Voici les récits des membres qui partent en excursion proposée par le bateau.
Ce post est ouvert à toutes les compagnies !!!
PAYS/VILLE/TITRE/COMPAGNIE/DURÉE
Un c/r détaillé de l'excursion + avis
Si vous voulez des infos complémentaires sur le récit d'un membre, envoyer en MP et non pas dans cette synthèse SVP!!!
Merci d'avance et vos plumes!
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
ITALIE/NAPLES/POMPÉI/COSTA/4H
Nous partons du port à destination de POMPÉI avec une guide française installée en Italie. Pendant le trajet, elle nous explique la ville de Naples, les coutumes...Arrivés à POMPÉI, nous visitons le site pendant 2H. nous voyons le forum, centre de la vie politique et économique de la cité, des vestiges. La guide nous explique les commerces, les maisons et des histoires coquines(maison close). A la sortie vous pouvez acheter des souvenirs ou boire un verre.
Avis : la visite est très intéressante et un guide est indispensable. Le site est bien préservé.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE/TENERIFE/LORO PARQUE/COSTA/5H
C'est à vive allure que nous allons au spectacle des otaries (drôle), des perroquets (ouais), des dauphins et des orques (un grand moment de rire quand les gens se font éclaboussés). Nous terminons par l'aquarium avec les requins, les gorilles, les tigres.
Avis : cette excursion est idéale pour les familles. Il faut spider mais on voit presque tout.
TURQUIE/IZMIR/EPHESE/COSTA/5H
Avec un guide local, nous visitons le site archéologique d'Ephèse. Nous descendons l'avenue Arcadie bordée de colonnades de marbre. Puis nous admirons la bibliothèque, les maisons et à la fin le grand Théâtre avec une capacité de de 24000 spectateurs. Au retour, nous arrêtons dans un magasin de cuir. tous les cars s'arrêtent dans différents magasins. Pour détendre l'atmosphère très tendue d'un arrêt forcé, ils nous offrent des gâteaux apéritifs et un thé à la pomme froid. Ensuite, nous voyons un défilé puis on se dirige vers le magasin. Et miracle, des gens achètent. On reste 1H.
Avis : je reste frustrée de cette excursion. Le site est exceptionnel mais la visite est au pas de course. Tout ça à cause du magasin ! Si le site était plus prêt d'Izmir, je visiterai par moi-même.
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
Voici le compte-rendu de 3 excursions avec le MSC SPLENDIDA d' Odidi81 :
2ème escale Héraklion: comme c'était un dimanche et que j'avais lu que beaucoup de choses seraient fermées, nous avons pris l'excursion " le village de Fodele et la ville de Rethymnon". Guide très sympa, jolis paysages mais on a trouvé que cela faisait un peu cher ( 53€/pers. comparé à d'autres excursions qui incluaient des visites de site).
3ème escale Marmaris: avons choisi l'excursion "Dalyan et Kaunos"; petit arrêt sur le trajet pour goûter le jus de grenade frais et les "sigara böregi", puis arrivée à Dalyan où l'on prend des embarcations pour admirer les tombes lyciennes creusées dans les falaises puis visite de l'ancienne cité de Kaunos. Très belle excursion, avec une guide merveilleuse...départ de Marmaris avec un magnifique soleil.
4ème escale Izmir: départ pour Ephèse avec les bus et un guide à l'humour un peu lourd mais efficace...visite du magnifique site d'Ephèse, sans pluie, nous avons été chanceux! Après la visite, on nous arrête dans un showroom pour nous vendre des vestes en cuir; on perd presque 1 heure et on râle de cet arrêt qui ne nous intéresse pas...Sur le retour, pluie diluvienne; on arrive vers 15h30 au bateau, en retard sur l'horaire prévu (mais la cafétéria est restée ouverte). On mange vite puis on ressort du bateau pour aller visiter Izmir, le bazar et longer le kordon. Longue journée mais pas du tout déçus.
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
Beaucoup de personnes prennent une excursion à Saint-Pétersbourg à cause du visa.
Voici des exemples avec différents membres :
MSC POESIA d'Odilegege (mai 2012)
A Saint Pétersbourg : visite en groupe avec MSC, nous avions un guide "Dimitri" qui parlait très bien le français.Visite toute la journée. Nous étions équipé de casque "audiotel" qui nous permettait d'entendre notre guide en permanence. Nous avons visité : le château de Perterhof, la cathédrale St Isaac, l'église du Sauveur sur le Sang versé, visite guidée de la ville en bus avec commentaires très précis de notre guide. Le midi nous avons mangé dans un restaurant russe (salade concombre/tomates, soupe, viande blanche en sauce avec purée, gâteau + 5 cl de vodka). Avant de rentrer a port notre guide nous a arrêté dans une boutique "souvenirs" pour faire nos achats.
