I’ve been on enough cruises over the years to know that the price you pay when booking isn’t always the final cost of your vacation.
Depending on the cruise line, things like specialty coffee, internet access, and even certain casual dining options can carry an additional charge.
After spending seven nights aboard Costa Toscana in the Mediterranean, I got a firsthand look at what passengers can enjoy without spending another euro and where the extra charges start adding up.
Some of those extras were worth the money. Others I’d probably skip next time.
What’s Actually Included in the Fare?
The basic cruise fare covers your stateroom, meals in the main dining rooms and the buffet, entertainment, and access to many of the ship’s public spaces and activities.
In other words, you could pretty easily take a weeklong cruise aboard Costa Toscana without spending extra for specialty dining or a drinks package.
That’s how cruising has traditionally worked, and Costa hasn’t abandoned that model.
But as they say, the devil is in the details. There’s a big difference between “some food is included” and “all food is included.”
So while there are plenty of places aboard the ship where you can eat to your heart’s content without forking over extra cash, that’s not true of every venue.
The same goes for drinks. Certain beverages are available as part of regular dining service, but cocktails, specialty coffees, and other purchases may cost extra depending on the fare and package you’ve booked.
As is true when booking any cruise, it’s important to do a little research. You always want to know what’s included and what’s not.
Dining Without Paying Extra
The main dining rooms are included in the fare, so there is always a place for guests to enjoy a traditional sit-down dinner without paying extra.
I ate in the main dining room several times over the course of my cruise. As I mentioned in my earlier reports, the food was decent, the service attentive, and the dining operation ran on a very structured schedule.
The buffet, La Sagra dei Sapori, is another included option.
Costa also incorporates additional food stations around the ship during busy periods to help distribute passengers, something which was particularly useful on sea days.
For instance, sometimes there was a temporary buffet rolled into one of the dining rooms to alleviate crowding from the main buffet (and it needed it!).
Unlike some ships which have food available around the clock, you shouldn’t assume you’ll be able to walk into a buffet or casual restaurant at any hour and find a full meal. That’s why it’s vitally important to pay attention to each venue’s operating hours.
Another complimentary option I appreciated was Street Eats, located near the pool, where burgers, hot dogs, and french fries were available during the afternoon. It’s a smart way to spread passengers around the ship rather than having everyone head to the buffet.
Late at night, however, the same venue switched to a paid menu. One night around midnight, I ordered a double cheeseburger and fries, which came to €7.
That’s not necessarily a bad price, but it did strike me as a little odd to pay for food at night that was complimentary only a few hours earlier.
For passengers who prefer sticking to included dining, my advice would be to check the daily schedule and plan accordingly. There were times late at night when complimentary food options were limited.
Specialty Dining on Costa Toscana
This is where those who want to splurge will find themselves paying extra.
Costa Toscana has several specialty restaurants, including Pummid’Oro Pizzeria, Teppanyaki, Sushino, and Archipelago.
During my week aboard Costa Toscana, I visited several additional-charge dining venues, including Pizzeria Pummid’Oro, Teppanyaki, Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Carlsberg Pub & Bistro, and Gelateria Amarillo.
Each offered something different, from pizza and freshly prepared crepes to a full Teppanyaki dinner. While all carried additional charges, I found some better suited to my tastes than others.
The important distinction, for the purposes of this article, involves the price points of each.
Pummid’Oro operates on an a la carte basis, meaning what you spend depends on what you order.
During my sailing, a standard pizza at Pummid’Oro cost €9.50, while other varieties could run as much as €15.50. Fried mozzarella was another €2.50, making it possible to put together a reasonably priced meal without laying out the kind of money other specialty restaurants might cost.
Teppanyaki uses a different pricing structure which revolves largely around what proteins you pick. My dinner, which included scallops and lobster, was approximately €45. Less expensive combinations were available, and lunch was about €20 cheaper than dinner.
That’s a meaningful difference for anyone looking to experience the restaurant without paying the higher evening price.
I think that’s one of the more useful things to know about specialty dining on this ship. Sometimes when you choose to eat matters just as much as where.
But would I recommend eating at specialty restaurants every night? No. I don’t think that’s necessary, especially when your cruise fare already includes free options.
Costa also offers some specialty dining benefits through its loyalty program but I have not sailed them enough to earn any of those perks. What they offer depends entirely on the status a guest has achieved.
Drinks and Beverage Packages
Drinks are another area where passengers should pay close attention to their fare.
Costa sells beverage packages, but not every passenger automatically has one included.
If you book a fare that doesn’t include a drinks package, you’ll generally pay as you go for things like cocktails, wine, beer, specialty coffees, and bottled beverages. Essentially, you’ll wind up paying for any beverage that isn’t complimentary during regular dining service.
I ordered everything from cappuccinos to specialty cocktails during my week aboard.
I didn’t find the process of ordering drinks particularly different from other cruise lines, but there’s one thing I’d encourage passengers to do before sailing: compare the daily beverage package cost with what you actually drink.
A package might make sense for someone who enjoys cocktails throughout the day, wine with dinner, and specialty coffee in the morning.
For somebody who has an occasional drink, it might not.
