We Spent a Week on the Spirit Airlines or Ryanair of Cruise Lines: AVOID!

[@Cruisewith]

Head to squarespace.com/benanddavid to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code benanddavid

[@John_Locke_108]

This is better than being at home? Really?? If it was free perhaps but not if I paid 6 grand for this experience.

[@craigtpat]

Title change. AVOID AT ALL COSTA

[@Cruisewith]

Ha love that!!

[@TheBeardlessBear]

Oh you guys, at the end you just looked so defeated. Thanks for taking one for the team. Noted: No to Costa

[@SebPopsUp]

Here’s a pro tip: If you want to know if your travel agency is any good, check if they sell or even worse advertise Costa Cruises or ask your agent for more information on them. If they only barely imply or suggest that you should go on one, you know their credentials are probably not as trustworthy as you would have liked.

[@kenandcoreen7179]

Well that is one cruise line off our list! Thank you for always giving an honest review guys. We appreciate you both. 😘😘

[@angrylawyer70]

My family spent a week on this ship in June. It was generally awful and the passengers and crew were all very rude. Everything you experienced was identical to what happened to us.

[@taraoakes6674]

No sleep, smoke everywhere, and cold food that you have to wait so long to get? Ugh, no. 😣

[@Valerieesquilin]

“HAPPY CRUISING… not on costa…” got me rolling! Thank you so much for your honesty!

[@Cruisewith]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@82crazycat]

Hello Ben and David. My 8 year old loves your reviews and is equally as angry at the poor service for the money you paid and he wanted you to know that. We hope you next cruise is better. 👍❤️🩷💙 Love Luther and his Mami Cathy ❤

[@tracygutierrez6946]

I went on a Costa Cruise many years ago...the food was so bad..I actually LOST WEIGHT! The people were rude and pushy, smoking was EVERYWHERE (Cigs and Cigars), crew were rude etc. The only good thing was the ship itself was beautiful...the cruise after mine...THE SHIP STRUCK A ROCK AND SANK and THE CREW LEFT PEOPLE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES...It was the COSTA CONCORDIA.

[@jeannecrawford6324]

I was thinking about the Concordia when I was observing how rude they were shouting at David to SIT DOWN when he only wanted a drink. It's very easy to understand then when that ship was sinking, how the Captain abandoned that ship to save his own life, passengers be damned. Apparently, the crew followed suit. Unbelievable but true.

[@davidbutton3500]

@@jeannecrawford6324 I am with you 100%. The apparent lack of control, and organization gives me concern for the safety of that ship. The apparent lack of staff is also concerning. Has anyone from Carnival actually sailed on one of these ships? How can there be such a difference in the cruise lines? It is not the ships themselves, because they have rehomed costa ships into the carnival fleet, and reviews have been pretty good. And is everyone rude because there isn't enough staff and service is terrible, or are Italians all really that rude? Its not a good look either way.

[@Tank-Girl]

Thanks for being honest with your videos guys it’s insane this was $6,000.

[@paulasimson4939]

O.M.G.!!!! My anxiety level is off the charts just watching this.

[@moirasutherland7443]

Why do cruise ships think we must have loud music all the time. Went to a quiz on MSC and we were asked what kind of music we wanted, the audience said none. The presenter was in shock did a vote two people wanted music, that is all. So we had a quiet quiz for the rest of the cruise. Sorry your sleep has been disturbed nothing worse.

[@LifeAtTheMasthead]

Carry on Cruising! I'm pretty noise sensitive and just watching this was hard, god alone knows how it felt in person. I'd have got off and flown home, for my sanity.

[@pppantz]

I am so sorry you had this frustrating trip. I will bet potential cruisers are very grateful for your service.

[@SaltyGreene]

Thank you for this clear warning!

[@melissabloom536]

Warning us if we don’t like complaining…. 😂😂😂…. Me- “Hurry up, hun! Ben and David just dropped a good one!” Have at it, lovelies! We are here for it! (We love the the ones you love too.) ❤

[@channahgav4859]

Priceless!!

