OREANDA-NEWS. January 26, 2016.  Costa Cruises placed in the top five of two USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, including a runner-up nod for Costa Deliziosa, currently sailing Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades, Florida, in “Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment.” The Italian-flagged cruise line also placed fourth out of 10 in the overall “Best Ocean Cruise Line” category.

“Our ships offer Italy’s finest in terms of quality, passion and hospitality. We are proud that our holidays with a unique and real Italian touch are very much appreciated also in the USA. Starting in 2016 we will propose a series of new exclusive and unique experiences to make all our guests happy: with Costa, your happiness is multiplied, because you can also see it in the eyes of your travel companions -” said Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises. 

With Costa’s new “Italy’s Finest”  and the latest  “Happiness Squared” initiatives, the cruise line has revamped its culinary and entertainment offerings by bringing the best Italian brands and traditions to sea. This includes new regional and gala night menus by Michelin-star Chefs Fabio Cucchelli and Bruno Barbieri, respectively, and partnerships with leading Italian brands like Barilla, for perfect pasta at lunch and dinner; Illy Caff?, for an Italian-style coffee break at anytime; and Ferrari, bringing the popular wines from northern Italy’s Trentino region to bars across the fleet. The new Pummid’Oro pizzerias serve real pizzas with dough made from 100% natural yeast thanks to special collaboration between the Italian company and the University of Gastronomic Science in Pollenzo. Guests can also taste the real Italian ice-creams of Agrimontana at the Gelateria Amarillo and gourmet burgers with very high quality 100% Italian Fassona beef.  In bars, guests can enjoy Italian aperitivo, with various cocktails like the spritz, made with Italian brand Aperol.

In entertainment, themed parties such as La Notte in Maschera and La Notte Bianca celebrate two famous Italian customs: the masked Venetian carnival and a white night festival. Furthermore starting in 2016 guests will be able to take part to famous television talent shows, like The Voice of the Sea, replicated on board fleet ships. Onboard fun will be guaranteed also for young cruisers, who will enjoy a truly exciting experience in the company of their favorite cartoon character: Peppa Pig.

All of these exciting offerings and more are featured on the 92,600-ton, 2,260-passenger Costa Deliziosa, which placed second in the “Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment” category. The ship brings all the “Italy’s Finest” excitement to south Florida and the Caribbean with its four restaurants and 11 bars to its three pools, split-level theater, dance club and casino.

For kids, Costa Deliziosa’s Squok Club offers plenty of fun activities from treasure hunts to ice cream parties. The ship also features Grand Prix simulator.

Costa Deliziosa is currently sailing a series of 10-night itineraries from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Guests can enjoy Costa’s unique Italian ambience while seeing more of the Caribbean than typically offered on a traditional Caribbean cruise with calls at Nassau or Freeport, Bahamas; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Roatan; and Cozumel or Costa Maya, Mexico.

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The USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are voted on by the readers of USA Today and 10Best.com. 10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel content covering top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The travel section of USAToday.com is one of the nation’s leading travel news and information sites, providing authoritative content, expert advice and inspiration for both leisure and business travelers.