5-Day South America Cruise aboard COSTA DIADEMA

I have to say that the locations we visited were amazing and well chosen. We had adequate time in each location for sight seeing. There were plenty of activities on board both day and night for the kids and the adults. It was as definitely a good idea to get the food package and "my drinks" package it was enough for us. The entertainment was really good and good variety from latin and jazz in the teodora bar to ballads and love sond in the atrium to a couple of old school rock groups in the rock bar. I would like to mention the staff for the most part were great with only a couple of negative interactions like lack of interest in helping with a problem at reception to totally ignorant waiters in the atrium area, but these are not to say that was everyone, infact we had two fantastic dinner waiters in Fiorentina restaurant Ethan chrivian and his colleague, they looked after us amazingly well and were extremely attentive and helpful. In the rock bar we had great at fun with Moises Balthazar and his colleague Ahmed Monseur. Both were friendly, respectful and again very attentive of our needs and even remembered our orders and fresh lime and straws without being asked. And of course the hotel staff were great and very efficient, we were on deck 2 mid ship starboard and our housekeeping was great and even left little positive notes for us. These people are a credit to their trainers and to themselves and I think Costa is very lucky to have them and I recommend you treat them well. These are the people who will make us comeback and not anything to do with prices. So we had ups and downs but as an experience it was very good and enjoyed every minute.

Everything was good until the transfer to the airport. We bought the transfer and now we have to wait 3 hours in the port because they put us in the green line (green/verde E) at 10:45 and also they put the transfer after 3 hours. The scheduling was poor; the time gap was excessive, and—to make matters worse—we were traveling with another family who were assigned to a different group (V-Sand). Unlike us, they didn't have to wait three hours at the port; they disembarked and took their transfer immediately—which is how we should have been treated, too. It is not right for the same family group (we traveled together) to be treated differently! Don't even get me started on the lack of respect shown to us. When I asked where the airport transfer was, I was told we didn't have one; the staff member checked her list and insisted we weren't on it. Only after I showed her our printed confirmation—proving we had booked and paid for it—did she acknowledge that we actually did have a transfer. Aside from the transfer issue, we were there during the Monza F1 race weekend. I asked if it would be broadcast on any TV on the ship, but I was told they had no idea about that and that there were no sports channels anywhere. I had to buy internet access from them just to watch it myself. In contrast, when I asked about this on an MSC cruise, they actually set up a room to broadcast the Formula 1 race (and they already had rooms with working TVs!). Beyond that ordeal, there were issues with the food and the entertainment: there were no reservations for shows, so you had to arrive an hour early, and for meals, you couldn't serve yourself—they portioned the food out for you. In short, it was not a pleasant experience at all, and some changes really need to be made—especially to the scheduling!

This line is like living in the slums. Other than great staff; most else was bad. Every member of corporate; making poor decisions and rules from afar should be fired. Other lines on our 30+ cruises were incredible. Costa could have ruined our vacation for family members of 8; but we have great attitudes and sense of humor. Meals in dining room were nearly inedible. Specialty restaurants were great. No pads on loungers, no blankets for evenings outside, and if you buy a regular drink package you are limited to 7 small bottles of water....no water served in dining room unless you buy the drink package....all other cruises; of course water is included. Want a drink from your drink package at dinner? Go get it at the bar. Want coffee after dinner? Go get it, not joking. Beach towels by the pool? Nope.... drag around your beach towel from the room. No pads on any loungers. Buy the spa package and the jacuzzi was tepid; the "hot chairs" were slightly hot and the spa was antiquated....even broken floor boards in the steamroom( but it was hot and nice). If you want to save money and have a quality experience choose any other line. No outside food at the stern bar....it was obviously food from costa lol. Not upset; we made an incredible family time in spite of Costa. As long as the current management/corporate is in-place; if we were offered a free cruise on Costa we would absolutely decline the offer.