Original post
Qui part de marseille le 28 septembre avec TMR sur le bleu de france pour la croisiére
"les merveilles adriatiques" ?.
Claude
Croisière sur le Bleu de France avec TMR
by Sixfan
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
😕 Heu, j'arrive un peu tard. J'espère que votre voayge s'est bien passé et que vous en gardez un excellent souvenir. Personnellement je pars le 4 novembre pour la croisière du théâtre, j'aimerai avoir votre sentiment sur la vôtre. Les prestations sont elles à la hauteur de ce que l'on peut attendre au regard du prix de la croisière ? l'ambiance, la restauration... peut-être auriez-vous aussi quelques conseils à me donner sur le plan vestimentaire : décontracte ou un peu guindé ?, l'organisation des excursions, les procédures d'embarquement. En tout cas merci d'avance.
Cher Monsieur
Nous sommes revenus le 11 de ce mois apres une croisiere comportant de belles escales. Le retour a marseille a ete gaché car sur 5cars pour les transferts a la gare
il en manquait deux, donc 2 heures d'attente sur le quai ( heureusement il faisait beau) et 1 h pour regagner la gare dans les embouteillages du samedi midi !!!!!sinon
accueil et embarquement longs; cabine exterieure agreable a part la sdb un peu vieillotte (le navire il est vrai a 27 ans) le bateau est agreable sans plus, quelques
mauvaises odeurs se font sentir ici et la ; dommage. la nourriture est correcte sans plus le petit dejeuner est bien mais manquait de fruits frais. J'ai oublié le couchage
parfait. les spectales agreables, le conferencier inoubliable, l'equipe d'animation tres agreable.pour le soir tenue correcte sans exces c'est selon vos gouts.
Les soirees de gala ne sont pas celles que j'ai connu sur d'autres navires. le spa est tres bien et les massages excellents. je vous souhaite une tres bonne croisiere
theatrale, le grand salon est assez intimiste n'arrivez pas trop tard pour avoir de bonnes places.amicalement claude salles
nous avons 63 et 64 ans et faisions parti des plus jeunes.
Claude
Bonsoir,
Je vous remercie pour les renseignements que vous me communiquez. S'il fallait résumer votre sentiment sur TMR, on pourrait dire : "Bien mais peu mieux, voire beaucoup mieux faire". C'est quand même un peu dommage. Vu les tarifs pratiqués et la publicité sur la qualité des prestations, on serait en droit d'attendre un autre service (odeur persistance non résolue à la 3ème croisière, restauration moyenne malgré la présence d'un grand chef français etc...). Il y a quelques années nous avions faits une croisière avec TMR sur le Renaissance et nous en avions gardé un bon souvenir. C'était un autre navire.
Enfin, nous verrons bien comment se passera cette dernière croisière, j'espère au moins qu'elle ne sera pas bâclée! Permettez-moi encore une question au sujet des horaires des repas : y a-t-il bien deux services et si oui, lequel me conseillez-vous ? Par ailleurs, avez-vous testé les différents restaurants du bord ? En ce qui concerne l'âge, on ne dépareillera pas puisque nous avons respectivement 67 et 64 ans. On reste encore dans la moyenne...Bonne soirée et encore merci. PS: A notre retour, je vous donnerai notre sentiment sur la croisière. Claude.
Je vous remercie pour les renseignements que vous me communiquez. S'il fallait résumer votre sentiment sur TMR, on pourrait dire : "Bien mais peu mieux, voire beaucoup mieux faire". C'est quand même un peu dommage. Vu les tarifs pratiqués et la publicité sur la qualité des prestations, on serait en droit d'attendre un autre service (odeur persistance non résolue à la 3ème croisière, restauration moyenne malgré la présence d'un grand chef français etc...). Il y a quelques années nous avions faits une croisière avec TMR sur le Renaissance et nous en avions gardé un bon souvenir. C'était un autre navire.
Enfin, nous verrons bien comment se passera cette dernière croisière, j'espère au moins qu'elle ne sera pas bâclée! Permettez-moi encore une question au sujet des horaires des repas : y a-t-il bien deux services et si oui, lequel me conseillez-vous ? Par ailleurs, avez-vous testé les différents restaurants du bord ? En ce qui concerne l'âge, on ne dépareillera pas puisque nous avons respectivement 67 et 64 ans. On reste encore dans la moyenne...Bonne soirée et encore merci. PS: A notre retour, je vous donnerai notre sentiment sur la croisière. Claude.
