Complaint Review: Costa Cruise Line

Before booking a cruise in 3/2006 on Costa Cruises boat Costa Magica, I called four seperate times to inquire about the smoking policy onboard. I am asthmatic and was not going to book a trip if there was a lot of smoking. I was told all four times, by four different customer service people and supervisors, on four different days, that there was limited smoking confined to designated areas within the bars. That there was no smoking in the staterooms, common areas, dining rooms, halls, etc. Once we left port, and the passengers were not able to mingle on and off of the boat, it became a living hell for me. There was rampant smoking everywhere - elevators, halls, dininga areas, restrooms, etc. After having a very serious asthema attack the first evening I was a prisoner in my cabin except for long after the disembarkment for shores and early returns to avoid the smoke.

The employees of Costa lied to me multiple times. They committed fraud. I would never have taken a cruise if I had known that they would not enforce any policies (there was a no smoking sign outside elevators) or restrict the areas as they had stated. I was miserable. When we tried to get to customer service we had to run through a smokey corridor! The lady who I spoke with was very sympathetic (she though I was dying based on how I looked, was breathing, and sounded) yet she had no authority to do anything. I have written twice since returning, called a couple times, and am contesting the charge with my credit card company.

Costa lied, committed fraus, made false advertising promises, and placed me in great jeopardy. I have no intention of paying the full amount for our cruise. I was not able to move freely about the ship. I was unable to leave my room except for very brief times when the ship was almost empty. They have an obligation to make this right as they went out of their way to misrepresent the facts.

Denise
Perrysburg, Ohio
U.S.A.