Réservée auprès d'Azur Croisières, cette croisière est proposée par FTI, agence allemande.
Vendredi 15 mars: après un voyage en TGV hier et une nuit à l’hôtel, nous voilà à Roissy, terminal 3, pour notre embarquement pour Louxor. L’avion a 200 places environ, et il n’est pas complet, donc nous pouvons prendre les dernières places au fond pour avoir 3 sièges pour 2, ce qui est beaucoup plus confortable! Le vol est nickel, rien à critiquer. Les collations et boissons sont payantes, mais on était prévenus! Les boissons sont à 2.50€ chaudes ou froides, un plat chaud ( très bon) à 6.50€, un sandwich à 5.50€...c’est tout à fait correct. Le personnel est agréable.
Après un peu plus de 4 heures de vol, nous arrivons à destination en avance, presque 1/2 heure, et un bus nous attend pour nous amener sur notre bateau, le Kahila.
Celui ci n’est pas très beau extérieurement, mais à l’intérieur, il est bien semblable aux photos trouvées sur internet, et on est loin d’être déçus ! La chambre est grande et bien équipée, un grand placard, un petit bureau, un fauteuil et des grands miroirs. Seule la salle de bains et un peu étroite et manque d’étagère. Elle dispose tout de même d’une baignoire.
Après avoir pris un peu de repos et visité le pont supérieur, sa piscine et ses transats, nous avons Rv avec notre guide Mandouh, qui nous explique comment va se dérouler la semaine. Nous bénéficions du pack excursions comprises, qui est vendu 216€ à ceux qui ne l’avaient pas pris à la réservation. Il y a diverses excursions en option proposées: promenade en calèche à Louxor, (18€) visite des temples à Abou Simbel, combiné avec visite d’un village nubien ( 115€) Sons et lumières à Karnak (39€). Enfin, une balade en montgolfière au dessus de la vallée des Reines à Louxor nous est proposée le dernier jour pour 104€.
Demain déjà, nous visiterons Louxor et Karnak, les deux grands temples. Départ du bateau a 8h. En attendant, une bonne nuit ne sera pas de trop pour récupérer..
Heureux qui comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage....
Deuxième jour:
Samedi 16 mars: debout à 7h, pour un départ à 8. Petit déjeuner correct, sucré et salé, sans trop de choix ni beurre. Mais de très bonnes confitures, du miel, yaourts très bons.Un employé fait cuire des omelettes ou des œufs sur le plat, à la demande.
Le car nous attend tout près du bateau, et nous partons pour une bonne demi heure de route.
Visite du Temple de Louxor, et première approche des monuments égyptiens...c’est impressionnant. On se demande par quel miracle ils ont pu construire des œuvres aussi monumentales! Notre guide nous explique les hiéroglyphes, les sculptures et nous raconte aussi l’histoire de ce temple...plus d’une heure de visite commentée, puis une petite demi-heure de visite en solo, pour les photos et autres.
Puis nous nous dirigeons vers le Temple de Karnak, à 3 km du temple de Louxor. L’endroit est beaucoup plus grand, mais les façades ne sont pas décorées comme à Louxor: le pharaon est décédé avant d’avoir pu achever son œuvre...
A midi, la visite est terminée, et le guide nous amène vers une boutique de papyrus, il faut bien faire vivre le commerce! Et nous voilà de retour au bateau à 13h pile, pour le repas, qui comme la veille, n’est pas de la plus haute gastronomie, et semble assez répétitif : poulet, beef et poisson, pâtes, riz, pommes de terre, et légumes sautés ....il y a bien sûr des crudités, mais comme on nous a conseillé de ne pas en manger...au dessert, gâteaux divers, dattes pas vraiment confites et très bonnes, oranges et goyaves. Chaque jour, le menu sera à peu près le même, mais avec des variantes de préparation, poulet rôti ou en sauce, viande de bœuf en petits morceaux très cuits et sauces différentes chaque jour. Pâtes à tous les repas, un chef les cuisine devant nous ou bien elles sont à disposition. Le chef prépare tout le temps quelque chose devant ses plaques électriques, des pâtes ou diverses viandes. On a même eu du canard!