Bonjour superpapé claude.
Vous avez bien resumé mes sentiments(peuvent mieux faire). Nous avions reservé cette croisiere pours le parcours en premier, aussi car les temps d'escales
semblaient bien pensés, mais aussi parceque je pensais que TMR allait nous offrir (en plus d'un chef cuisinier français)une organisation impeccable. Helas ce ne
fut pas vraiment le cas. L'epoque TMR du renaissance a laissé de merveilleux souvenirs j'en ai beaucoup entendu parler avec nostalgie. La croisiere semble
trop se democratiser.Pour les repas nous avons choisi le 2eme service a 21h mais les 2 premiers soirs le service etant si long fin a23 voire 23h30 nous avons
demander a changer ce qui se fit sans problemes; donc 1er service a 19h / 19H15 ce qui permet de mieux gerer sa soirée n'etant pas des oiseaux de nuit!!!
Il n'y a reelement qu'un restaurant à bord sinon c'est le self quant à l'olive c'est trés limité. Pour l'age je confirme vous etes dans la moyenne..........trés basse.
Puis je vous demander de quelle région etes vous?. Dans l'attente de vos impressions aprés votre croisiere, que je vous souhaite excellente.Cordialement. claude.
Claude
bonsoir
pourquoi dites vous les croisieres se democratises trop ????????
je trouve d'un compliqués certains rien n'est bien, pour notre part j'ai trouvé ce bateau super, l'olive ce coin restos sympas egalement, pour nous il y avait juste 1 service en septembre c calme
je vous souhaite une bonne croisiere et attends vos impressions 😉
bonne soirée à tous
Bonsoir Claude,
Et bien, je crois que tout est dit. Nous ferons certainement comme vous pour les repas du soir, nous irons au 1er service mais au fait à midi, cà se passe comment ? Il ne reste plus qu'à attendre le départ et, à notre retour, vous faire part de nos impressions. S'agissant de notre région, nous sommes de Rhône-Alpes et plus précisemment de Sathonay Village, petite commune de 2000h, située à 15Km au N de Lyon, au sud de Neuville sur Saône. Et vous ? A bientôt. Bien amicalement. Claude
Et bien, je crois que tout est dit. Nous ferons certainement comme vous pour les repas du soir, nous irons au 1er service mais au fait à midi, cà se passe comment ? Il ne reste plus qu'à attendre le départ et, à notre retour, vous faire part de nos impressions. S'agissant de notre région, nous sommes de Rhône-Alpes et plus précisemment de Sathonay Village, petite commune de 2000h, située à 15Km au N de Lyon, au sud de Neuville sur Saône. Et vous ? A bientôt. Bien amicalement. Claude
bonsoir
non je ne connais pas tmr, je parlais du bdf et de notre croisiere
j'attends bien sur vos impressions 😉
bonne croisiere a +++++++😉
😎 Claude.
Merçi pour votre message.Pour le dejeuner nous avons toujours preferé le self mais vous pouvez egalement
aller au restaurant le flamboyant qui sert aussi le petit dejeuner. Une derniere chose qui n'etait pas agreable
pendant notre croisiere c'est que sur 4 ascenseurs 1 n'a jamais fonctionné j'espere qu'il est desormai reparé.
Je rapelle que le sentiment final fut positif mais il faut dire certaines verités afin de faire evoluer positivement
les choses meme si cela n'est pas partagé par certains.
Nous habitons un petit port du golfe du morbihan entre vannes et auray; un peu loin de chez vous mais qui sait!!
Allez, nous vous la souhaitons des plus agreables possible.claude.
Claude
🙂🙂bonjour la bretagne! eh bien vous me faites un peu peur, car je pars le 13/12 pour le circuit antilles, bon, je suis d'une nature optimiste😎qu'entendez-vous, par nourriture moyenne? alors, dans le fond, tant mieux, comme ça on ne prendra pas de kilos🙂 j'ai reservé une cabine balcon, aviez-vous la meme? et une question, qui j'espere ne fera hurler personne, avons-nous une partie de pont privée? etc. je n'ai encore jamais fait de croisieres donc je me base un peu sur des clichés😊et il n'est pas facile de se faire une opinion, en lisant les post, car chacun n'a pas les memes criteres.en tout cas, des mon retour, je me ferais un plaisir de communiquer mon avis, le plus objectif possible.
