Les premières photos ...................
Original post
Les premières photos ...................
Premières photos du bateau de croisières MSC Divina
by Ptitlou
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Les premières photos ...................
Le MSC Divina à moins de 100 jours de son baptême à Marseille
Le MSC Divina, la semaine dernière chez STX France
crédits : STX FRANCE - BERNARD BIGER
17/02/2012 Electriciens, mécaniciens, carreleurs, charpentiers, décorateurs, marbriers, techniciens lumière, isolation, cuisinistes, serruriers, ingénieurs et contremaîtres... Plus de 1400 personnes s'activent actuellement sur le MSC Divina, en achèvement aux chantiers STX France de Saint-Nazaire. Une véritable course contre la montre pour livrer le navire en temps et en heure à la compagnie italo-suisse MSC Croisières, qui doit le réceptionner le 19 mai. Ce jour là, le grand paquebot appareillera de Saint-Nazaire avec ses premiers passagers pour une croisière pré-inaugurale à destination de Marseille, où il sera baptisé le 26 mai, ce qui constituera une grande première pour un navire de la compagnie. Long de 333 mètres pour une largeur de 38 mètres, le MSC Divina présente une jauge de 139.400 tonneaux et disposera de 1751 cabines et suites. Sa construction aura nécessité 2 millions d'heures de travail, auxquelles il faudra ajouter 1 million d'heures supplémentaires pour l'achèvement. « Actuellement en cours de finition, l'habillage, l'aménagement et la décoration du MSC Divina s'imposent comme de véritables prouesses techniques et artisanales assorties d'une immense passion de la part de ces hommes qui donnent vie à ce paquebot. Avec une grande fierté et un savoir-faire reconnu, les ouvriers des chantiers navals STX de Saint-Nazaire se sont investis, ces 150 dernières années, dans la construction de très beaux paquebots de croisière », souligne MSC Croisières.
A bord du MSC Divina (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)
Les artisans à la manoeuvre
La réalisation d'un tel navire serait impossible sans l'intervention, et la capacité de travailler ensemble sur un projet complexe, de nombreux corps de métier. Un paquebot, c'est un peu la haute couture de l'industrie navale. Pour donner naissance à ces villes flottantes, où le design est particulièrement soigné, des savoir-faire très pointus sont nécessaires. Parmi les nombreux artisans travaillant à bord du Divina, on trouve par exemple Carole Légeron, peintre décorateur. Issue d'une formation en école d'art à Paris, elle donne, depuis 12 ans, de la couleur aux intérieurs des restaurants, salles de spectacles, casino et autres lieux publics des paquebots de MSC construits à Saint-Nazaire. Carole apprécie l'effervescence à bord, le mélange des compétences et par-dessus tout, le travail d'équipe. « On ne travaille pas seul sur un navire, la coordination est primordiale si l'on veut que tout fonctionne. Nous avons des objectifs à tenir, il n'y a pas de routine dans notre métier, c'est parfois stressant mais surtout passionnant ». Carole, qui a travaillé sur les 11 précédents navires de la compagnie réalisés par le chantier français, constate avec le Divina que le style s'est épuré. Mais l'attention de MSC, connu pour être particulièrement sensible à la décoration de ses paquebots, est constante. « L'armateur est très précis sur ses demandes, nous envoyons des échantillons et les faisons valider avant de réaliser les peintures ».
Vanina Quistrebert et Carole Légeron (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)
Dans une autre partie du gigantesque bateau, on trouve Mickaël Labarre, menuisier-agenceur. Ayant toujours travaillé dans la navale, cet amoureux du bois a rejoint il y a un an les Ateliers du Marais, l'agenceur entre autres des boutiques Hermès et du palais de Monaco. Il est responsable de l'aménagement d'un espace de 1200 m2 à bord du MSC Divina, la « Venezian Piazzeta », une place installée au coeur du navire, qui inclut une très belle voûte étoilée. Véritable chef d'orchestre, Mickaël coordonne tout un ensemble de métiers mais il se réserve personnellement le traçage et le perçage des 20.000 points lumineux qui composent ce ciel étoilé. C'est la troisième fois qu'il travaille sur un navire de MSC. « J'apprécie la qualité de l'agencement de ces navires. C'est une grande satisfaction personnelle d'y contribuer », dit-il.
