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makchic Reviews: Cruising Aboard the Costa Serena

Uncharted waters. As I stared across the inky blackness of the Straits of Malacca, this phrase kept floating in my mind. I’ve travelled by air and land – train, coach, car, bicycle, rickshaw, tuk-tuk; you name it, I’ve done it – but a cruise? That was a first. 

Sailing on the high seas, on board Costa Serena.

With my husband and our two children in tow, we recently embarked on our maiden voyage on Costa Serena, a Concordia-class cruise ship inspired by ancient Roman and Greek mythology, on a landmark three-day journey from Port Klang to Penang and back. This journey, I later discovered, was a proud milestone for the cruise’s local agent, Hwajing Travel & Tours, being officially recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the ‘1st International Chartered Cruise Homeporting in Malaysia’.

Now, feet firmly back on dry land, here are some of this writer’s honest thoughts about her staycation at sea. 


Embarking on an adventure 

Our journey began with an extensive embarkation process at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal. For a cruise travelling within local destinations, such as this, passports aren’t required for local residents, making this a convenient trip for Malaysians. We brought along our national identification cards, as well as the kids’ MyKid cards, along with the other required documentation for boarding. 

The writer with her family.

Following the helpful cruising guide sent to us by the Costa Serena team ahead of time, detailing important information such as the luggage check-in procedure and a checklist of items to bring along, we were advised to print out our tickets and boarding forms. For those without a printer at home however, there is a dedicated check-in counter with staff who can assist with the printing of tickets. 

For forgetful travellers who might have overlooked a thing or two during packing (read: me), there are also small convenience stores at the cruise terminal, with light bites, drinks and other handy supplies, such as universal travel adaptors (to accommodate the ship’s European plug points) and sunscreen, available for purchase. Our snack supplies certainly came in handy with our hangry children, while waiting to embark the vessel. Although the cruise operates on staggered timings for embarkation, the sheer number of people on board the ship – approximately 3,000+ people that weekend –  still necessitated a longer-than-expected waiting period, and an occasionally chaotic check-in process.

Security checks and waiting to embark Costa Serena.

There was also some slight confusion at the start, where, finding myself a little lost, I attempted to track down a member of the staff to assist; however, given the cruise’s focus on the Mandarin-speaking market, I did have to locate a crew member who was able to address my queries in the English language.

Our home away from home 

Despite a slightly overwhelming start, my family and I quickly got our bearings on board Costa Serena. Heading straight to our rooms, we were greeted with a lovely window view of the ocean from our Premium Balcony Cabins, and several key documents setting out our itinerary over the next few days, namely our Cruise Compass (Oggi A Bordo) and Cruise Guide, in a handy Family Welcome Kit. 

Must-haves orientation documents for the cruise.

The Cruise Compass, which was updated daily, included important details about the ship’s dining locations and operating hours, entertainment highlights, port embarkation information, and other onboard details. We were also provided with our respective Costa Cabin Cards, our lifeline on board the vessel for any transactions made during our trip. Funds can be uploaded to this card, or linked to your existing credit card, with all transactions onboard the ship being charged in USD.

Travellers looking to stay connected to the Internet would also need to purchase one of the available Wi-Fi packages. It’s also worth noting that in addition to the travel rate paid for the cruise, additional cruise gratuities will also generally be charged, the amount of which differs according to the cabin type selected (although this doesn’t apply to children under the age of 4).

A peek inside one of the ship’s Premium Balcony Cabins.

Our cabins proved to be a surprisingly spacious haven for us during our stay; a welcome oasis away from the busyness of the ship, with expansive views of the open sea from their little balconies. Our young travellers loved popping outdoors to take in the ocean breeze, or to gaze at the stars at night. The bathrooms, although on the smaller side when it came to the shower areas, were clean and comfortable, while the cozy beds (compounded by the rocking motion of the ocean) made for an excellent two nights’ rest. 

Safety first – undergoing a fire drill and briefing by the team, in case of emergencies.

But with so many exciting activities on board Costa Serena, sleep was honestly the last thing on our minds! Following a mandatory fire drill and safety briefing by the ship’s crew, and equipped with our trusty documents and devices, we soon set out to explore the ship. 

Endless activities for the family 

The facilities and breadth of activities is where Costa Serena truly shines. There are entertaining events happening everywhere – from karaoke sessions, movie screenings, a video arcade, and friendly games and quizzes, to morning yoga at the Lido Sole, duty-free luxury shopping, disco parties, a spin at the casino, and so much more! 

Round-the-clock activities happening on board Costa Serena.