a bientot🙂🙂
SOURIS au MONDE ET LE MONDE te SOURIRAS!!!
asie du sud-est - iles de l'ocean indien - french polynesia, indonesie,
asie du sud-est - iles de l'ocean indien - french polynesia, indonesie,
avons-nous une partie de pont privée
coucou je sais aps ce que tu appelles pont privé ?? je pense pas car on ballader partout ce le bateau à part ta cabine 🙂 je vois aps pourquoi il y aurait des parties privé et surtout pour qui ? bonne croisiere et viens nous raconter ce seras super j'en suis sure 😉 bonne journée ici c sous la pluie 😕
coucou je sais aps ce que tu appelles pont privé ?? je pense pas car on ballader partout ce le bateau à part ta cabine 🙂 je vois aps pourquoi il y aurait des parties privé et surtout pour qui ? bonne croisiere et viens nous raconter ce seras super j'en suis sure 😉 bonne journée ici c sous la pluie 😕
bonjour
je connais plusieurs personnes étant allés sur le bleu de france et trés satisfaits par la nourriture
je ne pense pas que vous aurez un pont privé c'est de plus en plus rare je ne connais que cunard et norvégian ou il y a pont et piscines jacuzzis privés et ce ne sont que pour suite propriétaire, suite armateurs, garden villa donc les cabines à prix inabordables et non les simples suites balcon
je ne pense pas que vous aurez un pont privé c'est de plus en plus rare je ne connais que cunard et norvégian ou il y a pont et piscines jacuzzis privés et ce ne sont que pour suite propriétaire, suite armateurs, garden villa donc les cabines à prix inabordables et non les simples suites balcon
🙂Bonjour mooreanne de Belgique.
Sur le bleu de france je ne connais pas de cabines avec balcon sinon les suites.Nous avions une cabine
ext tres confortable avec un sabord.Pour la nourriture c'est moyen comparé avec ce que nous avons connu ailleurs.Comme vous dites c'est bien pour les kilos car en croisiere on les cummules vite.Pour çela essayez
le centre de remise en forme au -2 avec un personnel tres agreable. Je suis certain que vous allez faire une
excellente croisiere. Pour ce qui nous concerne nous attendons le 17 janvier nous partons avec le radiance de royal carribean pour buenos aires ..; santiago du chili. En attendant de vous lire cordialement.claude
Claude
😏 Bonsoir Nanou,
Voilà, la croisière est terminée et nous en garderons un excellent souvenir. Tout était parfait : accueil, confort de la cabine (intérieure), animation, quant à la restauration, elle est digne d'un très grand restaurant tant sur le plan du service, de la qualité des repas que sur la diversité des menus . Un point peut-être a préciser pour ceux qui n'y aurait pas pas prêté attention. Au Flamboyant, à l'exception des 2 suggestions journalières payantes (foie gras et caviar) tout le reste était à volonté et beaucoup, me semble-t-il, l'ont oublié. Pour notre part : une entrée, un plat et un dessert nous suffisait largement. Quant aux vins : idem, et de qualité. S'agissant de l'Olive nous avons renoncé à le fréquenter, malgré la qualité des repas proposés, en raison du bruit infernal des souffleries qui y règne, lequel, mélangé avec le bruit de fond musical, rend l'atmosphère insupportable. Par contre, le buffet-panorama est parfait pour le midi et le petit déjeuner. Il permet de profiter des ponts surtout lorque, comme nous, le temps et la mer s'y prêtaient. Nous avons beaucoup apprécié le tout compris dans les bars et s'il fallait faire le bilan de 11 jours de croisière à raison d'un apéritif midi et le soir, d'un cocktail de temps en temps, des cafés et des liqueurs, la note aurait été très salée (sans jeu de mot) à l'arrivée.
Quelques petits points négatifs toutefois : même relooké, ca sent un peu le vieux dans les aménagements : coursives, portes étanches rouillées, salle d'eau très propres mais un peu vieillottes, moquettes des circulations quelque peu gondolées ce qui risque d'occasionner des chutes pour les personnes handicapées et surtout une odeur très désagréable (type égouts) dans certaines parties du bateau y compris dans la cabine la 1ère nuit. Quant à la clim. j'ai renoncé à la règler pour avoir moins chaud, alors que d'autres, sur les ponts supérieurs, semblaient avoir plutôt froids. Un ascenseur est tombé en panne en milieu de croisière et l'est resté jusqu'à l'arrivée. S'agissant des escales, à l'exception de celle de Rabat, nous les avons toutes faites par nos propres moyens après étude préalable sur internet : taxis, location de voiture, ce qui nous a permis d'économiser 50% / aux tarifs TMR.
