Viva Italia…Viva Costa…Viva Costa Concordia…Viva I Got to Ride in a Limo and Have Sugar Free Apple Strudel…Viva What a Brilliant Day
June 16, 2008 -
John Heald
So, where are you going for your vacation this year? Europe? The Caribbean? Ohio? The list of possibilities is seemingly endless. But it’s not as long as the list of places you don’t even consider. Luxembourg, for instance, or Algeria. I bet you never really thought about Haiti either, or Chad.
Don’t you think that’s a bit weird? I mean, most of the places that don’t stack up as tourist resorts fail because you’ll be shot or because you’ll come home with an interesting new disease…..yet take these aspects away and you have some amazing vacation destinations.
What about cruising………..well, I have learned over the last few years that many people who are frequent cruisers tend to stay loyal to one or maybe two companies. Just look at those board thingies and reviews on Cruise Critic and CruiseMates, etc. The author always lists the ships that he or she has sailed on and the list usually features maybe two or three cruise lines………….hey…………don’t get me wrong………..we are all very thankful for your loyalty……..however………..I wonder if we should start thinking a little outside of the usual suspects……………… and go Italian.
I admit, I knew very little about Costa ships. I knew they had a yellow smoke stack and that most of the crew had a vowel at the end of their name. Apart from that………I knew “niente”
Today………I discovered much more and discovered a name that should be on every cruise lovers list.
The day started at 10 am when I was collected by car from the gangway of the Carnival Splendor. Heidi remained onboard to run the ship as there is a lot to do.
The wonderful people of Costa had obviously been told some incorrect information on my importance because for some reason they had sent a Mercedes Limo S Class thing which nosed through the gates of the pier as requested, at 10 am…………….. The rear arrived about 40 minutes later…………………..The crew working on the pier applauded………….one shouted “Big Car For Big John.”……………….bugger.
I was more concerned that this car was meant for Mr Foschi the President and CEO of Costa and they had sent him the car that was supposed to pick me up……………I had a horrible visual of Mr. Foschi in his designer suit squashed into a Fiat 500.
I think it’s fair to call the back-seat area generous. It’s so generous in fact that stretched out on one of the airline-style seats my legs did not even touch the partition that separates those in the rear from the driver.
With barely a sound, the twin-turbocharged V12 engine whispered into life and off we went, with me already starting to experiment. After a while I had one television set showing a sat nav display of we were and the other showing an Italian Supermodel reading the news. Then I found the fridge, the button to move the headrest just so, and both the mobile phones.
And then I found the roof. It’s made of photochromatic glass, which at the twiddle of a switch can be fully frosted, very frosted, not frosted at all or completely opaque. I liked playing with this feature. In fact by the time I was bored with it we had arrived at the pier and there she was………The Costa Concordia.
So, I arrived at the ship and at the new terminal that has more facilities than some International airports and a terminal like this can make the sometimes long and boring security and check in procedures so much more comfortable.
Costa has a similar terminal in Barcelona and if this was an example of the Italian way of doing things I could not wait to get onboard.
Carnival Splendor is of the same design as Concordia and I cannot describe in words how strange it is to walk up the gangway of a ship that you just left 45 minutes ago and find it to be completely changed…………….even reading that sentence does not do the feeling justice. Imagine, coming home from work, opening the front door and finding that your living room is just as you left it except……………it has a completely different color scheme and new furniture.
I was met at the gangway by my hosts who as on previous ship visits gave up their entire day to proudly escort me around their ship. I will talk more about them and introduce you to them later.
The Grand Lobby of the Costa Concordia seems to have been designed around a underwater theme………..I am not sure if that is what Mr. Farcus intended but bravo to him if he did because it works brilliantly. The soft green lighting and the beautiful artwork depicting the Ocean was breathtaking. The lobby on any vessel is the focal point of the ship and as most ship’s embark guests there it is also that important first impression. The best way to see if that first impression is a positive one is to watch the guests’ faces when they board. Today, onboard the Costa Concordia it was obvious that as guests embarked that the lobby was a hit, not only by their smiles but by the dozens of camera flashes as memories were taken.
