The ship
Excellence class — vertical Italian holiday city
Costa Smeralda is Excellence-class Costa from 2019 — the line’s leap into newer large-ship hardware, with room for about 5,200 guests. Think vertical Italian holiday city: long galleria, specialty dining and big-ship spectacle.
Main dining venues and the buffet market are included. Specialty steakhouse, premium Italian, Asian and experiential restaurants carry covers. Spa thermal access is typically extra.
Evenings run through the theatre and galleria bars. Daytime is pools and spa. She is Excellence-class Costa — Italian megaship living for Med summers, not a quiet mid-size ship.
If you want Costa at full stretch — galleria nightlife, specialty Italian nights and Med summers — Smeralda is the Excellence flagship habit.
On board
Galleria, dining, theatre
- 01
Dining map worth planning
Main dining venues and the buffet market are included. Specialty steakhouse, premium Italian, Asian and experiential restaurants carry covers — reserve on embarkation, because sea-day tables go first. Drink packages sit outside the simple cruise.
- 02
Theatre
The theatre runs Costa production shows and guest acts at Excellence scale. Programmes change by season — check your sailing. Book centre seats on night one if the headline matters.
- 03
Galleria after dark
The long galleria of bars carries the after-dinner wander. Drinks sit outside the cruise. The mood is Italian megaship sparkle — lively, crowded on sea nights, not a quiet British pub ship.
- 04
Pools and spa
Pool decks and family aqua space take daytime energy. Spa thermal access is typically extra. Grab shade early — with about 5,200 guests, the same rails fill quickly.
- 05
Families and fit
Kids’ clubs and aqua space fill in school holidays. Multi-gen groups who will use the galleria, theatre and specialty nights get the most from Excellence Costa. Couples seeking quiet should choose a smaller Costa or another line.
Specialty steakhouse
The specialty steakhouse is one of the pricier covers on Costa Smeralda. Quieter and more dressed-up than the buffet market. Go here for a splurge dinner. Book early on sea days.
Premium Italian
Premium Italian specialty is a paid occasion night. Mid-to-upper spend versus included dining. Book early if Italian fine dining is your treat.
Asian specialty
Asian specialty is a lighter paid night than the steakhouse. Cover charge applies. Best when you want spice and small plates.
Experiential restaurant
The experiential restaurant is a themed or immersive paid night — check your sailing for the exact concept. More of an occasion than the buffet. Book early.
Main dining venues
Main dining venues are the included plated core. Proper sit-down meals without a cover. Best for most evenings.
Buffet market
The buffet market covers breakfast, lunch and casual evenings. Included once aboard. Quickest seat on a port morning.
Theatre
The theatre houses Costa Smeralda’s production nights — Italian megaship spectacle, not a West End transfer. Titles change by season; check your sailing.
Galleria bars
Galleria bars along the long indoor street carry the after-dinner wander. Drinks sit outside the simple cruise.
Spa thermal
Spa thermal access and treatments are extras — not included in the simple cruise. Book ahead on sea days.
Pool bar
Pool bars cover daytime drinks and sail-away. Grab shade early on warm sea days.
Fit
Who she is for
- Guests who want Costa at Excellence scale — galleria nightlife, specialty Italian nights and Med megaship energy.
- Multi-gen families happy to budget drinks and specialty dining on a ship of about 5,200 guests.
- Not the ship if you want a quiet mid-size plan, short walking distances, or traditional British formal dining.
Where
Where Smeralda tends to go
Western Mediterranean year-round patterns have been her habit, with Costa adjusting as Toscana shares the Excellence brief. Bases can shift.
Treat this as the ship’s range, not a fixed timetable. When this guide is public, sailings with two or more UK agent prices will sit at the bottom.
Before you book
What the brochure skips
- Specialty dining, drink packages, Samsara or spa extras and Wi-Fi sit outside the simple cruise on most Costa bookings. Price the week as the cruise plus what you will actually buy.
- Compare UK agents on the same Smeralda sailing — same ship, same date, cruise-only, two guests. The hero price should be the lowest bookable one, not the first logo you recognise.
Next step
Find a sailing
Compare cruise prices for Costa Smeralda, or open the live map and see where she is now.
Compare all Costa Cruises prices