Vanina Quistrebert et Carole Légeron (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)
Une ville flottante
Mis à flot en septembre dernier, le MSC Divina a vu sa construction débuter en novembre 2010. On ne connaissait alors le navire que sous son numéro de chantier : U32. Depuis, un travail colossal a été entrepris pour édifier cette ville flottante, constituée pour la partie coque de 80 blocs. Les chiffres parlent d'ailleurs d'eux-mêmes : 30.000 tonnes d'acier, 300 km de tuyauterie, 1800 km de câbles électriques, 66.000 sources lumineuses, 27.000 m² d'espaces publics, 25 ascenseurs, une capacité d'accueil de plus de 4000 passagers... Par rapport à ses aînés, les MSC Fantasia et MSC Divina, livrés en décembre 2008 et juillet 2009 par STX France, le MSC Divina compte plus de cabines, soit 1751 au lieu de 1637. Pour les passagers à mobilité réduite, 45 cabines sont spécialement aménagées. Le « U32 » compte également des améliorations, par exemple au niveau du MSC Yacht Club, espace VIP privatif situé en haut, sur l'avant du navire. On trouvera également, pour la première fois, une piscine à débordement. Et, bien entendu, il y aura à bord une multitude d'équipements et d'espaces public : Un centre de bien-être, l'Aurea Spa, de 1700 m² avec saunas, hammams et salles de soins, une salle de sport, de nombreux bars et restaurants, une discothèque, un casino, ou encore une impressionnante salle de spectacle pouvant accueillir plus de 1500 personnes. Le tout sur 18 ponts, dont 13 accessibles aux passagers.
Le MSC Divina au bassin C (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)
Transfert en forme Joubert puis à Penhoët avant les essais en mer
Transféré au bassin C après sa mise à flot, le MSC Divina, sauf météo capricieuse, doit rejoindre le 23 février la forme Joubert. Il y restera trois semaines, en cale sèche, pour des travaux de peinture. Puis le navire entrera dans le bassin de Penhoët pour poursuivre son achèvement. Sa première grande sortie interviendra mi-avril, à l'occasion des essais en mer. 300 personnes embarqueront alors sur le paquebot afin de réaliser plus de 60 tests différents, vérifiant aussi bien la vitesse et la manoeuvrabilité que la sonorisation, les vibrations, le remplissage des piscines à l'eau de mer, et tous les essais nécessaires avant que le navire soit entièrement opérationnel. Ensuite, il ne restera qu'un petit mois pour apporter les dernières touches aux finitions et permettre aux premiers passagers, le 19 mai, de découvrir cette nouvelle merveille de la construction navale.
Le MSC Divina au bassin C (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)
A lire également :
EDF EN travaille avec STX France sur un projet de navire de pose d'éoliennes
Anvers: MSC excédé par la grève des lamaneurs
Le bassin de Penhoët va accueillir le plus gros paquebot de son histoire
Saint-Nazaire : L'ex-paquebot libyen sera mis à flot fin février
Jacques Hardelay retourne chez Alstom
Les salariés de SMCO se mobilisent après la liquidation de leur entreprise
L'assemblage du navire électrique de Cap L'Orient débute chez STX
STX France : Un cap très difficile à passer pour la sous-traitance 
Bruxelles : La défense des intérêts de l'industrie maritime s'organise
MSC : Quid de la reprise de l'ex-paquebot libyen et de la commande d'un prototype
Laurent Castaing remplace Jacques Hardelay à la tête de STX France
Allié aux Génois, STX France s'intéresse à la Forme 10 de Marseille
Les deux derniers porte-conteneurs construits à Saint-Nazaire naviguent encore
DCNS et STX France décrochent le MCO des frégates de surveillance
Le paquebot MSC Poesia s'échoue sur un récif aux Bahamas
Viking Cruises commande deux paquebots à Saint-Nazaire
Le MSC Lirica sera positionné aux Antilles fin 2012
STX France : Remous sur la sous-traitance étrangère et creux de charge à l'horizon
MSC prend le contrôle du voyagiste italien Bluvacanze
15 régions européennes défendent la navale à Bruxelles
Transfert de la fondation d'éolienne réalisée par STX France (12/12/2011)