L’après-midi, nous profitons du soleil sur le pont, puis allons au bar attendre l’heure du repas du soir...puis repos de bonne heure, car il faut se lever à 6 heures demain..
Mais la nuit se passe mal: vers 23h, l’air devient irrespirable à cause des odeurs de mazout, au point que nous demandons à changer de chambre. Nous finissons donc la nuit de l’autre côté du couloir où les vapeurs des moteurs sont moins présentes.
Il faut dire qu’au débarcadère, les bateaux accostent les uns après les autres et se collent l’un à côté de l’autre, des passerelles étant disposées entre chaque bateau, et les passagers traversent ces passerelles pour accéder à leur bateau. Il y a certains jours 5 bateaux côte à côte qui exhalent leurs odeurs de mazout, et lorsque la fenêtre de la cabine se trouve entre deux, ces odeurs s'infiltrent dans la cabine, surtout lorsque le bateau voisin est plus petit et plus bas
L'allée des sphinx à Louxor
Heureux qui comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage....
Dimanche 17 mars: lever et petit déjeuner assez correct, puis départ en bus pour la vallée des Rois, où nous allons visiter 3 tombeaux de pharaons parmi les dizaines sur le site. Mandouh nous explique dans le bus que le niveau de vie ici est très bas, qu’il n’y a rien de comparable au smic en Égypte, ceux qui gagnent 500€ soit 10 000 LE s’en sortent à peu près, les autres sont obligés d’avoir deux métiers pour survivre. Arrivés sur le site, nous allons visiter le tombeau de Ramses VII, puis deux autres tombeaux dont nous n’avons pas retenu le nom, de pharaons peu connus. Le tombeau de Toutankhamon est visitable avec un ticket supplémentaire, mais le guide ne nous le propose pas.
Puis départ pour la vallée des Reines et visite du Temple d’Hatchepsout, la fille de Thoutmosis 1er, qui fut la première femme pharaon, son mari, Thoutmosis II meurt laissant comme héritier un jeune batard qu’on marie vite à la fille d’Hatchepsout et de Thoutmosis II. Hatchepsout se proclame régente et usurpe le pouvoir. Elle régnera pendant 22 ans.
Ce temple a été restauré au milieu du XIXeme siècle par une équipe polonaise et égyptienne qui a systématiquement remplacé toutes les pierres manquantes, ce qui lui donne un aspect un peu trop « neuf ». La reine est représentée habillée en homme et portant la barbe postiche des pharaons. Son gendre Thoutmosis III, à la suite de son décès, martèle toutes les images et cartouches la représentant pour se venger d’elle.
Puis visite d’une fabrique d’objets en albâtre, puis retour au bateau. A 14h30, navigation vers Edfou, où nous passerons la nuit.
La nourriture s’améliore, ou bien nous y prenons goût, on arrive à manger correctement au repas et les viandes ont bon goût. En dessert, plusieurs petits gâteaux et des fruits. Des dattes pas tout à fait confites sont excellentes
Heureux qui comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage....
Merci pour votre compte-rendu de cette croisière, je vais le suivre avec intérêt, car c'est une croisière que nous projetons de faire l'année prochaine.
Bonjour Evelyne, j’ai essayé de faire un compte rendu « pratique » afin justement de donner des renseignements précis, que je ne trouve pas toujours quand je cherche des infos...n’hesitez pas à me poser des questions si vous pensez que le compte-rendu n’est pas complet!
Heureux qui comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage....
Lundi 18 mars: aujourd’hui, c’est navigation toute la journée, avec un arrêt vers 14h à Komb Ombo ( la Colline d’Or) où nous visitons le temple qui a été restauré par les Romains, et qui a la particularité d’avoir gravées sur ses murs des scènes de médecine, avec l’accouchement des femmes et la présentation des instruments chirurgicaux dont les médecins se servent encore aujourd’hui. Il y a également un musée de crocodiles momifiés.
Nous passons la matinée sur le pont à prendre le soleil, mais vers 11h, il faut se mettre à l’ombre, car ça tape fort!
