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No hate to you guys at all, love your videos and have been watching for years! But in my research this company looks to be a full on Ponzi Scheme. 😅 I’d definitely say to stay away from it - as it doesn’t look like the best idea for any sort of investment.
Would have been better to see an inside cabin or balcony, who would pay 4.600 for a suite for 7 days, not the majority of your followers guys. We do enjoy watching you thou, just booked deluxe inside cabin with MSC, World Europa x 2 people, 730 pounds inc of gratuities, got to be better Value!!
At the risk of dating myself, our first cruise was on the Costa Rivera, a converted freighter ship. Other than a pizza place (where they gave you the whole pizza), the only dining area was the dining room at two fixed times. Everything on the menu was served "family style" by the waiter. There was an appetizer, a pasta dish, soup, main dish and dessert. Never saw a salad the whole week. The room was so small the twin beds were in a "L" shape and could not be put together. The closet was three feet wide with a top area for hanged clothes, and dresser space below that. No door, it was covered by a pull curtain-like cloth. One small pool in the back that you had to climb up to get into it. Skeet shooting off the back. Cash only for drinks. Once a cruise they had a toga night. Gave everyone a sheet and an instruction sheet on how to tie. If you did not wear a toga to dinner, you did not eat! This was about 1985, and we loved it because it was our first cruise. We have been on over 100 cruises now. Every cruise is special, but sometimes you have to look harder to find why!
I sailed on the "Carla C" (that's how they named them back then - 1977) on a 10 day cruise in the Southern Caribbean. I LOVED IT! It was fun and goofy - the food was great - our cabin was a lot like you described. But it was only the main dining room and a midnight buffet to beat all get out. I'm curious to see what kind of experience we'd have on a Costa ship today - the Carla C was actually small and elegant.
My first cruise was on the SS Dolphin IV out of Miami to Freeport and Nassau for a four night cruise. This was in 1982. The ship was rated for 700 passengers if she was packed full. It was usually about 500. The cabins were small, no balconies and if you had a window it was a porthole. As you said, every meal was served from the dining room. Very old school, served by a waiter who was assisted by an assistant waiter who offered a few choices for main courses. There was a show room that held about 300. There was two seatings at dinner and two shows, so if you had first seating your show was after dinner. If you were second seating, your show was before dinner. Had a small casino and a tiny disco on the first deck. As you said, it was a blast because it was all we knew. The crew was the best and service was awesome. There wasn’t a mandatory tip prebilled. Your staff worked its ass off for tips since their salary was a pittance. So they gave great service. It’s amazing how cruising has changed but to be honest, not all of it has been for the better. That tiny ship was classier than anything but the most expensive of cruise lines today. The passengers were polite, dressed well, and were usually friendly. For instance, the dining room was full of tables of eight to twelve. Unless you brought your own large group, you were going to dine with strangers. It was half the fun of meeting other people from all over. Again it was a different world 40 years ago.
@@dollladie I forgot about the midnight buffet. I agree the food was wonderful. My mother was raised in the depression, was a dietitian and a terrible cook. We rarely went out to eat and never Italian food so I had never experienced so much amazing food! Cruises have changed so much since those first cruises.
@@mattboney6284 You are right. We were told that so never questioned it. On research it was once Guglielmo Marconi of Lloyd Triestino. Guglielmo Marconi left Genoa on her maiden voyage on November 18th 1963. In 1976, Guglielmo Marconi was transferred to the Naples-Brazil-River Plate service of Italian Line.[1] In 1979 she was transferred to Italia Crociere as a full-time cruise ship. This was not a success and she was sold to Costa Lines in 1983. After a two-year rebuild, the ship reappeared as Costa Riviera for Costa Cruises in 1985.
omg guys !!!! i cant believe you're on Costa Toscana! ive followed youre channel for ages... i was on this ship in July this year, as a first time cruiser from britain, i had nothing to compare it to.... we LOVED IT, the add on dining places that cost extra didnt bother us, as we had a big breakfast at buffet, lunch at the buffet, then a 4 course sit down dining experience at night, we didnt see a single chip, or burger the whole week, and what a refreshing change, another way to look at it!!...about printable boarding passes, we didnt have one as i booked ryanair on the app, and u dont get the option, but i showed her my booking on my phone and that done it, we did however repeatedly get lost in the lifts!! i hope youz have an excellent time guys!!, sending love from Scotland
This brings back memories. My HS Senior class cruise (back in the 1980s) was on the Carla C. We had three or four people to a cabin in bunk beds, a small closet (where we had to store enough clothes for formal night as well as country club casual dinners every other night). No specialty restaurants back then (I don't even recall a buffet, though there was a midnight buffet out by the pool most evenings). There was a more casual lunch outside by the pool available each day. Otherwise, three meals a day in the MDR. It felt like a lot of food to my teen self. The shows were silly (always seemed to involve that "chicken dance" somehow) and ended with the ship's theme song (which I somehow still remember). There were evening bingo sessions and trivia games (some things have not changed at all). Probably one of the most fun cruises of my life. The fact that we were eighteen and went as a group might have had something to do with it.
@@janie1977ful I'm creeped out by the passengers who're gawking and look completely baffled to see someone filming themselves as they're reacting to Ben & David. Like OVERKILL w/the looks, people!
