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9th Mar 2025 | 4 nights | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Luminosa
Information here relates to the ship whilst sailing as Costa Luminosa. She transferred to Carnival in November 2022. Venue names may have changed but the ship remains largely unaltered.
Costa Luminosa, a twin to Costa Deliziosa, is a warm, whimsical ship with a simple layout that's easy to navigate. The ship, which debuted in May 2009, represents a "retro-style evolution" for Costa. What do we mean by that? The Italy-based and European-influenced cruise line, like many other major cruise companies, has been on a ship-building binge that produced mega-sized models like Costa Pacifica and Costa Serena, representing the biggest-ever in its fleet. But, Luminosa -- and Deliziosa, too -- are slightly smaller.
The sister ships are actually built to Panamax specifications, which means they're not only smaller than some of the line's more recent new-builds, but they're also more flexible. Because Luminosa can slide through the Panama Canal, it has more itinerary possibilities. From a design perspective, Costa, part of the Carnival Corporation family of cruise lines, borrowed liberally from layouts on Carnival's ships, with an onboard vibe that's similarly fun and friendly. It also pulled some touches from Holland America. HAL-lovers might recognize the shopping arcade and the aft pool area from Oosterdam and other vessels.
Bottom line: If you're intrigued by the ship's European vibe, enjoy traveling with international passengers, love pasta and pizza, can sing along in karaoke when the songs are in French/ Spanish/Italian (and occasionally in English), and either embrace or don't mind smoking, then Luminosa could be a great choice.
During the day, absolutely anything goes, and the trend for general attire is super-casual, though passengers are not allowed to wear bathing suits into dining venues. In the evenings, resort casual is generally the style, but on the Captain's Gala night, which occurs once per cruise, passengers tend to dress quite formally: suits and ties for men, dresses or cocktail pants for women.
Information here relates to the ship whilst sailing as Costa Luminosa. She transferred to Carnival in November 2022. Venue names may have changed but the ship remains largely unaltered.
At night, Costa Luminosa just glows with live music and other forms of entertainment laid on at its lounges, not to mention its three-deck main theatre. The entertainment, aimed at a multilingual crowd, relies more on music, slapstick comedy and good-natured audience-oriented pranks than it does on Broadway-esque productions. The Phoenix, the main theatre, is home to musical and dance productions; one big hit on our sailing was a Groucho Marx-inspired comedy routine involving members of the audience.
Other key venues include the Grand Bar Elettra, which has a large dance floor; Supernova Atrium Bar, which features instrumentalists and vocalists who play pop (and sometimes even classical) tunes; Libra Bar; Virgo Bar; Piano Bar for fabulous international karaoke (songs sung in French, German, Spanish and English, among others); and, of course, Disco Altaire, where a DJ's selections thrum into the wee hours.
The ship's main pool, which is covered by a retractable glass magrodome, has a massive screen and is often used as an evening cinema.
On days when the ship is at sea, there's a fair range of activities. These include poolside dance workouts, video quizzes, seminars on topics like "relieving back pain," table tennis tournaments, and arts and crafts.
One big hit on Costa Luminosa is its Costa Racing Team virtual simulator, in which you can try out your Formula 1 driving skills. Cost ranges, depending on the level of expertise, from 12 to 18 euros ($16.50 to $24.75). There's also a 4D cinema at the Mizar Theater; the cost is 8 euros ($11). Other inside pursuits include a virtual arcade and the sprawling Vega Casino, with everything from blackjack to slots.
Costa offers a range of shore excursions, but the multilingual approach doesn't always work so well; if there are not enough English speakers onboard who've booked tours, passengers could find themselves lumped in with a tour guide who's also catering to French or German travellers, or find the tours cancelled altogether. Selection-wise, shore excursions primarily cover the usual general touring topics; a handful emphasizes recreational opportunities.
In ports that are some distance from tourist attractions, Costa offers roundtrip shuttle service for a fee.
Costa Luminosa's Samsara Spa is superb. It's massive, spanning two decks, and is literally a holistic playground. Features include a thallasotherapy pool with a lovely view of the sea and an array of aromatic steam rooms, the highlight of which is the Tridosha Sanctuary. There's the Japanese Tea Room, where some lounges face the sea and others are located beneath tanning lamps. Another lovely spot is the Temple of Peace, a meditation and relaxation lounge.
There are, of course, treatments, ranging from massages to wraps and facials. The standalone Venus salon handles hairstyling, manicures and pedicures.
Luminosa's gym, located adjacent to the spa, features Technogym equipment. There's a Kinesis circuit, along with treadmills, stationary bikes and the like. Yoga and Pilates classes are offered for 10 euros ($13.75), but the use of the gym itself is included in the cruise fares. Facilities in addition to the gym include the locker room, sauna and changing rooms.
Aside from passengers who are booked in Samsara cabins, use of the facilities requires a fee. A four-day pass, which offers unlimited access to the thalassotherapy pool, aroma steam, Turkish bath, relaxation areas and tanning centre, is 60 euros ($82.50).
