Explore our detailed costa cruise ships ranking for 2025, highlighting features and helping you select the ideal costa cruise for your needs.
Imagine this: you’re sipping espresso on a big ship, waves crashing, Italian music floating in the air, and a plate of pasta waiting for you. Such dream imagery could only belong to Costa Cruises a cruise line that’s all about bringing Italy’s charm to the endless seas. Costa’s been sailing around since 1948, and they’ve got a knack for mixing old-school Italian vibes with fun ship activities for today’s times. Whether you’re into sunny beaches, icy glaciers, or just eating tiramisu while staring at the ocean, Costa’s got a ship for you. They run 9 ships right now, hitting regional hotspots like the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and even the South Pacific.
What’s the deal with Costa? It’s simple—they’re big on Italian food (think pizza and gelato galore), family fun, and that loud, happy Italian way of living. No stiff schedules here—you eat when you’re hungry, not when some bell rings. Onboard, you’ve got pools, shows, spas, and activities for kids to run wild and free. While they’re not the fanciest line out there, they pack a punch for folks who want a good time, all under budgetary considerations. So, which Costa ship’s the best? We’ve ranked all Costa Ships from top to bottom, using 2025 information—real reviews, fresh takes, and what the people are saying on our Cruise Booking website. Let’s dive in and find your perfect ride!
Costa Cruise has a big Italian heart. Based in Genoa, Italy, they’ve been into the cruise business, taking passengers across the waves for over 75 years. Their ships are amazing; you can sense a feeling of “la dolce vita” when you are exposed to bright colors, loud laughs, and food that makes you want to thank the chef. They’re not like those super posh lines with caviar at every turn, but they’ve got a cultural soul worth everything. You’ll find real Italian pizza ovens onboard, pasta made fresh, and gelato that’s better than most cuisine on land. Plus, the crew’s got that Italian warmth—chatty, helpful, and ready to make you feel like family.
Their fleet has a mixed bag of ships—large ships for party vibes, smaller ones for quieter trips. They sail everywhere: Mediterranean’s old towns, Caribbean’s sunny shores, even Alaska’s wild ice. Costa has a strong reputation for families too, where kids get clubs, teens get hangouts, and grown-ups get wine and dancing. They’ve been shaking things up lately, adding greener ships and new perks like the “All-Inclusive” package—drinks, fancy meals, and shore trips tossed in. Whether you’re a first-timer or a cruise junkie, Costa’s got a ship that fits your travel needs. But not all ships are equal—some shine brighter than others. Let’s rank the ships.
This ship is the big boss of Costa’s fleet—massive, shiny, and runs on LNG, giving it an environmental reputation. Launched in 2019, it houses a mammoth 6,554 Guests. It’s like a floating Italian town—cobblestone streets, 11 food spots pumping out pizza, sushi, and pasta that’ll make you yell “mamma mia!” The water parks have slides that twist like crazy, and the theater is packed with opera and dance shows. Kids run wild in clubs while grown-ups hit the spa. Hot tubs with ocean views? Yes please! It sails the Mediterranean—Italy, Spain, France—and folks can’t stop talking about it. Only hitch? It’s packed when full, but then who would complain? Families and party people love it.
Toscana, launched in 2021, is the next big ship on our list, rivalling the green LNG-powered Smeralda with 6554 guests. The pool deck is huge, perfect for splashing or sunning, and there is a ropes course if you’re feeling brave and adventurous. There is no dearth of food anywhere. It’s all over—pasta, burgers, gelato—and the Colosseum theater is a three-deck marvel with lights and Italian tunes that get you moving back in time. Rooms are spacious, the spas have the saunas to melt you into your comfort zone, while the ship cruises to the fascinating mediterranean region, including Greece, Turkey, you name it, it is. While some still swear by Smeralda, this ship is still a hit for couples or families who want fun without madness.
Deliziosa is a smaller ship, launched in 2010, with 2826 guests, but don’t let that fool you! It’s Solid Gold! It packs that cozy Italian punch with the atrium’s all fancy with glass art, the pool as a good hangout, and the theater that’s got live bands that rock. Food is an Italian dream—lasagna, seafood, espresso that wakes you up—and the bars are buzzing with life. The ship sails to Alaska and the Caribbean—think icy views or hot beaches. Kids get a play spot, adults get a quiet spa, that’s the best deal about this ship, and is good for quiet souls who feel traumatized by the big ships and their crowd. No flashy slides, but it’s perfect for kicking back or exploring. Folks who like it easy swear by it.
Fascinosa still fascinates us, despite being aged since 2012. It has a flashy Italian movie-star vibe with big screens and Hollywood decor that can comfortably host 3800 guests, served by a diligent crew of 1100. It has a rocking water slide that twists like spaghetti, a theater with dance shows that get your feet tapping, and food that’s solid: pizza, pasta, and steaks that hit the sweet spots of your palette. The pool deck is a sunny delight, the spa is a chill zone, and kids get a club to run wild in and express their inner demons. It sails the Mediterranean and South America—old ports, wild coasts and every amazing activity under the sun and shade. Some folks call it loud, but that’s just Costa being Costa. It’s not the newest, but it’s got enough avenues and activities for families or anyone who likes a lively ride.