Au repas nous dégustons de kebabs très bons, et plusieurs plats orientaux sont présents, ce qui est bien agréable.
La visite se fait sous un soleil de plomb et une chaleur forte, 29° à l’ombre, et une des jeunes excursionnistes a un malaise et doit retourner au bateau.
Après la visite du temple, qui se trouve pratiquement à côté du bateau, le guide nous conseille d’aller à un petit bar typique, où nous buvons jus de fruits frais, café turc et thé local pour à peine 5€ à 4! La fin de la journée se passe sur le pont, jusqu’à l’arrivée des moustiques, qui nous font descendre au salon-bar, puis repas et repos pour la nuit, car le lever est prévu à 5h30 demain matin!
komb Ombo
Heureux qui comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage....
Mardi 19 mars: lever tôt ce matin, pour visiter l’île de Philae et son temple. Par contre, notre chauffeur de bus a une panne d’oreiller, et nous devons l’attendre longtemps avant de partir...le bus est vraiment en mauvais état, le pare brise tient avec du scotch, les sièges sont très abîmés à l’arrière, heureusement que nous n’allons pas très loin! Nous prenons un petit bateau qui nous amène sur l’île, après avoir fait la queue longuement au débarcadère, car il y a du monde! Mandouh nous explique comment le temple de Philae a été démonté puis remonté à 300 m de là pierre par pierre afin de le sauver de la montée des eaux lors de la construction du barrage. Ce temple a été construit par les pharaons puis par les Romains lors de leur occupation de Egypte, et voué au Culte d’Iris, la mère nourricière, qui fit momifier le corps démembré de son époux Osiris. Il est dédié également au culte d’Athor, et fut transformé en église Copte par la suite.
Nous retournons ensuite sur les rives du Nil pour aller visiter les deux barrages d’Assouan, et voir le lac Nasser, le plus grand du monde, qui fait 500km de long.
Nous allons ensuite visiter une fabrique d’huiles essentielles, avant de regagner le Kahila pour le repas, et un court repos, car à 14h30, nous repartons dans un bateau à moteur pour le village Nubien. La balade sur le Nil est très agréable, avec un paysage champêtre et vue du désert, loin de la ville. Nous nous arrêtons quelques minutes sur une longue plage de sable sur laquelle des dizaines de chameaux attendent les touristes pour une balade
Le village Nubien est une longue ruelle de boutiques qui offrent toutes les mêmes objets et vêtements, et se termine par un quartier avec école et crèche, des bâtiments très colorés, aux formes plutôt arrondies avec des coupoles qui servaient à aérée les habitations avant la climatisation.
Notre balade se termine chez un éleveur de crocodiles, il y en a 6 en tout de toutes tailles, dont un que chacun peut prendre dans ses bras...les propriétaires nous offrent un thé à la menthe, et certains se font faire un tatouage au henné, puis nous reprenons le chemin du retour, après une journée bien remplie! Mais franchement, le village nubien est un grand souk, et rien d’autre...À part quelques maisons typiques avec leur dôme chargé de faire baiser la température dans les habitations avant l’arrivée de la climatisation. Nous avons appris ça en écoutant un autre guide que le nôtre, car Mandouh nous a lâchés dans le village sans aucune explication, à part de nous donner RV dans la maison aux crocodiles...
Demain, le lever est prévu à 3h45 en vue du voyage vers Abou Simbel...il faut se coucher de bonne heure!
Temple de Philae
Les chameaux de village Nubien
Heureux qui comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage....
Ceux qui me connaissent, savent que je suis une grande fan de croisières... maritimes et là en dernière minute résa le 7 avril pour un départ le 12: croisière…
Si tant est que la qualité et la magie peuvent se chiffrer, j'ai récapitulé le total de nos dépenses pour 2 semaines en Egypte, de Luxor à Assouan: voyage…
Bonjour
Je pars en croisière avec la compagnie MSC à bord du World Europa en octobre prochain.
Escale Gêne, Naples, Messine, Malte.
Avez vous fait le Volcan Etna et Pompéi?
Pouvez vous me donner des conseils dans chacune de ces étapes?
