Forfait boissons pour une croisière sur le Coral?
by Francinel
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Je cherche des recits de personnes ayant fait une croisiere avec le bâteau CORAL.
Départ Marseille pour suivre vers Malaga...Ibiza...Tanger...
J'aimerai connaître le coût du package boisson (soda et vin).
Merci
FRANCINEL
bonjour!
n'hésitez pas à utiliser la fonction "rechercher", il y a de nombreuses discussions sur le Coral dont une très grosse.🙂
n'hésitez pas à utiliser la fonction "rechercher", il y a de nombreuses discussions sur le Coral dont une très grosse.🙂
Costa Atlantica Mer et Mythes classiques ( 11/2005)
Costa Concordia Magique Méditerranée (09/2006)
Costa Serena Vision D'orient (11/2007 )
www.aufeminin.com (dans albums, taper nom du bateau ou mon pseudo:belatrix; mot de passe atlantica et Concordia et serena )
je reviens de cette croisière. Le pack boissons sans alcool pour les enfants s'élève à 28 euros (boissons illimitées). Le même pack pour les adultes coûte le double (56 euros) et le pack avec alcool monte à environ 130 euros je crois. Par contre, nous, nous étions 4 dans la même cabine. Donc, il est obligatoire pour toutes les personnes étant dans la même cabine de prendre un pack boissons (pour éviter les fraudes). Nous avons donc pris tous les 4 le pack sans alcool. Autre précision : seul mon mari voulait prendre un pack avec alcool (moi, je n'en bois pas du tout). Cela n'a pas été possible. Soit je prenais aussi un pack avec alcool, soit il prenait un pack sans alcool comme moi. Nous avons opté pour la deuxième solution. A savoir : Dans le réglement, il est spécifié que tout alcool provenant de l'extérieur du bateau ne doit pas être amené à bord ou alors il est confisqué jusqu'à la fin de la croisière. Ce n'est pas appliqué puisque aucun contrôle n'a lieu (nous l'avons fait sans problème). Idem pour les alcools achetés à bord (duty free). Ils peuvent être consommés à bord. Par contre, évidemment, il est interdit de se ballader avec sa bouteille aux bars ou au restaurant. Mais un petit apéritif dans la cabine, discrètement est tout à fait possible.
Voilà, j'espère avoir répondu à toutes vos questions.
bonjour,
les forfaits boissons ne sont pas du tout obligatoires. Nous, nous avons préféré les prendre car les enfants ont tout le temps soif (en plus elles sont alors illimitées). Par contre, si vous n'avez pas pris de forfait et que vous voulez boire quelque chose (alcoolisé ou non), les serveurs vont feront signer un petit imprimé dont vous garderez le double et le montant total devra être payé en fin de croisière (soit en CB si vous avez laissé vos coordonnées en début de croisière à la réception, soit en espèces). Aucune boisson n'est incluse, même celles du repas. Je crois que les premiers prix des bouteilles de vin s'élèvent à environ 18 euros. La bière coûte 2, 60 euros la petite (25cl) et 4, 60 la grosse (50cl), les cocktails un peu plus de 4 euros. Les cafés, thés, chocolats sont compris dans les forfaits boissons si vous les prenez évidemment. La bouteille d'eau coûte un peu plus de 2 euros.
A savoir : toute boisson servie dans le cadre du forfait boisson est servie au verre mais vous pouvez en reprendre autant que vous voulez. Donc, impossibilité d'avoir un coca en canette par exemple ou une bouteille d'eau (je pense que c'est pour éviter les "trafics"). Si vous les souhaitez sous cette forme, c'est payant !
J'espère vous avoir éclairé.
🙂🙂Bonjour,
Est ce que tu me raconter comment ce passe l'embarquement ? Les excursions si elle sont chère ?😠😠 Pour le repas du soir est ce que l'ont peut se mettre avec nos amis a la même table a 4 bien sur ou il choisisse a notre place ?
Encore merci de prendre de votre temps pour y répondre
Cordialement PIMPOM03😄😄
Est ce que tu me raconter comment ce passe l'embarquement ? Les excursions si elle sont chère ?😠😠 Pour le repas du soir est ce que l'ont peut se mettre avec nos amis a la même table a 4 bien sur ou il choisisse a notre place ?
Encore merci de prendre de votre temps pour y répondre
Cordialement PIMPOM03😄😄
Bonjour,
tu as un sujet dessus lancé par desbell. Il fait 84 pages mais j'ai appris tout ce que je voulais savoir.
Quand est ce que tu parts ?
tu as un sujet dessus lancé par desbell. Il fait 84 pages mais j'ai appris tout ce que je voulais savoir.
