised exemptions. Florence’s municipal tourism guidance requires bus permits, approved routes and designated boarding points.

Venice’s official ZTL BUS guidance also limits boarding and parking to authorised areas. Don’t expect unrestricted coach access to historic centres; confirm the legal drop-off point and the remaining walk or boat journey before choosing a hotel.

Venice needs a closer look at the last stretch. Ask the hotel how many bridges and steps lie between the arrival point and reception. “Ten minutes away” tells very little about that walk with a pushchair and two cases. Luggage assistance or an onward water transfer may be worth arranging before arrival.

A seven-day Italy group trip outline

The week below includes the flight days. It assumes arrival in Rome on day one and departure from Venice on day seven, with six nights in between. Swap sightseeing days when an opening schedule or available ticket requires it; the overnight stops matter more than the order of the museums.

1. Day 1 – Arrive in Rome. Leave bags at the hotel, eat nearby and take a short walk if everyone feels ready. Keep the evening free of prepaid activities because flight delays and tired children can change the plan.
2. Day 2 – Explore ancient Rome. Make the Colosseum and Forum area the day’s main focus, with any required admission booked ahead. Leave time for lunch and a rest before an optional evening walk around Monti.
3. Day 3 – Choose the Vatican or more of Rome. Groups interested in the Vatican Museums should give them a substantial part of the day. Others can explore neighbourhood streets and squares, then meet for a reserved dinner.
4. Day 4 – Travel to Florence. Take a morning service or arrange an early road departure. Confirm luggage storage before check-in, then explore the cathedral surroundings and Ponte Vecchio. Choose one booked interior visit only if arrival timing allows.
5. Day 5 – Continue to Venice. Leave enough time for breakfast and the station transfer. After arrival, follow the hotel’s luggage directions. Spend the afternoon in the surrounding neighbourhood rather than crossing the city for another appointment.
6. Day 6 – Spend a full day in Venice. Choose a visit around St Mark’s, then leave the afternoon for a slower walk through Cannaregio or Dorsoduro. Set a meeting place before people separate for galleries, shopping or lunch.
7. Day 7 – Depart from Venice. Work backwards from the flight time and confirm the first leg from the hotel. A water journey or walk to a road transfer must be included, rather than treating the coach pick-up as the start of travel.

This version gives Rome two full sightseeing days and Venice one. Florence is the compromise: anyone who wants both major art galleries and a countryside excursion should add nights there.

Extend the Italy trip to eight, nine or ten days

An extra night in Florence does more for this week than a fourth city would. Nobody has to repack, and there’s time for a gallery visit without watching the clock for a train. Add the spare days to the existing stays as follows.

Insert these days into the relevant stay; they aren’t extra journeys after Venice. On the ten-day version, leave Rome on day five, Florence on day eight and Venice on day ten.

For the Tuscan outing, settle on one main destination. Siena suits a day spent walking around a town; a countryside lunch suits a party that wants more time at the table. Have the transport coordinator check access and stopping arrangements at the actual venue. Two more hill towns on the same day would make this a very different excursion.

Friends may welcome a free afternoon with a dinner meeting point. A family might use it for a park and an early meal. A small tour party can offer one optional visit without making the whole group attend. Those choices belong in the itinerary before deposits are paid.

Choose the season for Rome, Florence and Venice

In summer, a long walk through Rome belongs earlier in the day. Leave a gap for lunch and a rest, especially after a morning among exposed ruins. Check air conditioning for the booked room types and any chartered vehicle. Transfer days need somewhere to wait too, if check-out comes well before boarding.

Spring and autumn are worth considering for this route, though neither promises empty galleries. Look up Easter, school holidays and events on the chosen dates. Check rooms in all three cities at once; finding a suitable Rome hotel doesn’t help if the Venice stay then exceeds the group’s budget.

In winter, have an indoor alternative for a wet afternoon. It needn’t be another major museum: a longer lunch or a smaller exhibition may suit the group better. Check opening arrangements before promising either. Leave outdoor viewpoints for a clear spell instead of tying them to a rigid hour.

