Snapshot

Before Costa Luminosa launched in 2009, designers took the ship’s name to heart. With vivid colors, a vast array of glittering lights (including Murano glass chandeliers) and expanses where the sun — or moon — can shine in, Luminosa appears luminous, indeed.

At 965 feet long and 106 feet wide, Costa Luminosa can accommodate 2,260 passengers in 1,130 cabins. Staterooms and public spaces are artfully outfitted in oranges, golds and browns. There are touches of brilliant purples and iridescent fabrics, and artwork is everywhere. The effect is that the ship is bright and cheerful yet with a contemporary, sophisticated aesthetic giving it appeal to all ages.

Who will like sailing on Costa Luminosa

Sports enthusiasts will be drawn to the sophisticated golf simulator or Grand Prix simulator, while runners, walkers and roller skaters should pack their appropriate foot gear for the outdoor track. The spa features nearly 27,000 square feet of opulent pampering for spa lovers. Overall Luminosa offers a fun vibe with its bold colors and eye-catching design and there's a lot to recommend it for families, including areas just for kids and teens. While the shorter Caribbean cruises in the spring have strong appeal for younger passengers, the longer transatlantic cruise to Italy in late March and 98-night world cruise in the fall should have great appeal for retirees. 

Where Costa Luminosa sails

Home port: Miami until early spring 2015; St. Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden) and Savona (Italy) the rest of the year. 

Destinations: Caribbean cruises from Miami include the Bahamas, Mexico and Honduras; in March the Luminosa heads across the Atlantic to Savona, Italy and Western Mediterranean cruises. During the summer she cruises in northern Europe and then around the Baltic and Russia, sailing out of Stockholm and St. Petersburg. In the fall of 2015, Costa Luminosa sails from Savona on a 98-night world cruise before returning to Europe.