Costa Concordia

‘A Vacation Island’. Costa Cruise Lines’ newest ship certainly lives up to that image. With each deck named for a different European country, the name Concordia itself invokes peace and harmony in Europe. The Concordia, the first of its class and the largest Italian cruise ship ever built, is a wonderful reason to cruise the Mediterranean year-round.

With the same structure of the Carnival Conquest class ships, the Concordia has placed its own seal on the template, as playful art follows the decks and the European nations they are named for. Guests can arrange to meet in Paris, London, Dublin, Prague, Vienna, Barcelona, Rome, Stockholm, Milan, Helsinki, Vienna, Lisbon, Athens and Budapest.

The intimate 105-seat Concordia Club, the ship’s a la carte restaurant, is dedicated to the Netherlands, with each chair looking like a Mondrian and entertainment accompanying the excellent dining by candlelight, along with a lavish wine list and dedicated service. The main dining rooms, Milano and Roma, are spacious and comfortable, with enormous windows to gaze out at the sea. The Paris Buffet is next to the Lido for - what else - sidewalk café-type dining.

Cited by Costa as the ship’s main innovation, the Samsara wellness center has a different theme from the rest of the ship, drawn from traditions throughout Asia. With its innovative Samsara wellness center, Costa Cruise Line has not only included a really remarkable 20,500 square foot spa, but has designated 55 staterooms and 12 suites as Samsara accommodations. with fares about 20% above comparable accommodations. The price is more than reasonable, because it includes the treatments, classes and private restaurant. Staterooms are located inside the spa center and have direct access to spa facilities via a private elevator, and the private Samsara restaurant is intimate, magnificent and worth the extra cruise ticket charge alone.

One hundred eighty degrees from the serenity of the relaxation room is another innovation, the Grand Prix driving simulator, with a design based on cutting edge engineering and IT analysis. The same size and shape as a real Grand Prix car, it uses the same technology as top drivers work with to hone their skills. There are four modes of difficulty, from surviving three minutes racing on a national track without other drivers all the way up to Championship Mode, where you drive a qualifying lap and seven racing laps on an international track in 13 minutes or less. The simulator is available only to passengers 16 and over, with height and weight requirements. Optimistic guests can choose to record their performances.

Stateroom colors are warm and attractive, with neutral walls and beds and pillows that drew raves from passengers. Pay-per-view movies, television and music stations are available in the staterooms, along with direct-dial ship-to-shore telephone, Suites and mini-suites of all kinds are striking in décor and have private whirlpool baths. Inside and outside standard cabins are larger than most at 160-184 square feet.

The three-level 1,287-seat Athens Theatre hosts shows, from Broadway-style extravaganzas to comedy, many related to the destinations the ship sails through. The Barcelona casino has slot machines, many of them with very amusing animations, roulette and blackjack tables. There is dancing to bands in the lounges and on deck as well as a sunken and extremely lively disco and a singalong piano bar.