Finalise the Italy group trip before booking

For a seven-day Italy group trip, book three nights in Rome, one in Florence and two in Venice. Use direct trains for the two city legs if everyone can handle their bags. With ten days, increase Rome to four nights and Florence to three, keeping Venice at two.

The final booking check is specific to this Italy group trip: luggage storage in Florence, a legal coach boarding point wherever road transport is used, and a workable route to the Venice hotel. Arrange the Tuscan charter only if that outing is included. Then reserve the major visits around the confirmed travel days.

Read More: 9 Popular Shore Excursions in Naples, Italy

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Cruise vacations require committing to a lot of money upfront across many vendors at once. For example, a family sailing from Miami may have already prepaid the cruise fare, flights, an airport hotel, transfers, shore excursions, and drink packages weeks before boarding. Canceling at the last minute can put thousands of dollars at risk.

That creates a cancellation risk profile unlike almost any other type of trip. Understanding how Cancel For Any Reason coverage fits into that picture can help you make a smarter decision before you book.

Key takeaways:

• CFAR can reimburse part of prepaid cruise costs when you cancel for reasons not covered by standard trip cancellation.

• Cruises bundle many prepaid pieces, so one disruption can affect the whole trip.

• CFAR has strict timing and documentation rules, so planning matters.

What CFAR is, and what it is not

CFAR is an optional trip-protection upgrade that can reimburse a portion of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs even when your cancellation reason is not listed as “covered” under standard trip cancellation. Most standard policies cover specific events: serious illness, injury, death of a family member, or certain emergencies. CFAR steps in when your reason falls outside that list.

Reimbursement under CFAR is typically partial, often 50% to 75% of insured nonrefundable costs. It is not a full refund guarantee. Eligibility usually requires purchasing CFAR as an add-on to a base travel insurance policy, insuring the full trip cost, and buying within a set window after your first trip deposit. If you’re comparing options, Cancel For Any Reason cruise insurance is a useful reference point for understanding common CFAR rules.

Providers such as AXA Travel Insurance offer different coverage tiers and optional CFAR benefits, so comparing policy wording and eligibility requirements is just as important as comparing premiums.

How CFAR differs from standard cruise cancellation coverage

Standard trip cancellation typically pays only when you cancel for specific covered reasons such as serious illness, injury, or certain family emergencies, while CFAR can apply outside that list. That distinction matters more on a cruise than almost anywhere else.

Common reasons that standard coverage won’t touch: you changed your mind, a work conflict came up, you’re anxious about a long journey, or you simply don’t feel ready. CFAR covers those gaps.

The trade-offs are real though: higher premiums, a partial payout, and stricter purchase timing. Always read the definitions and exclusions carefully, especially language around pre-existing conditions, known events, and foreseeable circumstances.

Common CFAR rules that trip up cruisers

Many CFAR benefits require you to buy soon after the first trip payment and to cancel a minimum number of hours or days before departure to qualify. Missing either window can void your claim entirely.

Watch for these common pitfalls:

• Missing the purchase window after your initial deposit

• Underinsuring your trip cost (you must usually cover the full amount)

• Canceling too close to departure

• Incomplete or missing documentation

“Prepaid, nonrefundable” on a cruise can include your cruise fare deposit, prepaid gratuities, shore excursions, and pre-cruise hotel nights. Keep these documents on file: invoices from each vendor, cancellation confirmations, and credit card statements showing payment.

Why cruises amplify cancellation risk

Cruise vacations often concentrate multiple nonrefundable components into one timeline, so a single disruption can cascade across airfare, hotels, transfers, excursions, and the sailing itself. That bundled structure is what separates a cruise from a simple hotel booking.

Miss your flight, and you might miss embarkation entirely. Unlike a hotel stay, you can’t simply arrive the next morning. Once the ship leaves port, catching up may require expensive last-minute flights to the next port of call – or may not be possible at all. Cruise lines also enforce strict penalty schedules tied to final payment dates, with cancellation fees that increase as departure approaches.

