Imagine sailing in an Italian floating resort while admiring the gorgeous views and turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf. Seems too far-fetched, doesn’t it? But it is not. This can become your reality with Costa Cruises. An Italian cruise line, Costa Cruises has introduced its latest ship, Costa Toscana in the Gulf waters, a few years ago, bringing Italian hospitality and cruise experience in the Middle Eastern region. Cruises have been gaining a lot of popularity in the Gulf region, thanks to its vast coastal area, world-class port facilities, and amazing attractions. Costa Toscana offers plenty of itinerates that will take you to some of the most intriguing places in the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and more. Here you will find all the information you want to know about the Costa Toscana Gulf cruise from Dubai.
An Introduction to Costa Toscana
Costa Toscana is the latest flagship of Costa Cruises, an Italian-cruise line, which is under Carnival Corporation & plc since 2000. Costa Toscana is the largest of the Costa Cruises and is an excellent-class cruise ship, just like its sister ship Costa Smeralda built in 2019. Costa Toscana has a tonnage of 186,364 GT and runs at the speed of 22 knots. The length of the ship is 337 meters, and its width is 82 meters. The ship is 72 meters long and has 20 decks. Costa Toscana has the capacity to accommodate 6554 passengers and 1645 staff. One of the highlights of this ship is that it is sustainable-friendly, as it is powered by LNG.
While the technical features of Costa Toscana make it a world-class ship, its design is what attracts people to this cruise. Costa Toscana cruise ship is beautiful and spacious with a design influenced by the art, culture, and landscapes of Italy. Every piece of furniture, lighting, fabric, accessory, and art has been commissioned from different Italian firms to give the ship an authentic Italian touch. The idea was to provide the guests the feeling of living in an Italian city while on their cruise holiday.
Costa Toscana Itinerary Highlights
Port Visits: Costa Toscana’s itinerary is not limited to the Gulf region. In fact, the ship has several itineraries in the Mediterranean area. But Costa Toscana’s Gulf itinerary has gained a lot of popularity since its introduction. Spanning 7-8 days, Costa Toscana itinerary for the Gulf region includes port visits to places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Oman. Apart from the main cities of the UAE, you will also get the chance to explore Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island with one of the itineraries.
Things to See: Every part of the Gulf itinerary has some interesting places to see and things to do. The itinerary gives you the chance to explore each of the places for an entire day.
- Most of these cruises begin from Dubai, a futuristic city with landmarks that have set world-records. These modern constructions are juxtaposed with ancient and cultural landmarks, which enhance the appeal of the city. During your port visit, you can choose to enjoy sightseeing, go on a desert safari, or relish a dhow cruise dinner.
- Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is filled with cultural landmarks, including the Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, and more. Walking along the Abu Dhabi Corniche and visiting the Observation Deck at 300 are also some of the best things to do in this city.
- Sir Bani Yas Island is a natural island reserve, where you can experience the raw natural beauty of the region. You can relax on its beaches, go on a wildlife safari on Sir Bani Yas Wildlife Park, and try out some thrilling water sports or activities.
- During your Gulf cruise with Costa Toscana, you also get to visit Muscat, the capital of Oman. Admire the historical forts and ancient buildings blending with modern structures, explore the bustling markets, and walk on its beaches to witness its gorgeous coastline.
- Some of the Gulf itineraries of Costa Toscana also includes a visit to Qatar’s capital Doha, a city that blends modern and traditional beautifully. Visit its museums, walk along its Corniche, and explore its souks during your day visit to this city.
Costa Toscana Onboard Experiences
When it comes to a cruise holiday, the onboard experiences are as important as the port visits, and Costa Toscana does not disappoint you in this regard. From comfortable cabins to premium dining experiences and entertainment and activities, there is lot to look forward on Costa Toscana.
Accommodation at Costa Toscana
Costa Toscana has more than 2000 cabins, belonging to different categories, including interior staterooms, ocean view staterooms, and balcony staterooms. The interior staterooms are the most inexpensive cabins on the cruise. These rooms have all the basic amenities but do not have any view of the ocean. Some of the interior cabins may have a fixed window ocean view, which is in fact an image of the ocean.