MSC reconduit ses croisières au départ de Villefranche-sur-Mer (08/12/2011)
CMA CGM et MSC réorganisent leurs lignes Europe-Asie (08/12/2011)
BPC russes : La phase de réalisation lancée (08/12/2011)
MSC et CMA CGM vont s'allier sur leurs principales lignes (02/12/2011)
Croisière: MSC renforce sa présence à La Rochelle (29/11/2011)
Le MSC Sinfonia débute sa saison hivernale en Afrique du sud (10/11/2011)
Energies marines renouvelables : Les industriels ligériens se structurent (07/11/2011)
Première croisière pour le MSC Lirica au départ d'Abu Dhabi (31/10/2011)
Mise à flot technique du paquebot X32 à Saint-Nazaire (31/10/2011)
Maintenance : STX France débarque à Brest (18/10/2011)
La région Pays de la Loire se mobilise pour l'industrie navale (18/10/2011)
Le MSC Splendida se replie à Toulon à cause de la météo marseillaise (10/10/2011)
MSC Croisières collecte 1 million d'euros pour l'UNICEF (05/10/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : La brouille avec Royal Caribbean fait bien partie du passé (29/09/2011)
Très gros contrats en perspective pour Saint-Nazaire (28/09/2011)
MSC pourrait atteindre 200.000 croisiéristes en France sous 3 ans (23/09/2011)
STX : Découpe de la première tôle du navire commandé par Cap l'Orient (22/09/2011)
MSC n'embarquera pas de passagers à Cherbourg en 2012 (22/09/2011)
Un porte-conteneurs de MSC brièvement ensablé devant Anvers (21/09/2011)
Passerelle du Queen Mary 2 : La Cour d'appel de Versailles va rejuger deux salariés (20/09/2011)
Lorient : Mise sur cale du nouveau sablier de STFMO (16/09/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : STX France lance la construction de l'Europa 2 (06/09/2011)
MSC reconnaît s'intéresser à l'ex-paquebot libyen construit à Saint-Nazaire (05/09/2011)
Reportage : Sur le chantier du paquebot MSC Divina (05/09/2011)
Interview : Erminio Eschena, directeur général de MSC Croisières France (05/09/2011)
MSC aligne une flotte de 452 porte-conteneurs (12/07/2011)
STX France : Chômage partiel en vue, sauf nouvelle commande (11/07/2011)
MSC Croisières : Premiers embarquements à La Rochelle et Cherbourg (11/07/2011)
MSC Croisières introduit des cabines Spa sur ses paquebots (06/07/2011)
STX Lorient livre la barge commandée par OpenHydro (05/07/2011)
Le BPC Dixmude paré à quitter Saint-Nazaire (01/07/2011)
Lorient : Le patrouilleur Bir Anzarane remis à la marine royale marocaine (24/06/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : Le contrat du paquebot libyen annulé (23/06/2011)
MSC Croisières toujours en forte progression sur le marché français (22/06/2011)
Le contrat des BPC russes officiellement signé (20/06/2011)
Le MSC Divina effectuera une croisière entre Saint-Nazaire et Marseille (16/06/2011)
MSC Croisières reprend ses escales en Tunisie (14/06/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : Le MSC Divina à moins d'un an de sa livraison (09/06/2011)
Le MSC Opera repart en croisière (30/05/2011)
Le MSC Opera sera réparé par un chantier polonais (19/05/2011)
Le MSC Opera reprendra son activité commerciale le 27 mai (18/05/2011)
Paquebot libyen : Silence radio à Saint-Nazaire (18/05/2011)
Le MSC Opera remorqué jusqu'à un port suédois suite à une panne électrique (17/05/2011)
Eolien offshore : La région des Pays de la Loire va soutenir trois projets (17/05/2011)
MSC Croisières propose un nouvel outil de formation aux agents de voyage (16/05/2011)
MSC fait l'acquisition de la société sud-africaine Starlight Cruises (06/05/2011)
Le Dixmude a parfaitement franchi le cap des essais en mer (03/05/2011)
L'Aquitaine et le Dixmude se retrouvent au large de Belle-Ile (02/05/2011)
Première sortie à la mer pour le BPC Dixmude (27/04/2011)
Fiches entreprises :
MSC Cruises
Lire les autres brèves
il porte bien son nom DIVIN!!!j'ai hâte d'être au 19 mai, plus que 91 jours!! A la une
Les Grandes Rubriques : Voir le dernier numéro S'INSCRIRE :Civilité Sélectionnez Mlle. Mme. M.Prénom Nom E-mail Profession Code Postal Ville Pays
Le MSC Divina, la semaine dernière chez STX France