Beautiful ship but I’ll stick with Princess and Holland. We don’t pay for any extra anything (other than tips) - we have so many options for dining. Buffets are plentiful, as well as other casual food spaces and dining room. Princess includes soft serve ice cream and 24 hr International Cafe. Holland America has complimentary room service.
I watch a lot of your videos and I’m even a patron, so just want to give you a heads up. Masterworks has a bit of a sketchy reputation. In addition, the fine art market is extremely tricky and historically has been used mostly for money laundering and as tax strategy for high net worth individuals. At the end of the day a piece of art is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and the fine art market has an extremely small fraction of actual buyers than something like the stock market. It’s incredibly easy to get burned in that market, even with someone like masterworks and that’s not accounting for their massive fees either. That is a very tricky thing to get into and I wouldn’t want you guys to feel guilt if you send some subscribers over there and it doesn’t go well for them. Hope you guys take an in depth look at them before working with them further. Great video as always.
Great video, although, and I know you don't want to risk your own comfort, I feel like you should book a lower tier cabin to really get the experience that most people experience. A standard balcony or oceanview would give a more realistic idea about what most of us could expect!
I really enjoyed the Costa Toscana. The skywalk, the comfy outdoor seating particularly around the after bar are fantastic on a sunny med sail away or sea day. The drinks package are among the best value in the industry. The arena venue is the most authentic night club I've experienced at sea. I personally thought the entertainment was superb. Many talented musicians and performers. I particularly went out of my way to see the saxophonist and the ariel shows. These are among the lowest cost sailings I've seen around 40-50pppn. At this cost I can absolutely understand the upcharge options. My attitude is at this price you can afford to pad out your trip with some extras if you want. My experience is the extra cost options are reasonably priced and were excellent quality for the few euros extra paid. In particular I visited the restaurant attached to the Heineken bar for some late night burgers and other end of night grub. Being a European line the late night activities go into the small hours every night. It did make getting up for those morning port calls a challenge but I managed to strike a good balance. Downsides were the included food being pretty average. Not bad but nothing special to write home about either. And I've never see a busier buffet. It was absolute madness at peak times between the limited seating and mediterranean attitude queuing. I left Toscana feeling I got excellent value for money and booked another Costa cruise within a month to see if this quality is consistent across the line or is just present on their flagship. I'll be boarding Smerelda to find out in 3 weeks. I would not be singing these praises if I paid 6000 usd for this experience. But if you shop around you can find these sailings starting at 40-50pppn and at that price range I find it hard to argue with the value proposition they present.
I honestly love cruising with costa. For me as a young person it’s absolutely affordable, even with the full drinking package and some extras. I always do my breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main restaurants. The waiters or all staff in general have been excellent in all my 10 costa cruises I did so far. Nothing to complain about! Dining at the buffet was never an option for me, especially for lunch and dinner. I just like it getting my food served to the table. And also ordering the food is so easy, even if you want 2 portions of one meal or extra wishes like that. Regarding the extra priced food like burgers or pizza one costa salesman once told me that they made that choice because lots of food have been wasted in the last years. As far as I remember correctly all the food was included until 2017 or 18, after that they changed it. I have seen it with my own eyes that (maybe drunk) people have ordered pizza and burgers at night, had like 2 bites and then threw it away. Craziest thing to witness was 2 guys using a fresh pizza as a frisbee into the ocean. At that point I can understand that they charge money for the pizza now…
The interior design of the ship is just amazing. So clean everything is sharp and crisp.. Gotta say that listening to your accents by an American ear is entertaining .. like " swimming pew-ell. " & a glass of "wah-ah" . Thanks . I DO enjoy your videos .
Just love you two, and your videos. They are fun, informative and great to watch! Always honest which is very important. Would never do Costa, any whiff of smoke is a big NO! Keep up the great work!
Guess what ? Your cabin looks just like my Alma mater , the HS of Art &Design in NYC . It was a brand new school in the swingin sixties. Our colours were blue and yellow and white and it was decorated in the same shapes and colours all over the school ! All geometric shapes randomly placed too . I felt like I was stepping into a Time Machine back to my hs days . I could hear Dusty in the background singing "I only want to be with you ". This would be my dream cabin ! So , you know, there is always something for everyone !! I'm going to let my classmates know about this cabin . Thanks Ben and David ! Always love you for making me happy ❤
Ben - Looking good! The first thing I noticed was that you had lost weight. I am sure you are happy with that. I have lost 75 pounds over the last two years. I now weigh 243 pounds, 6'1". Still not at my target weight but I feel so much better. Bravo for your hard work! We leave on Princess Enchanted Princess November 16 - 26th Southern Carribean. What would you expect from that cruise line? This will be our first with Princess! Thanks for all you guys do!
Would you rather it be banned, therefore posing a greater risk of fire by those who're going to light up surreptitiously and may not dispose of their cigarette properly?
I cruise with Costa specifically because I can smoke on my own balcony that I’ve paid for, as well as public areas. If you’d cruised with Costa you’d see a solid 40% of passengers are smokers. Lots of them being Italian.. 🙄
Myself and my husband took our first Costa cruise earlier this year on one of their older ships (Pacifica). We had also read all the bad reviews. We were pleasantly surprised. We had a great cruise, there is up charging but we took into account the cruise fare was cheap !
