tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-760570973795000457.post1089829114300251688..comments2020-08-08T10:50:24.324+01:00Comments on Costa Failure: What's this blog for?Slow Learnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09276308053037019253noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-760570973795000457.post-31889698436743834192009-04-09T14:15:00.000+01:002009-04-09T14:15:00.000+01:00I have just returned from the relocation cruise fr...I have just returned from the relocation cruise from Mauritius to Italy. The Costa Europa was very clean and the crew I was in contact with were excellant. Just prior to our departure we were told Mayotte was out and we called at Reunion and three Nadagagascan ports before leaving for Mobassa. Tamatave in Madagascar included a short tour which included seeing lemurs in a small zoo type park. Tamatave itself was the most distressing tropical town I have ever been in before and I lived and worked in coastal Nigeria for 10 years and cruised elsewhere in the tropics. I support the efforts to gain compensation for lost ports of call and hope you succeed but the stance of Costa may make that difficult. Although we enjoyed the cruise in many ways we found shortcomings that will probably put us off Costa in future. <BR/>1. The mandatory Service Charge is not acceptable and we felt obliged to give several of the staff a personal gratuity.<BR/>2. The high cost of tours ashore and beverages onboard indicated that "accountants" were in charge. The tours seemed well attended but bar sales appeared to be very light.<BR/>3. Food quality and presentation was poor and indicated a slap dash approach to the job in the kitchens. I would have considered a retraining programme was long overdue in the kitchens.We had a new Captain onboard and perhaps he will get to grip with that eventually.<BR/> The other issues I had with this cruise are not really the subject of this blogspot. A number of German women abused and threw water over a single Enlish lady as they wished her move off her lounger and another English chap was punched in the eye by a Dutchman who felt his territory had bee encroached by his lounger. His Dutch wife joined in by spitting. <BR/>I think the main problem is that there is always a risk in booking a cruise with a predominantly continental passenger list. I have not had problems of this nature before but this cruise was spoilt by bawling and gesticulating Italians and Germans. Costa seemed unmoved by these things and turned theirback on the punching event. Costa do get a reasonable number of English passengers from their UK advertising and they should pay closer attention to them onboard as I think the ship seems to be geared up to and aimed at the Continentals. <BR/>For my wife and I think it is 'never again'<BR/>With all the new super liners coming onto the market there is a huge choice out there.<BR/>The ship ran strictly to schedule.<BR/><BR/>I hope these comments help.appbob@aol.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-760570973795000457.post-84886432125558442652009-03-24T09:00:00.000+00:002009-03-24T09:00:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-760570973795000457.post-69576995159446411622009-03-17T19:24:00.000+00:002009-03-17T19:24:00.000+00:00I quite agree. Internal dissent does our cause no ...I quite agree. Internal dissent does our cause no good at all, which is yet another good reason to exercise a degree of editorial control.<BR/><BR/>I think that given the circumstances of the cruise the passengers have been remarkably restrained, so thanks to all concerned.Slow Learnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09276308053037019253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-760570973795000457.post-91477955940967832262009-03-17T19:01:00.000+00:002009-03-17T19:01:00.000+00:00- Please can we all keep our 'cool' and continue t...- Please can we all keep our 'cool' and continue to work together in a polite, disciplined and civilised manner so as to resolve our mutual problem(s). <BR/>- Therefore, please can we close ranks and avoid all inappropriate bickering amongst ourselves or else we will eventually diminish our own group credibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com