WHY IT RATES:Cruise ship enthusiasts clearly appreciate the change the Costa Deliziosa offers up as an Italian liner. It's a completely different ambience and one that they don't have to travel to Europe to experience. - Rich Thomaselli, TravelPulse Senior Editor
PHOTO: Costa Cruises was the fourth most-liked cruise line overall by USA Today readers. (Courtesy Costa Cruises)
Costa Cruises placed in the top five of two USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards, including a runner-up nod for Costa Deliziosa, currently sailing Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades, Florida, in "Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment." The Italian-flagged cruise line also placed fourth out of 10 in the overall "Best Ocean Cruise Line" category.
"Our ships boast an Italian ambience that cruisers find unique among other cruise brands, and that sets us apart," said Ruben Perez, general manager of Costa Cruises North America. "We're proud that USA Today's readers appreciate our distinctive 'Italy's finest' style and enjoy the immersive international cruise experience Costa provides."
With Costa's new "Italy's Finest" and "Happiness Squared" initiatives, the line has revamped its culinary and entertainment offerings by bringing the best Italian brands and traditions to sea. This includes new regional and gala night menus by Michelin-star Chefs Fabio Cucchelli and Bruno Barbieri, respectively, and partnerships with leading Italian brands like Barilla, for perfect pasta at lunch and dinner; Illy Caffé, for an Italian-style coffee break at anytime; and Ferrari, bringing the popular wines from northern Italy's Trentino region to bars across the fleet.
SEE MORE: Cruising The Italian Way
In entertainment, themed parties such as La Notte in Maschera and La Notte Bianca celebrate two famous Italian customs: the masked Venetian carnival and a white night festival. In bars, guests can enjoy aperitivo, similar to the American "happy hour," with various cocktails like the spritz, made with Italian brand Aperol, and antipasti.
All of these exciting offerings and more are featured on the 92,600-ton, 2,260-passenger Costa Deliziosa - the newest Costa ship to be homeported in the U.S. - which placed second in the "Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment" category. The ship brings all the "Italy's Finest" excitement to south Florida and the Caribbean with its four restaurants and 11 bars to its three pools, split-level theater, dance club and casino.
For kids, Costa Deliziosa's Squok Club offers plenty of fun activities from treasure hunts to ice cream parties. The ship also features a 4-D cinema and Grand Prix simulators.
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Costa Deliziosa is currently sailing a series of 10-night itineraries from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Guests can enjoy Costa's unique Italian ambience while seeing more of the Caribbean than typically offered on a traditional Caribbean cruise with calls at Nassau or Freeport, Bahamas; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Roatan; and Cozumel or Costa Maya, Mexico.
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