crédits : STX FRANCE - BERNARD BIGER17/02/2012 Electriciens, mécaniciens, carreleurs, charpentiers, décorateurs, marbriers, techniciens lumière, isolation, cuisinistes, serruriers, ingénieurs et contremaîtres... Plus de 1400 personnes s'activent actuellement sur le MSC Divina, en achèvement aux chantiers STX France de Saint-Nazaire. Une véritable course contre la montre pour livrer le navire en temps et en heure à la compagnie italo-suisse MSC Croisières, qui doit le réceptionner le 19 mai. Ce jour là, le grand paquebot appareillera de Saint-Nazaire avec ses premiers passagers pour une croisière pré-inaugurale à destination de Marseille, où il sera baptisé le 26 mai, ce qui constituera une grande première pour un navire de la compagnie. Long de 333 mètres pour une largeur de 38 mètres, le MSC Divina présente une jauge de 139.400 tonneaux et disposera de 1751 cabines et suites. Sa construction aura nécessité 2 millions d'heures de travail, auxquelles il faudra ajouter 1 million d'heures supplémentaires pour l'achèvement. « Actuellement en cours de finition, l'habillage, l'aménagement et la décoration du MSC Divina s'imposent comme de véritables prouesses techniques et artisanales assorties d'une immense passion de la part de ces hommes qui donnent vie à ce paquebot. Avec une grande fierté et un savoir-faire reconnu, les ouvriers des chantiers navals STX de Saint-Nazaire se sont investis, ces 150 dernières années, dans la construction de très beaux paquebots de croisière », souligne MSC Croisières.
A bord du MSC Divina (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)Les artisans à la manoeuvre
La réalisation d'un tel navire serait impossible sans l'intervention, et la capacité de travailler ensemble sur un projet complexe, de nombreux corps de métier. Un paquebot, c'est un peu la haute couture de l'industrie navale. Pour donner naissance à ces villes flottantes, où le design est particulièrement soigné, des savoir-faire très pointus sont nécessaires. Parmi les nombreux artisans travaillant à bord du Divina, on trouve par exemple Carole Légeron, peintre décorateur. Issue d'une formation en école d'art à Paris, elle donne, depuis 12 ans, de la couleur aux intérieurs des restaurants, salles de spectacles, casino et autres lieux publics des paquebots de MSC construits à Saint-Nazaire. Carole apprécie l'effervescence à bord, le mélange des compétences et par-dessus tout, le travail d'équipe. « On ne travaille pas seul sur un navire, la coordination est primordiale si l'on veut que tout fonctionne. Nous avons des objectifs à tenir, il n'y a pas de routine dans notre métier, c'est parfois stressant mais surtout passionnant ». Carole, qui a travaillé sur les 11 précédents navires de la compagnie réalisés par le chantier français, constate avec le Divina que le style s'est épuré. Mais l'attention de MSC, connu pour être particulièrement sensible à la décoration de ses paquebots, est constante. « L'armateur est très précis sur ses demandes, nous envoyons des échantillons et les faisons valider avant de réaliser les peintures ».
Vanina Quistrebert et Carole Légeron (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)Dans une autre partie du gigantesque bateau, on trouve Mickaël Labarre, menuisier-agenceur. Ayant toujours travaillé dans la navale, cet amoureux du bois a rejoint il y a un an les Ateliers du Marais, l'agenceur entre autres des boutiques Hermès et du palais de Monaco. Il est responsable de l'aménagement d'un espace de 1200 m2 à bord du MSC Divina, la « Venezian Piazzeta », une place installée au coeur du navire, qui inclut une très belle voûte étoilée. Véritable chef d'orchestre, Mickaël coordonne tout un ensemble de métiers mais il se réserve personnellement le traçage et le perçage des 20.000 points lumineux qui composent ce ciel étoilé. C'est la troisième fois qu'il travaille sur un navire de MSC. « J'apprécie la qualité de l'agencement de ces navires. C'est une grande satisfaction personnelle d'y contribuer », dit-il.