The first place we entered was the place that left me stunned………………The Spa…………………The Carnival Splendor’s Cloud 9 Spa is still being decorated and I can only hope it looks like the one I saw today. The Spa includes the Suites we will have private access to reserved areas as well as private rooms and treatments and relaxation rooms that would have five star resorts dribbling with jealousy. There are Spa Hotels all over the world………..well this is as near to a Spa Cruise Vessel that I have seen………………….if you are one of those who loves to be slapped, tickled, covered in mud, shrunk, cleaned, washed, heated, cooled and left to relax on the softest of chairs, eating a bowl of fresh fruit, having your neck massaged while listening to some chanting Monks………..then the Costa Concordia is the place you need to be …………………… the Spa is epic.
Have a look at these photos.
As we walked around the vessel I saw that one of my comprehensions that all the Staff and Crew were Italian was utter rubbish. While many are just as many are not with crew representing many different nationalities. The one language they all spoke was hospitality ………….and fluently. I didn’t walk past a single Costa Crew member without receiving a cheery ” bonjourno”…………….you can have all the gadgets and gismos onboard as you want but without a friendly crew you might as well be operating a barge carrying cement……………….Mr. Foschi…………..you should be proud………..from the Captain on down everyone said hello to everyone…………..and I mean crew to passenger and crew to crew……………………..brilliant.
The public spaces are well designed and seating that……………..well you know ……………. comfortable…………..the aft lounge was my favorite with the huge circular bar made you want to sit there and watch the world go by. When I say the world, it really is ………..the world. While most of the guests are Italian there are many Spanish, Dutch, German, British and …………yes American. Every announcement, every sign, every menu is written in multiple languages including English. …………….Costa truly is the world’s favorite International cruise company.
Anyway, rather than me waffle on about the beautiful guest areas have a look at these photos.
Motor sport in Italy and Europe is huge and just as NASCAR is the one to watch in North America in Europe it is Formula One (F1). Personally, I have never understood the joy of watching motor racing …especially the Le Mans 24 Hour race which Italians seem to love…………….why?
At four o’clock on the Saturday afternoon with drivers whose names you can’t even pronounce, set off on what in essence is a 24-hour economy run. And then it goes dark.
Now I’m sorry but how can anyone with even a tiny sliver of intelligence imagine that spectators will be interested in watching a sport they can’t see? A pair of headlights is coming towards you and then, after a short, deafening roar, they are replaced by a set of red taillights whizzing off into the night. Was that a Courage that just went by, driven by Sal Pellegrino? And if so, was it winning or coming last? There is no way on God’s earth of knowing.
All you do know is that the race, when it finishes at 4 pm on the Sunday, will be won by the team with the most money.
Anyway, as Europe embraces F1, Costa have placed a superb F1 race car simulator which is an exact copy of the real thing……………it looks incredible…………can’t tell you how good though as in the world of F1 …………..one size does not fit all.
It was a great opportunity to see the ship in service and get a glimpse of what we might expect on the Carnival Splendor. This was highlighted by the midship pool area. It was raining and the dome was closed ………..yet the deck still had a Lido feel about it. People were swimming, relaxing, watching the big screen and for the first time I got an impression on what this new concept for us will feel like. Again, Costa has this just right and I thank them for giving me a glimpse into our future.
To my hosts………….let’s start with the Cruise Director Federica Giammarioli who as you can tell by the name is Irish…………..kidding…………..Italian of course. She got on my nerves before she even said a word and honestly it took a while to like her ……………….hold on………….let me explain why. Federica is drop dead mouth open wide gorgeous and has been blessed with a killer smile and a personality that most CD’s would pay thousands of dollars or euros to have………………
Costa should bottle her. What a warm and friendly lady she is and joking aside I liked her the moment I met her. She was joined by one of her staff members Massimo Garbarino who is half Italian and half English…………….for his sake I hope it’s the bottom half that’s Italian. All the “animators” as they are known are multi lingual and once again I was massively impressed as Federica took the time to talk to every guest………….the ones who had been onboard for some time obviously loved her…………………..don’t tell my wife………………so did I.