Donc globalement, nous sommes très satisfaits de notre voyage et nous retrournerons sur le BDR lorsque l'occasion se présentera.
Voilà, la croisière est terminée et nous en garderons un excellent souvenir. Tout était parfait : accueil, confort de la cabine (intérieure), animation, quant à la restauration, elle est digne d'un très grand restaurant tant sur le plan du service, de la qualité des repas que sur la diversité des menus . Un point peut-être a préciser pour ceux qui n'y aurait pas pas prêté attention. Au Flamboyant, à l'exception des 2 suggestions journalières payantes (foie gras et caviar) tout le reste était à volonté et beaucoup, me semble-t-il, l'ont oublié. Pour notre part : une entrée, un plat et un dessert nous suffisait largement. Quant aux vins : idem, et de qualité. S'agissant de l'Olive nous avons renoncé à le fréquenter, malgré la qualité des repas proposés, en raison du bruit infernal des souffleries qui y règne, lequel, mélangé avec le bruit de fond musical, rend l'atmosphère insupportable. Par contre, le buffet-panorama est parfait pour le midi et le petit déjeuner. Il permet de profiter des ponts surtout lorque, comme nous, le temps et la mer s'y prêtaient. Nous avons beaucoup apprécié le tout compris dans les bars et s'il fallait faire le bilan de 11 jours de croisière à raison d'un apéritif midi et le soir, d'un cocktail de temps en temps, des cafés et des liqueurs, la note aurait été très salée (sans jeu de mot) à l'arrivée.
Quelques petits points négatifs toutefois : même relooké, ca sent un peu le vieux dans les aménagements : coursives, portes étanches rouillées, salle d'eau très propres mais un peu vieillottes, moquettes des circulations quelque peu gondolées ce qui risque d'occasionner des chutes pour les personnes handicapées et surtout une odeur très désagréable (type égouts) dans certaines parties du bateau y compris dans la cabine la 1ère nuit. Quant à la clim. j'ai renoncé à la règler pour avoir moins chaud, alors que d'autres, sur les ponts supérieurs, semblaient avoir plutôt froids. Un ascenseur est tombé en panne en milieu de croisière et l'est resté jusqu'à l'arrivée. S'agissant des escales, à l'exception de celle de Rabat, nous les avons toutes faites par nos propres moyens après étude préalable sur internet : taxis, location de voiture, ce qui nous a permis d'économiser 50% / aux tarifs TMR.
Donc globalement, nous sommes très satisfaits de notre voyage et nous retrournerons sur le BDR lorsque l'occasion se présentera.
😏
Bonsoir Claude,
Voilà, la croisière est terminée et nous en garderons un excellent souvenir. Tout était parfait : accueil, confort de la cabine (intérieure), animation, quant à la restauration, elle est digne d'un très grand restaurant tant sur le plan du service, de la qualité des repas que sur la diversité des menus . Un point peut-être a préciser pour ceux qui n'y aurait pas pas prêté attention. Au Flamboyant, à l'exception des 2 suggestions journalières payantes (foie gras et caviar) tout le reste était à volonté et beaucoup, me semble-t-il, l'ont oublié. Pour notre part : une entrée, un plat et un dessert nous suffisait largement. Quant aux vins : idem, et de qualité. S'agissant de l'Olive nous avons renoncé à le fréquenter, malgré la qualité des repas proposés en raison du bruit infernal des souffleries, lequel mélangé à celui du bruit de fond musical, rend l'atmosphère insupportable. Par contre, le buffet-panorama est parfait pour le midi et le petit déjeuner. Il permet de profiter des ponts surtout lorque, comme nous, le temps et la mer s'y prêtaient. Nous avons beaucoup apprécié le tout compris dans les bars et s'il fallait faire le bilan de 11 jours de croisière à raison d'un apéritif midi et le soir, d'un cocktail de temps en temps, des cafés et des liqueurs, la note aurait été très salée (sans jeu de mot) à l'arrivée.
