Thank you for taking the time to answer. We also love the Middle East and Have been to Bubai but in the height of the summer, your comments seem to be in line with the other reports that have been logged with regard to the food and entertainments. I suppose that we have to accept that we Brits will be in the Minority on an Italian vessel. Thanks again will let you know how we get on David Cadl

We did this cruise the first week of February 2007 and the weather was hot and sunny. Shorts and t shirts on the ship but when going ashore it is wise to cover up so as not to offend the locals. If you are planning to go to a mosque women have to cover the whole body from you head down to your ankles and men would need to wear long sleeve shirt and long trousers. At other times I wore long cotton skirts with a strappy top and loose cotton blouse over the top. We enjoyed the cruise very much but we do like the middle east which is not everyone's cup of tea! we found the Costa ship different from what we were used to...not too formal, and we Brits were in the minority which was irritating when they came to do the public announcements and we were last! The entertainment was not up to the standard that we have been used to but of course had to be international, Spanish dancing, acrobatics, etc. The food was OK but not brilliant, but dinner times were always a fun occasion with the waiting staff. Our favourite place was Muscat...followed by the enormity of everything in Dubai!