The colors and decor are great. I bet passengers get to smoke in their rooms. No way do I want to smell lingering smoke or smoke that has been absorbed into soft surfaces. We Americans are really used to there being an absence of smoking in public areas, restaurants, and businesses. I grew up in the late 1950's and the 1960's when people smoked everywhere including hospital patient rooms. Got used to seeing more adults smoking than adults not smoking. I don't miss that. Great tour. Thanks, guys.
Omgosh, I just commented that! Did these passengers just fall off the turnip truck? Some look like they've gotten whiplash to see someone filming themselves as they pass by!
This was the most stares I have seen in all of their videos. It was a bit jarring and I was not even there lol ….imagine how awkward Ben and David felt
Remember most of Costas passengers are specifically Italians or Europeans. It’s uncouth to see 2 “flamboyant “british gents walking around filming everything. Of course they’ve seen TH-camrs but you have to respect difficult cultures have different sets of expectations for loutish behaviour during a holiday they’ve paid for.
When were you guys onboard? I was on Toscana for my first ever cruise this summer, and absolutely loved it! The decor is very colorful, the sister ship Smeralda is more understated and classic. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the buffet, very busy in the mornings and small bread offering.
You’re looking fantastic Ben, love your and David’s videos, my sister and her husband are going on their first cruise next year so I sent them a link to your channel. Thanks for all your content, love it. xx
Is it just me that thinks the suite looks like an IKEA 'demo' room? It's probably the colour combinations, but I immediately thought of IKEA. As per usual another great video from you both, and you are both looking fantastic! Keep up the great work x
Great video, guys! I usually see your videos when they’re a couple of weeks old. I’ve watched this one on its premiere day; now I have to wait a whole week to find out about the rest of your cruise! It’s ok, you’re worth the wait.😊
Ben looking healthy! And yes you do blend in with that horrendous decor. Ha perfect shirt for that room. And it’s a big no thank you for me with the cigarette smoke nope.
David! Who is that svelte and sexy man you're with??? And he comes with free popcorn too??? I appreciate that the dining areas have a more elegant decor, but I actually love the bright and cheerful colors elsewhere. Can't wait to see what's gone wrong next week...
I noticed right away that Ben had lost weight even before he said anything. Good job. I'm trying to lose five pounds and can't!!! I love how honest you are about your cruises, you are such a pleasure to watch. I needed a good laugh and you both provided! I was in tears!!!!🤣😂😂😂
Love, love you chaps and your channel. Please do deep dives on your sponsors (I totally understand that these help the channel grow and appreciate this). Masterworks is worth a second look IMO.❤
Finally a ship I've done before you....looking fwd to see your thoughts.. food was good however I avoided the buffet like the plague. I personally thought this ship was a break from the usual plain Jane's.
@Revoncheap very limited opening hours, then lack of queuing it was just chaos most of the time. And the food in the club restaurant was superb and as being in a suite the delivery breakfast was superb.
Wow, Ben looking very svelte👍 Costa sucks. I was sick for 6 months after a 24-day cruise on Costa. Their customer service is the worst. MSC is a tad better, but I won’t take a cruise with them again.😳🙄😵💫😵💫😵💫
I spent some time on both Costa Smeralda and also Costa Toscana last year, and was really pleasantly surprised given the price point. The crowds onboard did drive me mad on Costa, especially when it came to the evening entertainment. I couldn’t believe how early people would get there - I couldn’t find a seat if I got there any later than 30 minutes before the show - d’oh! Great to see you on Costa!
I agree that the bathroom is quite weird! And no countertop to set anything down while you are getting ready. The whole room has very strange vibes to it, in my humble opinion.
You can easily get inside cabins in the $80 a night/per person range for an inside cabin on 7 night mediterranean itineries on the Toscana, it is a budget line, so your expectations need to recognise that, even if you are staying in a suite.
Yeah, it is the cheapest cruise line one can find elsewhere. Even MSC is now trying to compete at another league to say the least. I wouldn't say this ship is bad or this cruise line is bad... But let your expectations to follow the market point!
Oh Ben, when I first saw you I thought .... oh no, he's been sick. Glad to know that you have been watching your diet. You look really great. David is his usual debonair self, also looking good, as usual.
Very garish decor and cheap furniture (for a cruise ship). I expect the cost of my ticket to deliver on the high end of living the dream. Deffo not for me.
As soon as we entered the ship my immediate thought was baby club!! Those colors and child friendly designs would send me potty!!!. Or it felt like Alice in wonderland very surreal. Thank goodness children go to bed early or there would be no rest for you. You give such clear images of everything I really enjoy your videos. Looking forward to the next one xxx
I love how you two always cruise new lines for you guys and ships to form honest opinions on them! I enjoyed this vlog and can't wait for the rest! Ben you are looking great!
Interestingly, Costa is owned by Carnival as is P.O. and many others. You'd think that they'd be consistent across the board. Nickel and diming on steroids it seems. The smoking though would be a deal breaker.
We always request split beds, but they are always together when we arrive. I think it is because we have the same last name. The first cruise I went on a nephew/aunt pair traveling together were put in joined up beds. Same last name.
It’s a shame that TH-cam forces you to waste your time making commercials under constant and baffling threats of de-monetarization. I can’t cruise anymore so I live my cruising life through you two. Thank you so much and Bon Voyage!
Yes, after the last update, heaps of ads began. I googled as to why, and so many asked the same question. The answer is that it's a Google thing and TH-cam money-making advertising. Of course, they're offering the premium to reduce the ads, but that's just more money in their pockets. I'll just have to cope with the ads just like the commercial TV channels, sigh!
