costa diadema cruise reviews

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Costa Cruises
• Costa Cruises from Florida
• Costa Cruises from Fort Lauderdale
• Costa Cruises from Le Havre
• Costa Cruises from Marseille
• Costa Cruises from Hamburg
• Costa Cruises from Kiel
• Costa Cruises from Barcelona
• Costa Cruises from Venice
• Costa Cruises from Lisbon
• Costa Cruises from Athens
• Costa Cruises from Copenhagen
• Costa Cruises from Stockholm
• Costa Cruises from Civitavecchia
• Costa Cruises from Abu Dhabi
• Costa Cruises from Singapore
• Costa Cruises from Dubai
• Costa Cruises from Yokohama
• Costa Cruises from Rio de Janeiro
• Costa Cruises from Mumbai
• Costa Cruises from Buenos Aires
• Costa Cruises to Caribbean
• Costa Cruises to Barbados
• Costa Cruises to Curaçao
• Costa Cruises to Puerto Rico
• Costa Cruises to San Juan
• Costa Cruises to St. Lucia
• Costa Cruises to St Martin / St Maarten
• Costa Cruises to France
• Costa Cruises to Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
• Costa Cruises to Spain
• Costa Cruises to Andalucia
• Costa Cruises to Catalonia
• Costa Cruises to Barcelona
• Costa Cruises to Italy
• Costa Cruises to Campania
• Costa Cruises to Lazio
• Costa Cruises to Taormina
• Costa Cruises to Tuscany
• Costa Cruises to Florence
• Costa Cruises to Portugal
• Family Costa Cruises
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Costa Diadema Deck Plans & Reviews

Costa Diadema

Activities & entertainment

• Biblioteca Gubelin
• Campo da Gioco
• Centro Benessere Samsara *
• Cinema 4D *
• Club Allnatt
• Deck Parties
• Discoteca Opernball
• Hot Tubs (15)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Jogging Track
• Nightly Music
• Star Laser *
• Venus Beauty *
• Vibrant Nightlife
• Winter Garden
• Teen's Zone
• Casinò Golden Jubilee *
• Comedy Shows
• Country Rock Club
• Onboard Movies
• Sala Desirée
• Salone La Buena
• Teatro Emerald
• Wine Tasting *
• Bar Eliodoro - Atrium Bar *
• Birreria La Fiamma - Brewpub *
• Ristorante Corona Blu - Casual
• Cigar Lounge - Cigar Bar *
• Bar Bollicine - Cocktail Bar *
• Bar La Buena - Cocktail Bar *
• Grand Bar Orlov - Cocktail Bar *
• Gelateria Amarillo - Gelato *
• Ristorante Club Diadema - Gourmet *
• Ristorante Scudo Rosso - International
• Ristorante Sissi - International
• Tavola Teppanyaki - Japanese *
• Ristorante Samsara - Mediterranean *
• Piano Bar Principe Nero - Piano Bar *
• Piazza Pizza - Pizza
• Pizzeria - Pizza
• Vinoteca Huit-Huit - Wine Bar *
• Excellent 32
• Very Good 23
• Terrible 63
• All languages ( 173 )
• Italian ( 75 )
• Spanish ( 34 )
• English ( 29 )

Upcoming itineraries

Costa Diadema

Courtesy of Costa Cruises |

Find a Cruise on Costa Diadema

with a cruise advisor

The 4,947-passenger Costa Diadema first set sail in 2014 as one of the largest ships in the Costa fleet. Foodies will love that in 2016 the ship became the first in the world to produce fresh mozzarella on board. While there are eight restaurants for passengers to pick from, including four specialty venues that require an extra fee, some travelers said slow service and extra charges at dinner tarnished their dining experiences.

Cruisers were more pleased with their staterooms, which come in Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Suite categories. All include flat-screen TVs and minibars. Suites come with extra perks like butler service and bathtubs. Those looking for even more pampering can opt for Samsara category cabins, which offer exclusive access to the Samsara Restaurant and Samsara Spa.

As far as onboard entertainment goes, guests can enjoy shows in the three-story theater, dance at the disco or play games in the casino. Cruisers also have access to 11 bars and lounges, duty-free shopping and three pools (one of which is equipped with a retractable glass roof).

Cruising clans will appreciate the family-friendly amenities like kids clubs, a baby pool and a water park, plus activities like laser tag. While some passengers reported a good experience overall, many noted that Diadema's public spaces can feel crowded and the service can be disappointing.

Costa Diadema sails to destinations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.  