[@sheliahvink7795]

I love your honest reviews! I’m a travel advisor, so it helps me know which cruise lines for my clients to avoid!

[@fruitshuit]

Don't feel like you need to make excuses for complaining! I know we brits cringe at the idea of speaking up, but you are absolutely right that you paid a small fortune for this and have every right to expect a high standard for that. Even a budget cruise in an inside cabin is still a luxury compared to a budget holiday on land. Your complaints aren't whining, they're consumer advocacy--they alert the public who see them to the bad actions the company is taking. Folks who'd get on their high horse about "first world problems" cause you have the audacity to have strong opinions are going to hate no matter what and I say they can go and do one. Love the videos and appreciate your honesty.

[@Cruisewith]

Thanks 🙏

[@patricec.2957]

I doubt they'll pay the price they're advertising, especially in October.

[@moirasutherland7443]

Love this video, last cruise Italian women pushed in front of of me on tea machine put her cup on machine then turned to find tea bag, I lifted it off said I am first and that is not how you do it. Made my tea as she glowered at me and I laughter

[@jolo3118]

How in the hell is this CL still in business?? As bad as i feel that you had a horrible time, I'm extremely grateful you took one for the team....again. Much love from Beaverton, Oregon 🇺🇲💕💕

[@thompsoncindy42]

"Slap some wings on me and call me a chicken" - LOL!! Ben, I absolutely live for your sayings, they are everything!!

[@Cruisewith]

Glad you like them!

[@tracytrebilcox]

Thank you for enduring the worst cruise. Based upon your video, I won't go on because the noise level is too high for my comfort level, and that's only from listening to the background din. When home sounds better than a cruise, that's really bad.

[@christianheld9720]

£4630 for that suite and all that craziness. I’d be jumping off the ship and swim ashore and drown my sorrow in Limoncello. I can’t get over that price though. Geez

[@christineainslie4239]

Yes, it was that bad! OMG, I was cringing the whole time I watched this! You were in a suite, imagine how bad it would be in a regular stateroom. No words! That being said, I would never sail MSC or Costa, too many negative reviews and you guys have confirmed it. Thanks for taking one for the team! Onwards to fair weather, and following seas.

[@flim360]

This episode is hilarious 😂. I might actually try Costa just for laughs and the cultural experience. I love all things Italian. Just a short discount trip though. 😂 Thanks for taking a bullet for us. 🙏 Definitely good to know what to expect.

[@annejaques]

You look fantastic Ben. 😍

[@Cruisewith]

Oh thank you!

[@RobynLichter-sv3xj]

Oh my goodness😳no coffee if the buffet is closed. Never heard of such an awful set up. On every other cruise line you can go into any buffet and get a coffee any time of day!!!

[@czeshirecat6278]

So you need to create plans to tackle the buffet. Send David to grab eggs and pastries, Ben to get the meats. Use a filled frisbee if necessary. Play mission impossible theme tune over the top.

[@mommynab]

😂😂

[@Bjaakola]

😂😂

[@tonyburgham4322]

😍😂😂😂😍

[@Frank-in-PalmSprings]

This sounds like a nightmare! I have to disagree with Ben when he said that being on a cruise is better than being at home… not when your anxiety and stress level is through the roof while on the cruise!! I love cruising but anything as bad as your experience on Costa IS NOT better than just relaxing at home on the sofa. Sorry this was such a terrible experience, but I appreciate the heads-up and I’ll avoid Costa! 👀

[@bonanddave49]

I'm a smoker and I hate when smokers/vapers smoke in areas that aren't smoking areas, it gives us a bad name. But I also hate when non smokers walk through a clearly signed smoking area and complain lol.