Je souhaite me déplacer par mes propres moyens sans prendre d'excursions du bateau
Merci pour vos réponses
We just returned from a cruise from 08/13/26 to 08/20/26 on the MSC ORCHESTRA with stops in Tarragona, Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa, and back to Marseille.
The ship was fully booked. Deck chairs were already occupied by beach towels early in the morning, and there were only 1 or 2 people in the pools... However, on the day the Italians disembarked, there were very few towels on the deck chairs.
We found the Italians less talkative.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 9, starboard side. The cabin was spacious, but the sofa was facing the desk, making it a pain to watch TV (neck strain guaranteed). So, we changed the sofa’s orientation to face the TV (we put it back in place on disembarkation day).
There were 325 French speakers on board, and a lot of staff from Mauritius, which made communication easier.
No annoying announcements about bingo, etc.—a nice change from COSTA.
For dinner, we were at the first sitting at 7:45 PM, at a table for 6. On the first night, we were two "gray-haired" couples at the table. The second night, two young women joined us but asked to change tables after seeing us...
The show for our dinner time was at 10:15 PM and ended around 11:00 PM. We found that a bit late for us. The shows were varied and of good quality.
The restaurant menus offered plenty of choices, but at the buffet at lunchtime, there were a lot of dishes with quite a few carbs. Afternoon tea from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM included some great pastries, among other things.
We had an issue with the air conditioning and bad odors in the cabin one afternoon. I reported the problem to the reception, and staff along with our cabin steward came to check the cabin. The issue was resolved that same afternoon.
Two days later, we were surprised to find a bag with items inside: 2 MSC mugs and 2 MSC thermos flasks that keep drinks hot or cold for 10 hours. It was a gift from customer service following the bad odors in our cabin. We weren’t expecting this at all and thanked MSC’s customer service.
For excursions, MSC always offers port-to-city-center transfers for 14 € per adult in Valencia and Tarragona, and 12 € per child. In Livorno, it was 10 € per adult and 7 € per child.
In Civitavecchia, there was a shuttle to the train station for 6 €.
On the MSC for Me app, there were "promotions" on certain excursions.
We really enjoyed this cruise, but we couldn’t revisit some stops (Tarragona and Valencia) on our own because it was too hot.
Great evening: Mum49
hi there
Here’s the cruise schedule for 2026.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members.
2 essential rules:
1) never "quote" the calendar when replying—this’ll avoid any confusion
2) follow the format below
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry!PLEASE respect the templates!
COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF CRUISES 2026:
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Just back from our first cruise on the Renaissance, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about life on board. Our feelings are mixed—we wanted a change after several MSC cruises, but the value for money on this repositioning cruise left us torn.
After taking advantage of successive promotions, we finally secured a well-located balcony cabin for 2600 € (almost 50% off the brochure rate). Given the amenities and the ship’s age, this now feels like the absolute maximum we’d pay for that period.
Overall, we were happy with our vacation on board, but a few details—when added up—left us with a somewhat mixed impression.
The pros:
- Ship size
- Reasonable noise levels, except in the restaurants (aside from the covered pool area)
- Spacious balcony cabin (20 + 5 m²) with plenty of storage and a bathtub with jets
- Understated, tasteful decor
- French language spoken on board
- Friendly staff for the most part
- 100% French-speaking clientele
- Decent food with French dishes (even with an Indian chef)
- Tables for two available (though the ship was full, so no changes possible)
- Some high-quality shows, thanks to an excellent English-speaking troupe
- Interesting lectures (especially on history and cetaceans)
The cons:
- Unreliable air conditioning in common areas (you’d go from a freezing lounge to a hot one, as if the system only worked in certain spaces at certain times)
- Aging ship with a few glitches (noises, AC, toilet flushes, lights) reported at reception (luckily, our only issue was the bathroom door not closing...)
- Industrial, thawed-out bread and pastries (a letdown for a ship with a French image)
- Limited fruit selection (often just apples and watermelon/melon) and not much variety in vegetables
- Worn, sometimes stained restaurant towels
We’re not ruling out another cruise on the Renaissance—their itineraries are unique—but only at a very competitive price.