Repositioning cruises, holiday sailings, group bookings, and back-to-back itineraries carry even less flexibility. Imagine a last-minute family issue or an unexpected work change the week before a 14-night sailing. The financial exposure is significant.

Prepaid add-ons add up fast onboard and ashore

Shore excursions, drink packages, specialty dining, and pre-cruise hotels are often prepaid and may be nonrefundable depending on the provider’s terms. Many cruisers forget to account for these when calculating their total at-risk costs.

Items to include in your full trip cost calculation:

• Airport and port transfers

• Pre- or post-cruise parking

• Third-party shore tours booked independently

• Flights to the departure city

• Pre-cruise hotel nights

For many travelers, these extras can easily represent $1,000 to $3,000 in addition to the cruise fare itself, making them an important part of the amount you choose to insure. Add these up door-to-door, not just the cruise fare.

Refund policies vary by vendor, so policy wording matters when it comes to what qualifies as insurable.

Medical and evacuation realities at sea (and why that affects decisions)

When you’re at sea, serious illness can mean shipboard care plus an off-ship transfer, and that possibility can influence whether travelers decide to cancel before departure. Ships have medical centers, but they are not full hospitals. Evacuation and repatriation from a remote location can be complex and costly.

For example, a medical evacuation from a ship sailing in Alaska or the South Pacific may involve helicopters, private aircraft, or transfers between multiple medical facilities before reaching appropriate care.

Some travelers choose to cancel early due to health uncertainty, even without a documented covered reason. That’s exactly the scenario where CFAR becomes relevant. One important reminder: CFAR addresses cancellation reimbursement only. Medical coverage and evacuation protection are separate categories and should be evaluated independently.

A practical decision checklist before you buy CFAR

CFAR is most relevant when your trip has high nonrefundable costs and your main worry is a cancellation scenario that would not qualify under standard covered-reason benefits. Before purchasing, work through these questions honestly.

Ask yourself:

• How much of my total trip cost is truly nonrefundable?

• How likely am I to cancel for a reason not on the covered list?

• How close am I to the final payment date?

Also consider alternatives: refundable airfare, cruise line protection plans, flexible hotel rates, or working with a travel advisor to negotiate better cancellation terms. If you do file a claim, expect to provide proof of all payments, proof of cancellation, and documentation of the timeline. If you’re unsure whether CFAR is right for you, read the policy certificate carefully and call with questions before you purchase.

When CFAR is usually worthwhile

CFAR tends to be most useful for travelers who want flexibility for personal or work reasons that are hard to document as a covered event. Unpredictable job schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and anxiety about long travel days are real factors that standard policies don’t address.

Whether it’s “worth it” depends on your risk tolerance and budget, not on marketing. One practical note: if your policy has a purchase window tied to your first deposit, buying early is not optional. It’s a requirement.

When CFAR may be unnecessary

If most of your costs are refundable or you can reschedule with minimal penalties, CFAR may add cost without adding much real protection. Fully refundable airfare, flexible hotel rates, and cruise fares with generous cancellation terms reduce your exposure significantly.

It’s worth pricing the “flexibility premium” of refundable bookings versus the cost of CFAR. Sometimes booking refundable is cheaper overall. For example, paying an extra $150 for fully refundable flights may provide better value than adding CFAR if most of your other travel arrangements are already flexible. Always check policy exclusions for known events and foreseeable circumstances before assuming coverage applies.

Frequently asked questions about Cancel For Any Reason cruise insurance

Does CFAR mean I get 100% back if I cancel?

No. CFAR typically reimburses a portion of your prepaid, nonrefundable costs, often between 50% and 75%. The exact percentage depends on the policy. Read the benefit summary carefully before assuming full reimbursement.

How soon do I need to buy CFAR after booking a cruise?

Most CFAR add-ons must be purchased within a set number of days after your first trip deposit, commonly 10 to 21 days. Missing that window usually means CFAR is no longer available for that booking, regardless of how far out your sailing is.

What counts as “prepaid, nonrefundable” for a cruise trip?