Costa Luminosa has three swimming pools. Its magrodome-covered main pool, good for all-weather play, is a hub of family fun; it's two decks high, with sun loungers scattered on both levels. More sedate is the lovely pool at the ship's aft.
One of the most interesting recreational possibilities onboard Luminosa is the Skorpion Quadline Roller Skate option, found outdoors on one of the top decks. The skates are elaborately designed with a funky, retro look. The onboard skating is harder than you'd imagine (and, indeed, tougher than the skating tracks on ships like those in Royal Caribbean's Voyager class because the skates themselves are both more sophisticated and more challenging).
There's a sports court for half-court basketball. A virtual golf centre offers a choice of some 40 different 18-hole courses.
On Luminosa, there's a library, tucked away on Deck 3. It has a very small collection of books to borrow in the major languages, including Italian, English and even Russian. The real draw is its Internet-connected terminals (for a fee that ranges from 10 euros ($13.75) for one hour to 24 euros ($33) for three hours). The ship also has a small chapel, where it holds nondenominational religious services daily.
In the centre of the atrium is the ship's purser's desk. One way to avoid the inevitable queues is to use one of the "totems" scattered around the ship to purchase shore excursions, make restaurant reservations, learn about the crew, check out "Today, the Daily Programme" and research spa treatments. The shore excursion desk is located there, as well.
There's a fair amount of square footage dedicated to shopping, though the merchandise is the same stuff you see on every ship: cameras, jewellery, cruise line branded souvenirs, duty-free liquor and some casual wear. On sea days, shops expand into the pool deck with special sales.
The sprawling photoshop, which takes up Deck 3 around the atrium, sells photographs and equipment. There is a medical facility onboard.
Information here relates to the ship whilst sailing as Costa Luminosa. She transferred to Carnival in November 2022. Venue names may have changed but the ship remains largely unaltered.
Costa Luminosa has four restaurants. Its main restaurant, Taurus, is a beautiful two-deck venue tucked into the aft of the ship. It features gorgeous views from the wall of windows along the back and across each side. One of the best features about its layout is the way the large room is designed into smaller, cosier areas, each with a different ambience, so you don't feel as if you're eating in a banquet hall.
Taurus is open for breakfast and lunch on an open-seating basis. Times vary depending on itinerary, but typically breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dinner is a set-seating, set-time scenario with two options: 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Breakfast is primarily a buffet, largely identical to what's served in the Andromeda Buffet. The layout features meats and cheeses, delicious pastries, cereal and yoghurt; you can complement that by ordering off the menu. (The eggs Benedict was prepared perfectly.)
Lunch is lovely, too -- a low-key alternative to the busier buffet -- and it's ordered off a menu with choices of appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts. Don't miss the pasta dishes, ranging from "anytime" offerings of Pomodoro and Bolognese to specials like pesto. Each one we tried was absolutely superb.
Dinner is the big event onboard, and the preparation of dishes is definitely ambitious -- a sort of contemporary melange of European cuisines with Italian definitely standing out. Once again, pasta dishes were a big hit.
The wine list is predominately Italian, with a smattering of other new and old-world choices, and it offers bottles from a nice range of price points.
The ship's buffet restaurant, Ristorante Buffet Andromeda, is open for breakfast, lunch and tea (or a late-afternoon snack). Most inefficiently, it operates in a lunch counter/cafeteria fashion, where passengers line up to plod through the various offerings. The quality of the food is steam-table fare, though exceptions include breakfast's omelette station, lunch's pasta station and the hot and crispy just-baked pizza slices that are available from lunchtime through the evening.
There's a small grill by the main pool, Lido Dorado, for casual choices like sausages and burgers. It's open for lunch.
The Luminosa Club Restaurant, located in a scenic spot on Deck 10, is the ship's boutique restaurant. It's open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. For a 25 euro ($34) cover charge, the Club, specializing in steak and seafood, offers four courses, from antipasti to desserts. Surf and turf is a standout, as is the sea bass. Reservations are recommended. The Club is only open for dinner.
It's hard to believe the Samsara Restaurant, which primarily serves passengers on Luminosa's spa plan, is a healthy restaurant because the food is delicious. It's open for breakfast and lunch to package-holders only, but, based on availability, anyone can book a table for dinner. The charge for those who don't occupy Samsara cabins is 25 euros ($34) per person, but it's well worth the price. The restaurant is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dishes are prepared more healthfully, to be sure (lower sodium and calories, for instance). It's a small, intimate restaurant with plenty of tables for two. Samsara is adjacent to the Taurus main restaurant.
Complimentary room service is available only to passengers who book the premium category of standard balcony cabins and above. Otherwise, expect to pay 2 euros ($2.75) per order. The menu's somewhat limited (continental breakfast in the morning, then a small selection of salads, sandwiches, soup and a few desserts).
