Cruise Talk: Costa Tropicale

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...The happy place of vacationers has officially arrived. Celebrity Xcel has arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, introducing seven brand-new experiences designed to offer guests endless possibilities on their dream vacation. The fifth ship in Celebrity Cruises’ groundbreaking Edge Series, Celebrity Xcel was created with the help of vacationers globally through the Xcel Dream Makers program,...

Latest News...Regent Seven Seas Cruises celebrated a momentous milestone in Seven Seas Prestige’s construction journey as the ship floated from dry dock on November 27, 2025. As the first new ship class for Regent in 10 years, Seven Seas Prestige will usher in a new legacy for ultra-luxury cruising.“Seven Seas Prestige touching water for the first time marks an extraordinary moment for Regent ...

Latest News...It’s the season for island-hopping as Royal Caribbean has unveiled the newest lineup of ways to explore the Caribbean in 2027-28. Starting April 2027, families and vacationers can kick back or go all out on adventure across 13 Royal Caribbean ships, from the bold new Legend of the Seas and amplified Allure of the Seas to more action-packed getaways from Fort Lauderdale, Miami,...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Costa Tropicale

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Costa Tropicale

Ryndam
First Class Passenger
Member # 1315

posted 12-07-2000 11:40 AM

I don't know if they are going to use this name, but Carnival Cruise Lines will transfer its 1,022-passenger Tropicale to sister company Costa Cruises in February 2001. Prior to its delivery to Costa, the 36,674-ton vessel will complete its current schedule of 10-day Panama Canal cruises until February 2001. After that, Costa will immediately reposition the Tropicale to Genoa for an extensive refurbishment and refit before placing the vessel into European service. As a result of its transfer to Costa, the Tropicale will not operate its 2/3 day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral. I don't know if the Costa Homerica project will go on.

Ryndam

[This message has been edited by joe at travelpage (edited 12-07-2000).]

Posts: 260 | From: Genoa (Italy) | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-07-2000 12:03 PM

What a strange idea!the Tropicale is too colorfull to integrate well in the Costa fleet(I don't like the projects of Joe Farcus,even the Atlantica is too eclectic) and it's 20 years old.The company should spend a great sum of money to bring the ship to its standard.Do you know wich cruise will it perform?

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-07-2000 12:21 PM

Is this really true? If it is I will be very disappointed!! It seems all my favorite ships are going someplace where it's very unlikely I will get to sail on them again. I was really hoping Carnival would keep the Tropicale in the US. It's my favorite little ship!!Oh Well at least it's still in the Carnival Corp. Wounder what it will look like without it's winged funnel?

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 12-07-2000 02:15 PM

geno-r: I saw that you read my recent post concerning my upcoming 2 night sailing aboard Ocean Breeze. This is my idea of a pre-cruise vacation extender. What I did not say is that upon disembarking from her, I will board Tropicale for a 10 night sailing. While she is neither a new mega liner, nor a classic from the past, she is also one of my favourite ships owing to her layout and size. She is the most traditional of all of Carnival's vessels, in particular I love the series of stern outdoor teaked deck terraces. A comfortable size as well. She certainly was the forrunner of Carnival's newbuilds right up to the Destiny class. While many of this board's readers will probably not envy my choices for this year (Ocean Breeze & Tropicale) it would seem that you certainly would. I try to balance my sailings between new vessels (Galaxy) and older vessels such as this year, and not that long ago Victoria. Next year will probably include HAL's Zaandam, Volendam or Amsterdam. When it gets right down to it, all cruises are great; after all it is what you make of them that sets the tone. For me it is the ship and being in a maritme environment, not the on board product, that matters.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-07-2000 05:12 PM

Grant!! you are a lucky guy!! Those are my two favorite ships, we had a great, great time on both. I feel just like you do about the Tropical, it seemed like a slight upscale version of Carnival. I hope you share lots of pictures and a big review when you get back. Have a great trip!

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Jesse C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1678

posted 12-07-2000 06:02 PM

The MS Tropicale is lucky to be transferred to Costa Crocriere. This ship was scorched in a fire one time, and I saw it on an A&E Investigative Reports Show about Cruise Ships. No casualties, but it was close to Carnival losing the MS Tropicale to a fire.
The MS Ecstasy also got scorched, and the MS Celebration was closed to being hit by another ship.

Bless the Tropicale!!!

Posts: 244 | From: Houston, Texas, United States of America | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Bernard
First Class Passenger
Member # 1038

posted 12-07-2000 07:45 PM

I was aboard the Tropicale for one day in 1997.

I really like this ship.

I do not know why people would say that this ship is a step down for Costa.

She is a great ship and maybe i will be sailing Costa for the first time if they buy this vessel.

I've visited some Costa ships and i must say
she is much better then ships like Costa Marina.

I still think the tipping envelopes aboard Costa Ships are very bad.

Bernard, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Posts: 94 | From: The Netherlands | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-08-2000 10:07 AM

I have asked to a friend who works at Costa crociere in Genoa about the transfer of the Tropicale.She has told to me that Carnival Corporation has confirmed only the transfer of the Westerdam(the date is to be announced)that will operate only for the german cruise market(what a pity,I like this ship).I have also sent an e-mail to Costa corporation.I'm awaiting for an answer.I hope that the Tropicale will perform cruises to the Panama channel from S.Juan.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 12-08-2000 11:02 AM

What does this bid for the CostaRiviera...currently Costa's oldest ship at 37?

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-08-2000 11:14 AM

The Costa Riviera will be put for sale(in 1996 when the ship was scheduled to be retired there weren't buyers)or laid up.The new Costa Tropicale will perform its itineraries(the 7days cruises in the western Mediterranean are very successfull).For the winter I hope that it will perform new itineraries out the Mediterranean.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 12-08-2000 11:31 AM

I think it's a big mistake for Carnival to transfer the Tropicale to Costa. Their is a lot to be said for good luck and lucky ships. Laugh if you will, but since the Tropicale came upon the scene Carnival has had much sucess. Their first new build, lately they have used it to try out new itineraries and every new intinerary it's tried has been so sucessful they've had to replace it with larger ships, in short, The Tropicale has been Carnival's good luch charm.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

nycruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 960

posted 12-08-2000 12:36 PM

I have never cruised on the Tropicale but I did send a young couple on there a year ago. They said it was a nice ship but it was dated and a little on the dirty side.

Personaly I think if Costa wants to identify themselves in the premium cruise market (along with Disney, Celebrity, Princess and Holland)I feel that this may be a bad move for them. They should phase out the Costa Marina and Allegra because they are older ships. Costa should just focus on the new builds.

This ship would be good for a cruise line like Regal Cruises. They should retire the Regal Empress who is 45 + years old a refurbish the Tropicale.

Posts: 665 | From: Westchester County, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 12-08-2000 12:58 PM

Nycruiser,I disagre with you:the only old cruise ship in the Costa Fleet is the Costa Riviera.The Costa Marina(1990)and the Costa Allegra(1992) are fine medium size cruise ships,particularly the second.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 12-08-2000 01:46 PM

But I thought the ALLEGRA and MARINA were actually rebuilt container freighters that dated from the 70's?

Am I wrong?

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 12-08-2000 02:02 PM

Rex,

It is true that the hulls of the two ships date from the seventies, but the ships were completely rebuilt, new engines, new super structue, and all else. Therefore they are, from a passenger standpoint, relatively new ships.

Thad

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...