It typically includes your cruise fare deposit, prepaid gratuities, shore excursions, specialty dining, drink packages, pre-cruise hotels, and flights. Any cost you’ve paid in advance that the vendor will not refund if you cancel qualifies, subject to your policy’s definitions.

Is CFAR the same as “cancel for work reasons” coverage?

No. Some standard policies include work-related covered reasons, such as being required to work by an employer. CFAR is broader: it applies when you cancel for any reason not otherwise covered, including personal decisions with no required documentation of cause. Check both categories when comparing policies.

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Nice Try, But…

The youngish man unfortunate enough to find himself on the wrong end of this particular complaint was incredibly patient with the white-haired golden girls. As I sat nearby, casually eavesdropping (as one will), he tried explaining that there was not much he could do. One of the women insisted it would be appropriate that they be moved into a suitable suite. Another suggested full refunds.

Inevitably one said the seven words most often attributed to people of both sexes who are collectively known as Karens: “I want to speak to your manager.”

The issue was escalated and the women ultimately received a negligible amount of onboard credit, but it’s safe to say they weren’t thrilled with the outcome.

Location, Location, Location

Longtime cruisers will be quick to point out that the fault was not that of the cruise line, but of the passengers themselves. One of the most important things to take into account when booking a stateroom is not only its location on the deck in question, but what is both above and below the cabin.

Deck plans are available for every ship, making it easy to do a quick check. Ideally, most of us would prefer to avoid being above or below a nightclub or other venue which might conceivably host loud events or activities, be it in the morning or late at night. Other places we tend to avoid are staterooms directly above or below… 

• …dining venues. Even if the restaurant in question doesn’t open until mid-day, that doesn’t mean the space won’t be bustling with crew members setting things up or that it won’t host activities.

• … nightclubs. Dancing until dawn may be a whole lot of fun, but trying to sleep in a stateroom adjacent to the music that keeps folks moving and grooving? Not so much.

• … bowling alleys. Yes, we live in an age where you can bowl on a cruise ship. But they are definitely not conducive to snoozing beneath.

• … gyms and weight rooms. Ever been around when someone is lifting weights or, more importantly, done lifting and plopping them down on the floor? And gym facilities tend to host a lot of activities that involve jumping, bouncing and other rather loud movements.

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• … the pool deck. While this may not seem obvious, keep in mind that deck chairs will likely be moved around, particularly in the morning. There’s also the possibility of a DJ or band playing at any given time.

• … the galley. As you might imagine, preparing thousands of meals a day is not exactly a quiet task. It’s can also involve the kitchen staff working around the clock, making it yet another area to avoid being above or below.

How To Avoid Trouble Spots

Other things we typically look for on deck plans if we want to avoid potential noise issues? Check the placement of staircases and elevators. While this has never been an issue for us, some light sleepers might find themselves awakened by late-night revelers returning to their staterooms.

If possible — and here’s where both deck plans and travel agents can come in handy — try and avoid being directly across the hall from service areas used by the crews. Why? Those doors see a lot of traffic and, depending on the ship, that can mean a lot of loud bangs.

As always, the best advice we can possibly give with regard to finding your perfect stateroom is to do a little bit of research. Look at deck plans. Consult a travel agent. Heck, you’d be surprised how many times we’ve found reviews for our individual staterooms by searching YouTube for the name of our ship and the specific cabin we’re considering!

Take the case of the complaining passengers whom we met at the beginning of this story. A quick look at the deck plans would have shown that they were directly above a venue hosting loud events. Picking another stateroom would have saved them — and the poor guest relationships person tasked with handling their complaint — a headache or two.

Read Next: More Tips For Picking the Best Stateroom

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If you’re thinking about taking a break from cruising this year, or simply looking for a getaway between sailings, Branson, Missouri, might be worth considering.

Located in the Ozark Mountains, Branson offers live entertainment, outdoor activities, family attractions, and resort-style accommodations.

But just like planning a cruise, knowing where to stay, what to book in advance, and how to manage your budget can make a big difference.

Choose Lodging That Fits Your Schedule, Not Just Your Budget

A cheap room can get expensive fast if it leaves you driving all over town. Branson spreads attractions across several busy areas, and your hotel location can shape your whole trip. If you stay somewhere disconnected from your main plans, you’ll spend more time in the car than you probably expected.