Quelques petits points négatifs toutefois : même relooké, ca sent un peu le vieux dans les aménagements : coursives, portes étanches rouillées, salle d'eau très propres mais un peu vieillottes, moquettes des circulations quelque peu gondolées ce qui risque d'occasionner des chutes pour les personnes handicapées et surtout une odeur très désagréable (type égouts) dans certaines parties du bateau y compris dans la cabine la 1ère nuit. Quant à la clim. j'ai renoncé à la règler pour avoir moins chaud, alors que d'autres, sur les ponts supérieurs, semblaient avoir plutôt froids. Un ascenseur est tombé en panne en milieu de croisière et l'est resté jusqu'à l'arrivée. S'agissant des escales, à l'exception de celle de Rabat, nous les avons toutes faites par nos propres moyens après étude préalable sur internet : taxis, location de voiture, ce qui nous a permis d'économiser 50% / aux tarifs TMR.
Donc globalement, nous sommes très satisfaits de notre voyage et nous retrournerons sur le BDR lorsque l'occasion s'en présentera.
Bien amicalement. Claude
PS: Je viens de faire la même réponse à Nanou.
Voilà, la croisière est terminée et nous en garderons un excellent souvenir. Tout était parfait : accueil, confort de la cabine (intérieure), animation, quant à la restauration, elle est digne d'un très grand restaurant tant sur le plan du service, de la qualité des repas que sur la diversité des menus . Un point peut-être a préciser pour ceux qui n'y aurait pas pas prêté attention. Au Flamboyant, à l'exception des 2 suggestions journalières payantes (foie gras et caviar) tout le reste était à volonté et beaucoup, me semble-t-il, l'ont oublié. Pour notre part : une entrée, un plat et un dessert nous suffisait largement. Quant aux vins : idem, et de qualité. S'agissant de l'Olive nous avons renoncé à le fréquenter, malgré la qualité des repas proposés en raison du bruit infernal des souffleries, lequel mélangé à celui du bruit de fond musical, rend l'atmosphère insupportable. Par contre, le buffet-panorama est parfait pour le midi et le petit déjeuner. Il permet de profiter des ponts surtout lorque, comme nous, le temps et la mer s'y prêtaient. Nous avons beaucoup apprécié le tout compris dans les bars et s'il fallait faire le bilan de 11 jours de croisière à raison d'un apéritif midi et le soir, d'un cocktail de temps en temps, des cafés et des liqueurs, la note aurait été très salée (sans jeu de mot) à l'arrivée.
Quelques petits points négatifs toutefois : même relooké, ca sent un peu le vieux dans les aménagements : coursives, portes étanches rouillées, salle d'eau très propres mais un peu vieillottes, moquettes des circulations quelque peu gondolées ce qui risque d'occasionner des chutes pour les personnes handicapées et surtout une odeur très désagréable (type égouts) dans certaines parties du bateau y compris dans la cabine la 1ère nuit. Quant à la clim. j'ai renoncé à la règler pour avoir moins chaud, alors que d'autres, sur les ponts supérieurs, semblaient avoir plutôt froids. Un ascenseur est tombé en panne en milieu de croisière et l'est resté jusqu'à l'arrivée. S'agissant des escales, à l'exception de celle de Rabat, nous les avons toutes faites par nos propres moyens après étude préalable sur internet : taxis, location de voiture, ce qui nous a permis d'économiser 50% / aux tarifs TMR.
Donc globalement, nous sommes très satisfaits de notre voyage et nous retrournerons sur le BDR lorsque l'occasion s'en présentera.
Bien amicalement. Claude
PS: Je viens de faire la même réponse à Nanou.
coucou
contente que ta croisiere ce soit bien passé 😉 il y a c sur toujours quelques petits désagrément tout ne peux pas être parfait 😠 pour l'odeur je l'ai senti au rdc dans le spa
comme nous la prochaine croisiere se fera surement sur le bdf
bonne soirée, merci pour les nouvelles 😉
Merçi pour votre compte-rendu.je suis tres content que vous ayez apprecié votre croisiere.amicalement.claude
Claude
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More discussions
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 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
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!
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
Hi
Has anyone taken the CFC recently?
Thoughts?
Thanks
Thoughts?
Thanks
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
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
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
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,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? Thanks
Hello,
We’re taking a cruise to Northern Europe with a stop in SOUTHAMPTON.