Vanina Quistrebert et Carole Légeron (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)Une ville flottante
Mis à flot en septembre dernier, le MSC Divina a vu sa construction débuter en novembre 2010. On ne connaissait alors le navire que sous son numéro de chantier : U32. Depuis, un travail colossal a été entrepris pour édifier cette ville flottante, constituée pour la partie coque de 80 blocs. Les chiffres parlent d'ailleurs d'eux-mêmes : 30.000 tonnes d'acier, 300 km de tuyauterie, 1800 km de câbles électriques, 66.000 sources lumineuses, 27.000 m² d'espaces publics, 25 ascenseurs, une capacité d'accueil de plus de 4000 passagers... Par rapport à ses aînés, les MSC Fantasia et MSC Divina, livrés en décembre 2008 et juillet 2009 par STX France, le MSC Divina compte plus de cabines, soit 1751 au lieu de 1637. Pour les passagers à mobilité réduite, 45 cabines sont spécialement aménagées. Le « U32 » compte également des améliorations, par exemple au niveau du MSC Yacht Club, espace VIP privatif situé en haut, sur l'avant du navire. On trouvera également, pour la première fois, une piscine à débordement. Et, bien entendu, il y aura à bord une multitude d'équipements et d'espaces public : Un centre de bien-être, l'Aurea Spa, de 1700 m² avec saunas, hammams et salles de soins, une salle de sport, de nombreux bars et restaurants, une discothèque, un casino, ou encore une impressionnante salle de spectacle pouvant accueillir plus de 1500 personnes. Le tout sur 18 ponts, dont 13 accessibles aux passagers.
Le MSC Divina au bassin C (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)Transfert en forme Joubert puis à Penhoët avant les essais en mer
Transféré au bassin C après sa mise à flot, le MSC Divina, sauf météo capricieuse, doit rejoindre le 23 février la forme Joubert. Il y restera trois semaines, en cale sèche, pour des travaux de peinture. Puis le navire entrera dans le bassin de Penhoët pour poursuivre son achèvement. Sa première grande sortie interviendra mi-avril, à l'occasion des essais en mer. 300 personnes embarqueront alors sur le paquebot afin de réaliser plus de 60 tests différents, vérifiant aussi bien la vitesse et la manoeuvrabilité que la sonorisation, les vibrations, le remplissage des piscines à l'eau de mer, et tous les essais nécessaires avant que le navire soit entièrement opérationnel. Ensuite, il ne restera qu'un petit mois pour apporter les dernières touches aux finitions et permettre aux premiers passagers, le 19 mai, de découvrir cette nouvelle merveille de la construction navale.
Le MSC Divina au bassin C (© : STX France - BERNARD BIGER)A lire également :
EDF EN travaille avec STX France sur un projet de navire de pose d'éoliennes
Anvers: MSC excédé par la grève des lamaneurs
Le bassin de Penhoët va accueillir le plus gros paquebot de son histoire
Saint-Nazaire : L'ex-paquebot libyen sera mis à flot fin février
Jacques Hardelay retourne chez Alstom
Les salariés de SMCO se mobilisent après la liquidation de leur entreprise
L'assemblage du navire électrique de Cap L'Orient débute chez STX
STX France : Un cap très difficile à passer pour la sous-traitance
Bruxelles : La défense des intérêts de l'industrie maritime s'organise
MSC : Quid de la reprise de l'ex-paquebot libyen et de la commande d'un prototype
Laurent Castaing remplace Jacques Hardelay à la tête de STX France
Allié aux Génois, STX France s'intéresse à la Forme 10 de Marseille
Les deux derniers porte-conteneurs construits à Saint-Nazaire naviguent encore
DCNS et STX France décrochent le MCO des frégates de surveillance
Le paquebot MSC Poesia s'échoue sur un récif aux Bahamas
Viking Cruises commande deux paquebots à Saint-Nazaire
Le MSC Lirica sera positionné aux Antilles fin 2012
STX France : Remous sur la sous-traitance étrangère et creux de charge à l'horizon
MSC prend le contrôle du voyagiste italien Bluvacanze
15 régions européennes défendent la navale à Bruxelles
Transfert de la fondation d'éolienne réalisée par STX France (12/12/2011)
MSC reconduit ses croisières au départ de Villefranche-sur-Mer (08/12/2011)
CMA CGM et MSC réorganisent leurs lignes Europe-Asie (08/12/2011)
BPC russes : La phase de réalisation lancée (08/12/2011)
MSC et CMA CGM vont s'allier sur leurs principales lignes (02/12/2011)