@@nonacee5065 - It's sad but I've taken to watching videos on my Roku as well as my computer. When one of them goes to its endless (and unsinkable) commercials, I switch over to the other device. So, in the end, I do not watch their mandatory ads.
@@goofyrulez7914 I don't have any streaming services so just do youtube or TV. Pretty sad state of affairs but there's nothing worth watching for my taste which is stuck in the 80's for the most part.
Looks a bit of a funky ship and I’m looking out for the next instalment…. Dreading what’s to come! That odd skinny balcony would be no good for me, but you two trim young chaps don’t need to worry!
I love your reviews! ❤️ Anytime I look at a great itinerary, and it happens to be Costa, it’s a no for me. I keep an open mind, but each time I’ve seen an honest review like yours, Costa blows it with disappointment. At least you two can laugh, and appreciate what is good about the cruise. That always helps!
Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: www.masterworks.art/benanddavid
Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more.
See important Masterworks disclosures: www.masterworks.com/cd
i normally like modenrn etc. i think this is a little much. i feel i would need sunglasses insdie lol
No hate to you guys at all, love your videos and have been watching for years! But in my research this company looks to be a full on Ponzi Scheme. 😅 I’d definitely say to stay away from it - as it doesn’t look like the best idea for any sort of investment.
Would have been better to see an inside cabin or balcony, who would pay 4.600 for a suite for 7 days, not the majority of your followers guys. We do enjoy watching you thou, just booked deluxe inside cabin with MSC, World Europa x 2 people, 730 pounds inc of gratuities, got to be better Value!!
Another MasterWorks sponsorship 🤢
That's odd that there is a decided lack of windows.
Ben looks 10 years younger! New hairstyle is killing it too. Better start searching cruise ship wardrobes to find where David stashed old Ben.
I thought the same thing. He's pulling a Benjamin Buttons.
Ha thankyou!
Ben stating that the " towels are "rough as a badger's ass" took me out ! I'm 💀! 😅
Makes me wonder how the heck he'd know what a Badgers ass feels like😂😂😂
@@sandraford3788 🤣😂🤣
Ben has the best descriptions and lines
Interesting! Giving me cross channel ferry vibes in places!
Halal food?????
Nothing like having a room that looks like the Partridge Family bus! Looking svelte, Ben!
Omg! Yes. That’s it! You nailed it.
😂
'Come on get happy'... 😸
Nothing better than being together
Miam 😂
Can we acknowledge that you two are literally famous now? Everyone around you knows who you are! Thanks for taking us along with you ❤
Our pleasure!
What a cliffhanger!! Your videos are quickly becoming a must watch on Sundays.
On Sundays after church , I come here.
Glad you like them!
At the risk of dating myself, our first cruise was on the Costa Rivera, a converted freighter ship. Other than a pizza place (where they gave you the whole pizza), the only dining area was the dining room at two fixed times. Everything on the menu was served "family style" by the waiter. There was an appetizer, a pasta dish, soup, main dish and dessert. Never saw a salad the whole week. The room was so small the twin beds were in a "L" shape and could not be put together. The closet was three feet wide with a top area for hanged clothes, and dresser space below that. No door, it was covered by a pull curtain-like cloth. One small pool in the back that you had to climb up to get into it. Skeet shooting off the back. Cash only for drinks. Once a cruise they had a toga night. Gave everyone a sheet and an instruction sheet on how to tie. If you did not wear a toga to dinner, you did not eat! This was about 1985, and we loved it because it was our first cruise. We have been on over 100 cruises now. Every cruise is special, but sometimes you have to look harder to find why!
I sailed on the "Carla C" (that's how they named them back then - 1977) on a 10 day cruise in the Southern Caribbean. I LOVED IT! It was fun and goofy - the food was great - our cabin was a lot like you described. But it was only the main dining room and a midnight buffet to beat all get out. I'm curious to see what kind of experience we'd have on a Costa ship today - the Carla C was actually small and elegant.
My first cruise was on the SS Dolphin IV out of Miami to Freeport and Nassau for a four night cruise. This was in 1982. The ship was rated for 700 passengers if she was packed full. It was usually about 500. The cabins were small, no balconies and if you had a window it was a porthole. As you said, every meal was served from the dining room. Very old school, served by a waiter who was assisted by an assistant waiter who offered a few choices for main courses. There was a show room that held about 300. There was two seatings at dinner and two shows, so if you had first seating your show was after dinner. If you were second seating, your show was before dinner. Had a small casino and a tiny disco on the first deck.
As you said, it was a blast because it was all we knew. The crew was the best and service was awesome. There wasn’t a mandatory tip prebilled. Your staff worked its ass off for tips since their salary was a pittance. So they gave great service.
It’s amazing how cruising has changed but to be honest, not all of it has been for the better. That tiny ship was classier than anything but the most expensive of cruise lines today. The passengers were polite, dressed well, and were usually friendly. For instance, the dining room was full of tables of eight to twelve. Unless you brought your own large group, you were going to dine with strangers. It was half the fun of meeting other people from all over. Again it was a different world 40 years ago.
@@dollladie I forgot about the midnight buffet. I agree the food was wonderful. My mother was raised in the depression, was a dietitian and a terrible cook. We rarely went out to eat and never Italian food so I had never experienced so much amazing food! Cruises have changed so much since those first cruises.
