Costa Toscana Review

Sailing the Mediterranean in true Italian fashion

Costa Toscana is the best that Costa has to offer. Alongside its sister ship, Costa Smeralda, this vessel is part of the Excellence class, which means… Excellent. That was a hard guess, huh? From the espresso to the architecture, everything screams "Benvenuti in Italia!"

Launched in 2021 and part of Costa’s newer LNG-powered fleet, the Toscana brings eco-friendly technology, gorgeous design, and plenty of entertainment options and restaurants. But is it the right ship for you? Let’s dive into the details.

What we like about Costa Toscana

Costa Toscana deck.webp — Costa Cruises©

This is probably the most beautiful ship in the entire Costa fleet. Costa Toscana was designed with help from Adam D. Tihany, the same guy behind some of the most beautiful hotels and restaurants in the world. Each deck is inspired by a different Italian region, like Rome, Capri, and Venice. The result? Walking around the ship feels like you’re flipping through an Italian travel magazine.

Costa Toscana has plenty to offer for families, especially if you love pools. In fact, this vessel has four pools and dozens of hot tubs, which is a record for the cruise line. There are adults-only pools, pools with water slides, pools with stage shows nearby, and pools that offer cabanas if you want to take a nap with the breeze right in your face. The most beautiful pool is on Deck 16 - La Spiaggia Beach Club - which is the ship’s indoor pool beneath a glass roof.

The ship also offers the largest number of restaurants and entertainment options compared to other Costa vessels. There’s a kids’ club, a teen zone, waterslides, a splash area, and even a multi-deck adventure park for the little ones. For adults, there’s a massive spa, a huge gym, and bars scattered across almost every deck. Will you find a go-kart track or a roller coaster? No, but there’s still plenty to keep you and your children entertained as you explore the Mediterranean and Dubai.

What we don’t like about Costa Toscana

Costa Toscana is a big ship. We're talking over 6,000 passengers when fully booked. That means you’ll likely be sharing your gelato line with a few dozen people, especially during peak season. Things can feel a bit crowded in the buffet area and pools during sea days. If you’re looking for quiet luxury and a peaceful time, this might not be your best choice of cruise.

Costa is an Italian cruise line, which means most signage, announcements, and menus prioritize Italian. English service is available, but communication can occasionally stumble. Most indoor announcements are, in fact, made in multiple languages, with Italian coming first. It’s not a major problem, since you get used to it in due time. And hey, you might even learn a new language, but it can definitely feel a little strange at first.

Cabins also feel a bit smaller than usual. They’re stylish, but storage can be tight, desks are narrow, and, strangely, there’s no mini-fridge. You might also need a few more plugs if you’re bringing multiple phones and a laptop, so keep that in mind.

Conclusion

Costa Toscana is a good ship, plain and simple. If you want a fun, modern, family‑friendly cruise with Italian flair and cool design, this is a solid choice that comes with some pretty great prices. It’s like a buzzy, fun-packed floating Italian fest.