My Drinks covers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including coffee, soft drinks, draft beer, wine, and standard cocktails.
My Drinks Plus expands the selection to premium spirits and additional beverages, with minibar access and other benefits subject to the package terms.
As I mentioned in my first report, I was unable to order an Aperol Spritz in the main dining room. This had nothing to do with what package I had or what it covered. Instead, this was due to cocktail service not being available in the dining room.
In other words, it was a reminder that having a beverage package doesn’t necessarily mean every type of drink is available in every venue.
One thing that caught me off guard with the My Drinks package was the bottled water allowance. Although unlimited glasses of water are included, the package only covers one 500 ml bottle per person, per day.
I found that out pretty quickly when I tried ordering additional bottled water and was told I’d reached my daily allowance. As someone who consumes a whole lot of water, this came as a shock. (But again, it’s on me for not having researched what was and was not included!)
It turns out that My Drinks Plus includes unlimited bottled water. It’s a small distinction between the packages, but one worth knowing, especially if you want a bottle to take on your shore excursion or, like me, enjoy keeping water in your stateroom fridge.
Internet Access Isn’t Included
Costa Toscana uses Starlink as its onboard internet provider, with three packages available: WhatsApp, Social, and Full. Packages can be purchased before sailing through MyCosta, with the cruise line advertising savings of up to 20 percent compared with onboard pricing.
I had the four-device package during my cruise. While the connection worked on my MacBook and iPad, I encountered issues connecting my iPhone and Pixel, even after successfully accessing the ship’s internet login page.
For those looking to disconnect for a week, internet is an easy expense to eliminate. That’s especially true on a port-intensive Mediterranean itinerary, where you’re spending much of your time ashore and may be able to use your cellular data plan.
You can still access the Costa app without purchasing an internet package, as it is with most every cruise line.
Service Charges and Other Expenses
Beyond dining, drinks, and Wi-Fi, there are additional costs passengers should factor into their cruise budget when sailing on Costa.
Costa Toscana‘s published hotel service charge is €11 per adult, per night, or €77 for a seven-night cruise.
Whether that amount is included in the cruise fare or charged separately depends on the booking terms. Costa has introduced inclusive pricing for certain bookings, while other fares continue to carry a separate daily service charge.
Passengers should check their booking confirmation to see whether the charge is already included. I spoke with a European passenger during an excursion who told me their gratuities had been bundled into the fare.
Shore excursions are also, of course, an additional cost to be factored in.
Costa offers organized tours in the ports it visits, but these are separate purchases unless specifically included in a promotion or fare.
You can certainly explore many Mediterranean ports independently, and I’ve done that plenty of times over the years.
However, there are situations where booking an organized excursion makes sense, particularly when a destination is farther from the port or transportation arrangements become complicated.
Spa treatments and certain wellness experiences also carry extra charges. I thought some of the prices were reasonable, including €49 for a pedicure.
What I’d Actually Spend Extra On
After a week aboard Costa Toscana, there are definitely some things I’d spend money on again, and others I’d probably pass on.
Pummid’Oro would be an easy yes. I thought the pizza was excellent, and at €9.50 for a basic pie, it’s not exactly going to break the bank. I’ve paid more for pizza on land that wasn’t nearly as good.
I’d also go back to Teppanyaki, although knowing that lunch is considerably cheaper than dinner, I’d probably take advantage of that next time. And if the lunch experience is anything like dinner, saving around €20 makes that a pretty easy decision.
Ferrari Spazio Bollicine? I’d probably skip it. Not because there was anything necessarily wrong with the restaurant, but because I’m not much of a seafood person. The menu just wasn’t particularly appealing to me. Someone who loves seafood might have a completely different opinion.
As for beverage packages, that’s really going to depend on how much you drink. I enjoy my cappuccinos and the occasional cocktail, but I’d want to do the math before committing to a package for the entire cruise.
And knowing what I know now about the bottled-water restrictions, I’d definitely pay closer attention to the fine print.
Internet is another expense I’d reconsider. I needed it because I was working throughout the cruise, but if I were there strictly on vacation, I probably wouldn’t bother with a four-device package.
The nice thing is that you don’t have to spend extra money on every little thing to enjoy the ship. Between the included dining, entertainment, and public spaces, there’s already plenty to do.
And frankly, I’d rather put that money toward something I really want to experience than spend it just because it’s available.
Final Thoughts
One of the things I appreciate about cruising is that passengers can approach the same ship with completely different budgets.
Some people are perfectly content enjoying the included dining, entertainment, and public spaces. Others want specialty restaurants, beverage packages, spa treatments, and organized excursions.
Neither approach is wrong.
After seven nights aboard Costa Toscana, I’d say there are some extras worth paying for and others you can easily do without.
The important thing is knowing what you’re getting before you book. Because at the end of the day, it’s the total cost of the vacation that matters, not just the advertised cruise fare.
Miss our previous entries? Read our first impressions of Costa Toscana and a week aboard Costa Toscana articles.
Disclosure: Costa Cruises hosted my October 2026 sailing aboard Costa Toscana, including certain onboard experiences. All opinions and observations are my own.
