Cruising is one of the most exciting, luxurious, and convenient ways to travel. The possibility of discovering a new destination every morning without having to pack your suitcase over and over again is what absolutely sold me in the beginning. What if your next journey is on an Italian-style cruise no matter where you are in the world? This is what Costa Cruises has been offering its guests around the world for over 70 years.

Costa Cruises’ newest flagship, Costa Toscana, has sailed for the first time in the waters of the Persian Gulf departing from stunning Dubai to navigate for 8 days to equally marvelous ports such as Doha, Muscat and Abu Dhabi. As a guest hosted onboard the Costa Toscana this month, I enjoyed every minute of this exciting Arabian itinerary, but most of all, I loved everything that this new cruise ship has to offer its future travelers.

At a glance, Costa Toscana is impressive! The ship features world-class accommodation, delicious & varied restaurants, luxury spa treatments, premium sports facilities, exciting live entertainment and more. I had the opportunity of cruising on its sister vessel, Costa Smeralda, throughout the Mediterranean in 2021 and now both have left me in awe of their sheer scale and quality. Boasting 19 decks and over 1,000 feet in length, the new Costa Toscana is one of the largest ocean liners in the world! It can accommodate more than 5,300 passengers distributed in 2,661 cabins and assisted by nearly 1,700 wonderful crew members. However, its large size also helps for it to never feel extremely full.

Costa Toscana Persian Gulf Route:

Our cruising journey with Costa was an exciting week around the Persian Gulf. We experienced 7 days of fascinating destinations and 1 sea day to fully experience everything this new ship has to offer. Overall, I enjoy having less sea days so this itinerary was ideal for me. We also started and ended in Dubai which was very convenient in terms of flights from the United States.

From Dubai, we cruised to Doha in Qatar, then onto Muscat in Oman, and lastly, Abu Dhabi, before heading back to Dubai. Costa always offers an incredible range of land excursions, and an entire article about the excursions we chose is coming soon. However, a few highlights included a sand dune adventure in the Dubai desert, admiring architectural gems in Doha, visiting one of the most ancient Arab markets in Oman, and visiting jaw-dropping palaces in Abu Dhabi.

Accommodation on Costa Toscana:

We loved our Balcony Cabin from the very first moment we entered. Costa Cruises’ cabins always impress with their thoughtful decor and spaciousness. In this home-away-from-home, you won’t lack anything during your journey from modern amenities to bright and cheerful interiors.

The bed is very spacious and comfortable, perfect for resting after your shore excursions or at sea days. I appreciated the detail in the shower, which has a floor-to-ceiling glass section that allows you to still admire the ocean views while taking a hot shower. You can rely on your roomkeeper at all times as they will be taking excellent care of you, from in-room breakfast to laundry service. The extra living space featured a couch and desk, which mean’t that, thankfully,  your bed isn’t the only option to sit, relax, or work in your room.

But without a doubt, the terrace was my favorite part! There’s nothing better than waking up every day to a new view from your bed or sitting with a refreshing drink and that sea breeze in the privacy of your own terrace. The floor to ceiling sliding glass doors not only allow a glorious amount of light in, but you can easily step outside onto your personal balcony to watch the world go by.

Restaurants onboard Costa Toscana:

When you sail on an Italian cruise, you might expect all the food you find onboard to be Italian, and although Italian cuisine is one of my favorites, the truth is that Costa Toscana offers much more than this. In total, you have an incredible 11 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges to choose from. Here are some of the highlights..

La Sagra Dei Sapori Buffet is an excellent choice for breakfast and lunch with a wide variety of dishes, including Italian charcuterie, pastas, meats, fish, vegetables and drinks. While at dinner, you will always have a seat available in your assigned restaurant, which in our case was the lovely La Maremma Restaurant where we ate most evenings. The portions of the 3 courses were always perfect and I especially enjoyed their fresh pasta and desserts.