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
Concernant Saint petersbourg, nous avons longuement hésiter pour finalement opter pour la visite de la ville et de l'ermitage. Notre bus nous a mené au centre ville ou l'on a emprunté la "Nevski prospect" afin de voir les batiments plus beaux les uns que les autres( cathédrale Kazan) qui ornent l'avenue principale.Ensuite nous avons visité la forteresse Pierre et Paul(tombeau des Romanov). La suite fut moins culturelle avec un arret dans un magasin de souvenir russe.(ralez pas, laissez vous aller car vous aurez du mal à resister à quelques superbes bibelots 😉)
Retour au bus, arret photo au bord de la Neva et direction un restaurant qui ne vous fera pas tomber amoureux de la gastronomie russe.
L'après midi arret devant la cathébrale St-isaac, et direction l'Ermitage pour une visite de 3 heures qui nous a totalement ébloui!! Destination l'eglise du "sauveur sur le sang versé" pour admirer ce joyau (de l'extérieur seulement)Retour au bateau avec un nouvel arret au jarbin d'été.
Bref une excursion qui vaut le coup magré quelques désagréments comme l'intense circulation en ville, le monde fou lors des visites et les bus non climatisés(+ de 30 degré ce jour là) mais bon tellement de beauté pour les yeux que le reste est anecdotique.
Le soir nous avions acheté l'excursion pour allet voir le ballet.Au programme "le lac des cygnes".Moi qui naime pas spécialement ce genre de spectacle, je suis resté bouche bée.Je vous le conseille vivement.
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
croisière sur les canaux et le palais Youssoupov.
Les formalités douanières passées, nous prenons le bus pour traverser la banlieue déserte et « moche » de St Petersbourg ( je confirme PAP !), pour arriver dans le centre d’où nous prendrons un bateau pour la croisière et admirer ces palais splendides qui se succèdent. Notre guide francophone est excellente et son parler français aussi. Le palais Youssoupov est magnifique et d’une richesse exceptionnelle.
Retour vers 13h après avoir fait chauffer la carte bleue dans un magasin « programmé » par Costa. Prix corrects et un bon verre de vodka offert pour faire oublier…les dépenses.
Retour en bus au bateau et repas vite fait (car nous sommes les derniers) au restaurant Taurus. Café et « sieste » avant de repartir à 17h45 pour la visite de l’Ermitage en soirée.
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
Présentation du passeport avec la fiche d’immigration, carte Costa, et zou ! direction le bus 45 : on y arrive et on est les premiers, une guide fort sympathique nous accueille, elle est belge, arrivée en Israël il y a 44 ans, et parle un excellent français (sans le moindre accent belge, une fois !)… Nous attendons 10 minutes, et c’est tout juste s’il n’y a pas « photographie » entre les deux Gold Pearl qui arrivent avec juste deux (Mme PAP dit trois… 😉 ) longueurs d’avance sur la troupe des autres croisiéristes…
Il est 8h 20 quand le car quitte le port… avec pour commencer le checkpoint de sortie du port qui nous prend bien 10 minutes… 🤪 Malheur au car qui aurait égaré son laisser-passer… Et nous voilà dans Haïfa, en plein dans les embouteillages, et l’Etoile aux heures de pointe, c’est rien à côté… Il nous faudra plus d’une demi-heure pour simplement arriver sur la route de Nazareth…
Alors je résumerai brièvement ce périple, le but n’étant pas ici de faire un descriptif touristique des excursions… Uneexcursion qui me laisse mi-figue mi-raisin, avec l’impression d’avoir eu droit toute la journée à un cours de révision accélérée de catéchisme 🤪, dans un car avec une guide qui se dit juive, mais raconte le nouveau testament à l’indicatif, comme si c’était une vérité à laquelle elle croirait dur comme fer, juste avant de nous dire qu’en tant que juive elle réfute la nature de « fils de Dieu » de Jésus… 🤪 Dans un car où derrière nous un couple affirme bien fort que décidément, « ces ju_ifs sont une ra_ce à part » (merci, Monsieur le modérateur de laisser cela tel quel, j’ai mis des guillemets, et évidemment, je hais ce genre de propos), un car où les touristes ne cessent de poser des questions sur le conflit israëlo-palestinien = méchants-gentils, comme si c'était si simple, et comme s’il n’y avait que cela d’intéressant, avec une guide qui se retranche derrière son obligation de réserve, ou se chamaillent entre eux sur la façon d’interpréter certaines pages du nouveau testament… A noter que les brochures Costa ont le tact de toujours écrire : « selon la Tradition » avant de parler de toutes ces choses miraculeuses et plus bizarres et douteuses les unes que les autres pour qui n’est pas croyant.