Costa Riviera has never been a freighter ship. The converted ones were Costa Marina and Allegra.
@@mattboney6284 You are right. We were told that so never questioned it. On research it was once Guglielmo Marconi of Lloyd Triestino. Guglielmo Marconi left Genoa on her maiden voyage on November 18th 1963. In 1976, Guglielmo Marconi was transferred to the Naples-Brazil-River Plate service of Italian Line.[1]
In 1979 she was transferred to Italia Crociere as a full-time cruise ship. This was not a success and she was sold to Costa Lines in 1983. After a two-year rebuild, the ship reappeared as Costa Riviera for Costa Cruises in 1985.
omg guys !!!! i cant believe you're on Costa Toscana! ive followed youre channel for ages... i was on this ship in July this year, as a first time cruiser from britain, i had nothing to compare it to.... we LOVED IT, the add on dining places that cost extra didnt bother us, as we had a big breakfast at buffet, lunch at the buffet, then a 4 course sit down dining experience at night, we didnt see a single chip, or burger the whole week, and what a refreshing change, another way to look at it!!...about printable boarding passes, we didnt have one as i booked ryanair on the app, and u dont get the option, but i showed her my booking on my phone and that done it, we did however repeatedly get lost in the lifts!! i hope youz have an excellent time guys!!, sending love from Scotland
David….”I’m going to unpack now this bottle of wine into my mouth”…….this had me in stitches! 😂😂
Love you two! ❤
The yellows and blues in the stateroom-it’s like an IKEA! 😆
Looking good Ben, can't wait for your videos when you and David cruise here in Australia!
When are they coming to Oz?
Same here. If memory is correct I believe they are doing it in December.
Us too!
This brings back memories. My HS Senior class cruise (back in the 1980s) was on the Carla C. We had three or four people to a cabin in bunk beds, a small closet (where we had to store enough clothes for formal night as well as country club casual dinners every other night). No specialty restaurants back then (I don't even recall a buffet, though there was a midnight buffet out by the pool most evenings). There was a more casual lunch outside by the pool available each day. Otherwise, three meals a day in the MDR. It felt like a lot of food to my teen self. The shows were silly (always seemed to involve that "chicken dance" somehow) and ended with the ship's theme song (which I somehow still remember). There were evening bingo sessions and trivia games (some things have not changed at all). Probably one of the most fun cruises of my life. The fact that we were eighteen and went as a group might have had something to do with it.
Sinking a ship and losing 32 passengers and crew certainly qualifies Costa as the worst cruise line IMHO.
You’d think after that debacle they’d be at least making an effort to appeal to folks on some level!
RIP the COSTA CONCORDIA!
The fact that the captain went MIA during the whole thing is all the more upsetting.
Didn’t do to much problems for White Star Line in 1912
I love my Sundays with a new cruise video! Thanks for taking me along.
Our pleasure!
Ben you look marvelous! Hope you fill much better. Hope your health is better also. ❤
The good thing is your reviews are honest and therefore believable.
You look fabulous Ben. I just lost 45 lbs 20 more to go but I put my diet on hold for back surgery now it’s time to get back on track.
Ben you are looking very slim!
All that running from one ship to another!
I came here to say the same!
I thought so too but I didn't want to say anything in case it's not on purpose.
Yes Ben, looking great! Could tell immediately at the beginning of the video.
Got a tapeworm on this cruise. 😮
Wow Ben! You are looking fantabulous!! You look so healthy ❤
Love your videos so much guys. My fav TH-camrs! ❤
Thanks
You two are the real deal 🎉❤
@@janie1977ful I'm creeped out by the passengers who're gawking and look completely baffled to see someone filming themselves as they're reacting to Ben & David. Like OVERKILL w/the looks, people!
BEN, YOU LOOK FABULOUS! You both look good. A healthy eating, exercise and lifestyle really pays off.
Beautiful ship but I’ll stick with Princess and Holland. We don’t pay for any extra anything (other than tips) - we have so many options for dining. Buffets are plentiful, as well as other casual food spaces and dining room. Princess includes soft serve ice cream and 24 hr International Cafe. Holland America has complimentary room service.
Definitely noticing the weight loss on Ben. It’s a massive difference, even from just the last video!
I love the humor you both have and how you subtly tease each other! ❤ Very relatable. And Ben - I can see that you've lost weight. Good on you!
I watch a lot of your videos and I’m even a patron, so just want to give you a heads up. Masterworks has a bit of a sketchy reputation. In addition, the fine art market is extremely tricky and historically has been used mostly for money laundering and as tax strategy for high net worth individuals. At the end of the day a piece of art is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and the fine art market has an extremely small fraction of actual buyers than something like the stock market. It’s incredibly easy to get burned in that market, even with someone like masterworks and that’s not accounting for their massive fees either. That is a very tricky thing to get into and I wouldn’t want you guys to feel guilt if you send some subscribers over there and it doesn’t go well for them. Hope you guys take an in depth look at them before working with them further. Great video as always.
You look great Ben!! You’re an inspiration that we all can get healthy and still enjoy all the offerings of a cruise.
Great video, although, and I know you don't want to risk your own comfort, I feel like you should book a lower tier cabin to really get the experience that most people experience. A standard balcony or oceanview would give a more realistic idea about what most of us could expect!
No surprise you need to take your life jackets to your abandon ship station after the Coasta Concordia oops.
