It's not just their penchant for pasta and Roman Bacchanal toga parties that does it - Costa ships really do exude their advertised "Cruising Italian Style" aura, top to bottom. All of which provides passengers with a quixotic cross-bred twist on the traditional Caribbean vacation: You can mingle with the local West Indian culture by day, then return to your own offshore Little Italy by night. CruiseMon wonders if the opposite strategy would sell: Cruising up and down the coast of Italy from Venice to Portofino aboard a cruise ship with an all-Caribbean theme, West Indian staff, dreadlocked captain, papaya buffet, reggae at the hot tubs. In Costa' case, both the Victoria and the newer Costa Atlantica are beautiful ships. On one hand, the Victoria offers a decor of modern Italian simplicity, while the Atlantica - built after Costa was taken over by Carnival - boasts a room configuration heavy on the verandahs, and a glitzier interior.