Hi everyone ...
We’re planning to do the 83-day Cunard cruise ...
departing from Southampton on January 10, 2027 aboard the Queen Anne ...
has anyone done it ... or have any info ... or tips ...
for example ... deck and cabin choices ... drink packages ... excursions ... etc.
... anything good to know about this ship???
Thanks everyone ...
Hi everyone! I’m used to sailing on a sailboat with two or three people—it’s amazing. But I’d love to try the experience of a cruise. Just to clarify, I’ll be going alone. My first question: are there other solo travelers on these cruises, or is it mostly couples and families?
For a first cruise, I’d prefer a short one (maximum 8 days). Do those exist? And on the smallest boat possible. I live in Marseille, so a departure from Marseille would work, but I’m open to other ports too. If you have a cruise line to recommend and a destination you’ve enjoyed, or if you’ve had a great experience on a more intimate-sized ship, I’d love to hear about it!
We're leaving on August 25th for a Danube cruise from Vienna to Bucharest. The travel agency refuses to postpone this cruise despite navigation changes due to the exceptional drought, which include bus transfers that don’t interest us.
Have you had any experiences with this that you’d like to share?
I discovered solo cruises last year, and it was a wonderful experience. Since then, I’ve decided to do one every year, usually between October and March, departing from Marseille or Le Havre.
I travel alone, but I enjoy sharing certain moments with other travelers: having meals together, attending shows, enjoying the evening entertainment, grabbing a drink, or going on a few excursions. Of course, everyone keeps their freedom—the goal is simply to have a good time in a friendly atmosphere.
For the end of this year, I don’t have a cruise planned yet. However, I’m already booked on the MSC Magnifica from October 29 to November 3, 2027, departing from Marseille with an itinerary to Spain and Italy.
If you often travel solo or if you’re on this cruise, I’d love to chat with you before departure. Looking forward to meeting you! 🚢😊
Hi there,
Here’s the 2027 cruise schedule.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members!
2 essential rules:
1) Never "quote" the schedule when replying—this avoids any confusion.
2) Follow this format:
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry about that. IMPORTANT Please respect the templates!
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF 2027 CRUISES: 1
JANUARY
14/01 - poupou10 / AZAMARA JOURNEY / 74 days / South America Tour / Miami
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Hello!
After a lot of hesitation between different cruise lines (Explora, Oceania, YC, HAL, NCL) and several destinations like Norway, Ireland, and Iceland,
I finally chose NCL’s Star for Iceland.
I had already looked at this itinerary when I went to Scotland in April with CFC, but it was really expensive.
You should know that CFC often offers last-minute deals 45 days before departure (the point when you can no longer cancel or modify).
So, I got a great opportunity and grabbed it.
Departure is on August 23rd.
If there’s one trip I’ve always wanted to take, it’s a long boat journey far from my daily routine—something like crossing the Atlantic. I first thought about traveling on a cargo ship or similar, as some of these boats used to accept individual passengers, but I’ve read that this has become very rare since COVID. Plus, the options that might work for me are way out of my budget, like Neoline, for example.
A cruise seems like the best solution for me, especially since what I really love is the idea of a long stay on a ship—making stops in different places, exploring them, the change of scenery, and a real break from the daily grind. I’ve never been on a cruise before, so I was thinking of doing a 21-day cruise between a port in mainland France (Marseille) and Pointe-à-Pitre. The departure port doesn’t really matter—Marseille, Le Havre, or even a nearby European city would work.
Since I want to travel solo, I’m really keen on cruises designed for solo travelers. MSC has one from Marseille to Pointe-à-Pitre, lasting 21 days, departing next November (so in a few months). The price is within my budget, just over 1800 €.
I see that other cruises with similar routes and durations are planned for next year, November 2027, but the prices are totally different—around 3500 €, which is clearly out of my budget.
So, my question is: do you think I should wait for a possible price drop for the 2027 cruises (if I understand correctly, prices are adjusted based on how full the ship is and how close the departure date is) or should I book the one in November 2026? I could easily take three weeks off this fall. Also, is it too late to book for November 2026? I’ve read that visas might be required for some stops.