We’d like to visit the Stonehenge site.
Is it possible to get there on our own (my husband is a wheelchair user), since the MSC excursion to Salisbury is priced at 127 € per person?
There’s also a stop in Rotterdam, and it seems there’s a "miniature village to visit" nearby. Has anyone here been there, and if so, how did you get there?
Thanks so much for your tips. Mum49
If you're traveling on the Costa Diadema from October 17th to 28th, 2026 to Lisbon, we can meet up for a drink. Share our cruising experiences, an excursion, a table...
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.
Thanks everyone!
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.
Thanks everyone!
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.
Hi everyone on the cruising forum,
I’m looking to get in touch with someone who’s been on an Arctic Cruise aboard the ship POLARFRONT, operated by the French company "LATITUDE BLANCHE", for some info.
https://www.latitudeblanche.com/voyages-grandnord-polarfront/
I already posted a similar message here 2-3 months ago, and it mysteriously disappeared... ??
Hoping for a response this time.
Best to all,
Puma2A
...
I’m looking to get in touch with someone who’s been on an Arctic Cruise aboard the ship POLARFRONT, operated by the French company "LATITUDE BLANCHE", for some info.
https://www.latitudeblanche.com/voyages-grandnord-polarfront/
I already posted a similar message here 2-3 months ago, and it mysteriously disappeared... ??
Hoping for a response this time.
Best to all,
Puma2A
...
Hi there, I was wondering if anyone has ever taken a cruise with this PO Cruise company.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
They’ve got some great itineraries for Norway.
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! 😐
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’d love to hear from travelers who’ve done this cruise with Rivages du Monde or CroisiEurope.
Thanks!
Elettra69
Hi there,
I’m considering a cruise on this ship in the recently introduced Yacht Club category.
Have any forum members tried it?
What are your thoughts? Positive or negative? Which cabins should we go for—or avoid?
We’re already familiar with the Yacht Clubs on the Splendida, Fantasia, Preziosa, and Divina series.
We weren’t as keen on the one on the Seashore—we found it too big.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Claudine
We're considering a new cruise soon and would like to try the Renaissance.
The uniqueness of the promenade cabins appeals to us, but could anyone give us some insights on the following points:
- Is the glass door sufficiently tinted to prevent outsiders from seeing into the cabin?
- Is the soundproofing good enough to block out conversations on the promenade deck?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!
Hi there,
Do you have a hotel near the cruise port (or easy to reach by metro with luggage) to recommend? I’m planning to spend two days there before boarding.
Thanks in advance! Claudine
Do you have a hotel near the cruise port (or easy to reach by metro with luggage) to recommend? I’m planning to spend two days there before boarding.
Thanks in advance! Claudine
Hello,
My husband, our two teens, and I are going on a cruise on the COSTA Esmeralda at the beginning of July. We’re thinking of exploring the ports on our own. Do any of you have recent experiences or tips to share? Are there shuttles between the port and the city center? Are they free? Looking forward to hearing from you.
My husband, our two teens, and I are going on a cruise on the COSTA Esmeralda at the beginning of July. We’re thinking of exploring the ports on our own. Do any of you have recent experiences or tips to share? Are there shuttles between the port and the city center? Are they free? Looking forward to hearing from you.
Hi, can you eat in the evening at the Costa Smeralda’s cafeteria, or do you have to dine at the restaurant? Thanks for your reply.
contact me to get referred at MSC, for your first cruise or if you haven't traveled with MSC in over 5 years
Hi everyone,
As promised, here’s my review of the cruise I took from the 5th to the 19th on the MSC Virtuosa.
As you know, I had initially booked a cruise with Mein Schiff departing from Dubai (from Dubai to Cape Town). It was a 22-day cruise. Due to the issues in the Persian Gulf, my cruise was canceled by Mein Schiff.
So, we started looking for a Plan B because we really wanted to go. Especially my wife, who had just had a minor procedure and needed some rest. Since she had already taken time off, she was determined to travel. However, we were looking for an affordable Plan B since we weren’t sure when Mein Schiff or the airline would reimburse us.
While browsing online, I found a 15-day cruise departing from Pointe-à-Pitre (including flights, transfers, the cruise, and drinks) for a price of 1,200 € in a Fantastica balcony cabin. We thought, *Why not?*
I should mention that I’m not usually a big fan of MSC. My last experience with them was post-Covid (I took two cruises, one in 2021 and another in 2022), and it was honestly a disaster. We didn’t want to repeat that, but after talking to Catherine, who told me she was very happy with a short Christmas cruise, we decided to give it a try.
