TRAVEL TALES
A Cruise around the Emirates and Oman with Dad? Count me in!
A two-part interview with Alberto and his daughter Ludovica, who, together with Ludovica’s younger sister Alice, shared an unconventional Christmas under the sun in distant lands...
Why did you choose the Emirates and Oman?
Alberto: It's a world we were not familiar with, a world that was far from our culture, and we were curious.
The cruise allowed us to travel and go on excursions to all sorts of places without ever having to worry about a thing.
What is the most important part of cruising to you?
Alberto: The excursions are the core attraction. Being able to enjoy comprehensive excursions that encompass the local area is a must, to experience the people and the places, from the desert oases to the city life of Dubai. Every new place is an opportunity for enrichment. Then there is the ship, which is the ideal way to comfortably reach faraway places at night, eat well and enjoy the great outdoors.
Ludovica: The team on board was very good at recommending the most suitable excursions. All the ones we went on turned out to be perfect for us!
For you, Ludovica, as a fan of architecture, it must have been so exciting.
Ludovica: Sheikh Zayed's Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi was spectacular. Never have I seen so many precious stones set in columns as I did on this trip!
Tell us about your excursions!
Alberto and Ludovica: The Bedouin camp in the desert amazed me, not least because it was our first excursion. And taking the lift up to the top of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper was incredible.
Your Instagram friends must have been a little jealous...
Ludovica: Haha, just a little!
How did you spend your time on board Costa Toscana?
Ludovica: My sister and I would go out onto the deck and make the most of the sunbathing areas, while Dad would stay in the indoor areas. Arriving back tanned to a rain-soaked, grey Turin was fantastic!
In other words, you experienced the middle of summer in December.
Alberto: The only day I wasn't wearing swimming trunks is captured in a photo of me in rolled-up jeans, halfway between Sampei and Indiana Jones, in the fjord in Oman!
What type of cabin did you stay in?
Alberto: A cabin with a balcony, which we particularly enjoyed when we returned in the evening, because it offered additional views and perspectives of our destinations.
Ludovica, what kind of traveller is your father?
He’s a great travelling companion! He gave us the space to enjoy so many opportunities. He was never overprotective or anxious, in fact quite the opposite, he encouraged us to explore, to discover, to see new things. And also thanks to him we were never late for our excursions! He is the most punctual of the three of us.
Alberto, what did you learn about your daughter on the trip?
In so many different places I saw her being very inquisitive, stimulated, away from her mobile phone, which was an unexpected discovery! I was afraid she might be bored, but not at all. We went on the excursions, we then talked about them among ourselves or with the other passengers, and once we returned home, I know she shared everything with her friends. She really made the most of this cruise! I’d put it in the top 5 of our holidays together.
Is there another cruise on the horizon?
Alberto and Ludovica: We’re tempted by a cruise in the Fjords in Northern Europe. And if Costa ever does a cruise on the Nile, consider it booked!
As an Italian, I have to ask... how was the coffee?
Alberto: The coffee was delicious and aromatic, especially in Oman. On other trips the coffee can often be woeful!
Did you go to the Archipelago Restaurant?
Alberto and Ludovica: Of course, we tried all the food! No word of a lie, they have the very best restaurants you can ever dine at on board.
Did you forge any lasting friendships with other travellers on board?
Alberto: The girls made friends with some young girls of the same age and came back with very good English! On this cruise we talked a lot to people from all over the world.
Would you recommend the cruise to your friends?
Alberto and Ludovica: We already have!