For the rest—accommodation in Guadeloupe and the flight ticket back to France—it’s not a problem; I can sort that out pretty easily.
Hi everyone,
I’m staying in a suite on the Pacifica in October and I can’t find any details about the suite benefits beyond the elite restaurant, the butler, and the espresso machine.
What about breakfast and meals served free in the cabin, and the spa?
Costa’s been cutting back on perks for Gold members, and it seems like suites are next.
Thanks for your replies!
Hello,
We’re back from this cruise.
Boarding in Dunkirk: The doors opened around 12 PM. Since we were a bit early, I asked if my husband, who uses a walker, could wait inside instead of outside. I left him with the two suitcases and our two backpacks in the small hall while I parked the car in the reserved CFC parking lot for 10 € per day.
The shuttle that was supposed to take people from the parking lot to the model pavilion was supposed to arrive in 5 minutes, but after 15 minutes, nothing. After waiting 15 minutes, I saw a man walking and asked if I could follow him. In 15 minutes, we arrived, and still no sign of the shuttle—it must have passed us. Arrived at the model pavilion.
My husband had already checked in the suitcases with the help of a CFC staff member. The remaining formalities were completed quickly. We were on board by 12:15 PM. Headed to the buffet on deck 11 and waited in a lounge to access our cabin.
At 2 PM, we discovered our balcony cabin on deck 9 at the rear: spacious with a large balcony compared to MSC/COSTA.
Since we were at the rear, cabin 9202, there was always an issue with elevator number 4: "priority."
Elevator number 2 stops at deck 10... and elevator number 3 was often out of order, leaving only number 1 for those with mobility issues to reach the buffet, especially for people who struggle with stairs. Note: only one child on board and lots of "gray hair."
DAY 2: At sea. Lots of activities offered.
Day 3: GOTHENBURG (Sweden). Sunny, 19°C at 11 AM.
Excursion booked with CFC: Gothenburg and Haga for all.
Interesting visit with a great guide. The HAGA district, in our opinion, is full of cobblestones and nothing special, not suitable for people using a cane or wheelchair. Elevator number 3 was out of order again.
Day 4: Copenhagen. 15°C in the morning, showers in the afternoon.
We didn’t book an excursion since we’d already stopped here with CFC in 2025, and based on advice from this forum, we took the hop-on/hop-off bus right in front of the ship. I still went to see the Little Mermaid again.
No TV, but the elevator was fixed.
DAY 5: At sea. Still no TV.
DAY 6: GDANSK (Poland). 15°C, rain all day.
There’s a shuttle to get to the city center.
We took the excursion: Panorama of Gdansk.
The guide left us at the entrance of the city center for 45 minutes, telling us what to visit. Meet-up for the rest of the tour at 3 PM. The bus left at 3:15 PM to cover 10 km to see St. Mary’s Cathedral. We arrived at 4:16 PM... The guide said there are often traffic jams in that direction. We had 10 minutes on site before heading to see the lighthouse and the Westerplatte monument, where we also had 10 minutes.
Many of us wondered why we didn’t do the tour in the opposite direction since they knew there would be traffic...
I went to reception to complain about the organization. The staff member read me the program: we were supposed to start with the lighthouse, then go to the cathedral and stay for 30 minutes before heading to the center of Gdansk for a short guided walk with some free time to buy souvenirs, etc.
The guide did the complete opposite of what was planned and didn’t even give us a guided tour—just dropped us off in the city...
DAY 7: Bornholm Island (Denmark). 14°C, a few sunny spells.
We saw in the excursions that there was a walking tour of RØNNE. So, like many others, we explored on our own. There was a small orchestra welcoming us at the port and two people with city maps. We took the shuttle to leave the port—it ran every 15 minutes. The tourist office was next to the "shuttle bus." A pleasant visit at our own pace.
DAY 8: KIEL (Germany). 18–23°C, nice weather.
We took the "Kiel for all" excursion. Great guide and interesting visits.
The port is in the city, and in 10 minutes, we were in the city center by following a blue line on the ground from the port. Elevator 3 was stuck again... and the TV was back.