Look at what’s included before you compare nightly rates. Parking, resort amenities, room size, kitchen access, and on-site activities can shift the value in a big way.

For travelers who want a stay built around both convenience and a vacation atmosphere, Westgate Branson Woods Resort is worth considering. It’s set on a wooded property in Branson, Missouri, and it appeals to people who want more than a basic hotel room. That can matter a lot when your group needs space to spread out or when you want downtime between outings.

Know What Kind of Branson Trip You Actually Want

Before you book anything, get clear on your version of a good vacation. Some people want nonstop shows and attractions.

Others want a slower schedule with pool time, scenic drives, and one solid dinner that doesn’t come from a paper basket.

Branson works best when you plan around priorities instead of trying to “do it all.” That strategy sounds ambitious, but it usually turns into traffic, rushed meals, and a phone battery hanging on for dear life.

Ask yourself a few simple questions:

– Are you traveling with kids, teens, or adults only?

– Do you care more about live entertainment or outdoor activities?

– Are you trying to save money, or are you paying for convenience?

– Do you want a resort-style stay or just a place to sleep?

Once you know your trip style, every other decision gets easier, from hotel choice to how many tickets you should buy in advance.

Build a Simple Itinerary Instead of Overbooking Every Hour

Branson gives you a lot to choose from, which is fun until you realize you’ve booked three major activities in one day and left no room for traffic, snacks, or basic human energy levels.

A smarter move is to block your day into loose chunks. Try one anchor activity in the morning, one in the afternoon, and keep the evening open for a show or dinner. That structure keeps the trip moving without making it feel like a school field trip with better desserts.

A practical daily rhythm might look like this:

– Morning: outdoor activity or museum

– Afternoon: lunch and rest at the resort

– Evening: live show or attraction district walk

Leave space for spontaneous stops. Branson has plenty of pull-over moments, from scenic overlooks to small shops and snack spots that don’t show up on your original plan but end up being favorites.

Factor in Traffic, Seasonality, and Local Patterns

Branson isn’t a huge city, but traffic can absolutely mess with your timing. During peak travel months, popular roads near major attractions get crowded, especially in the late morning and early evening.

If you’re visiting during summer, spring break, or holiday event periods, expect longer drive times than the map app claims. GPS estimates can be a little too optimistic when everyone else in town has the same dinner reservation window.

Keep these real-world factors in mind:

– Show schedules often create traffic spikes

– Weekend arrivals can slow down check-in areas

– Lake and outdoor attractions get busier in warm weather

– Holiday lights and seasonal events pull larger evening crowds

If your lodging offers a comfortable place to recharge, it’s easier to work around those patterns. You won’t feel pressured to stay out all day just because returning to your room feels inconvenient.

Save Money by Bundling the Right Parts of Your Trip

Branson can be budget-friendly, but only if you avoid the classic vacation trap of making dozens of small, pricey decisions on the fly. Last-minute tickets, impulse meals in tourist corridors, and convenience purchases can stack up quickly.

One of the easiest ways to control costs is to bundle where it makes sense. Lodging packages, attraction combos, and accommodations with kitchen access can trim spending without making the trip feel stripped down.

Watch for savings in these areas:

– Multi-night stay offers

– Attraction ticket packages

– Free or low-cost resort amenities

– Rooms with mini-fridges or full kitchens

– Free parking and Wi-Fi

A package deal can be especially helpful if you want a shorter getaway that still feels full. Instead of building everything from scratch, you start with a framework and fill in the parts that matter most to you.

Balance Big Attractions With Low-Key Experiences

A lot of first-time visitors focus only on the headline attractions. Those are great, but Branson feels more enjoyable when you mix high-energy outings with easier, slower moments.

You don’t need every day to be packed with theaters, go-karts, museums, and shopping districts. Sometimes the best reset is a calm morning walk, a coffee on the patio, or an afternoon by the pool while everyone stops pretending they aren’t tired.