Then there is cruise industry veteran Eduardo Barlassini the Hotel Director. His stories of the good old days had me laughing and I don’t think I have met anyone who has spent 37 years at sea and still looks like they are as excited about year 37 as they were at year 1. Bravo Eduardo and it was an honor to share time with some like you.
Finally, there is Captain Massimo Garbarino. If you were to design a Captain using the stereotypes we all know and love …………then you would come up with Captain Garbarino. He is a Captain’s Captain……………………does that make sense? He is an honorable man and someone who was born to be at sea. Here is a perfect example of this told in his own words.
As I promised you, I am attaching the picture I had in the port of Flam in Norway, with Giona, his father and our agent in that port. Giona is a Norwegian boy in love with cruise ships, and he knows all about all cruise ships, and in particular the one cruising in the Fjords. I met him in 2005 when I was cruising there with Costa Atlantica, and than he came to visit me in 2006 on board Costa Magica, and I invited him once again last year in 2007.
Every time I was passing by Vangses the village where he lives in the Songnefjord, I was blowing the ship’s horn to greet him, and he was always on the quay replying with his Norway flag and also an Italian flag. He dreams about ships, and loves our ones; he has models of all ships cruising in his Fjords. He is a boy I will never forget, and will never forget the enthusiasm and passion he has about ships.
Well, word has gotten around that I like food and somehow word got out that I was diabetic………….more on that soon.
I was shown the dining rooms and the chocolate bar…………yes…………..a bar that serves everything and everything chocolate, the pay extra restaurant and all the exceptional food outlets. As you would expect from an Italian line the food is quite simply……………….the best. We ate in the Spa restaurant which is reserved for those guests who are staying in the Spa Suites. The food is somewhat healthier than the main restaurant but this gorgeous dining area is an example that a healthy menu can be exciting, tasty and not a place just for people with sandals, a beard and who only eat carrot. We had scallops, shrimp and…………..hold on…………………have a look instead.
A bowl of the finest Italian Parmesan cheese
The service was first class and my special thanks to the Chef who upon hearing that I had refused an opportunity to graze at the chocolate bar (as I didn’t feel like collapsing and being rushed to hospital), had made me a piece of delicious apple strudel…………..I never met the Chef but I would like to thank him now for being so considerate.
The food was epic……………………enough said.
I could write so much more but instead I want to keep my ending simple.
Costa cruises are so much more than just being Italian…………..however………….is that not enough by itself. Why wouldn’t you want to experience all the magic of Italy that you experience ashore onboard as well? Why see Italy for only part of your cruise when you can have it every single second of the voyage.
Then, take this Italian magica and place it in the Caribbean and you really do have the best of both worlds…………the Caribbean during the day………..Italy by night.
Italy is a country where style is everything ………..it is no surprise therefore that onboard a Costa ship that style is evident everywhere you look……………..and that in turn is why you should have Costa……………………… on your list of favorite cruise lines.
John and Captain Gabarino, Hotel Director Barlassini and Cruise Director Federica
Goodnight
Your friends John and Heidi and the Captain and Crew of the Costa Concordia.
Carissmi amici del Gruppo Costa, benvenuti in questo Blog.
Se avete domande o commenti Vi prego di scriverli anche in Italiano nell ‘apposito spazio dedicato, verrano in seguito tradotti in inglesse.
Vi auguro una buona giornata e grazie per aver visitato il mio Blog.
Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
John,
Where are the photos of the limo, the car sounded almost as nice as the Coast Concordia, ok well the ship is way nicer. So how about a update on some bloggers cruise information. I know many of us are awaiting more details about what is being planned. The very best to Heidi.
Kevin
Lovely. The Concordia is lovely and now we have a bit more insight into the way the Splendor will look. Just one question… where are the pictures of Federica??? John, you tease us!!
More! More pictures! More ships! More interviews!!
I love it!!
Thank you!
Ciao!