DAY 9: At sea. Elevator 3 works.
DAY 10: At sea. Elevator 3 is out of order again...
DAY 11: Disembarkation in Dunkirk.
Cabins had to be vacated by 7:30 AM. Buffet open until 9 AM.
Elevator number 1 was "reserved," leaving only number 2, which doesn’t go up to deck 11... a problem for people with mobility issues who had to cross the entire deck 11 and try to use one of the four working elevators at the front, which were crowded.
My opinion: Interesting stops.
The onboard staff were always welcoming, smiling, and mostly French-speaking.
Evening shows were better than in March/April 2025—better singers, dancers, and presenters, and the costumes were improved.
I liked the "magician" shows less.
There were three onboard lectures by a very cultured person, but they went off-topic and were too historical for my taste. I didn’t attend the other two; my husband went to the second but not the third.
For this cruise, there was a bridge theme, but we’re not players or interested.
We didn’t take a drink package on board—water, coffee, tea, and herbal teas were available.
We had a water leak in our cabin the night before disembarkation. We reported it, and after the technical staff came (with a translator who didn’t speak English), we were asked to leave the cabin for a while for repairs. We went to a lounge, and after 1.5 hours, I checked in at reception. The repair took longer than expected... we had to change cabins... not ideal the night before disembarkation. No balcony cabins were available, so we got an ocean-view cabin, 6075, with a bathtub (impossible for both of us to use). We packed our suitcases, took a shower in our cabin, and moved to the new one. Noise from chairs until 12:30 AM because the cabin was under a lounge, and constant ventilation noise in the hallway... sleep was hard to come by.
Disembarkation: Well organized. We were helped with transporting the two suitcases and bags to the waiting room while I took the shuttle to get the car.
Guylène
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
hi,
I’m leaving Hamburg for Iceland at the end of July. The boat arrives in Reykjavik on Tuesday, August 4th at 8 AM, and I’d like to book a day trip like the Golden Circle or Secret Lagoon… The sites like GetYourGuide and others list departures at 8 AM. If you’ve used these sites with the MSC Preziosa, could you let me know how to go about it?
Thanks! 😉
allyMB007
Hello everyone,
It’s with immense sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of our friend Nathalie (nadu). Many of us knew her through this forum, which she loved so much. She enjoyed reading your travel stories, joining discussions, sharing her cruise reviews, and offering valuable advice—always with kindness, gentleness, and discretion.
For me, Nathalie was so much more than just a cruise enthusiast. She was a friend, a deeply kind person who was always there to listen, despite the many health challenges she faced with tremendous courage. We corresponded regularly, and sometimes we had the chance to visit each other’s homes or attend the cruise show together with our respective husbands.
We shared a common dream: when we both retired, we had planned to finally go on a cruise together. Life had other plans, and that trip will forever remain a journey we never had the chance to take. That thought weighs heavily on my heart today.
I’ll remember her as a gentle, generous woman who was always ready to help others. Her presence on this forum will leave a huge void, just as her friendship has in my life.
I send my sincerest thoughts to her husband, her family, and all those who had the chance to know her.
Fair winds, Nathalie. I like to think you’re now sailing on an infinitely calm sea, under an eternally blue sky. You’ll remain in our thoughts and hearts every time we talk about cruises or set off on a new journey.
Rest in peace, Nathalie.
For those who’d like to send a message of comfort and sympathy to her husband, you can send me a PM, and I’ll pass it along.
THANK YOU
Hello everyone,
So happy to be back on this Forum!
We’re heading off on another cruise—our 7th—after a 5-year break...
We’ll be leaving from Venice on April 26th with stops in Kotor, Mykonos, Santorini, and Ancona.
Could you help me plan the stops by sharing tips, tricks, and advice?
For those who already know me, you know we prefer not to take the cruise line’s excursions but instead organize everything ourselves.