For a gourmet experience, I highly recommend Archipelago Restaurant, the very best onboard Costa Toscana. At this fine dining establishment, you can choose between 3 menus created by renowned chefs Hélène Darroze, Bruno Barbieri and Ángel León, which are inspired by different regions of the world. Personally, I selected the French chef’s menu which was inspired by Arabian cuisine and local ingredients, which included 5 courses accompanied by a selection of wines. From start to finish, everything was a delicious masterpiece.

Before dinner, you can stop for a glass of sparkling wine at Ferrari Spazio Bollicine along with striking starred miniature dishes of Chef Edoardo Fumagalli. Another great pre-dinner drink spot is at the vibrant Campari Bar with sleek red interiors and ocean views. In terms of a quick and easy lunch, dinner or takeaway, I’d recommend Sushino at Costa. This is Costa’s first sushi bistro on board and is designed to bring you an authentic Japanese experience. Additionally, in terms of less formal dining, I’d also recommend Pummid’Oro Pizzeria and Heineken Club & Bistro to enjoy either the best Italian pizza or the best hamburger onboard.

As far as fun and interactive dining, they have a state-of-the-art Food Lab for cooking classes where you can enjoy your creations after with an expert sommelier on hand to pair with your dishes. And in terms of fun for the whole family, the Teppanyaki restaurant is a must, offering dynamic cooking shows at your table. You’re truly spoiled for choice with Costa Cruises!

Wellness Amenities on Costa Toscana:

Solemio Spa is an absolute highlight on Costa Toscana. I was very impressed with the salt room, Turkish bath, sauna and multiple relaxation areas, including two zones that were my favorites. First, the Thalassotherapy pool, which has a perfect water temperature and allows you to relax in the bubble beds, and secondly, the snow room, which is not only incredibly fun and unique, but great for you body to switch between the cold and hot temperatures.

I also had a 50-minute facial treatment in one of their beauty rooms, where they first analyzed the characteristics of my skin with a diagnostic software, and then tailored the treatment to fit my specific needs, using products from the British skincare brand Elemis. If you’re looking for more beauty treatments such as a manicure, pedicure, hairdresser, and so on, there’s also the Salon Solemio to help you feel and look your best on vacation.

Unlike other cruise ships, Costa Toscana’s lido deck is enclosed, and for good reason. This allows guests to use the jacuzzis and the pool all year round, even during winter itineraries. Even so, the ship has open-air pools as well. In total, Costa Toscana has 13 swimming pools and hot tubs, plus an aqua park with some fun water slides for all ages! Speaking of different ages, if you have kids from age 3-11, I highly recommend taking them to Squok Club – a fun kid’s club onboard. If you want a date night or afternoon without your kiddos, they will be well looked after here with so many fun and stimulating activities!

Entertainment onboard Costa Toscana:

It’s always show time onboard Costa Toscana! Every night you receive a pamphlet with the next day’s activities and the first thing you realize is that there is not going to be a moment for boredom, especially on sea days. Colosseo is the main venue for concerts and shows, located amidships and distributed in 3 decks. It’s surrounded by bars and restaurants such as Campari Bar, Kartell Cafè and Sushino at Costa to order a drink or a snack.

The Voice of the Sea was one of my favorite shows along with dancing the night away under the stars in La Notte Bianca (the white night), a celebration that is unique to Costa Cruises, plus plenty of other shows, live performances, and DJ sets. For those wanting a break from the music, you can test your luck at the Granducato Casino. This fun space is divided into two sides with numerous slot machines on one, and a variety of gaming tables on the other, including Blackjack, Roulette, and more.

This was my second time sailing with Costa Cruises and so far my opinion has only improved. This Italian cruise company doesn’t disappoint travelers, each time they look for new ways to offer the warmest hospitality. Costa Toscana, in particular, is an impressive new flagship that Costa should be proud of! In addition to all the fun onboard, their itineraries are also a great match for any type of traveler, with a heavy focus on convenience while soaking up the local history and culture. Whether cruising the Mediterranean Sea or sailing along the Arabian coast, Costa Cruises always offers a memorable cruising experience.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Costa Cruises, but all opinions here are my own.