Review of the Renaissance ship

Hi Jean Michel, We took two cruises in 2024 on this ship and really enjoyed the calm and the French-style cruise vibe. In 2025, it’s setting sail with a new British company, and for now, no one knows what life on board will be like. The first departure is at the beginning of March, so we’ll soon have updates on what’s happening with this boat. Will the Brits change everything or keep that French touch?

Good evening, For now, the new owner of CFC isn’t selling its cruises. On Ambassador Cruise Line’s website, no Renaissance cruises are listed. So, in the short term, changes should be very limited. Best regards

For now, the new owner of CFC isn’t selling its cruises. On Ambassador Cruise Line’s website, no Renaissance cruises are listed. So, in the short term, changes should be very limited.

Correction: The first Renaissance cruises (transatlantic and Caribbean) are now online.

Recent reviews aren’t exactly making me want to go... [:(]

Hi Isabelle,

How can you already have feedback? The ship only left on 01/03/25 under the new "banner" and for its first cruise in 2025. We’re leaving on 31/03/25 and will post a review after we get back. Best regards, Mum49

Hello Isabelle,

How can you already have feedback, since the ship left on 03/01/25 under the new "banner" and for its first cruise in 2025? We’re leaving on 03/31/25 and will post a review after we return. Best regards: Mum49

Right now, there’s a live feed on Facebook where people who left on March 1st are saying it’s a disaster... (messages below)

"No pool, power outages, Short-staffed. 1.5 hours to eat at the Vatel restaurant."

"Due to an electrical issue, life on board the Renaissance is off. In 11 cruises with CFC, I’ve never seen anything like this... And even last year during the same period and on the same itinerary, I didn’t experience a tenth of what’s happened. Between weather, repairs, and unforeseen issues, it’s really one thing after another... Out of respect for the crew on board, I don’t want to make things worse, so I won’t post about these problems. But I won’t stop others on the passenger group from complaining if they want to. I’ll post a full review at the end, including any actions CFC takes."

So I think Isabelle is following the news like a lot of people live.

Hi there,

Thanks for your feedback—I’m not on any social media. This doesn’t sound great at all and is worrying... even though the ship just came out of two months in dry dock for "repairs."

Let’s hope things improve for the cruisers on board right now. Mum49

Thanks Joseph! [;)] You know me well—I’m not one to make things up or say just anything!

Hello Isabelle,

How can you already have feedback, since the ship left on 03/01/25 under the new "banner" and for its first cruise in 2025? We’re leaving on 03/31/25 and will post a review after we return. Best regards: Mum49

This probably isn’t the answer you were expecting: several people currently on the ship aren’t exactly thrilled! If you knew me, you’d know I don’t make stuff up 😠 so think twice before accusing people

Thanks Joseph! [;)] You know me well—I’m not one to make things up or talk nonsense!

Hey Isa!

Yeah, I know, and that’s why I took the liberty of answering for you!

This boat is way too old and outdated—you can’t make something new out of something old!!! I’ll pass...

Hello, I don’t understand your response—I never said I didn’t believe you. I mentioned that I was surprised there were already reviews about the ship, and I got a reply saying those were people exchanging on Facebook. I’m not on any social media, so I wasn’t aware, but it’s my choice not to be on social networks. I just wanted things to improve for the cruisers on board right now, and since I’m leaving on 31/03/25, I’ll also share my feedback about the cruise. Mum49

Sorry, but you doubted what I said [:/] I’m not the only one who interpreted it that way. Things aren’t improving on board the Renaissance—they’re dealing with terrible weather and multiple technical failures. I’m sure your cruise will be better!

Thanks Joseph! [;)] You know me well! I’m not used to making things up or talking nonsense.

Hi Isa!

Yeah, I know, and that’s why I took the liberty of answering for you!

This boat is way too old and outdated—you can’t make something new out of something old!!! I’ll pass...

Thanks a lot! I completely agree with you—this boat is really old, and it reminds me of the *Bleu de France*, which had ventilation and evacuation issues from start to finish, not to mention other problems.

Maybe one day we’ll go on a cruise together? If everything goes as planned, I’ll be free from school holidays next year! [:)][:)][:)]

Hi Isa,

I’d love to go on a cruise together!

It’s been about twenty years since we first met through the various forums, but we’ve never had the chance to go on a cruise together.

I’ve already had the opportunity to meet several members of this forum on cruises (thanks to the calendar), and it was absolutely amazing!

Best,

Alfred

Hi,

An example of feedback on this boat:

"First cruise... big disappointment. Clear lack of communication. The storm was just an excuse. Between the lack of staff and maintenance that left a lot to be desired... The restaurant for 2 or 3 days wasn’t even up to Flunch standards... So 5%... uh... not sure I’d sail with CFC again. Or even no desire to at all."

On FB, there are only unhappy customers...

In my opinion, this company won’t last long...

Hello,

An example of feedback on this ship:

"First cruise...big disappointment Clear lack of communication The storm is just an excuse Between the lack of staff and maintenance that leaves much to be desired... Restaurant for 2 or 3 days not even worthy of a Flunch... So 5%...uh...not sure I’d sail with CFC again Or even no desire at all."

On FB, there are only unhappy people...

In my opinion, this company won’t last long..