GregB
Mama Mia!! Federica is welcome to West Texas anytime.
John, nice entry about Costa. As always thanks for sharing.
Hi John, As my daughter would say COOL! Costa is beautiful , but our hearts belong to CARNIVAL
Well your friends…..said with tongue in cheek, the PETA, made their presence known in Knoxville yesterday. At a Father’s day fishing tournament they had someone dressed in a fish costume and holding signs that read “FISH ARE FRIENDS” NOT FOOD”. They handed out comic books entitled “Your Daddy Kills Animals’ to children. They claim kids need to know that fish are intelligent animals who feel pain and deserve to be respected. Wonder what they do about fish that eat other fish and sometimes their own off spring.
Wish they would keep their opinions to themselves instead of scaring young children. BUGGER.
I’ll get off of my soapbox now.
Tomorrow is Tuesday and the long awaited day to find out about the Dream. Please don’t let us down PA007
I’m anxiously awaiting the news
Carolyn
Hi to your Mum and Dad, Suze, and Heidi. Hope they are all well.
Hi Giovanni,
All I can say is “Oh My”. “Oh my”, she’s gorgeous. I definitely see what the Splendor will look like (with different decor of course), but wow.
And that was the cruise ship terminal? I hate to say it, but Carnival should take some lessons.
And your limo ride, way to go John!
Time to leave, but I can’t wait for more tomorrow, especially about the Dream. This may decide what cruise I take in 2009.
Ciao,
Carol
Sounds wonderful. Maybe the 2010 blogger’s cruise should be on a Costa ship.
By the way, has “sexy James” (as he requested to be called) given Heidi the gift I gave him to deliver to her?
We really enjoyed our TA cruise. The ports of call were great. The bed and pillows were comfortable and our servers, Michael and Ziki, were the best. We really hated to leave them and our cabin stewards behind. No, we were not part of the LJ tour or the troublemakers, thank goodness. Boy, Todd really had his hands full.
Just counting the days until I get to cruise again.
Ann
Viva Italia y Viva John!! Your enthusiasm is contagious. As I have told you before Costa is one of my favorite cruise lines. I will always have a spot in my heart for my first ship who started my love for cruises the Carla Costa. At that time(1983) the crew was almost all italian and that made it even more special. I have sadly watched as they have gotten replaced almost entirely. The italian feeling is still there though. I’m not a loyal cruiser I go with the best price that’s why I been able to take 30 at different cruise lines. But I will admit that’s is changing with you and our past experiences. At least we look at Carnival first (and I hope I get the best price) Anyway we love cruises!! The captain is Massimo Garbarino?
It’s fun!!
In 2 of our Costa cruises we got a captain whose name was Mario Garbarino and I always remember him to be on the public lounges at night with the passengers. I like that. I suggest that for your next cruise take a Costa we want to see you in a Toga.
Nanni
John:
As far as other cruise lines are concerned, I have always had a saying that I intend to sail them all before my Final Debarkation!
For the time being, Carnival is where DJ is comfortable and his needs are our primary concern.
Once he gets to old for Club O2, then we will see what else is out there.
For those who were asking about the old Carnivale,
(SS TOPAZ) here is an update.
http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews.html
I have been walking 4 miles a day for 2 weeks now…and I am amazed that I am actually enjoying it. I have NEVER been one to exercise in any way (unless you count typing on a computer) and I was certain I would HATE walking. Thankfully, it is more fun than I thought it would be.
Hope you and Heidi are finding “the move” to be a smooth one!!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
John, just wanted to tell you how much we appreciate Carnival for the wonderful vacations and memories they have provided. I agree that we should try other of the lines, as their culture is quite different, though still of the same caliber as Carnival’s. It would be much easier to do so if each cruise on a Carnival sister line counted toward VIP. We will be Platinum in October. How much longer could it have taken if we had simply endulged our desire to sail Princess or QM2? Even with all their diverse natures, I believe the lines of Carnival will be much better situated in the market when they are truly “one company” with all the benefits attributable through all lines. Please understand–this is not a complaint, it is only a statement of opinion. I have yet to return from a Carnival voyage with a complaint.