This balance matters even more for family trips. Kids can hit a wall. Adults do too, even if they’re better at hiding it. A more relaxed schedule usually leads to fewer cranky detours and less money spent on emergency treats meant to restore public morale.

Branson’s wooded setting gives you room to breathe if you let it. That’s part of the appeal. You get entertainment and activity, but you also get the chance to step back from constant noise.

Pick Dining Plans That Match Your Group’s Energy

Food planning sounds minor until you’re traveling with hungry people who all want different things at the exact same moment. Branson has plenty of places to eat, though wait times and location logistics can affect your day more than expected.

If your group likes flexibility, don’t overbook every meal. Pick one or two restaurant priorities, then leave room for easier options around your activities. If you’re staying at a resort with kitchen features or extra space, even a simple breakfast in the room can save time and money.

A few useful approaches:

– Eat early dinner before crowds build

– Keep snacks and drinks with you during busy days

– Plan one splurge meal instead of several average expensive ones

– Use casual lunches to avoid long midday slowdowns

Good meal timing can improve the whole trip. It sounds small, but anyone who has waited 90 minutes with a tired group knows food logistics are not a side quest.

Whether you’re taking a break from cruising or just looking for something different between sailings, Branson offers plenty of ways to enjoy a vacation without heading out to sea.

With a little planning, you can experience the area’s entertainment, outdoor attractions, and relaxing resorts without overspending or packing too much into your schedule.

And who knows? You might find yourself adding Branson to your vacation plans alongside your next cruise.

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Earlier this year, Casinos.com, home of the best casino bonus, published an analysis of 5,134 Tripadvisor reviews across 17 cruise ships with working casinos, counting how often passengers used luck and reward language such as “jackpot”, “winning” and “comped”, then applying a Bayesian adjustment so that thinly reviewed ships could not hijack the leaderboard.

The result is a ranking of cruise ship casinos by passenger sentiment, and it throws up a few surprises.

Anyone planning a sailing around the gaming floor, rather than treating it as an afterthought, will find Casinos.com’s guide to casino cruises a handy reference for itineraries, onboard programmes and what to expect once the doors open.

What the study tells us

The study below is the data layer underneath that planning, and it answers a question any cruiser with a gaming habit eventually asks: which cruise ships have the luckiest casinos, and where to find the best casino cruises in 2026?

Wonder of the Seas takes the top spot with a Bayesian score of 279.80 mentions per 1,000 reviews.

Norwegian Bliss is a close second at 278.07, and Sky Princess follows at 277.35. The gaps are narrow, which the study itself admits: treat the top and bottom groupings as meaningful and the exact positions inside them as close.

The most interesting entry is Carnival Mardi Gras. Her raw luck rate of 36.36% is the highest in the entire fleet, but it comes from only 66 reviews.

Divide mentions by review count and she wins outright. Apply the Bayesian correction, which weighs each ship against the median review count of 340 and the fleet-wide average, and she drops to fifth.

Norwegian Bliss moves the other way, climbing from fifth on raw data to second on the strength of 370 reviews. It is a tidy lesson in why a small sample with a few enthusiastic winners should never be read as a verdict.

Modern cruise ship casinos

Our readers will recognize the pattern in the lines doing well. Mass-market party ships dominate, and they do it by cruise line: Norwegian, Carnival, MSC and Royal Caribbean outscore Princess, P&O, Cunard, Celebrity and Oceania on average.

These are the lines that build large, central, noisy casinos and run slot tournaments on most sea days. Passengers on those ships talk about the casino because it is part of the holiday.

The bottom of the table is just as telling. Celebrity Edge finishes last, with Oceania Riviera and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth close to the foot of the table. That does not mean the machines are tighter.

On a premium or luxury ship, the casino is a small room people pass on the way to somewhere better. Cunard reviewers write about the Queens Room ballroom and black-tie nights, and Oceania guests write about the food.

Mentions of winning barely register because mentions of the casino barely register. Even Symphony of the Seas, a near-identical sister to the winner, finished 13th, proof that the same casino concept can produce very different reviewer language.

Here is the part no ranking can fix.