Hello Alfred,

Thanks so much for sharing what’s being said on social media. Now we know what to expect since we can’t cancel the cruise—departure is in 3 weeks for us. Have a great day! Mum49

Thank you very much for sharing what’s being said on social media. We now know what to expect since we can no longer cancel the cruise, with our departure in 3 weeks. Have a great rest of the day! Mum49

Hi Mum, The latest updates on social media are encouraging. The electrical issues seem to be resolved: the restaurant, buffet, elevators, etc. are all working normally again on the *Renaissance*. Passengers have received an on-board credit equal to 5% of their cruise amount as compensation. Best regards

Hi Micax,

Thanks so much for this info. The rest of the cruise is going to be "more comfortable" for those currently on board. Have a great rest of the day! Mum49

Cruise from March 31 to April 10, Sure, the Renaissance has been renovated, but not everywhere. Apparently, everything is spotless on decks 7 and 8 (reception, bars, restaurants, shops...). You can’t say the same for the other areas and cabins—at least not mine. What were they thinking, with the average age of cruise passengers, leaving such narrow bathtubs, even with grab handles? Don’t look too closely at the finishes that make a ship beautiful, or the spots that look like a "jumbled mess" of materials (deck 6). The AC motor keeps you awake, but is it possible to ask to turn it off without affecting the AC itself? Mystery! The elevators aren’t always all working—true, not for long—but they make strange noises. Externally, you can tell the ship is showing its age, despite the repainted hull at the waterline and the smokestack in a gorgeous purple/pink and green since it became Ambassador—very English taste, no doubt. Overall, it’s a "nice" ship because it’s not too big, with a French-style breakfast service? No! You have to wait over an hour at the restaurant without getting what you want, so everyone heads to the buffet—and many do! On the other hand, dinner at the Vatel restaurant is 20/20 service and the food is very good. Of course, these are just my observations and hold only that value. Best regards,

Hello, We must not have been on the same boat..

Hi there, That’s exactly why I specified the limits of my opinions, but maybe you had a more comfortable cabin (with a shower, for example). Honestly, it’s clear that many of the spaces could use a renovation, but as I wrote, given its overall design (linked to its age—33 years), this boat is still pretty nice. Best,

Hello, No, as I mentioned in my review, we had a jacuzzi tub that we really enjoyed. This just goes to show that depending on everyone’s expectations, impressions of the same cruise can vary—and that’s exactly what makes these comments so valuable.

Still, it’s a shame that some people feel entitled to pass judgment on companies and ships they’ve never even set foot on.

Hi there, My reply is off-topic... But I’m responding to you. Ncl with the Spirit did this beautifully... but it cost a fortune.

Hi there My reply is off-topic... But I’m responding to you NCL with the Spirit did a magnificent job... but it cost a fortune.

Hi Nath!

Well, some companies know how to renovate, and others just patch things up... NO COMMENT!

NCL Spirit was a real success. In my opinion, they must’ve paid top dollar (no mystery there).

I’m boarding the NCL Sky this Saturday from Dubai. I’ll let you know how it goes when I’m back...

Don’t hesitate to post a review in the group. Happy cruising

Don’t hesitate to post a review in the group. Have a great cruise

Of course, I plan to post a review on this forum and in the group.

Best,

Alfred

Good evening,

I posted my feedback on my cruise from March 31, 2025, to April 11, 2025, in the "French Company CFC" section on April 13, 2025. No AC issues in our cabin, but we didn’t like the bathtub, even with handles. Elevators at the back—2 out of 4, sometimes max 3 out of 4, were working. We mostly ate at the buffet for breakfast and lunch from the start of the cruise and for dinner from the 3rd evening onward because the 6:30 PM service was *very* long. We appreciated the water, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and fruit juice fountains available all day. We loved not being bothered by loud music or announcements like on MSC or COSTA. The onboard francophone environment was a big plus for us since we don’t speak English well. The shows were high quality, and the lectures were great. We had smooth sailing with calm seas and nice weather, except in Zeebrugge, where it was gray. Overall, we’re happy with this cruise—a captain who gave the ship real soul. We felt at home. Mum49

Hi, we always had lunch at the restaurant at noon, a table for two with quick service. In the evening, we dined during the second seating. The restaurant wasn’t full, maybe unlike the first seating, which probably explains the different reviews. As far as we’re concerned, the service was quick, and our servers were very attentive.

For us, dinner at the restaurant was at 6:30 PM, table for two. We arrived around 6:30 PM, and the meal usually finished by 7:45 PM—everything was great!

Hello,

We were lucky enough to take several cruises with CFC, which suited us perfectly. Last year, in September, we did a cruise in the Greek islands—perfect itinerary. However, unfortunately, our suite cabin was right below the ping-pong table!!!! So, needless to say, we could hear all the players...

Before their partnership with Ambassador, we really enjoyed this company. What we liked most was the "French" touch—even though they’re Swiss—their size, no loudspeaker announcements except for essentials, the restaurant at Vatel was just perfect, and the staff was incredibly attentive. No "bling-bling" like you find with the bigger companies. I should mention that the ship wasn’t full.

That said, it’s clear the ship isn’t exactly new, and flaws are starting to show more often.

Now, we’re really hesitant about booking with them again. Let’s wait for more reviews under Ambassador’s management—especially from Dutch and English cruisers...

Best regards,

You all probably know this already, but spotted in the port of Zeebrugge: the cruise ship AMBITION, which sails under the same colors as the Renaissance, i.e., Ambassador

Hello, Luckily, I wasn’t on your cruise… because I’ve played ping-pong a few times myself, and I’d have felt guilty 😅 But just in case, it’s good to know—what was your cabin number?

Hello, Don’t worry, we also played ping pong, so no hard feelings toward the players. We had cabin 1010. If you’re lucky enough to get a cabin like 1002, 1004, or even 1006, no problem at all. Once, we had 1004, and it was paradise! The only thing that bothered us was on sea days when we were in the cabin or even on the balcony. Best regards