Bref, une ambiance bizarre, 😕 voire désagréable, 😠 pour le couple d’agnostiques que nous sommes, qui aurions préféré un peu plus de temps pour les paysages (magnifiques sous le soleil) du lac de Tibériade, et pour admirer l’architecture et l’histoire, plutôt que de passer par exemple une demi-heure de quelque chose qui pour moi ressemble à du voyeurisme, à savoir regarder des croyants venus se faire baptiser dans le Jourdain… Croyants pour lesquels j’ai trop de respect pour venir les filmer comme dans un zoo…😕😕
Alors donc, ce fut Nazareth et la très belle Basilique de l’Annonciation, puis Cana, et le lac de Tibériade avec arrêt photos malgré un peu de brume… Yardenit ensuite, centre de « tourisme religieux », et les marchands du temple sont plus que jamais « bien vivants »… Même l’eau de la rivière, là où le Jourdain se reforme après le lac de Tibériade, là où des ragondins bien vigoureux et peu farouches nagent près des touristes, là où les adultes en aubes blanches vont se faire baptiser (dans un coin quand même à l’écart des ragondins), cette eau est vendue par petites fioles souvenir… (oui, oui, je sais, à Lourdes aussi…🤪 )
Et puis déjeuner buffet dans un restaurant d’hôtel de bon niveau, avec un vin local fort correct, et nous prenons la direction de Capharnaüm où nous visitons un site archéologique, puis la ville de Tabgha, dont nous visitons l’église de la période byzantine, et enfin le musée de Tibériade avec une barque « sauvée des eaux » et qui daterait de 2000 ans environ (ça, au moins, le carbone 14 est formel…)… Un petit film est projeté expliquant la façon dont a été « récupérée » cette barque (ses vestiges) millénaire. Mais ça ne vaut quand même pas la côté « grandiose » de la « récupération » du Vasa, vu cet été à Stockholm…
Vers 17 heures, après un bon petit moment shopping, il fait nuit noire (marrant, en 1999, on avait visité le Liban sur le Mistral de FESTIVAL) et on jurerait que l’heure était alors GMT + 3, alors que là, Israël est à GMT + 2, exactement comme la Grèce, alors que tellement plus à l’est…🤪
Notre car reprend alors la direction de Haïfa que nous atteignons une heure et demie plus tard… Tout est calme ans le car, et bien des gens dorment peut-être…
Bref, une bonne journée… Mais loin, loin, du « Cercle d’Or » de Reykjavik, des majestueuses cascades d’Islande, ou des fastes des palais de Pierre le Grand… Un chouïa déçu par cette terre « promise » depuis si longtemps… 🤪
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
Antigua : st john's : nous avons choisi l'excursion MSC nage avec les raies; départ en bus, durée 30 minutes environ pour atteindre le lieu d'excursion. Une guide Msc nous accompagne pour nous traduire les consignes données en anglais sur le déroulement de l 'activité. Nous partons en petit groupe sur un bateau rapide, on nous a remis avant de monter un masque et un tuba. Nous atteignons une plate-forme ou le bateau s'ammarre, il faut descendre par une echelle pour aller dans l'eau, celle-ci est froide, on a de l'eau jusqu'à la taille, on apercoit de grosses raies noires qui circulent autour de nous car l'eau est transparente. On nous explique comment les porter, les caresser pendant qu'un photographe immortalise la scene. Il n'est pas interdit de faire ses propres photos.On reste sur le site pendant une heure, à explorer les fonds marins avec masque et tuba.Retour à la boutique, on peut acheter les photos ou le CD (15 dollars).
Excursion à faire, vraiment impressionnant.
Costa Serena, la dolce vita août 2011
Costa Méditerannea, îles et terres du soleil avril 2012
Costa Fascinosa, visions d'orient mai 2013
Costa Luminosa, capitales de la Baltique, août 2014
Costa Favolosa, Norgève, août 2015
Triste nouvelle au musée du Bardo aujourd'hui. Toutes mes pensées et mon soutien aux groupes du Costa Fascinosa et du MSC Splendida Message de Costa sur…
Une question qui me turlupine! y a t'il un sèche cheveux dans toutes les cabines? je ne voudrais pas emmener trop de bagages car j'ai du mal à porter donc…
Question de derniéres minutes, nous partons demain de nice pour génes en bus pour rejoindre le Fantasia est ce qu'il y a des navettes msc a toutes les escales?…
Cela fait plus d'un 1 mois que je n'avais plus internet, donc pas de possibilité de me connecter à voyage forum croisières, ça commencé à me manquer, je…
Sur ma seule croisière effectuée pour le moment, on avait choisi une table de 6, mais on ne m'avait pas demandé le pont (3 ou 4). Je m'aperçois maintenant…
We just returned from a cruise from 08/13/26 to 08/20/26 on the MSC ORCHESTRA with stops in Tarragona, Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa, and back to Marseille.
