Costa Fortuna:

By Carol Eannarino

The Costa Fortuna, sporting a decorative themthat pays tribute to the great Italian ocean liners, has just the right blend of elegance, vitality, flair, whimsy and — yes — fun. Add some fascinating ports of call and you’ve got a cruise product guaranteed to please clients seeking a real European cruise experience.
North Americans account for 10% to 20% of passengers, depending on the sailing, and the lively presence of Europeans adds much to the ambience. (English is spoken throughout the ship).
The 105,000-ton vessel debuted in late 2003, making it the slightly older sister of the Costa Magica, which premiered one year later.
The stunning Costa Atrium, located on deck three and soaring to deck nine, offers a good indication of what is to come. At the top, a glass dome provides natural light that illuminates the huge wall where “Allegory of the Costa Fleet” depicts all the ships in the history of Costa Crociere. The Atrium’s aft walls contain two ceramic bas-reliefs dedicated to the ship’s namesake, the mythological goddess Fortuna.
The bottom level of the Atrium has a pink and red color scheme. The curved bar is a popular gathering spot. Part of the Atrium is covered by a ceiling that features an imaginative depiction of a blue sea featuring all 26 Costa Crociere passenger ships, on a scale of 1:1000, sailing upside down — one of a number of whimsical touches by architect Joe Farcus, best known for his Carnival Cruise Lines’ creations.
To carry the theme further, the 13 passenger decks are named after the ports that Costa ships called on during the ocean liner era. Elevator doors are decorated with period advertisements created in the ‘20s and ‘30s illustrating the interiors of the Rex, the famed Italian trans-Atlantic liner built in 1932.
Several decks can be accessed by three large staircases: the fore staircase is decorated with panels dedicated to life on board the trans-Atlantic liners; the central staircase depicts famous navigators of the past and the aft staircase is based on the ports that were used to name the decks. Indeed, artwork depicting the era of the liners can be foundd throughout the ship.
Our oceanview with veranda stateroom measured 210 square feet and featured plenty of storage space. Other categories range from 160 square feet for an inside stateroom to 360 square feet for a suite with veranda and 650 square feet for a grand suite with veranda. Of 1,358 staterooms, 522 have balconies.
There are two lovely main restaurants, the Raffaello 1965, extending over the Buenos Aires and Santos decks, and the Michaelangelo 1965, located on the same decks. Both are elegant venues with the same furnishings, but different decorative themes. Both serve three meals a day at set times with assigned seating. Cuisine and service in are top notch.
The Raffaello is dedicated to the last great liner built in the Trieste shipyard in 1965. The ceiling features circular brass chandeliers with blue and yellow striped Murano glass — a tribute to Costa Crociere’s colors — and reproductions of details of paintings by Raphael (Raffaello), the Italian High Renaissance painter and architect.
The Michaelangelo 1965 Restaurant, the larger of the two, features glass walls that face the stern of the ship. Squares on the ceiling contain enlarged details of the Sistine Chapel frescoes painted by Michaelangelo in the 16th century. Just outside the entrance is a 1:50 scale model of the Michaelangelo, built in 1965 for the ship’s ad campaign. It was displayed in Milan’s Central Railway Station until Costa recovered and renovated it.
For a delightful dining option, clients should try The Club Grand Contesa 1927, a gourmet a la carte restaurant with a menu by Zeffirino, the fine Genoa restaurant. Located at the ship’s highest point, the restaurant is covered by a large glass dome for stargazing. There is a 23 euro per person service charge to dine here.
Another option is the Cristoforo Colombo 1954 Buffet Restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch, when it also offers a poolside grill. The cafe turns into a charming candlelit Italian pizzeria open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Room service choices, generally limited on European ships, include continental breakfast and a selection of three “snack” sandwiches. There is a 2 euro charge.

Apparently, Europeans don’t gamble as much as North Americans. As a result, the Neptunia 1932 Casino was downsized somewhat, but we found it more than adequate. One corner of the casino features a glass wall, providing a view of the Vulcania 1927 Disco below. The two venues are also connected by a steel spiral staircase.
A highlight of the disco is a large moving statue of the god Vulcan, who is forging iron by striking a hammer on an anvil to the rhythm of the music, with fiber optics light effects.
Europeans love to dance and the huge ballroom in the Grand Bar Conte di Savoia 1932 should satisfy anyone with terpsichorean tendencies. The opulent Grand Bar, at more than 3,600 square feet, matches the Costa Magica’s Grand Bar Salento as the largest bar on a cruise ship. Sofas and easy chairs, covered with yellow, green and blue gilded fabrics ring the room. The center of the ceiling is decorated with a reproduction of a portion of the fresco “The Battle of Lepanto,” the original of which is located in Rome’s Palazzo Colonna.
Another dancing venue, the Conte Verde 1923 Ballroom, on the Genoa deck, is dedicated to steamship of the same name. An image of the ship taken from a period original is painted over the entire wall behind the musicians’ stand.
For fun in the sun, passengers have a choice of two large lidos with swimming pools: the Lido Oceania 1932 and the Lido Colombo, both on the Napoli deck. The third, Lido Barcellona, located on the deck with the same name, has a pool that can be covered during inclement weather and a large water slide. The three lidos have a total of five Jacuzzis.
The Rex Theatre is a stunning showstopper extending over three decks, with a seating capacity of 1,100. The venue boasts a rotating stage and rising orchestra pit, plus state-of-the-art sound systems and stage lighting. Decorative touches, including the stacks drawn on the back wall on either side of the stage, recreate the atmosphere of the legendary liner Rex. Theatrical productions are lively and entertaining.
For quiet times, the cozy Galileo Galilei 1963 library located on the Santos deck features a decorative theme focusing on planets and constellations.
Lounge choices include the Conte Rosso 1921 Piano Bar, an intimate pre- and post-dinner venue decorated with red enamel walls and furnishings. The Leonardo da Vinci 1960 Lounge has a panoramic view of the ship’s wake. Walls are paneled with red velvet and gold mosaic frames and the room’s perimeter is decorated with backlit glass panels displaying reproductions of the Tuscan artist’s work. The Bar Classico Roma 1926 features dark mahogany walls lined with panels covered in gold leaf. On the wall in front of the bar, a red marble fireplace is decorated with a gilded medallion reproduction of the original medal minted for the launch of the Roma trans-Atlantic liner.
Spa goers are pampered at the Terme Saturnia 1927, which includes a hair stylist, beauty and massage treatments, saunas and Turkish baths. An extensive fitness center features computerized cardio-tonic machines, with a view over the sea toward the ship’s bow. A huge jacuzzi is located in the center of the complex.

Club Squok, for kids ages 3 to 12 with a separate area for teens next door, offers counselor-supervised activities at no charge. The Club is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.. A toddler pool features a mini jungle gym. There are two video rooms on the ship for older kids.
An Internet Café, on the Santos deck, is available for 50 euros/minute.
The Costa Fortuna sails several different seven to 11-day Europe itineraries from Savona (Genoa) year-round.