[@Alex-qj1bf]

It is horrendous how costa changed since covid. I have been on several costa cruises before 2020 and it was the complete difference! You got plenty of food all the day, you got Pizza for free you got everyday something else. I was shocked when I sailed last year (and will probably be my last with them ever) last year on Smeralda. I confirm everything you said and showed! It is just a chaotic circus right now but was the complete opposite when I travelled from 2009 to 2019. very disappointing

[@bthalsey5943]

When Ben is this angry, ITS GETTING REAL..

[@NormanBlaineEchelberry]

I just got off the Diadema and the buffet was chaotic! No proper lines and people pushing everywhere. No tables and long lines to get a drink. The dinner buffet was open from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. Then all the paid restaurants are open until midnight. Every night the paid restaurants were not even half full. I refuse to pay so much money to get such poor service.

[@NormanBlaineEchelberry]

I also want to add that since Costa is part of the Carnival umbrella this type of service should not be allowed. Costa's main office is in Amburg and Carnival Cruise Line's office is in Miami. I guess they don't share their ideas... No wonder Carnival took 2 of Costa's newest ships because they know how to run them correctly. As an ex Staff member for Costa from 1997 to 2002 I can admit, Costa was much better back then.

[@MaliMorgan-g5i]

Looked like hell on Earth. I would definitely have lost my patience there.

[@hueckelaromat]

Harry Sommer (CEO of NCL) is entering the chat and taking eagerly notes…

[@AnthonyLordiRealtor]

Maybe he can sell them the NCL Epic 😂

[@SamWhite-ru6oq]

Smokers, cold food, long wait times, noisy room, can't get a coffee, restricted food and beverages. What a nightmare! I wonder how may people jump in the end? 😭

[@einnamewaregut]

As a German that absolutely confirms my picture of Italians

[@Buddy869-z9x]

Chaotic 😵‍💫

[@SuperDrLisa]

Being first generation American German I grew up in an Italian neighborhood, well actually when I was growing up Italian was the largest ethnic group in the state. Yes this can be a thing, crowding, pushing in front, but the food is not what I experience every event has too much food! It might be the same but there is lots of it. Southern Europeans have absolutely no social distance bubbles. That is difficult for Americans and obviously Brits and now Germans

[@welshfae1249]

What a nightmare. They obviously just want to make as much money out of guests as opposed to giving value for money. At least you have each other and can have a laugh about it all.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Oh dear! And for 6,000! The noise can be partially resolved with ear plugs, but the thumping is just as disturbing as the noise. I am not tempted by this ship! Thank you for the video!

[@artakiavalera6069]

It's almost funny how annoying the background noise is while watching the video. Well....I can click *pause*, take a break and continue watching afterwards. I don't even wanna imagine how terrible it is when you're ON the ship.

[@hrizonsdebbie]

No, the food is that bad. You just said 4000 negative things about the food, and then said "it's not that bad." Why make excuses? It's that bad! Been there. Lived it.

[@Cruisewith]

It was pretty good where we ate in our assigned restaurant - everywhere else it was rubbish!

[@hrizonsdebbie]

@@Cruisewith the suite restaurant looked good but we didn't have that. I remember the food as "everything in a brown corn starch gravy." 😜

[@patricec.2957]

@@Cruisewith For the record, the food at Bellavista is the same as at other restaurants, the only difference being that there are a few extra dishes. So it's clearly impossible for the food to be good at Bellavista and bad in the other restaurants.

[@patricec.2957]

@@hrizonsdebbie Clearly, Costa isn't talking to the English or Americans, who are more used to crap food than to what the rest of us Europeans call food.

[@JanetsJourneys]

I certainly hope you two have something very nice planned for yourselves as follow up to this!!

[@barrylowe441]

Could not agree more. Costa is hands down the worst cruise line we've ever been on.

[@life_lived_well_8]

Oh my goodness you guys! This is so relatable. The fact you spend YOUR MONEY on these cruises is such an important part of your experience. If you were gifted these cruises I am sure your perspective would be much different. And I’m pretty sure the reason for all the bad and rude behavior is because everyone is under caffeinated 😂! Note to cruiselines: DON’T GET BETWEEN BEN AND HIS COFFEE!!!