I have to say, I was left speechless. Honestly, the cruise was absolutely perfect. There’s nothing to complain about (or just a few minor details). In terms of service and food, I felt like I was on a premium cruise line. I’d even say MSC has nothing to envy from some of those companies. While premium lines like Holland, Celebrity, and Royal are cutting back on services, I think MSC has made huge improvements. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting this at all. You’ll see what I mean as we chat more.
I won’t do a full review like I usually do because there weren’t many stops: 1. We boarded in Pointe-à-Pitre 2. We stopped in Saint-Martin 3. Then it was a direct crossing to the Azores...
This cruise was really about relaxing, even if it’s not the kind of trip we usually take.
First off, I’m not a big fan of "flight and cruise" packages. I asked if we could leave two days early, but they said it wasn’t possible. We had to take the flight, then the bus, and board the ship directly.
It’s not really my thing, but given the price we paid and since we really wanted to relax, we thought, *Why not?*
Here’s the itinerary:
Boarding in Pointe-à-Pitre Saint-Martin Five days at sea The Azores Four days at sea Hamburg One day at sea Le Havre
But as I mentioned, it wasn’t about the itinerary. It was really about taking a break and unwinding. Honestly, I came back thrilled.
Departure and boarding details to come
As promised, here’s my review of the cruise I took from the 5th to the 19th on the MSC Virtuosa.
As you know, I had initially booked a cruise with Mein Schiff departing from Dubai (from Dubai to Cape Town). It was a 22-day cruise. Due to the issues in the Persian Gulf, my cruise was canceled by Mein Schiff.
So, we started looking for a Plan B because we really wanted to go. Especially my wife, who had just had a minor procedure and needed some rest. Since she had already taken time off, she was determined to travel. However, we were looking for an affordable Plan B since we weren’t sure when Mein Schiff or the airline would reimburse us.
While browsing online, I found a 15-day cruise departing from Pointe-à-Pitre (including flights, transfers, the cruise, and drinks) for a price of 1,200 € in a Fantastica balcony cabin. We thought, *Why not?*
I should mention that I’m not usually a big fan of MSC. My last experience with them was post-Covid (I took two cruises, one in 2021 and another in 2022), and it was honestly a disaster. We didn’t want to repeat that, but after talking to Catherine, who told me she was very happy with a short Christmas cruise, we decided to give it a try.
I have to say, I was left speechless. Honestly, the cruise was absolutely perfect. There’s nothing to complain about (or just a few minor details). In terms of service and food, I felt like I was on a premium cruise line. I’d even say MSC has nothing to envy from some of those companies. While premium lines like Holland, Celebrity, and Royal are cutting back on services, I think MSC has made huge improvements. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting this at all. You’ll see what I mean as we chat more.
I won’t do a full review like I usually do because there weren’t many stops: 1. We boarded in Pointe-à-Pitre 2. We stopped in Saint-Martin 3. Then it was a direct crossing to the Azores...
This cruise was really about relaxing, even if it’s not the kind of trip we usually take.
First off, I’m not a big fan of "flight and cruise" packages. I asked if we could leave two days early, but they said it wasn’t possible. We had to take the flight, then the bus, and board the ship directly.
It’s not really my thing, but given the price we paid and since we really wanted to relax, we thought, *Why not?*
Here’s the itinerary:
Boarding in Pointe-à-Pitre Saint-Martin Five days at sea The Azores Four days at sea Hamburg One day at sea Le Havre
But as I mentioned, it wasn’t about the itinerary. It was really about taking a break and unwinding. Honestly, I came back thrilled.
Departure and boarding details to come
Hi there
Is the water from the cabin sinks drinkable?
Is the water from the cabin sinks drinkable?
We’re stopping over in Rovinj this coming May, and since we’ve already visited the main sights (port, church, etc.), is there a walk we can do on our own—no boat needed—that would fill a morning?
Thanks to anyone who knows the area…
My wife and I are going on a cruise on the MS Vesteralen on August 4th. The ship stays close to the coast to deliver mail and packages. My wife is a musician and is sensitive to the movement of the boat. Which deck and cabin should we choose?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Hi there,
So, I booked this cruise...
