Costa kiosks give info, expedite bookings

‘It’s a huge innovation,’ Costa chairman and ceo Pier Luigi Foschi told Seatrade Insider.

The kiosks -- nine on Costa Pacifica and eight on Costa Luminosa -- are positioned in well-trafficked areas like the promenade deck and Lido area. The size of a large vending machine, the flat, touch-screen devices are easy to use and offer information in one of six languages selected by the passenger: Italian, English, Spanish, French, German or Portuguese.

Users can view pictures of each ship’s senior officers, watch Costa videos, flip through brochures, peruse special boutique offers, book excursions and print tickets, make reservations for Samsara Spa appointments and the Formula 1 race car simulator, preview songs available for recording in Costa Pacifica’s professional music studio, reserve studio time and arrange one-on-one piano, drum or guitar lessons.

Small card readers beside each kiosk allow passengers to quickly register their credit cards for on-board purchases instead of queuing up at the reception desk.