Bonjour,
Nous revenons tout juste d'une croisière sur le costa delicioza - croisière les trésors du Bosphore.
En préambule, je dois dire qu'il s'agit d'une première expérience de croisière, habituellement, nous partions en hotel club (jet tours, look voyage).
La croisière s'est globalement bien passée (pas de problème grave de type avarie) mais nous avons été surpris (je devrais dire déçus) par certains points :
- le bateau était surpeuplé : on parle des serviettes alignées sur les plages du sud est de la France, et bien sur le bateau c'était exactement la même chose sauf qu'il s'agissait de transats. 2 lieux de vie principaux à l'extérieur, chacun équipés d'une piscine et d'un bar. Donc 2 piscines au total, minuscules et vraiment surpeuplées. 4 jacuzzi au total, très agréables lorsqu'on arrivait à y accéder. C'est vraiment très peu pour 2800 personnes.
- le repas du soir : une vraie galère. Tout d'abord, en vacances, c'est un peu dur de manger à heure fixe, tous les soirs à la même table. A cela s'ajoute que le restaurant était également surpeuplé, ambiance cantine (sans exagérer) et bien que les plats aient été très bons, nous avions hate de quitter le restaurant. Nous sommes pourtant habitués au bruit dans les hotels clubs, mais là, c'était encore une autre dimension.
Nous étions accompagnés de nos enfants de 13 et 16 ans. Vous imaginez bien qu'ils souhaitaient de temps en temps, diner avec leurs amis. Et bien, la plupart du temps, le buffet du pont 9 était fermé, donc la seule solution pour qu'ils mangent entre eux étaient de leur payer une pizza. C'est tout à fait anormal d'être obligé de payer pour que les jeunes dinent entre eux.
Des amis nous ont indiqué que la qualité des prestations costa s'était dégradée ces dernières années. Par exemple, les années précédentes, pour diner, les clients avaient le choix entre le buffet et le restaurant. A priori il y a eu une coupe sombre sur pas mal de prestations. Et je ne parle même pas du buffet de minuit, qui a totalement disparu.
- autre point surprenant : nous étions 700 français sur un total de 2800 passagers. Et bien, toutes les animations étaient en italiens, en journée comme en soirée, pas une seule animation française. Non pas que je sois attachée aux animations des clubs, mais c'est tout de même un indicateur important.
- en bref, malgré ces points que nous avons trouvés médiocres, je dirais que la croisière reste un modèle de vacances agréable : chaque jour un nouveau port (sauf les jours de pleine mer bien sur) et la possibilité de découvrir des villes par soi-même ou bien à travers les excursions proposées par costa. Et de beaux paysages qui défilent tout au long du parcours (passage du bosphore à ne pas manquer).
- Je vous livre pèle-mèle qq infos sur les escales :
>> Mykonos : peut se faire par soi-même. balade dans les ruelles de la ville très agréable. La ville est attenante au port, donc vraiment aucun souci.🙂
>> Izmir : très peu de temps
>> Istanbul : peut se faire par soi même. A quelques pas de la sortie du port, il y a le tram. c'est excellent, pour 4TL par personne (1€=2,97TL), vous pouvez vous rendre à différents points d'intérêt à Istanbul : grand bazar, mosquée bleu, saint sophie, ... Pour ceux qui sont intéressés par des vestes en cuir, il y a une boutique dans le quartier cuir du grand bazar où vous pourrez trouver de très belles pièces à des prix intéressant😎. Les vendeurs sont sympa et parlent français. Voici l'adresse : Gian Mori - Kurkçuler Carsisi No 43- 44 Kapalicarsi (Grandbazaar) Istanbul.
>> Constanza : à éviter. des cas de racket à terre. Même l'excursion à Bucarest n'était à priori par fameuse.
>> Burgas : sympa
>> Le Pirée - Athènes : très peu de temps mais possibilité d'aller à Athenes avec le bus X80, stationné à la sortie du port.
>> Civitavecchia : attention, si vous accostez à 9h et souhaitez rejoindre Rome, je vous conseille vivement de vous presser pour aller à la gare. Nous avons loupé le train de 10h de quelques minutes🤪, et le prochain était à 10h50 (trajet de 1h pour aller à Rome) avec un retour pour 18h, donc c'était très très juste. Sinon, la formule Rome en liberté proposée par costa peut être une bonne alternative.