On a different note, I just watched a brilliant movie set in the English countryside–Hot Fuzz–the story of a London cop who is just too good, so he gets reassigned to the village of Sandford, where everything seems calm and peaceful–just what he hates. Imagine his surprise when everything is not as it seems.
The movie was supposed to be a spoof, but this is no Charlie Sheen romp–it is actually quite good, and shows some beautiful country, until things start happening. I won’t spoil the plot, just know that you might want to get this on the ship. It’s brilliantly played, and it’s decidedly British! So British, in fact, that I couldn’t understand half of what was said!
Cheerio, mate
Rus Franklin
i do like costa john, their pasta is the best on the seas, but i still LOVE carnival…
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
Hey John….
Susan and I have not done a Costa Cruise but you may have just convinced us to do so!! Your blog is still a highlight of our day and look forward to it each day! Thanks for the reports!!
John & Susan
John -
The fourth photo in the spa section is just too much
Keep the faith, baby
Jon
A chocolate bar???? What an absolutely marvelous idea. How has this escaped my attention? I tell my friends that chocolate is one of the four food groups, and that you should eat some chocolate every day.
By the way, the chair backs in one of your lounge photos look like Rubik’s cubes. Very cute.
“one of her staff members Massimo Garbarino who is half Italian and half English…………….for his sake I hope it’s the bottom half that’s Italian.”
LOL! Now I have to go get the Windex to clean off my computer screen again.
I have to second Kevin here and say, “where are the pix of the limo?” Other than that, GREAT blog! You just might turn me into a Costa Cruiser, John!
BTW, don’t worry that you couldn’t fit into the F1 simulator. Ask them to invite you back aboard in six months and I know you’ll be behind that wheel!
Please tell Heidi that when she has time to take a breath she should think about writing another blog herself. It’s been too long!
John, if Heidi didn’t go with you who took all the great pictures. If it was you then your getting much better using the camera. All the picture were well done but for the one of the statue looking like he was doing something on the guy in the pool. Did you figure out that shot or was it pointed out to you by someone?
BIG ED
Bonjourno Mr. Heald. This one particular blog made me feel like Italy. Believe it or not, I’ve never been to my father’s home land. He was born and lived in Roccamorice, Italy. He eventually came to Canada as a young boy. He did go back to see his old home just before he died. Maybe after reading your blog about Costa I may just decide to visit my dad’s home area. I thoroughly enjoyed your description of the Costa Concordia. I enjoy my cruises with Carnival but I might want to take a cruise at least once with Costa. I love the colours that the pictures showed, and the Cruise Director Federica belissima. In English it would be Va,Va Voom and the food well I would expect nothing less on an Italian ship.Thank you for the chance to find out something about Costa. When do we get more pictures of the new Splendor? Ciao my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Hi John & Heidi,
As much as I would love to do a cruise this summer, my youngest son, Michael who’s 22, and I go up north every summer to a resort. We have been going there every summer since 1996 when he was 11. He still wants to vacation with his mummy (wow!) and this is our last time going up there. It’s getting too expensive plus I would rather go on a cruise (big surprise eh!) where you get more bang for your buck. I’m hoping to talk him into going to Florida for a few days next fall (late Sept/Oct when it’s getting cooler here) and taking a 4-5 day cruise out of one of the Florida ports.
I hope all my blogger friends have a wonderful summer…..whatever you do!
Cindy
John,
We would really love to see some pics of the tech team over there…
Thanks!
Ayr and Lindsay (Steve’s girlfriend)
John,
Are there 2 Massimo Garbarino’s: The Master of the ship who is Italian and a member of Federica’s staff who is half Italian and half English?
Russ Franklin, there is such thing as VIP which stands for Vacation Interchange Privileges under the Carnival Umbrella. I just don’t know how it works. That’s why we need someone, not necessarily our beloved John because we know he’s busy, to explain how we could avail of such privileges.
Give mine & Lou’s fondest regards to Heidi as well.
