Costa Victoria Review
Rating by category
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The itinerary looked good and so I booked the cruise allowing Costa to book the flights.
This was a big mistake, you cannot trust them. I normally book my own flights and allow for possible flight delays by staying overnight the night prior to boarding. I was due to fly Manchester /Paris Charles De Gaulle changing for flight to Mauritius. They allowed 85 minutes to change planes, anybody knowing this airport would think this tight. This ultimately was not a problem as the first plane was cancelled as my taxi arrived to take me to the airport. I rang Costa who told me to go to the airport and they would contact me .
I was left for about four hours without contact, finally with the office now closed for the weekend, I received a call from India in broken English. I could not hear in the busy airport, so went to hotel for Friday night and rang India for instructions. I offered to go home or go on the next cruise with compensation. I was offered to fly me to Seychelles and miss the first 3 days of the cruise, the unnamed hotel was with food , a drink with meals and no entertainment. It meant one day stay in place of 3 days fully inclusive on cruise, I said that I would prefer to stay on the ship and return from Seychelles, so that I would get what I paid for. I would go on the shorter cruise if compensated. I was assured that the compensation would be made onboard. Once onboard, it was left until the day before I left to be told my cruise was not being extended and my compensation was €50 a day. I find this to be grossly undervalued plus all the stress. Upon my return, the offer of a €100 per person
Cabin Review
Balcony Premium
Cabin was ok apart from cost cutbacks being made. Washbasin had cigarette burn.
Bed was comfortable. The cabin steward had working practice changed. If you miss your cabin makeover, it is useless to put your card in the key slot as nobody attends. If you expect a chocolate on your pillow, or a towel swan on your bed, two days without a towel may come as a disappointment. My balcony had brown stuff smeared on the wall throughout my time onboard. I had small insects in my cabin and although the cruise was in a hot climate, there are sprays to control them.
The sound insulation of the cabins is non existent. Banging doors and if you want to watch television on the lowest sound setting, I had somebody banging on my door at 12 midnight because I was using mine quietly. Honeymooners would have been in trouble.