Costa debuts family-friendly experiences in the Med

Costa Cruises is debuting new programming for families on its Mediterranean cruises.

The new offerings, designed especially for younger guests, include special family-focused shore excursions and onboard entertainment and activities inspired by the itinerary.

The exclusive shore excursions are available in select western Mediterranean ports: Savona, Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo and Cagliari, Italy; Barcelona and Valencia, Spain; and Marseille, France. Guests can enjoy pre- and post-excursion activities on board, curated by the teams at the “Squok Club” and “Teens Club,” Costa’s on-board facilities for younger guests.

The family-friendly tour program includes two main options: the first is designed for children aged three to 13 years old, accompanied by family members so the port can be enjoyed together; the second is for teens aged 14 to 17, to go ashore on tour as a group without family, joined by Costa team members.

Shore excursions for kids

The shore excursions developed for younger children accompanied by their family include the chance to explore Palermo and its iconic markets in search of the ingredients used in the famous Sicilian dessert, the “Cannolo.” The experience continues back on the ship as guests take part in a cooking class in the food lab.

Other excursions include the discovery of Marseille through its renowned games and products, such as “Petanque” and France’s famous soap, or a fantastic day in the hills of Genoa, riding the historic Righi funicular railway to explore the observatory.

For cruisers aged 14 to 17, the program includes experiences that highlight adventure, with the teens participating on their own under the supervision of Costa staff. Offerings range from photography tours to discover “street art” in the picturesque city of Marseille to more adventurous activities such as surfing and paddle-boarding on the beautiful coast of Cagliari. Other tours include a walk through the most “Instagrammable” spots in Naples, trekking to the “Grotta dei Falsari” (Cave of Forgers) near Savona, or an experience in Palermo on the Lisca Bianca, a small sailing boat with an incredible history, where teens learn the basic principles of a boating.

Fun activities on board

The new family program also includes various activities on board, designed to foster continuity between the ports and the ship. Children will have the opportunity to participate in cooking classes with their parents, learning the secrets of cooking from the expertly trained shipboard chefs.

Guests also can enjoy fun workshops, dances and group sports activities. Aboard Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda, specifically, one day of the cruise will be entirely dedicated to families, with Squok the mascot leading the festivities that culminate with an evening show at the Colosseo.

At the Hall of Fame in the Squok Club and in Teen Zone, young guests will have the opportunity to send in their most memorable photos and show the best moments they experienced during their vacation, both on board and during their shore excursions.

All Costa ships offer clubs dedicated to kids and teens, open every day of the cruise, from 9 a.m. until midnight. There is no charge to attend the shipboard facilities. The clubs are divided into age groups, with indoor and outdoor areas reserved: the Squok Club, named after the mascot “Squok”, half shark and half dolphin, appears in the mini club (from 3 to 6 years old) and in the maxi club (from 7 to 11 years old); while teenagers have at their disposal a Teens Club, divided into Teen Club Junior (from 12 to 14 years old) and Teen Club (from 15 to 17 years old).