@@bluegalaxyvr3442 Not on every cruise ship.
Ben, congratulations on your new body style. You’ve encouraged me to get back to eating more healthy and losing some weight also. Love you guys.
Wow Ben so proud of you for your health journey! We love ya and want you here for a long time!
I completely lost it when you described the towels as "rough as a badger's backside!". 😂
I really enjoyed the Costa Toscana.
The skywalk, the comfy outdoor seating particularly around the after bar are fantastic on a sunny med sail away or sea day. The drinks package are among the best value in the industry.
The arena venue is the most authentic night club I've experienced at sea.
I personally thought the entertainment was superb. Many talented musicians and performers. I particularly went out of my way to see the saxophonist and the ariel shows.
These are among the lowest cost sailings I've seen around 40-50pppn. At this cost I can absolutely understand the upcharge options. My attitude is at this price you can afford to pad out your trip with some extras if you want. My experience is the extra cost options are reasonably priced and were excellent quality for the few euros extra paid.
In particular I visited the restaurant attached to the Heineken bar for some late night burgers and other end of night grub.
Being a European line the late night activities go into the small hours every night. It did make getting up for those morning port calls a challenge but I managed to strike a good balance.
Downsides were the included food being pretty average. Not bad but nothing special to write home about either. And I've never see a busier buffet. It was absolute madness at peak times between the limited seating and mediterranean attitude queuing.
I left Toscana feeling I got excellent value for money and booked another Costa cruise within a month to see if this quality is consistent across the line or is just present on their flagship. I'll be boarding Smerelda to find out in 3 weeks.
I would not be singing these praises if I paid 6000 usd for this experience. But if you shop around you can find these sailings starting at 40-50pppn and at that price range I find it hard to argue with the value proposition they present.
I honestly love cruising with costa. For me as a young person it’s absolutely affordable, even with the full drinking package and some extras. I always do my breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main restaurants. The waiters or all staff in general have been excellent in all my 10 costa cruises I did so far. Nothing to complain about!
Dining at the buffet was never an option for me, especially for lunch and dinner. I just like it getting my food served to the table. And also ordering the food is so easy, even if you want 2 portions of one meal or extra wishes like that.
Regarding the extra priced food like burgers or pizza one costa salesman once told me that they made that choice because lots of food have been wasted in the last years. As far as I remember correctly all the food was included until 2017 or 18, after that they changed it. I have seen it with my own eyes that (maybe drunk) people have ordered pizza and burgers at night, had like 2 bites and then threw it away. Craziest thing to witness was 2 guys using a fresh pizza as a frisbee into the ocean. At that point I can understand that they charge money for the pizza now…
BEN! You look more amazing than ever! I know losing weight has been hard, and I'm so proud of you.
Ben looking good. Keep up the good work.
My wife works for Disney Cruise Line, so I'm hoping we run into you all one day.
Enjoy the cruise!
The interior design of the ship is just amazing. So clean everything is sharp and crisp.. Gotta say that listening to your accents by an American ear is entertaining .. like " swimming pew-ell. " & a glass of "wah-ah" . Thanks . I DO enjoy your videos .
Just love you two, and your videos. They are fun, informative and great to watch! Always honest which is very important. Would never do Costa, any whiff of smoke is a big NO! Keep up the great work!
You are the perfect people to travel with! Thanks for entertaining us and letting us join you!
Thanks, as always to you two wonderful guys, Ben & David! Love your channel and appreciate all the effort you put in too our entertainment ❤❤
Guess what ? Your cabin looks just like my Alma mater , the HS of Art &Design in NYC . It was a brand new school in the swingin sixties. Our colours were blue and yellow and white and it was decorated in the same shapes and colours all over the school ! All geometric shapes randomly placed too . I felt like I was stepping into a Time Machine back to my hs days . I could hear Dusty in the background singing "I only want to be with you ". This would be my dream cabin ! So , you know, there is always something for everyone !! I'm going to let my classmates know about this cabin . Thanks Ben and David ! Always love you for making me happy ❤
1:11 Very surprised to see how much weight you have lost Ben. Looking great! David is also looking wonderful!!
Ben - Looking good! The first thing I noticed was that you had lost weight. I am sure you are happy with that. I have lost 75 pounds over the last two years. I now weigh 243 pounds, 6'1". Still not at my target weight but I feel so much better. Bravo for your hard work! We leave on Princess Enchanted Princess November 16 - 26th Southern Carribean. What would you expect from that cruise line? This will be our first with Princess! Thanks for all you guys do!
Smoking is such a fire hazard, how can they allow it in so many spaces?
Would you rather it be banned, therefore posing a greater risk of fire by those who're going to light up surreptitiously and may not dispose of their cigarette properly?
Believe it or not, other countries do not have your negative views on smoking. If it bothers you cruise on USA lines.
They want the money from all types of people, not just nonsmokers
I cruise with Costa specifically because I can smoke on my own balcony that I’ve paid for, as well as public areas. If you’d cruised with Costa you’d see a solid 40% of passengers are smokers. Lots of them being Italian.. 🙄
@@JamesKing-el3ry - Oh heck, even the Hindenburg allowed smoking and look what happened to her. 🙂
Myself and my husband took our first Costa cruise earlier this year on one of their older ships (Pacifica). We had also read all the bad reviews. We were pleasantly surprised. We had a great cruise, there is up charging but we took into account the cruise fare was cheap !