[@Cruise_life1]

I just returned from Msc Preziosa and was really pleasantly surprised. We paid 600€ per person for a week for a balcony cabin with drinks package and the food and entertainment were great. I liked MSC much better than Costa!!

[@susanbarnett761]

The buffet sounds more like prison. Horrible experience one can only imagine. I'll stay with Princess.

[@ChristineGreer-c3z]

What a nightmare. Thank you for sharing. Love watching you both on cruise adventures 😊

[@L.V.1]

Having lived in Naples (Napoli) for three years, what you described on board is how it is on land. The driving in Naples is insane, why have three lanes when you can fit seven cars abreast? The lines on the road, stop/yield signs and traffic lights are just minor suggestions that no one pays attention to. In a supermarket, people are constantly bumping you or pushing past you without a word. It is their culture. I have to say though, that one on one, the Italian people are lovely.

[@charlaperry6291]

Thank you! I knew I wasn’t crazy. I spent two months in Reggio Emilia ( not sure if I spelled it correctly) and I had the worst time in my life. I was there to be a private tutor to an Italian woman to help her with her English. I discovered that this is a means to show one’s wealth by showing off your own private tutor, especially an American one. I was essentially a pet, which wasn’t that bad. But overall, it was all just a hot uncomfortable experience and later my husband came and we visited Venice, Florence, Bologna and Rome. It was the exact same experience all over. We tried to look for the positive, but all it did was to make us appreciate home even more. Thanks for the reassurance.😊❤

[@Dangic23]

Out of the 14 cruisers I have done on 6 different Cruise Lines, Costa has actually been our 2nd favorite. 1st is Disney. But it was just one Costa cruise in 2013 on a Mediterranean route. The Staff made the trip a wonderful experience for us.

[@louisegoshgarian5482]

We also took a Costa cruise in 2011 on a Mediterranean route we found the Staff and food were fine.

[@envyvicious]

"Chuck the kids" is an option to reduce the noise. I say this as a parent.😅

[@Nabend1402]

I've taken one Costa cruise about a year ago. Yeah, never again. It was one of their older ships, so I thought, maybe the newer ones would have a better experience. Thank you for your service of proving that they do not. They are terrible, cheap, dirty, disorganised... The only proper good thing I remember were the desserts, they were delicious. In that price bracket Iwill happily stick with MSC in future. I've had good times with them. What surprises me, though, is that the games were in Italian only. On my cruise, everything was in 5 languages. Really, everything.

[@lonnear5195]

This would be a nightmare for me, thank you so much for the warning❤

[@faitholin2716]

How to say it was bad without saying it was bad! Love your diplomacy. Going on my first cruise in a few months.

[@mgj7613]

Just came off a 10 day cruise on Explora II and it was as amazing as you guys said! Sorry this cruise wasn't very good. We will be sure to avoid them.

[@Bjaakola]

On a lighter note, I love your new fashion choices! ❤❤

[@RobynLichter-sv3xj]

I don’t blame you for complaining!! After 65 cruises, if I had paid what you paid, I would have been very upset.

[@JosephDickersonUX]

WOW, my wife and I are doing a 14 day transatlantic cruise next week in a minisuite on NCL and even then we paid about $1000 less than you did. AND we upgraded to unlimited wifi and the premium drink package. Costa sounds like Living in a Living Nightmare. Thank you for your service.

[@melissabloom536]

What an absolute shocker this one was! Imagine saving up and this being your first cruise experience. It could put you off for life.😮😢

[@mermaidmaca]

Looking great Ben... It's easy to see you have lost a lot of weight. Just goes to show you can still cruise and enjoy the food and still look great👌🏽

[@Cruisewith]

Yes! Thank you!

[@shirleywilling2427]

Thanks for your honesty.