Thanks in advance to everyone, and looking forward to chatting with you all!
hi there, a group of friends and I are going on a cruise at the end of June with CFC in Norway. I’d love to get some info on the different stops we’ll be making. Most of them are one-day stops (from around 10 AM to 8 PM on average). Here are the stops: Andalsnes, Trondheim, Honningsvåg, Alta, Hellesylt, Sandane, Austefjorden.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what there is to see or do in these places.
When I get back, I’ll post what we did—it might help others who come after us.
Also, does anyone know if the boat sticks to the arrival time in Dunkirk for catching tickets to head back south? We’ll plan a buffer just in case.
Hi there, The day before boarding the Costa Favolosa for the Norwegian Fjords cruise departing from Hamburg, I'd like to book a hotel. Which one would be the most convenient location-wise relative to the port?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hello,
We’ll be sailing on the Renaissance with CFC to southern Norway from July 4 to 11, 2026, departing from Dunkirk (the cruise was booked through "Planète Croisière").
When entering some personal details or pre-selecting options on the CFC website, I’m wondering about the "optional" categories for drinks and WiFi.
I’m actually a bit surprised by these extra charges, as we weren’t used to them on other cruises (Australis in Patagonia; Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express in Norway and Alaska; Rivages du Monde in the Arctic or on the Douro River; a Nile river cruise in Egypt), where we sometimes had access to basic drinks at meals and free WiFi when near land.
Anyway, for those who’ve already taken a CFC cruise on the Renaissance, could you share some advice? Specifically about the most basic drink package, called "Fraîcheur" (238 € for two), which doesn’t seem to be described anywhere. The "Premium" package seems excessive (490 € for two for the week) for light drinkers.
As for WiFi, it’s 10 € per day per person. While I find that price acceptable for parking our car in Dunkirk, it feels overpriced here (especially since it was free on the Nordlys "Coastal Express" just 3 or 4 years ago).
So, I’d love to hear from experienced cruisers who’ve been on this ship!
Looking forward to seeing the excursion prices, which should be available soon! 😐
Réservée auprès d'Azur Croisières, cette croisière est proposée par FTI, agence allemande.
Vendredi 15 mars: après un voyage en TGV hier et une nuit à l’hôtel, nous voilà à Roissy, terminal 3, pour notre embarquement pour Louxor. L’avion a 200 places environ, et il n’est pas complet, donc nous pouvons prendre les dernières places au fond pour avoir 3 sièges pour 2, ce qui est beaucoup plus confortable! Le vol est nickel, rien à critiquer. Les collations et boissons sont payantes, mais on était prévenus! Les boissons sont à 2.50€ chaudes ou froides, un plat chaud ( très bon) à 6.50€, un sandwich à 5.50€...c’est tout à fait correct. Le personnel est agréable.
Après un peu plus de 4 heures de vol, nous arrivons à destination en avance, presque 1/2 heure, et un bus nous attend pour nous amener sur notre bateau, le Kahila.
Celui ci n’est pas très beau extérieurement, mais à l’intérieur, il est bien semblable aux photos trouvées sur internet, et on est loin d’être déçus ! La chambre est grande et bien équipée, un grand placard, un petit bureau, un fauteuil et des grands miroirs. Seule la salle de bains et un peu étroite et manque d’étagère. Elle dispose tout de même d’une baignoire.
Après avoir pris un peu de repos et visité le pont supérieur, sa piscine et ses transats, nous avons Rv avec notre guide Mandouh, qui nous explique comment va se dérouler la semaine. Nous bénéficions du pack excursions comprises, qui est vendu 216€ à ceux qui ne l’avaient pas pris à la réservation. Il y a diverses excursions en option proposées: promenade en calèche à Louxor, (18€) visite des temples à Abou Simbel, combiné avec visite d’un village nubien ( 115€) Sons et lumières à Karnak (39€). Enfin, une balade en montgolfière au dessus de la vallée des Reines à Louxor nous est proposée le dernier jour pour 104€.
Demain déjà, nous visiterons Louxor et Karnak, les deux grands temples. Départ du bateau a 8h. En attendant, une bonne nuit ne sera pas de trop pour récupérer..
L'allée des sphinx à Louxor
Le temple d'Hacheptsout
komb Ombo
Temple de Philae
Les chameaux de village Nubien
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.