Quand est ce que tu parts ?
Pour l'embarquement, nous sommes arrivés en voiture à Marseille. Nous l'avons laissé dans un parking réservé aux croisiéristes (70 euros) la semaine. Ensuite, nous sommes arrivés (grace à une petite navette appartenant au paking) à un espèce de comptoir d'enregistrement. Nous étions convoqués pour 13 H pour un départ à 16H30. Il faut présenter votre convocation (email) ainsi que vos pièces d'identité. Là, vous laissez vos bagages sur lesquels on met une étiquette de couleur qui correspond au pont sur lequel se trouve votre chambre et on vous donne votre numéro de chambre (nous ne la connaissions pas avant car nous avons acheté la croisière en dernière minute). Vos bagages sont amenés à votre cabine, vous n'avez pas à vous en préoccuper. Vous gardez juste avec vous vos bagages à main (sac à main et éventuellement objets de valeur type caméscope, appareil photo...). Vous vous rendez ensuite à l'étage de ce batiment et là on vous donne vos badges et un verre de jus d'orange. Pour finir, vous entrez dans le bateau et on vous dirige vers votre chambre. Les bagages arrivent très vite ensuite. Je vous conseille d'aller très vite à la réception (pont 5 vénus) pour faire enregistrer votre carte bancaire si vous souhaitez payer ainsi votre note à la fin de la croisière et d'aller prendre les forfaits boissons au même endroit si vous êtes intéressé car vous éviterez ainsi la foule. Ensuite, vous avez tout votre temps pour débarasser vos bagages et faire un tour sur le bateau pour prendre connaissance des lieux.
Il aura déjà dans le bateau des gens (italiens pour la plupart) qui seront là depuis la veille puisque le premier embarquement a lieu à Gênes et qui seront sûrement à terre pour une excursion lorsque vous embarquerez. A l'inverse, la veille de votre retour à Marseille, les italiens quitteront le bateau lors de votre escale à Gênes et d'autres embarqueront et ainsi de suite.
Pour ce qui est des excursions, elles sont assez chères surtout si vous êtes nombreux. Nous, nous étions 4 et la seule excursion que nous ayons faite par le biais du Coral nous a coûté à 4 près de 200 euros (visite de Portofino : c'est très mignon, nous vous le conseillons). En moyenne, elles coûtent aux alentours de 40-45 euros par personne. C'est un peu moins cher pour les enfants de moins de 12 ans (le cas de notre fils). Par contre, notre fille de 15 ans a payé le plein tarif. La plus chère est celle d'Alméria qui vous amène au Palais de l'Alhambra (qui se trouve à Grenade). Elle coûte 100 ou 11O euros par personne (elle est prévue pour toute la journée mais il y a 4 h de route aller-retour). Les autres excursions sont prévues pour une demi-journée. Pour le reste, nous nous sommes débrouillés tous seuls. A Palma, nous avons pris le bus panoramique qui vous fait faire le tour des principaux centres d'attraction de la ville (prix : 13 euros par adulte et le tour dure 1H30 si vous descendez nulle part. Ils sont à la sortie du port). Ensuite, à Alméria, l'escale ne dure qu'une heure pour permettre aux gens qui partent pour l'excursion de l'Alhambra de descendre. Tous les autres restent à bord. Ensuite, direction Malaga. Nous nous sommes promenés à pied dans la ville. Elle est très belle (mon escale préférée avec l'Italie). Nous avons réussi à voir le principal. Une navette payante (5 euros par adulte et 3, 50 euros par enfant aller-retour) vous amène du bateau à la sortie du port et donc à l'entrée du centre ville (navette à réserver sur le bateau). Sinon 45 mn de marche pour rejoindre le bateau. A Tanger, nous nous sommes adressés à des guides locaux (ils sont au pied du bateau). Pour 50 euros pour nous 4, il nous a promené en taxi voir les principaux centres d'intérêt de la ville et ensuite il nous a amené à la Médina (souks) et nous l'a fait visitée à pied en nous donnant des tas d'explications très instructives sur la ville et son histoire. C'était très bien. A Gibraltar, nous sommes allés à pied jusqu'au centre ville (25 mn) et nous nous sommes promenés dans la rue piétonne commerçante. Nous voulions aller au sommet du rocher pour voir le panorama et voir les singes mais nous avons perdu trop de temps dans les magasins. Des navettes au pied du bateau vous propose un tour au sommet du rocher et autres endroits attractifs pour 25 euros par personne. A Ibiza, même système de navette payante qu'à Malaga et ensuite nous sommes allés nous promener dans Ibiza. Dommage, car c'était le 1er mai et pratiquement tout était fermé. Mais nous sommes allés voir la ville haute à pied, très joli et pittoresque et ensuite nous sommes redescendus autour des commerces et donc du port. A Barcelone, nous connaissions déjà. Donc, nous sommes allés nous promener sur la rambla (grande avenue commerçante) et nous sommes allés en métro visiter le stade et le musée du FC Barcelone (50 euros à 4) en prenant le métro (cela nous a coûté environ 9 euros pour 12 tickets). Le métro fonctionne comme celui de Paris. La même excursion par Costa coûtait la même chose pour une seule personne ! Sinon, il existe également comme à Palma et à Malaga les bus panoramiques. Pour finir, à Gênes, nous sommes allés à Portofino. Les gens qui étaient à côté de nous à table, se sont promenés seuls à Gênes et n'ont pas du tout aimé. Peut-être, ne sont-ils pas allés aux bons endroits ?