Don’t miss out on the welcome presentations at the start of the trip for a helpful overview of all that Costa Serena has to offer. Our little ones loved taking a dip in one of the ship’s many pools and jacuzzis (there are 8 in total!), with a particular preference for the open air pool and hot tubs located at the ship’s observation deck. There’s also a water slide (do note that the slide is only open at certain specified points of time within the day), though sadly, we didn’t get the opportunity to try this out during our trip.

Having a splashing good time, while taking in the beautiful sea views.

For those travelling with kids aged 3 to 17 years old, the Squok Club and Teen Zone respectively provide a host of kid-friendly activities, events and performances. These dedicated areas allow parents to leave their kids in the safe hands of the friendly staff, while catching some space for themselves to enjoy the ship’s many offerings. Our kids also loved the bubble show during their stay, and even got to take part in some of the fun performances conducted by the Squok Club team.

Travellers focusing on fitness and wellness would certainly appreciate the ship’s well-equipped gym, as well as the Samsara Spa, complete with saunas, whirlpool tubs, and a range of pampering treatments, such as massages and facials.

A look at some of the spa’s offerings – perfect for a time of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Inspired by Costa Serena’s Italian origins, some of the highlights of the cruise’s first night included an exciting live show entitled ‘Venezia Innamorata’, giving travellers a spellbinding glimpse taste of Venice at sea, followed by a Carnival Party, where masks and merriment abounded. During the second night, the entertainment offerings differed, featuring an acrobatic performance that thrilled my kids (think: Cirque du Soleil meets cruise ship)!

Enjoying a magical night at the theatre.

When the ship pulled into Penang on Day 2, we chose to briefly disembark to explore the sights and sounds of the city on foot. While travellers may opt for the free-and-easy option, others may prefer more structure with organised tours. That’s where Costa Serena’s My Tours team comes in, with tour experts available to organise shore excursions and sightseeing options to places of interest in the ports visited. 

(L-R) A short disembarkation to explore Penang, and a showcase of some of the tours and excursions offered by My Tours.

Sampling the culinary offerings 

Costa Serena is also home to a variety of F&B options, ranging from their main dining rooms, the Ceres Restaurant and Vesta Restaurant, to buffet-style dining and speciality restaurants, such as Casanova (for Italian and Mediterranean delicacies), Sushino at Costa (for sushi and sashimi dishes), a steakhouse, and Pizzeria Pummid’Oro (for freshly baked pizza). While meals at Ceres, Vesta and the self-service buffet restaurant are complimentary under the cruise packages, meals at the other restaurants are available as chargeable add-on options. 

Enjoying a buffet breakfast before the day’s activities at the Promoteo Self-Service Restaurant.

Given the short duration of our cruise, my family and I didn’t get the chance to try out the food in the specialty restaurants, choosing instead to dine primarily at the buffet restaurant, or Vesta. Due to the volume of people on board, the atmosphere at the buffet restaurant often felt crowded, particularly during peak hours, so we opted for meals instead at Vesta, our assigned restaurant. Dinner time slots are pre-arranged, either at 5.15pm for the first sitting, or 7.45pm for the second sitting, and guests have the option to choose from a host of options, comprising a starter, first course, main course and dessert. 

A choice of varied meal options at Vesta Restaurant.

The quality of the food was occasionally hit-and-miss – I enjoyed the salmon starter and Madame Choux pastry dessert, for example, but felt that certain dishes, such as the roasted beef, could have been more tender or flavourful. My children were big fans of the bolognese pasta, however, and ate this two days in a row! We also couldn’t resist the delicious offerings of the ship’s Gelateria Cioccolateria Amarillo, for authentic handmade Italian gelato and desserts – definitely recommended.

Some of the family’s favourites during the cruise.

Our takeaways

Bidding Costa Serena bon voyage.

After 3 days and 2 nights of smooth sailing, we found ourselves back in Port Klang in the early hours of the morning, basking in the glow of the sunrise and our unique adventure at sea. While we felt there were some moments that could perhaps have been improved upon, we ultimately left with fond memories of our exciting experience aboard this mighty vessel.

Thank you so much for having us, Costa Serena and Hwajing Travel & Tours!

By Kimberly Lee



makchic’s stay was sponsored by Hwajing Travel & Tours. The writer’s opinions, however, are solely her own.

For more information about Costa Serena, or other cruise or travel packages organised by Hwajing Travel & Tours, please visit their website, or check out their Facebook page. You may also contact them at 03 – 9200 2929 or drop them a WhatsApp message to enquire: https://wa.link/ynk3b1 | https://wa.link/ufw1jf

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