Pros & Cons

Sails to a wide range of European ports

Expect extra charges for some basics (like water)

• Expert Rating » 3.0
• Traveler Rating » 3.7
• Health Rating » 4.5

Costa Diadema ranks # 3 out of 8 Costa Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 3 in Best Costa Cruises
• # 61 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 71 in Best Cruises for Couples
• # 75 in Best Cruises to Europe
• # 113 in Best Affordable Cruises

Costa Diadema offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Costa Diadema contains 14 decks. Find out which features are available on each Costa Diadema deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 63 guests have reviewed Costa Diadema , giving it a rating of 3.7 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

Costa Favolosa

Costa Deliziosa

Costa Fascinosa

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Cruise Ship Review: Costa Diadema

Discover why costa diadema is nicknamed “the queen of the mediterranean.”.

By Clark Norton

Costa Cruises’ mammoth new flagship, Costa Diadema, dubbed Regina del Mediterraneo — the Queen of the Mediterranean — launched in late 2014 and now sails weeklong cruises to ports in Italy, France, and Spain. “Diadema,” in fact, comes from the Italian word for tiara, accentuating its role as the crown jewel of Costa’s 16-ship fleet.

Of course, on a ship this size — the 15-deck Costa Diadema has a maximum passenger capacity of just under 5,000, with 1,253 crewmembers — some non-Italian elements inevitably intrude. Safety drills are announced in multiple languages (including English), a specialty restaurant serves up Asian-style dishes, a beer hall evokes images of Bavaria, and the Country Rock Club tosses a rockabilly nod to Memphis, Tennessee. While these elements reflect the international makeup of the passengers, who range from Europeans to Chinese to Americans, make no mistake: Costa Cruises seeks to offer its guests a true Italian experience.

“We are Italians,” emphasizes Neil Palomba, president of Costa Crociere in Genoa. “We need to distinguish ourselves and that’s to offer Italy’s finest.” To drive the point home, Costa executives point to the ship’s Italian flag, its all-Italian officer corps, and its onboard pizzeria, focacceria, and gelateria.

So if you’re looking for an Italian experience in the Mediterranean on the biggest, most spacious, and most modern ship from Italy’s largest cruise line, Costa Diadema wishes you benvenuto !

Finding Your Way on Costa Diadema

Like any megaship, it might take some time to get your bearings aboard Costa Diadema . Enter via a soaring, uber-colorful atrium — recognizable as the work of legendary (some say over-the-top) ship designer Joe Farcus — while glassed-in elevators whisk you between decks. Long, twisting passageways lead forward and aft, where you’ll encounter some of the more than 7,000 pieces of modern art (most of it Italian). And if you ever lose your sense of direction, illuminated signs will become your compass and guide you down the passageways.

You can also simply follow the crowds to the ship’s central gathering places. Deck 10 boasts two pools: the main pool comes with a retractable glass roof, and a smaller open-air pool complete with deck chairs, hot tubs, and a few nearby tables is at the ship’s stern. The ever-bustling dual buffets fill the space between the two pools. Deck 4 features a mega-shopping plaza, while Deck 5 includes a number of indoor eateries, bars, and the centrally situated casino, where a battalion of slot machines call out to passersby.

Deck 5’s most striking feature, however, is a wraparound one-third-mile-long promenade that offers bracing views of the Mediterranean. If you want to take a breather or just relax, duck into one of six enclosed sea-view cabanas or one of two hot tubs that extend over the sides of the ship. Or drop into the gelateria to sample 18 flavors of rich Italian ice cream. You’ll find plenty of additional outside lounging space and a jogging track on the upper decks as well.

Costa Diadema doesn’t try to compete with the high-tech, jaw-dropping innovations found on some other large cruise ships. But its variety of activity and entertainment is apparent and includes a two-level disco, a 4D cinema, a library with Internet stations, a cigar lounge, a basketball court, and a tempting outdoor kids’ play area with a mini castle, sailing ship, and kiddie pool (there’s a kids’ club, too). Older kids can find companionship and action in the teens’ club and arcade as well as a Grand Prix racing car simulator and even a laser maze — a modern-day labyrinth requiring the flexibility to wend your way through a laser-beam obstacle course.

The sprawling four-deck, 67,000-square-foot Samsara Spa commands a sea view from the top decks. Passengers have free use of the gym or can purchase daily or weekly passes to enter the Thalassotherapy pool, sauna, teahouse, and solarium. Spa splurges may include Balinese massages, aroma stone therapies, and facials.

Cabin Comforts

Of the 1,854 cabins, 852 come with private balconies, 61 are balcony suites, 254 are outside cabins with sea view, and 687 are inside cabins, all with contemporary décor and 24-hour room service. A few cabins are for singles, while others are suited for families and come complete with bunk beds and an extra washroom. ( Costa Diadema actively courts families.)