Hi Guys! Ben, Congrats on your weight loss... you rock! love you both!!!
Ahhhhhhhh I can’t wait for the cruise tea! Definitely tuning in next week.
Hey guys! I love watching your channel. You help me decide what cruise ship to cruise. #Staysafe and happy cruising.
Ben looking great ! Thanks for the great content !
The colors and decor are great. I bet passengers get to smoke in their rooms. No way do I want to smell lingering smoke or smoke that has been absorbed into soft surfaces. We Americans are really used to there being an absence of smoking in public areas, restaurants, and businesses. I grew up in the late 1950's and the 1960's when people smoked everywhere including hospital patient rooms. Got used to seeing more adults smoking than adults not smoking. I don't miss that. Great tour. Thanks, guys.
No smoking in rooms but balcony is ok.
Different countries have different social norms. If smoking bothers you, sail on a different line, instead of complaining.
@@maddiecullencullen5607 I am aware of the differing social norms. It is perfectly acceptable to complain on this blog.
@@maddiecullencullen5607 I visited a bar in Germany. The name of the bar was: Smoker´s Bar. STILL, people got in there and complained about the smoke!
I'm amused to see so many people staring at you as your filming, as if they have never seen a camera/youtuber before. lol.
Omgosh, I just commented that! Did these passengers just fall off the turnip truck? Some look like they've gotten whiplash to see someone filming themselves as they pass by!
This was the most stares I have seen in all of their videos. It was a bit jarring and I was not even there lol ….imagine how awkward Ben and David felt
@@cherise_jasmynimagine how mystified the people were
Remember most of Costas passengers are specifically Italians or Europeans. It’s uncouth to see 2 “flamboyant “british gents walking around filming everything. Of course they’ve seen TH-camrs but you have to respect difficult cultures have different sets of expectations for loutish behaviour during a holiday they’ve paid for.
@@JamesKing-el3ryTH-cam influencers exist in Spain as well.
Ben you look fabulous 😍 And I really do like your Free Popcorn Shirt. Really impressive change
Ben you look fabulous! I love watching you and David! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us!
Ben looks absolutely fantastic. Your hard work is paying off
Ben, congrats!! Looking great!!😍
Thanks for the laughs, I enjoy my Sundays with your videos, ❤️❤️
When were you guys onboard? I was on Toscana for my first ever cruise this summer, and absolutely loved it! The decor is very colorful, the sister ship Smeralda is more understated and classic. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the buffet, very busy in the mornings and small bread offering.
You’re looking fantastic Ben, love your and David’s videos, my sister and her husband are going on their first cruise next year so I sent them a link to your channel. Thanks for all your content, love it. xx
Thanks so much
You guys should review the new Margaritaville ship. Would be interesting to see if it is better than the other one. 😂
Oh good gosh, why would you wish that on them!! LOL
@@robinrosen3236 maybe the new one is better 🙂
The Islander is a much different experience, based on recent videos.
They already did
@@AndyWood71 they did the old one but not the new one
Congratulations Ben on your obvious successful better health journey! You look fabulous and I know your family must be so pleased for you as well!
Is it just me that thinks the suite looks like an IKEA 'demo' room? It's probably the colour combinations, but I immediately thought of IKEA. As per usual another great video from you both, and you are both looking fantastic! Keep up the great work x
The whole ship reminds me of ikea. It took me a while to realize why it was familiar somehow.
I think it's mainly the materials. It's cheap, plastic and laminate. Will age very quickly and look even more cheap and pathetic in just a few years.
Lol. Yup. That's exactly what it looks like. Cruises by IKEA.
I love the IKEA branding.
Looking great Ben! Good for you- it’s not easy🎉
Ben you look AMAZING 🤩 Can’t wait to hear all the details about this cruise. Love you guys ❤
Cannoli imagine. I caught that one! So clever, you are.
Do you cry out when they mention a cannoli and we can't have one? I miss my YaiYai and Aunt bringing us cannoli from NY on the plane. xoxo
Great video, guys! I usually see your videos when they’re a couple of weeks old. I’ve watched this one on its premiere day; now I have to wait a whole week to find out about the rest of your cruise! It’s ok, you’re worth the wait.😊
Even if everyone on board is smoking, the hallways should not be smelling like cigarettes with adequate ventilation (especially since covid).
Ben looking healthy! And yes you do blend in with that horrendous decor. Ha perfect shirt for that room. And it’s a big no thank you for me with the cigarette smoke nope.
David! Who is that svelte and sexy man you're with??? And he comes with free popcorn too??? I appreciate that the dining areas have a more elegant decor, but I actually love the bright and cheerful colors elsewhere. Can't wait to see what's gone wrong next week...
I noticed right away that Ben had lost weight even before he said anything. Good job. I'm trying to lose five pounds and can't!!! I love how honest you are about your cruises, you are such a pleasure to watch. I needed a good laugh and you both provided! I was in tears!!!!🤣😂😂😂
That ship is definitely a color bomb! That’s a change from all the beiges decors. 😂😂😂
Love, love you chaps and your channel. Please do deep dives on your sponsors (I totally understand that these help the channel grow and appreciate this). Masterworks is worth a second look IMO.❤
Finally a ship I've done before you....looking fwd to see your thoughts.. food was good however I avoided the buffet like the plague. I personally thought this ship was a break from the usual plain Jane's.