Costa accommodates special dining requests with a vegetarian menu and a range of dishes that are low-calorie or sugar-free. It also has special menus for diabetics and passengers with celiac disease; arrangements should be made at the time of booking.
Information here relates to the ship whilst sailing as Costa Luminosa. She transferred to Carnival in November 2022. Venue names may have changed but the ship remains largely unaltered.
Costa Luminosa has the fleet's highest percentage of balcony cabins; 772 of the 1,130 staterooms have verandahs.
Most cabins have a peach and off-white colour scheme. All feature contemporary amenities, such as flat-screen TVs, beds that convert from twins to queens, couches, vanity/desks, private bathrooms, hair dryers and safes. Where the cabin categories differ is in size, amenities and, obviously, pricing.
At 156 square feet, the insides are the smallest option. The next categories, price-wise, are obstructed views and outside cabins, which have windows. These are 180 square feet, nearly identical in size to the ship's many balcony staterooms.
The most popular are Luminosa's classic and premium category verandah staterooms. The classic cabin is slightly smaller, measuring 223 square feet, which includes larger-than-average balconies. The premium version measures 258 (also including the verandah).
In all cases, these standard categories feature roomy, shower-only bathrooms, plenty of storage space and limited toiletries: a shampoo/body wash combination in the shower and a bar of soap on the sink are provided.
Slightly larger are the mini-suites, which measure 273 square feet; another enhancement is that mini-suite bathrooms have whirlpool tubs. The largest suites onboard Costa Luminosa range from 414 to 562 to 672 square feet. This buys additional living space and larger balconies.
Costa pioneered the concept of dedicated spa cabins, and on Luminosa there are 52 Samsara Spa accommodations, measuring about 226 square feet, all located in a spa-convenient location. Meant for travellers who want to focus on health and wellness while cruising, they feature perks like private access to the spa via a glass elevator, scented diffusers, tea kettles and scales. These also feature a full line of Steiner toiletries, including shampoo, lotion, conditioner and lip balm.
Beyond the spa cabins, there are four Samsara suites. These measure 358 square feet apiece.
In all spa-related accommodations, passengers are entitled to extra spa services. These include unlimited access to the facilities, a personalized wellness consultation, two complimentary treatments, two free fitness or meditation lessons, two admissions to the Solarium and an invitation to the Tea Ceremony in the Japanese Tea House.
They also have a designated table for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Samsara restaurant.
There are 23 cabins for travellers with disabilities.
Budget-conscious, gregarious families, couples and solos looking for an unpretentious vibe that's all about having fun
Anyone who doesn't appreciate off-color humor, lively hairy chest contests, burgers and BBQ, and thumping music
Carnival Cruise Line sells itself as the "fun" cruise line, and it attracts cruisers who are looking to have a good time with little to no pretensions. Carnival cruisers, who range from young to old, tend to be quite friendly, looking to strike up conversations with other people in the buffet, by the pool and, really, anywhere. Carnival is also one of the most family-oriented lines in the industry, and you're bound to see lots of kids onboard, even during the school year. When school is out, you can expect the number of kids to be well into the hundreds. The line is also popular for family reunions, and bachelor and bachelorette parties. People on Carnival cruise ships hail primarily from the United States, mainly the south and Midwest, but you'll also meet folks from Canada, England and usually a handful of other European countries.
Carnival cruises are casual, with shorts, tee shirts, capris, swimsuits or swim cover-ups de rigueur during the day (no bathing suites in the dining venues, however). Most nights the dress code remains much the same, minus the swimwear, though technically the cruise line asks that people not wear shorts into the main dining room. The policy is inconsistently upheld. On "elegant" nights, you'll see a range of clothing from ball gowns, dresses that leave little to the imagination, tuxes and suits to the same shorts and tees people sport all day long. Most men, however, opt for long trousers and collared shirts, while women don sundresses, or a skirt or trousers with a blouse. Men are not required to wear a suit jacket or tie in any venue.
No. While Carnival is one of the more inclusive cruise lines when it comes to dining, you will still have to pay extra for some specialty dining, all drinks (alcoholic and non, except water, select juice at breakfast, and coffee and tea), shore excursions, visits to the spa and any retail purchases, including photos.
Aside from the main pool, which is the hub of much of the line's fun activities, almost every Carnival cruise ship also has at least one waterslide, with several having multi-slide water parks. Additionally, several have a top-deck SportSquare that features a colourful collection of outdoor amusements, including Ping-Pong, billiards, foosball, mini-golf, Twister and a SkyCourse ropes course. On the line's newest ships (Vista and Horizon), there's also the SkyRide, a recumbent bike attraction suspended 150 feet up in the air, requiring riders to pedal their way around an 800-foot track that wraps around the outer decks. Inside, you'll find activities that range from trivia and Bingo during the day to comedy shows and high-tech song-and-dance revues at night. Carnival ships also have lively bar nightlife, especially on ships with a RedFrog Pub; there's also an always-busy casino.