Dans tous les cas, vous vous rendrez compte lors de vos balades que la plupart du temps vous rencontrerez des groupes d'excursions du Coral qui verront les mêmes choses que vous et qui auront payé une belle somme d'argent. Par contre, il est vrai qu'ils ont des explications que nous n'avons pas toujours eu. Par contre, dans les bus panoramiques, on vous prête des audiophones en français qui vous donnent des explications de tout ce que vous verrez et si vous utilisez les bus dans diverses villes vous obtenez des réductions dès la fois suivante.
Pour le repas du soir, normalement votre table est imposée. On vous donne un numéro de table dès le premier soir et vous devez le garder jusqu'à la fin du séjour à bord. Par contre, si vous souhaitez vous mettre avec des personnes que vous connaissez, je pense que vous devez pouvoir vous arranger avec le maitre d'hôtel. Mais je pense qu'il faut lui dire le plus vite possible. Idem pour l'heure du repas. On vous demande de le faire lors de votre embarquement et vous n'avez pas le droit d'en changer avant la fin de votre voyage.
Si vous avez d'autres questions, n'hésitez pas.
je ne pense pas que vous puissiez manger tous ensemble car il n'y a que des tables de 2, de 4 de 6 (rectangulaires) et peut-être bien de 8 (rondes) mais pas plus. Il faudra vous renseigner sur place mais cela me parait difficile.
bonjour,
Je ne peux pas répondre à votre question car nous avons réglé toute notre facture en CB. Le jour de notre arrivée à bord, nous avons pris nos forfaits boissons à la réception (pont 5 Vénus) et le montant nous a été facturé en fin de séjour avec paiement en CB. Je sais par contre que le dernier jour vous pouvez régler votre facture en espèces si vous le souhaitez mais je ne sais pas si c'est possible le 1er jour. En début de séjour, vous avez la possibilité de laisser les coordonnées de votre CB et toutes les dépenses à bord sont ensuite totalisées et payées le dernier jour.
les forfaits couvrent la durée de la croisière. Nous sommes partis 7 jours et le forfait a couvert les 7 jours.
Log in first, then come back to this page.
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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 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
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
Hi there,
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this cruise and its slightly unusual itinerary.
Also, what do you think about the price?
Good deal or too expensive?
Thanks
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.
Hi there,
In June we’re taking a cruise called "Pearls of the Baltic" on board Renaissance CFC Cruises—with stops in Kiel (Germany), Gdańsk (Poland), Rønne (Bornholm), Copenhagen (Denmark), and Gothenburg (Sweden).
This layover in Gothenburg doesn’t really inspire me—could you tell me what’s worth seeing? Are there locals offering excursions around the area by van right when you leave the port, like you often see on Caribbean cruises?
I saw there’s a hop-on hop-off bus, but I’m not sure if there’s a stop near the terminal.
What are your suggestions? Thanks in advance! Best regards,
This layover in Gothenburg doesn’t really inspire me—could you tell me what’s worth seeing? Are there locals offering excursions around the area by van right when you leave the port, like you often see on Caribbean cruises?
I saw there’s a hop-on hop-off bus, but I’m not sure if there’s a stop near the terminal.
What are your suggestions? Thanks in advance! Best regards,
Hi! On June 10th, we’re heading off on a 10-day Baltic Sea cruise with CFC Cruises’ *Renaissance*. We’ll be stopping in Copenhagen, and we’re planning to take the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses to explore the city with multiple stops. Could anyone tell me which quay cruise ships usually dock at and how to get from the quay to the nearest stop to board the tour bus? Thanks for your tips and suggestions!