>> Enfin, dernier détail qui me semble important : pendant la croisière, nous souhaitions pouvoir consulter nos mails régulièrement. Bien sur, à terre, on peut trouver des bars avec wifi mais c'est assez contraignant. Il y a une autre possibilité assez simple : le forfait orange sans engagement let's go europe. vous avez 7 jours maxi (non consécutifs) avec un volume de 500 Mo maxi. Cela vous permet de consulter vos mails dés que vous êtes en europe (toutes les escales sauf la turquie) à terre ou bien même en mer lorsque vous n'êtes pas trop loin des cotes. Nous avons souscrit à ce forfait, et n'avons consommé que 170 Mo sur les 500 Mo autorisés, en consultant nos mails de temps en temps. Il y a donc de la marge. Mais attention à l'usage, si vous uploadez ou téléchargez de gros volumes (type photos par ex), cela peut monter très vite.
Comme c'est un forfait sans engagement, on peut résilier après la croisière sans frais additionnels.
J'espère que ce retour d'expérience aura été utile à certains. J'avais, de mon coté, beaucoup apprécié de pouvoir profiter des expériences des autres, donc je tenais, à mon tour, à témoigner.
Cordialement
Bonsoir
Si vous voulez refaire une croisière , je vous suggère d'essayer le Yacht Club chez Msc , sur 4 bateaux , dont le Splendida.
Ils ont privatisé une partie du bateau , à l'avant sur 3 ponts , pour environ 70 cabines , avec un restaurant spécifique , où on peut manger à l'heure de son choix .
Il y a une piscine , et deux jacouzzis, privés avec un bar dédié.
Tout est calme et feutré dans ces lieux .
Il y a aussi de nombreux avantages , embarquement et débarquement prioritaires , majordome dédié ....
Vous pouvez aussi profiter du reste du bateau si vous voulez .
Bien sur le budget n'est pas le même ! Et pour les enfants et surtout les ados c'est sûrement moins bien pour faire des rencontres .
D'autre part sur Msc, en tous cas en juin dernier, sur le Splendida il y avait (encore ?.)un buffet le soir.
Merci pour vos indications sur le forfait internet sans engagement.
Bon retour à terre .
Claudine
Bonsoir,
Merci pour ces informations. La formule que vous évoquez est bien plus calme, mais serait sans doute trop calme pour nous, et pour mes enfants n'en parlons pas.
Les vacances "en collectivité" ne sont pas un pb en soit, nous y sommes habitués, mais là ça faisait vraiment usine. Et j'avoue que j'ai du mal à savoir si ce que nous avons vécu est habituel sur les bateaux costa, quelque soient leur taille.
En tout cas, s'il y a une prochaine fois, je serai attentive aux possibilités proposées concernant les diners, car ce fut un des points "polluants" de la croisière.
Cordialement
Tu peux aussi essayer NCL qui pratique le free style : tu manges quand tu veux avec qui tu veux, vraiment agréable 😉
C'est une compagnie us, mieux vaut parler un peu anglais, mais c'est sympa, et plus calme que chez les italiens 😛
Norvégian Gém NCL, Horizon CDF, musica MSC, Allure of the seas RCI, sérénade of the seas RCI, Symphony of the seas RCI, Régal PRINCESS, Fantasia MSC, seaside MSC, explorer of the seas RCI
Bonsoir,
oui j'avais repéré NCL à travers différents témoignages, la formule semble plus conviviale, et dans notre cas, l'anglais n'est pas un pb. J'avoue que le modèle croisières me plait bien, donc je n'en suis qu'à ma première expérience, sans doute pas la dernière.😉
Cordialement
Oui c'est sympa, de plus les buffets sont ouvert presque tout le temps ( sauf la nuit)
Par contre si vous aimez les animations il n'y a pas grand chose , hormis les bingos et divers musiciens dans les salons
Sinon avec des enfants essayez royal Carribean, l'année prochaine le plus gros paquebot du monde fera une saison en Europe, et la aussi on peut choisir le ANY TIME DINING mais je crois que un peu mois souple que chez NCL et qu'il faut réserver ses heures de repas la veille
Norvégian Gém NCL, Horizon CDF, musica MSC, Allure of the seas RCI, sérénade of the seas RCI, Symphony of the seas RCI, Régal PRINCESS, Fantasia MSC, seaside MSC, explorer of the seas RCI
Bonjour Sandrine,
Juste une petite remarque personnelle :
Moi aussi, au bout de 5 croisières Costa, je constate la disparition des buffets de minuit, celui des cuisines, de la piscine...et bien je trouve que c'est une excellente chose car au regard de ce qui est mangé après le plaisir des yeux, je n'ose imaginer le gaspillage de nourriture que cela représente !