Why it’s here, you may ask? Well, Diadema is a large ship with tons of decks, a long promenade for strolling, and a pool with a glass roof for rainy days. Food is amazing with Italian classics, a burger joint, even gelato, and the shows are loud with lights and color. Launched in 2014, the ship has not aged with its spa, gym, and kid zones, catering to a crowd of 4947 guests, ably served by 1253 crew members. It hits the Mediterranean and Northern Europe regions filled with fjords or beaches, take your pick. It’s not brand-new, so some corners feel a bit worn, but it’s still a good time for big groups or families who want space.
Costa Pacifica is called the “music ship”. It has been playing its tune over the seas since 2009. Filled with pianos and guitars all over, it sets the tune floating for a serene cruise journey. What more to say of the pools are a splash, and food that’s tasty—pasta and gelato steal the show as always—and the theater is packed with singers and dancers that keep it lively for an audience of 3780 guests. It cruises the Caribbean and Mediterranean, giving a glimpse of sunny shores and old towns from afar and to which you come near for exploration. It’s not the freshest and newest ship-of-the-line, so no wild rides, but it’s a solid pick for families or anyone who wants a chill trip with some musical tunes setting a vibrant mood, with a solid 1100+ crew to keep a watch. Maintenance’s decent, nothing fancy.
Since 2011, Favolosa continues to be an amazing experience for children who love fairy-tale themed activities and who like having fun with exploring the castles and sparkles everywhere, while a crew of 1110 ensures they don’t get lost. Pools are also fun, the theater has got shows that delight, and food is also amazing—pizza is the star, rest is great too for a total passenger capacity of 3800 guests. It sails the Mediterranean and Caribbean, you choose what you like. Favolosa has aged well, despite some guests not liking it much, but most families with kids love its entire fantasy theme. It is less interesting for people wanting big thrills rides, so they can skip this ship.
Fortuna continues to remind us of the old-school world of cruising, with themes around the roaring 20s generation decided since the time the ship was completed in 2003. Its interiors made of wood and brass is a nod to classic Italian liners. The pools are amazing, the theater has got the classical music touch, and the food is fine as always, filled with pizza, risotto and nothing too wild for 3470 guests. It sails Asia and the Mediterranean, Japan is chrysanthemum and cool, while Italy is Costa’s own home backyard. Naturally, such a classically designed ship won’t have big extras like slides, but it’s cozy for a quieter crowd, served by 1027 crew members. It’s dated 22 years old, sure, some creaks show its age, but it’s got charm if you’re not picky. And it has been refurbished in 2018 so it’s a fine ship if you are up for it.
Costa Serena has a distinct reputation for being an abode of mythology of Greek and Roman Gods, their gazes watching all the 3780 guests come by, in the form of statues and columns adorning the interior aesthetics, giving a classical era feeling unlike any other ship launched around 2007. Pools and food are decent—pizza’s solid—and it sails Asia and the Mediterranean region, with able crew of 1100. The ship has aged, and it feels worn out in spots. But where would you get a budget cruise with such beauty? No wonder, Serena is good for a basic trip if you’re not fussy.
Costa Cruises throws Italian flair into every trip. The images of pizza ovens, loud laughs complement the ships that feel like a slice of Italy on water. Based on 2025 chatter and reviews on CruiseBooking.com, two classes stand out: the Excellence Class and the Fortuna Class. The Excellence Class—home to Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana—is the top dog. These ships are newly-made and are powered by LNG engines, making port-friendly for places where bans are becoming common against polluting ships. And with massive size, they pack around 6,500+ guests with wild activities like water slides, Italian piazza, and food that’ll make you kiss the chef. People love the big pools, flashy shows, and family-friendly chaos—perfect if you want a loud, fun ride.
The Fortuna Class, with ships like Costa Fortuna and Costa Magica, is older but still a fan favorite. They’re smaller—around 3,400+ guests—and rock a classic Italian vibe with wood, brass, and cozy decks. No crazy slides here, but you get solid eats (pizza, risotto), live music, and a chill feel that’s easier to navigate. Reviews say they’re great for folks who want that old-school cruise charm without the crowds. Costa has also other classes—like the Concordia Class (Serena, Pacifica, etc.)—but these two shine brightest.
Costa’s evolved big-time since the early days. Ships like Smeralda bring water parks and kid clubs, while old-timers like Magica keep it simple with pasta and scenic routes. Families? Go big—Excellence Class ships have slides, games, and space to run wild. Want calm? Fortuna Class or midsize ones like Deliziosa offer quieter decks, live bands, and killer itineraries which include Mediterranean towns, Caribbean sun, even Alaska ice. You can tweak your trip too by adding wine packages or shore trips on CruiseBooking.com.
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