This is a measure of what passengers wrote down, not of slot payback.

Cruise casinos open only once a ship is out in international waters, they answer to whichever flag state the vessel sails under, and no regulator inspects the floor.

The industry body publishes a policy that members install equipment meeting Nevada Gaming Control Board standards for payback and internal software, but the policy is self-administered and nobody outside the cruise lines verifies it. Slot machines are random, house edges are real, and a ship whose guests talk about winning is not a ship that will pay out.

What the data does suggest is where the atmosphere is. Norwegian Bliss, with roughly 310 slots and 26 tables, a glass-walled smoking room, a high-roller room and slot tournaments on most sea days, is the pick for cruisers who want a casino that feels alive.

Sky Princess stands out for an unusual VIP gaming center with private rooms, which is generous use of space on a Princess ship.

Carnival Mardi Gras has the raw numbers behind her reputation, even if the sample is small. Wonder of the Seas offers two casinos on one ship, Casino Royale plus a separate boutique room called The Golden Room.

Final thoughts

A ship can be a great vacation with a modest casino, and our Norwegian Luna review shows how much else onboard competes for the evening: shows, bars, food and the new ship’s headline attractions.

Casino or no casino, the honest advice is the same. Pick the ship for your vacation, then pick the gaming floor if it matters.

For readers who do want the casino to be part of the plan, the rule of thumb from the study is simple.

Big, mass-market ships with a crowd and a tournament schedule are where passengers say they have the most fun. Smaller and more refined ships are where the casino is an afterthought.

Set a budget before boarding, remember that the ranking reflects passenger sentiment rather than payouts, and enjoy the room for what it is: the strangest venue in gambling, opening only once the building has moved.

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I’m only three days into a seven-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Costa Toscana, but this central gathering space has already become one of the ship’s most interesting features.

Spanning decks six, seven, and eight and centrally located, the Colosseo is, in essence, where the action’s at. During one evening, I watched The Voice at Sea, a production modeled after the popular television competition, complete with spinning chairs and live performances.

The following night, I walked through after dinner and found an entirely different production underway. Aerial performers and dancers were entertaining guests as part of a Luna Park-themed circus evening.

Another evening, the space was transformed by hundreds of faux flames flickering as a candlelight concert cast its spell over the audience.

What surprised me most wasn’t necessarily the individual performances, but rather how completely the space changes from one evening to the next.

There is one catch, however. If you want a prime seat, plan to arrive early. I’ve found that getting there about an hour before showtime is important, even when there are multiple performances scheduled. That’s as true on this ship as it has been on nearly every other one I’ve sailed!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s back up a little bit, to where this adventure started.

Boarding Costa Toscana in Barcelona

Embarkation day felt familiar. Almost exactly a year earlier, I had boarded Star Princess from the same Barcelona cruise terminal.

As was true then, getting from the curb to Costa Toscana was similarly straightforward, without any significant complications.

What was different was the atmosphere once aboard.

There wasn’t the typical over-the-top embarkation-day energy I’m used to on ships sailing from Florida, where music is blaring, passengers are celebrating, and crew members are welcoming everyone aboard. This was a much quieter, low-key process, and I was fine with that.

Why is it different?

I suspect that in part, it comes down to how Costa operates its Mediterranean itineraries. These are not round-trip voyages but rather ones which allow guests to embark and disembark at several designated ports along the route.

That particular type of route doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the traditional sailaway party, where everyone is on the same timetable. Also, for passengers flying from North America, where to embark and disembark might make a major difference.

While researching flights for this trip, I noticed that flying into Rome was less expensive than flying into Barcelona on the dates I checked.

The muster drill was fairly typical, with one notable exception: Passengers were required to bring their life jackets to the muster station to be scanned in. The muster drill announcements also took a little longer because instructions were delivered in multiple languages.

That’s something that would continue throughout the cruise, with announcements repeated in Italian, Spanish, French, English and other languages depending on the demographic.

It takes some getting used to, but drives home just how international the onboard experience is.

A Familiar Ship With a Different Personality

Although Costa Toscana belongs to a different ship class, some of its public spaces reminded me of the newer Princess ships.