Croisière: MSC renforce sa présence à La Rochelle (29/11/2011)
Le MSC Sinfonia débute sa saison hivernale en Afrique du sud (10/11/2011)
Energies marines renouvelables : Les industriels ligériens se structurent (07/11/2011)
Première croisière pour le MSC Lirica au départ d'Abu Dhabi (31/10/2011)
Mise à flot technique du paquebot X32 à Saint-Nazaire (31/10/2011)
Maintenance : STX France débarque à Brest (18/10/2011)
La région Pays de la Loire se mobilise pour l'industrie navale (18/10/2011)
Le MSC Splendida se replie à Toulon à cause de la météo marseillaise (10/10/2011)
MSC Croisières collecte 1 million d'euros pour l'UNICEF (05/10/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : La brouille avec Royal Caribbean fait bien partie du passé (29/09/2011)
Très gros contrats en perspective pour Saint-Nazaire (28/09/2011)
MSC pourrait atteindre 200.000 croisiéristes en France sous 3 ans (23/09/2011)
STX : Découpe de la première tôle du navire commandé par Cap l'Orient (22/09/2011)
MSC n'embarquera pas de passagers à Cherbourg en 2012 (22/09/2011)
Un porte-conteneurs de MSC brièvement ensablé devant Anvers (21/09/2011)
Passerelle du Queen Mary 2 : La Cour d'appel de Versailles va rejuger deux salariés (20/09/2011)
Lorient : Mise sur cale du nouveau sablier de STFMO (16/09/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : STX France lance la construction de l'Europa 2 (06/09/2011)
MSC reconnaît s'intéresser à l'ex-paquebot libyen construit à Saint-Nazaire (05/09/2011)
Reportage : Sur le chantier du paquebot MSC Divina (05/09/2011)
Interview : Erminio Eschena, directeur général de MSC Croisières France (05/09/2011)
MSC aligne une flotte de 452 porte-conteneurs (12/07/2011)
STX France : Chômage partiel en vue, sauf nouvelle commande (11/07/2011)
MSC Croisières : Premiers embarquements à La Rochelle et Cherbourg (11/07/2011)
MSC Croisières introduit des cabines Spa sur ses paquebots (06/07/2011)
STX Lorient livre la barge commandée par OpenHydro (05/07/2011)
Le BPC Dixmude paré à quitter Saint-Nazaire (01/07/2011)
Lorient : Le patrouilleur Bir Anzarane remis à la marine royale marocaine (24/06/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : Le contrat du paquebot libyen annulé (23/06/2011)
MSC Croisières toujours en forte progression sur le marché français (22/06/2011)
Le contrat des BPC russes officiellement signé (20/06/2011)
Le MSC Divina effectuera une croisière entre Saint-Nazaire et Marseille (16/06/2011)
MSC Croisières reprend ses escales en Tunisie (14/06/2011)
Saint-Nazaire : Le MSC Divina à moins d'un an de sa livraison (09/06/2011)
Le MSC Opera repart en croisière (30/05/2011)
Le MSC Opera sera réparé par un chantier polonais (19/05/2011)
Le MSC Opera reprendra son activité commerciale le 27 mai (18/05/2011)
Paquebot libyen : Silence radio à Saint-Nazaire (18/05/2011)
Le MSC Opera remorqué jusqu'à un port suédois suite à une panne électrique (17/05/2011)
Eolien offshore : La région des Pays de la Loire va soutenir trois projets (17/05/2011)
MSC Croisières propose un nouvel outil de formation aux agents de voyage (16/05/2011)
MSC fait l'acquisition de la société sud-africaine Starlight Cruises (06/05/2011)
Le Dixmude a parfaitement franchi le cap des essais en mer (03/05/2011)
L'Aquitaine et le Dixmude se retrouvent au large de Belle-Ile (02/05/2011)
Première sortie à la mer pour le BPC Dixmude (27/04/2011)Fiches entreprises :
MSC Cruises
Lire les autres brèves
il porte bien son nom DIVIN!!!j'ai hâte d'être au 19 mai, plus que 91 jours!! A la une
Les Grandes Rubriques : Voir le dernier numéro S'INSCRIRE :Civilité Sélectionnez Mlle. Mme. M.Prénom Nom E-mail Profession Code Postal Ville Pays
Log in first, then come back to this page.
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More discussions
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
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? Thanks
Hello
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
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
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!
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.
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.
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,