[@Kdrive23]

Hey guys! I am currently on Celebrity Eclipse heading back to Fort Lauderdale. Just wanted to let you know that I ate at Le Petit Chef on your recommendation and OMG. One of the best meals I've ever had!! They could have easily skimped on the quality of the food and just focused on the experience, but that was not AT ALL the case. It was soooo good! A++ Thanks for the info!!

[@mermaidmaca]

What an absolute disaster. Thanks for sharing the awful truth about this cruise line.

[@ElaineSharon358]

I’ve heard Costa cruises are awful!!! Thanks for your content. Love your adventures ❤

[@KarmanShih]

Thank you for enlightening us fellow cruisers. You guys are the best!

[@andrewhill5605]

The food is so bad David has lost weight. lol Good job.

[@104Margie]

The irony is our first cruise in 1973 was on Costa! It was amazing back then! Most likely all the lawsuits from the Costa Concordia disaster put a strain on this division of the Carnival line. Thanks as always for letting us know your experiences so we don’t waste our money!!!❤️❤️

[@musomiss]

Thankyou for being so honest. It's important as people save a long time and it can be a once in a lifetime experience for many and this world be devastating.

[@irenedavo3768]

I would have put Complaints in writing to Captain 👨‍✈️

[@irenedavo3768]

Ask to see Restaurant Manager?

[@irenedavo3768]

What Ship is this and Cruise Line?

[@irenedavo3768]

Why did they not complain on X ?

[@irenedavo3768]

Costa?

[@nolaparr5124]

Holy cow you are looking great with all the weight you lost. Thank you for the great video

[@tammypitarch]

I would rather be Home. I don't know how you Guy's tolerated that Noise, The Room, The people!! I tried MSC last December, Never Again!! Thanks to you Both ❤❤

[@Magikalic]

I've never cruised, but this looks like what I imagine when I think of a cruise ship.

[@AdcrofromTikTok]

This is the exception, as you can hear from the guys, this is really not how things are usually run

[@kimc555]

I cannot imagine being on that cruise line. I’d just never leave my room.

[@keawarren]

Except the walls are migraine inducing and it is as loud as a bar at Happy Hour.

[@Omikoshi78]

Genius! :) Fund the first class cruise video with horrendous cruise video and back to first class cruise again, and on and on it goes.

[@pagaporvista569]

I'm so happy the restaurants for the suites was good - I know if I paid that much, I would not be going to the buffet! The suite looked great but a bad location - I guess it would be good for families or the young party types that don't sleep much anyway. The smoking/vaping all over the ship would be a big no for me, I'm so sensitive to it! Thanks for the review, I will steer clear of Costa.

[@charlaperry6291]

Ben and David, with this experience, you have just educated 14,000 viewers and maybe 282 thousand people later (your subscribers )from losing valuable time and money. Just imagine how many of us are sharing your videos and the information is spreading like wildfire . You are doing a great service to us all. Plus, we just love you two overall. Cheers from Kentucky!😊❤

[@sarahhardy4627]

Great review - thank you

[@nancy9704]

What a nightmare! Thank you so much for letting us know.

[@louise3993]

I guess at sometime you just have to sit back and laugh to get through it all. I guess if you’re a first time cruiser you would not know any better. I sure first time cruisers watching this would will be grateful for your sacrifice. Love all your videos and honest reviews. 😊

[@cynthiamedlin4943]

Wow guys. I guess you are lucky that you didn't get a foodborne illness with all of the cold food and some of the unsafe serving practices. Sorry that you had such a bad time but at least it's a cruise line that I will not even want to try and will check off of my list. Thank you for the honest review

[@englishworldkitchen]

I’ll never moan again about a short queue for Sorrento’s pizza! I love Italy but Italian service was summed up at Rome Fiumicino airport last month, ironically when we were flying back from a wonderful week on Odyssey of the Seas. You queued to order, queued to pay, then queued to collect. With your VR experience, I’ve seen stranger sights at the “buy gold by the inch” on the Royal Promenade! Glad you managed to smile through this, that’s why your channel is so wonderful.