@Revoncheap very limited opening hours, then lack of queuing it was just chaos most of the time. And the food in the club restaurant was superb and as being in a suite the delivery breakfast was superb.
Entertaining review so far, loving your sense of humour 😁
Agree Ben - your looking great!
Ben, you look great! I was thinking how slim you look! We definitely need you around for many years to come! 💕
With the cost of dental treatment that roll isn't a dentist nightmare but a dentist dream. 😂
Ben, you look great! Can't wait for next week's video!
Wow, Ben looking very svelte👍 Costa sucks. I was sick for 6 months after a 24-day cruise on Costa. Their customer service is the worst. MSC is a tad better, but I won’t take a cruise with them again.😳🙄😵💫😵💫😵💫
Ben you look fabulous!! 🤩. Can’t wait to see next weeks video😊
I spent some time on both Costa Smeralda and also Costa Toscana last year, and was really pleasantly surprised given the price point.
The crowds onboard did drive me mad on Costa, especially when it came to the evening entertainment. I couldn’t believe how early people would get there - I couldn’t find a seat if I got there any later than 30 minutes before the show - d’oh!
Great to see you on Costa!
Don’t think I would want to go travel on this ship - it does not look like the usual cruise ships so give this one a no no.
I agree that the bathroom is quite weird! And no countertop to set anything down while you are getting ready. The whole room has very strange vibes to it, in my humble opinion.
Ben you’re looking in great shape. Xx
Intriguing, fun, and informative as always. I look forward to joining you on this adventure! Ben you look Marvelous! David, you are marvelous!
You can easily get inside cabins in the $80 a night/per person range for an inside cabin on 7 night mediterranean itineries on the Toscana, it is a budget line, so your expectations need to recognise that, even if you are staying in a suite.
Yeah, it is the cheapest cruise line one can find elsewhere. Even MSC is now trying to compete at another league to say the least. I wouldn't say this ship is bad or this cruise line is bad... But let your expectations to follow the market point!
Oh Ben, when I first saw you I thought .... oh no, he's been sick. Glad to know that you have been watching your diet. You look really great. David is his usual debonair self, also looking good, as usual.
Wow Ben you look great. How did you do that weight loss with that cruise food? Thought Costa sold all ships to Carnival guess not.
Costa is owned by Carnival. The new Carnival ship Firenze (sp?) is a former Costa ship.
Ben you look fantastic!! Thank you David helping me get my husbands soccer jersey for his birthday he loved it. Love you guys so much😁🇨🇦❤️💯
Yeah, you’re right. It’s very nickelodeon looking.
Ben you are looking great. Keep up the good work David you always look good. Love you both
Ben, you're looking great. Your weight loss is very noticable.
Congratulations!
Very garish decor and cheap furniture (for a cruise ship). I expect the cost of my ticket to deliver on the high end of living the dream. Deffo not for me.
Me either
As soon as we entered the ship my immediate thought was baby club!! Those colors and child friendly designs would send me potty!!!. Or it felt like Alice in wonderland very surreal. Thank goodness children go to bed early or there would be no rest for you. You give such clear images of everything I really enjoy your videos. Looking forward to the next one xxx
Ben! You are looking so good. Way to go 🎉
I love how you two always cruise new lines for you guys and ships to form honest opinions on them! I enjoyed this vlog and can't wait for the rest! Ben you are looking great!
Interestingly, Costa is owned by Carnival as is P.O. and many others. You'd think that they'd be consistent across the board.
Nickel and diming on steroids it seems. The smoking though would be a deal breaker.
We always request split beds, but they are always together when we arrive. I think it is because we have the same last name. The first cruise I went on a nephew/aunt pair traveling together were put in joined up beds. Same last name.
That dessert that looked like a cork is a rum baba
😂 I was going to write this comment 🎉
@@AlessandroCentonze I was thinking after I wrote it, damn I eat too much dessert
Wow Ben, you look amazing! Great job on your health kick journey!!! ❤
It’s a shame that TH-cam forces you to waste your time making commercials under constant and baffling threats of de-monetarization. I can’t cruise anymore so I live my cruising life through you two. Thank you so much and Bon Voyage!
Yes, after the last update, heaps of ads began. I googled as to why, and so many asked the same question. The answer is that it's a Google thing and TH-cam money-making advertising. Of course, they're offering the premium to reduce the ads, but that's just more money in their pockets. I'll just have to cope with the ads just like the commercial TV channels, sigh!
@@nonacee5065 - It's sad but I've taken to watching videos on my Roku as well as my computer. When one of them goes to its endless (and unsinkable) commercials, I switch over to the other device. So, in the end, I do not watch their mandatory ads.
@@goofyrulez7914 I don't have any streaming services so just do youtube or TV. Pretty sad state of affairs but there's nothing worth watching for my taste which is stuck in the 80's for the most part.
@@nonacee5065 - I can watch 80s movies and 80s music videos for the rest of my life and never get bored.
Looks a bit of a funky ship and I’m looking out for the next instalment…. Dreading what’s to come!
That odd skinny balcony would be no good for me, but you two trim young chaps don’t need to worry!
You both are looking very healthy ❤
I love your reviews! ❤️ Anytime I look at a great itinerary, and it happens to be Costa, it’s a no for me. I keep an open mind, but each time I’ve seen an honest review like yours, Costa blows it with disappointment. At least you two can laugh, and appreciate what is good about the cruise. That always helps!