Oceanview staterooms come with a window that will give you the view of the ocean, while balcony staterooms have balconies attached to your cabin. There are premium versions of all types of staterooms, where you get more space and amenities. Apart from staterooms, Costa Toscana offers suites to those looking for more luxurious accommodation while cruising. Suites can accommodate a larger number of people and are perfect for families. Some of the premium suites come with special services like butler and access to premium clubs, restaurants, and more onboard.
All cabins, staterooms, and suites of Costa Toscana have a Euro-modern look with its soft-furnishing, lighting, bedding, fabrics, and other decor from Italian suppliers. Even the basic interior stateroom comes with a comfortable double-bed, study table, reading lamps attached to the bed, ensuite bathroom, vanity mirror, and European-style electrical outlets, and USB-powered outlets. More luxurious amenities would be added to your rooms as you upgrade.
Dining at Costa Toscana
There are 21 restaurants on Costa Toscana cruise, where you can enjoy a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Japanese, American, and many more. All cruise packages include complimentary meals, which you can enjoy in the three main dining rooms: L’Oliveto (Deck 5), La Maremma (Deck 6), and Il Vigneto Osteria (Deck 7). All these restaurants offer the same menu, although it changes every day.
A free family-friendly restaurant is Squok Restaurant on Deck 16 where you will find a kid-friendly menu. L’Argentino is a restaurant on Deck 6, exclusive for the Gold and Platinum members of Costa’s C|Club Past Passenger program, while Bellavista Restaurant is exclusive for suite and elite passengers of Costa Toscana.
Apart from the free restaurants, there are specialty restaurants which are not included in your cruise package. Green Healthy Food, Pummid’Oro Pizzeria, KikiPoke, Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Sushino at Costa, Archipelago, and Teppanyaki Restaurant are some of the specialty restaurants. You will also find numerous bars and lounges all over the cruise, offering special drinks, cocktails, and snacks.
Leisure, Fun, and Relaxation at Costa Toscana
One of the main reasons why people choose a cruise holiday is because it offers you the chance to rest and relax while you visit different places, cities, and even countries. The best way to spend a day on this cruise is to lounge in or near one of the 13 swimming pools and hot tubs. One of the unique things about this cruise is that it is home to Splash Aqua Park, a water park, complete with fun slides and pools. There is also Piazza del Campo, a huge place with a large staircase dedicated to fun games and parties.
If you are looking for a place where you can relax with a massage, you can book an appointment at Area Beauty Spa Solemio. If you want to enjoy a facial or maybe a manicure or pedicure, there is the Beauty Salin Solemio, where you will find myriads of beauty treatments. The cruise also has a fitness center and gym, for those who love to stay on track with their fitness goals even during vacations.
As Costa Toscana is a family-friendly cruise, there are plenty of entertainment and activities for kids as well. Those traveling with children can go for The Squok Club or the Baby Squok Club, where you will find age-appropriate activities and games for your kids. Costa Toscana also has numerous sun decks, the most special being the Infinity Walk on deck 8, where you can stroll around enjoying the view of the sea or relax under the sun. Apart from all this, plenty of activities happen throughout the day on the cruise. From participating in games and quizzes to enrolling in dance classes and taking part in sports competitions, there is plenty to do onboard the Costa Toscana.
Entertainment and Nightlife at Costa Toscana
There is not a single dull moment on Costa Toscana for those looking for fun and entertainment. Gear yourself for evenings filled with musical and visual performances by talented artists while sailing on this ship. The main theater of the cruise is The Colosseo. Spanning three decks (6,7, and 8), this rotunda-style performance area is located on the center of the ship. There is a bar and lounge attached to the performance area. Costa Toscana also has a traditional style show lounge, the Poltrona Frau Arena, which not only hosts amazing shows but also turns into a late-night dancing venue. In addition to this, there is La Spiaggia Beach Club, a large indoor pool area, which is known to host some epic parties like White Night Party and Silent Disco.
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Conclusion:
Costa Toscana cruises from Dubai usually happen from November to March, i.e., during the winter season, which is considered the best time to visit the Middle Eastern area. So, what are you waiting for? Check out the itineraries available for the Gulf region and book yourself a memorable cruise.