[@vanessawyndham8791]

Great video! I've seen people complain about the nickel and dime ways of the various cruise lines but Costa is absolutely ridiculous. The lack of complimentary offerings is unacceptable and the staffing levels seem poor at best. A definite no, and a hard pass, especially given the amount of money you paid for the cruise. Cheers.

[@iangill8984]

Followed you for many years. My thoughts are, oh dear! We wont rush to book.

[@ajsweetie22]

I am always happy you’re honest - that’s how you know it’s a quality Ben & David review! Hope that you have a better time next trip. Will NOT be trying costa.

[@seamusobrien2675]

ooou I love a good whinge. And the Brits are world champions when the need arises. From Stoicism to critical monologue (duo-log in this case) in a lightning flash. "She cried more, more, more" I just can't wait for this one. Coffee, comfy, smiling concentration. I am ready savoir the ersatz experience. Bring it on.Cheers

[@mojosbigsticks]

35:23 - That would drive me mad - those people can't see so they stand at the front, and stop everyone seeing! I'm so sorry you had a bad trip.

[@Drioux256]

My God the noise would’ve driven me insane! I know Costa is a part of the carnival brand but even when I’ve sailed on carnival I’ve never had a terrible experience like what you guys just put up with. Big ass suite or not I would’ve gotten off that ship at the first stop.

[@bryanmathison1754]

I’m so grateful that you go through this so we can be informed and avoid these cruise companies. THANK YOU!!! 💚💜💙

[@gigi9301]

Carnival owns this CL, so I guess it's the Italian version of budget cruising? Google told me carnival first bought 50% of costa in '97, then the other 50% in 2000.

[@envyvicious]

Just saw this in my feed. What's the tea? This is going to goooood🤯

[@johnlunnun9769]

Just the sort of cruise I can do without! How awful!🤮

[@suejames2283]

Omg that cruise would have done my head in 😩 glad you survived 🙌🏻

[@NJ-Cathie]

I think you two need to pack a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jam, a loaf of bread and a box of cheerios as backup for now on! N

[@johnboy5654]

Ben, how many times did you say, "oh we are very lucky to be on a cruise and not at home" to try balance the negative things you were saying about your experience, after watching this I would have said you and David would have been better being at home, at least you would not be waiting 20+ mins minutes to get a coffee (unless David was being exceptionally slow 🤣) . I am a personal travel consultant and have never rated Costa Cruises nor promoted them even although I have never been on one myself (you don't have to climb Everest to know it's blooming high and freezing) It's you guys who go on these cruises and give your honest opinion that helps us "general public" form an opinion of the product you are reporting on and in this case "STAY WELL AWAY" Thank you for your honesty about this dreadful cruise line

[@evelynthompson755]

I heard a few years back that this cruise line is bad. You guys are so sweet to cruise so that your subscribers don't have to go through the hell. I can't sleep with tons of noise either. God bless you guys! You needed a vacation after this cruise.😔💐

[@dorothybeckley]

Love you guys and your honesty!🥃

[@mellykinnc1986]

Omg. I needed this 😂😂 When you know you KNOW ❤

[@ginacota9724]

That was stressful just watching! 😮

[@maryanncapece2623]

Hi Ben and David. Wow.. thank you for doing this. I've never seen anything like this before. Bad enough the noise in your cabin and no compensation at all. Outside of the suite restaurant it's like nothing to eat. Finding hair in the food, this is a hard NO for me. It's almost like it's the first cruise ever and people don't know what to do. As always thank you for all you do. ❤❤

[@barbnahoumi65]

Thanks for the warning Guys.

[@hollyvanhecke9280]

I’m so sorry you had this experience but how kind of you to share honestly. You cats rock!

[@jackiebeck9065]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video!!! You guys crack me up! I could definitely feel your pain, but you made it entertaining to watch!