Costa Cruises has dubbed Costa Luminosa, its new ship, "the ship of light". After a few hours on board while it was in Harwich the other day - the tallest thing around as you approach the port - it was easy to see why.
There are spotlights, light clusters and chandeliers everywhere, all cleverly used to bring out the best bits of the design of the ship, which is another Joe Farcus masterpiece.
I'm can't say I am a huge fan of the OTT designs Farcus usually comes up with for Costa and Carnival Cruise Lines, but I can't help but admire his imagination and fantastic attention to detail. I've seen this C on the door handles on Costa ships before but I still think it's a great touch, and how about the C under the tables in the Grand Bar?
Actually, Luminosa is far less over the top than many of Farcus' designs - almost elegant in places. There are no pink spots or models of ships hanging upside down on the ceilings, not even any spaced-out mermaids (well none that I saw anyway), but there are some very clever light designs, like these blue clusters that are then repeated on the side of the bar.
One of the things that really struck me about the ship is how much room there is - in the corridors, in the bars, on the open decks. It's hard to imagine there will ever be a shortage of sunbeds, although you could get exhausted wandering around trying to find a free one.
There are also some neat touches - after struggling to open one for a few moments, I discovered the doors into the public toilets are automatic, no doubt to try to help reduce the spread of norovirus (but automatic toilet flushes as well would have made more sense) and I love the late breakfast station just inside from the aft deck. Great for getting a snack without having to get covered up for the buffet, but why wasn't it open at lunchtime?
Unfortunately I didn't get to see the thermal suite in the spa. As people were using it, I wasn't allowed in, which was annoying but only right for those who had paid for privacy. But it sounded good and I made do instead with checking out the sauna in the ladies changing room which has a big window so you can sweat with a view.
The notice outside says "bathing suits must be worn". Inside there was one topless woman. Well it is a European ship you know.
Jane Archer