I know CFC gets a lot of criticism—
- And that it’s not really like the ships I usually take.
But the destination really interested me...
So, I’m giving it a try...
I’m going in with an open mind, thinking I got a good deal, so I’m not expecting the same experience as when I travel with Yacht Club or The Haven.
We’ll see... soon!hi, we’re going on a cruise with MSC Virtuosa in the Caribbean. Has anyone done this cruise before and could give us some tips for excursions on the different islands? Thanks for your help
😉Hi there,
A few months ago, CFC put the EN VOGUE experience on sale, departing from Dunkirk.
I booked this package to test the boat and onboard services for myself.
I’d read a lot of reviews mentioning numerous issues on board, so I wanted to see for myself what it was really like…
Okay, I’ll stop rambling… The package included boarding at 6 PM on Friday, dinner, a show, an overnight stay, and breakfast. We chose an interior cabin for this experience—since the boat wasn’t leaving the dock, we didn’t see the point in paying more… All in all, it cost 130 € per person. My mom joined us; she got the same cabin for 130 € with no single occupancy supplement.
We’d checked in online to board faster. We took the train to DUNKIRK, then a taxi to the shuttle pavilion—7 € for the ride. When we arrived at the pavilion, we were told to wait because there was a connection issue with check-in. Great start… After about ten minutes, we were finally allowed to proceed. At the counter, they said they didn’t have our cabin cards and no record of our check-in… Very odd. With no solution, they put us on the bus and said we’d sort it out at reception. Perfect. We went through security, and they confiscated our water bottles—never seen that before! Then they said my mom had a corkscrew in her bag, so they searched it… but there was no corkscrew. Total amateur hour… They eventually dropped it.
We got on the bus for a ten-minute ride… We boarded the ship with a crew member and headed to reception. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones in this situation. The nightmare began… Only two staff members were handling all the issues, and everything seemed complicated. They told my mom her cabin had been given to someone else 😲. That was the last straw…
It took forever—they had to redo the entire check-in. Finally, they told my mom her cabin was good to go; they’d mixed her up with someone else… After a solid half-hour, we could finally head to our cabin.
I’m determined to test everything: the pool, jacuzzi, show, restaurant, spa, etc… TO BE CONTINUED
Okay, I’ll stop rambling… The package included boarding at 6 PM on Friday, dinner, a show, an overnight stay, and breakfast. We chose an interior cabin for this experience—since the boat wasn’t leaving the dock, we didn’t see the point in paying more… All in all, it cost 130 € per person. My mom joined us; she got the same cabin for 130 € with no single occupancy supplement.
We’d checked in online to board faster. We took the train to DUNKIRK, then a taxi to the shuttle pavilion—7 € for the ride. When we arrived at the pavilion, we were told to wait because there was a connection issue with check-in. Great start… After about ten minutes, we were finally allowed to proceed. At the counter, they said they didn’t have our cabin cards and no record of our check-in… Very odd. With no solution, they put us on the bus and said we’d sort it out at reception. Perfect. We went through security, and they confiscated our water bottles—never seen that before! Then they said my mom had a corkscrew in her bag, so they searched it… but there was no corkscrew. Total amateur hour… They eventually dropped it.
We got on the bus for a ten-minute ride… We boarded the ship with a crew member and headed to reception. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones in this situation. The nightmare began… Only two staff members were handling all the issues, and everything seemed complicated. They told my mom her cabin had been given to someone else 😲. That was the last straw…
It took forever—they had to redo the entire check-in. Finally, they told my mom her cabin was good to go; they’d mixed her up with someone else… After a solid half-hour, we could finally head to our cabin.
I’m determined to test everything: the pool, jacuzzi, show, restaurant, spa, etc… TO BE CONTINUED
Hi,
We received a promotion from our CFC agency offering cruises at up to 40-100% off, and among other details: CFC organizes parking for departures from Dunkirk.
"Unattended parking located about 12 minutes away, fenced off with barriers, at a rate of 10 € per day. Drop off passengers and luggage at the Model Pavilion, and a CFC shuttle will take you from the parking lot to the Model Pavilion every 15-20 minutes. Same for disembarkation. You can book through your agency or on their website. No refunds if the booking is canceled; payment is due at reservation."
Have a great day,
Guylène
PS: Personally, we’d rather keep our vehicle in a free, supervised parking lot and take a taxi to the Model Pavilion.