Amor
We have sailed Costa 3 times, Each time has been a blast. I love the Pasta. There is definitely an international flair on a Costa Ship that you don’t get on Carnival. I agree with Russ and Nina that Carnival should link all the frequent guest clubs into one to allow us to try the other lines and get credit. Loved the picture of the statue peeing on the guy in the pool. That was classic.
Cheers,
Brad
John, you are terrific! Your writing is so engaging and enjoyable! Thanks for doing what you do!
Bravo, Rus, for your suggestion that All sister-ship cruising count toward Carnival VIP status! We would have hit VIP a long time ago, had our HAL and Costa cruises counted. We always try Carnival first when looking at cruises, but alas, Carnival is not everywhere we want to be and we sometimes have to go out of the Carnival umbrella.
Nanni on the Carla C? We sailed her on our very first cruise…and even had a crew member come to our home and visit us! Our two Costa Med cruises again confirmed the love of all things Italian–food, people, love of life. And we are now counting down the days to our Eurodam cruise……and enjoying yet another cultural experience, all thanks to that great company, Carnival.
John, thanks for all your chatty updates. Our best to you, Heidi, and the wonderful Stephanie! Ciao,
The Traveling Bells
Thanks for the wonderful tour John.
The picture of the statue by the pool made me laugh.
Strange the georgeous CD’s assistant and the Captain have the same name.
Hi John,
We would cruise Costa and some other CCL lines if CCL would honor Platinum Status for Carnival sister lines and give that great military price Carnival gives. If not we will just keep going on the new ships Carnival keeps coming out with.
Mama Mia John
THATS one Bellissimo SHIP!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
The statue by the pool had some strange looking hands, strange that the captain and the CD assistants had the same name Massimo Garbarino,but where was the picture of “the big ride for big John?” just wondering?
Thanks again, the pictures were awesome!
Take Care
The Tuckers
Elizabeth & Arnold
John,
Is Massimo Garbarino the captain, or Federica’s assistant? You gave the same name for both. Thanks for the pictures. The ship is beautiful. The picture of the guy getting water dumped on his head looked a little “strange” given the statue standing at just the right (wrong?) angle. (It’s the one Jon, “Lookingforwardtothe…,” mentioned.)
Is there a separate “spa” dining room on the Splendor or is that just a Costa Concordia thing? Do people staying in the spa cabins pay extra for using the pools and lounges, etc., or just for the treatments that require hands-on by spa staff?
The movie Russ Franklin mentioned…”Hot Fuzz”… stars the inimitable Simon Pegg of “Shaun of the Dead” fame. If you aren’t familiar with him you are missing one of your funniest performers. I hope he will continue to appear in these crazy movies as they are such fun.
I know you just can’t wait to get underway on your beautiful Splendor. Give my greetings to Heidi, please.
Your Pal,
Myra
John, thanks for being you! Your pics were great! A limo of course you deserved to be picked up in one. Would love to have seen a pic.
Enjoy your day and hope the move runs smoothly. Hello to Heidi and thank her too for all the hard work she does!
Bless You
Kathy
Hi John/Heidi:
What an amazing blog on the Concordia. She is absolutely gorgeous. I love the color scheme and she seems like a wonderful vessel. I hope I am able to visit her one day.
Great blog today. Seems like each ship you visit keeps getting better and better.
Hope everything else is going well.
Great to hear from you!
Take care,
David
Duchess Sandy
Yes, 2 times on the Carla the first time was my graduation trip. I have always remember the crew from those trips. One of the them I saw 2 years ago on the Magica. He is a head waiter now and gave us a bottle of wine.
Wonderful blog of Costa Concordia ! Great Costa ship. Would love cruising on it once.
What about Captain and Assistant of CD with the same name ? Keep on writing about Costa ships.
Alright, I have to go back UP and read the rest of the blog, but I had to post:
JOHN! Your pics should come with warnings! I spit coffee all over my screen thanks to pic #4, of the gent in the whirlpool tub getting sprayed… the mannequin is placed just so…
Thanks for making my return to work a giggle today!