Most cabins are equipped with twin beds that convert to queen size, as well as desks, roomy closet space, sitting areas, and satellite TVs (which carry one or two English-language channels). Suites are a pronounced step or two up in stylishness and amenities as well as size.

Some 141 spa cabins and suites, located near the spa entrance on Deck 12, tend to be quieter than those on lower decks. Spa cabin packages come with spa admission privileges (including a few treatments), as well as luxuriant bath accessories.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Italians treat eating as an art form, and Costa Diadema offers its own artistic flourishes. The buffets buzz at “The Traditional Italian Breakfast” and “The Italian Lunch,” as they’re described in the daily bulletins. This translates to a sea of pastries, breads, and cold meats at breakfast, and various pastas — some made to order — along with salads or a mix of meat and fish dishes at midday. (Hamburgers and fries, now a global staple, are served near the pool.) Meanwhile, the table-service Fiorentino restaurant caters to those seeking an “international” — otherwise known as “hot” — breakfast or more leisurely lunch.

The two main restaurants — the bi-level Fiorentino and the single story Adularia — are open for two pre-booked seatings each evening and offer the same menus, which focus heavily on Italian dishes. A few nights each week are designated as formal/elegant or business attire, though the dress code seems more of a suggestion than a command, and many passengers in casual wear dine side-by-side with those in tuxedos. (Part of the Italian charm is a certain laissez-faire attitude.)

If you’re willing to pay extra for fine Italian cuisine or showmanship, you can try the upscale Club Diadema or the Teppanyaki restaurant, where Japanese-style chefs flip knives around and grill up tasty beef, seafood, and vegetables. The Neapolitan-style pizzeria and the Samsara restaurant with its lighter spa fare are additional options. And, in a first for the line, the casual Corona Blu restaurant allows passengers to come and go and dine with whomever they please during the evening hours.

Of the ship’s 11 bars, a number are themed, most notably the two-level Bavarian-style beer hall, a classy vinoteca (wine bar), and a Prosecco bar (a Venetian-style Spritz made with Prosecco is a ship specialty). A piano bar and the Country Rock Club provide their own brands of mood music along with a variety of libations.

The tri-level Emerald Theater, which hosts evening entertainment, tends to fill up quickly, leaving lingering arrivals to hunt for seats on the far ends. The eclectic line-up may include musical revues, acrobatic acts, and Italian-flavored performances that weave together fashion, dance, and opera. The disco draws a mostly younger crowd, the Country Rock Club offers line-dancing lessons, and the late-night rhythms at the centrally located Grand Bar Orlov attract dancers of all ages and styles.

Coming and Going

Unlike most traditional cruises, Costa Diadema embarks and disembarks passengers at several ports during the week. For instance, you might start and end your cruise in Savona, Italy, while your (temporarily) fellow passengers start and end in Marseilles, France, or Barcelona, Spain.

This system has the decided advantage of limiting the number of passengers embarking or disembarking on the same day. It has the disadvantage of requiring several new safety drills during the week for each new set of embarking passengers —meaning that late afternoons are often dominated by multi-language announcements directing passengers to head to their muster stations.

Costa is clearly putting a pronounced premium on safety, so it’s hard to complain when your favorite bar turns into a sea of orange lifejackets during aperitivo hour. But the first dinner seating isn’t until 7 pm, so there’s plenty of time to toast your good fortune to being aboard the very Italian Queen of the Mediterranean. Salute !

[impact_text include_button=”yes” button_style=”standard” title=”READ MORE” href=”https://porthole.com/staging/stores/” color=”orange” target=”_self” position=”cta_align_right” alt_background=”none” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]

This is an excerpt only. To read this article in its entirety, pick up an issue of Porthole Cruise Magazine , or check out our digital edition .[/impact_text]

Photo: All Photos Costa Cruises

Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine

Now in its 25th year, Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine is published bi-monthly and available worldwide through digital subscription. It offers the latest news in cruise and travel, with in-depth features on voyages, new ships, the best destinations, readers' picks, onboard cuisine, entertainment, and more!

You may also like

Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018

Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018 American Cruise Lines has become a national underwr

Ship Review: American Duchess

Cruising the Mississippi River on its first all-suite paddlewheeler. By Suzanne Carmel On August 14,

Floating Galleries

Floating Galleries 10 Great Cruise Ships for Art Lovers By Sherri Eisenberg Sure, you can sail to th

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Launches 2025-2026 Exotic Edition Voyage Savings

Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady Sets Sail in September 2025

Exclusive Insights with Belinda Hindmarsh on PONANT

Princess Cruises Announces 114-Day World Cruise