Costa Toscana leans heavily into Italian design, and the attention to detail is noticeable throughout the ship. From decorative glasswork to marble-looking flooring and detailed finishes, the public spaces have a definitively Italian bent.

It’s the smaller details that have caught my attention.

Near the Aperol Bar, bottles are set into the walls behind frosted glass. Elsewhere, a waterfall feature adds another decorative element near the pool deck bar.

These aren’t necessarily features that change the cruising experience, but they give the public spaces character.

As I’ve explored the ship, I’ve found similar touches throughout. 

First Look at the Stateroom

My home for the week is a premium balcony stateroom on Deck 16, and so far, it’s been exceptionally comfortable.

The air conditioning isn’t afraid to work, either. This is a good thing, as I prefer sleeping in an ice-cold room, and this cabin has had no trouble keeping up.

There are plenty of electrical outlets for my gear, with two USB ports, three European electrical outlets (so you will need a converter if not using USB), a comfortable bed, and a surprising amount of bathroom storage.

The cabin also has two closets: one for hanging clothes and another with shelves and a safe. Interestingly, I didn’t discover the second closet until day three. By then, I’d already unpacked everything.

Outside, the balcony has two chairs and a small table, providing a place to sit and enjoy the views while sailing through the Mediterranean. 

I found reading out there on the first day was picture perfect… almost too much so! More than once, I found myself distracted by the endless horizon as opposed to whatever I had intended to read or work on!

Another pleasant surprise has been the lack of noise. There’s a public deck directly above my cabin, but so far, I haven’t heard any activity coming from overhead.

For a cabin located this high on a large cruise ship, it’s been comfortable and quiet. 

First Impressions of Dining

My first dinner aboard Costa Toscana was at Il Vigneto, one of the ship’s main dining rooms, where I had a 7:45 p.m. seating.

While some ships may leave a little wiggle room when it comes to what time you are dining, that is not the case here. Dining times are stritctly enforced.

Costa offers multiple dining times, but arriving on time is important. According to what I was told, once the dining room doors close, guests are left to attend a later seating or find another dining option. I’m hoping not to test the validity of that this week!

For dinner, I leaned into the Italian theme, starting with a small margherita pizza and bowl of minestrone soup, followed by meatballs and a cream-filled pastry for dessert. The food came out hot and fast. 

Overall, I found the main dining room food decent.

Something that caught me off guard? When attempting to order an Aperol Spritz to go with my meal, I was told the dining room served beer and wine, but not cocktails. If I wanted a Spritz, I’d need to visit one of the ship’s bars. So that’s exactly what I did.

It’s a small operational difference, but one that caught my attention as someone who cruises primarily with North American brands.

Where Costa Toscana has truly impressed me is with its specialty dining in general, and Pummid’Oro Pizzeria on Deck 8 in particular.

The restaurant operates on an a la carte basis, but I found the prices reasonable, and the pizza ranks among the best I’ve experienced at sea. 

The crust on the margherita pizza was light and airy, the mozzarella was fresh, and the sauce drove it home. I will be back later in the week.

Normally, I’m not one to pay for pizza on a cruise ship. But aboard an Italian ship sailing through the Mediterranean, it seemed appropriate to make an exception.

Three Days In: My Early Takeaways

Three days into this Mediterranean sailing, Costa Toscana has delivered a few surprises.

The Colosseo has been the biggest standout so far, especially the way it transforms from one evening to the next. 

Embarkation in Barcelona was straightforward, and the stateroom has been comfortable and quiet.

Dining has been more of a mixed experience. While the main dining room hasn’t particularly impressed me, the specialty pizzeria has been a true highlight. And there is more to come, including giving the main dining room another shot. 

There’s also much more of the ship to be explored and experienced. With several port calls remaining — this is a very port-intensive sailing — I expect to get a better sense of how everything comes together over the rest of the week.

As always, I’ll save the final verdict for the end of the cruise.

Disclosure: Costa Cruises is hosted me on this sailing. All observations and opinions are my own.

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