Mais ce n'est que mon avis !
Bonne journée.
Si le chemin est difficile, le difficile est le chemin.
Bonjour,
Limiter le gaspillage est une bonne idée, je suis d'accord avec vous, mais il ne faut pas non plus tomber dans l'excès. Entre un buffet fastueux et tout supprimer il y a peut être un juste milieu.
Les décisions prises privent les familles de pouvoir, de temps de temps, manger rapidement (je pense notamment aux parents de jeunes enfants qui galèraient tous les soirs pour garder leurs enfants à table) ou tout simplement manger plus léger certains soirs ou avec les amis de son choix, ce qui aurait, du même coup, permis de désencombrer le restaurant albatros.
J'ajouterai qu'il n'est pas normal de payer un supplément pour que des ados puissent diner de temps en temps ensemble.
Au final, je trouve bien dommage que ce restaurant albatros soit devenu une contrainte plutôt qu'une source de plaisir car les plats étaient de très bonne qualité.
Cordialement
Je reviens d'une croisière sur le COSTA DELIZIOSA et je tiens à faire part de mes remarques pour les futurs croisiéristes Embarquement à VENISE: A PROSCRIRE:…
Nous revenons tout juste d'une croisiere Costa et ce fut notre 2ème experience la première a été avec MSC. Savone 10 jours malaga-Casablanca-Ca... et retour…
Début Novembre 2019 nous partons à 2 couples pour une croisière Costa, mille nuances de bleu, La réunion, Maurice, les Seychelles Nosy be et Madagascar,…
Version courte: J’ai réservé via Croisières.fr et tout se passait bien jusqu’à la validation de ma commande. Dès ma demande de changement de dates – pour des…
Je reviens sur la communauté pour vous parler de la croisiere de RIVAGE DU MONDE avec le MS ASTORIA tant décrié et malmené je rappelle que ce navire faisait…
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
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 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
Hello everyone,
It’s with immense sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of our friend Nathalie (nadu). Many of us knew her through this forum, which she loved so much. She enjoyed reading your travel stories, joining discussions, sharing her cruise reviews, and offering valuable advice—always with kindness, gentleness, and discretion.
For me, Nathalie was so much more than just a cruise enthusiast. She was a friend, a deeply kind person who was always there to listen, despite the many health challenges she faced with tremendous courage. We corresponded regularly, and sometimes we had the chance to visit each other’s homes or attend the cruise show together with our respective husbands.
We shared a common dream: when we both retired, we had planned to finally go on a cruise together. Life had other plans, and that trip will forever remain a journey we never had the chance to take. That thought weighs heavily on my heart today.
I’ll remember her as a gentle, generous woman who was always ready to help others. Her presence on this forum will leave a huge void, just as her friendship has in my life.
I send my sincerest thoughts to her husband, her family, and all those who had the chance to know her.
Fair winds, Nathalie. I like to think you’re now sailing on an infinitely calm sea, under an eternally blue sky. You’ll remain in our thoughts and hearts every time we talk about cruises or set off on a new journey.
Rest in peace, Nathalie.
For those who’d like to send a message of comfort and sympathy to her husband, you can send me a PM, and I’ll pass it along.
THANK YOU
Hello everyone,
So happy to be back on this Forum!
We’re heading off on another cruise—our 7th—after a 5-year break...
We’ll be leaving from Venice on April 26th with stops in Kotor, Mykonos, Santorini, and Ancona.
Could you help me plan the stops by sharing tips, tricks, and advice?
For those who already know me, you know we prefer not to take the cruise line’s excursions but instead organize everything ourselves.
Thanks in advance to everyone, and looking forward to chatting with you all!
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.
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.
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.
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! 😐
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!
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.
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.
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?
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
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,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.
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.
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!