The ship was fully booked. Deck chairs were already occupied by beach towels early in the morning, and there were only 1 or 2 people in the pools... However, on the day the Italians disembarked, there were very few towels on the deck chairs.
We found the Italians less talkative.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 9, starboard side. The cabin was spacious, but the sofa was facing the desk, making it a pain to watch TV (neck strain guaranteed). So, we changed the sofa’s orientation to face the TV (we put it back in place on disembarkation day).
There were 325 French speakers on board, and a lot of staff from Mauritius, which made communication easier.
No annoying announcements about bingo, etc.—a nice change from COSTA.
For dinner, we were at the first sitting at 7:45 PM, at a table for 6. On the first night, we were two "gray-haired" couples at the table. The second night, two young women joined us but asked to change tables after seeing us...
The show for our dinner time was at 10:15 PM and ended around 11:00 PM. We found that a bit late for us. The shows were varied and of good quality.
The restaurant menus offered plenty of choices, but at the buffet at lunchtime, there were a lot of dishes with quite a few carbs. Afternoon tea from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM included some great pastries, among other things.
We had an issue with the air conditioning and bad odors in the cabin one afternoon. I reported the problem to the reception, and staff along with our cabin steward came to check the cabin. The issue was resolved that same afternoon.
Two days later, we were surprised to find a bag with items inside: 2 MSC mugs and 2 MSC thermos flasks that keep drinks hot or cold for 10 hours. It was a gift from customer service following the bad odors in our cabin. We weren’t expecting this at all and thanked MSC’s customer service.
For excursions, MSC always offers port-to-city-center transfers for 14 € per adult in Valencia and Tarragona, and 12 € per child. In Livorno, it was 10 € per adult and 7 € per child.
In Civitavecchia, there was a shuttle to the train station for 6 €.
On the MSC for Me app, there were "promotions" on certain excursions.
We really enjoyed this cruise, but we couldn’t revisit some stops (Tarragona and Valencia) on our own because it was too hot.
Great evening: Mum49
I'm considering a cruise on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen over 11 days in mid-March 2027.
Has anyone already done this trip?
I think it’s a great way to discover the Norwegian coast with the chance to see magnificent northern lights, but isn’t the trip a bit *too* long?
There are about thirty stops, but most last only a few minutes, with just one daily stop of over 2 hours, which gives a quick glimpse of a few towns but doesn’t allow for a full excursion.
Is the supplement for an outside cabin with a porthole (800 € for 2!) really worth it?
It’s more pleasant than an inside cabin, but do you spend enough time in your cabin to make the most of it?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this journey.
Best regards.
We're leaving on August 25th for a Danube cruise from Vienna to Bucharest. The travel agency refuses to postpone this cruise despite navigation changes due to the exceptional drought, which include bus transfers that don’t interest us.
Have you had any experiences with this that you’d like to share?
Hi there!
I’m going on a cruise with MSC on the World Europa this coming October.
Stops: Genoa, Naples, Messina, Malta.
Has anyone visited Mount Etna and Pompeii?
Could you share some tips for each of these stops?
I’d like to explore on my own without booking the ship’s excursions.
Thanks for your advice!
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
Just back from our first cruise on the Renaissance, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about life on board. Our feelings are mixed—we wanted a change after several MSC cruises, but the value for money on this repositioning cruise left us torn.
After taking advantage of successive promotions, we finally secured a well-located balcony cabin for 2600 € (almost 50% off the brochure rate). Given the amenities and the ship’s age, this now feels like the absolute maximum we’d pay for that period.
Overall, we were happy with our vacation on board, but a few details—when added up—left us with a somewhat mixed impression.
The pros:
- Ship size
- Reasonable noise levels, except in the restaurants (aside from the covered pool area)
- Spacious balcony cabin (20 + 5 m²) with plenty of storage and a bathtub with jets
- Understated, tasteful decor
- French language spoken on board
- Friendly staff for the most part
- 100% French-speaking clientele
- Decent food with French dishes (even with an Indian chef)
- Tables for two available (though the ship was full, so no changes possible)
- Some high-quality shows, thanks to an excellent English-speaking troupe
- Interesting lectures (especially on history and cetaceans)
The cons:
- Unreliable air conditioning in common areas (you’d go from a freezing lounge to a hot one, as if the system only worked in certain spaces at certain times)
- Aging ship with a few glitches (noises, AC, toilet flushes, lights) reported at reception (luckily, our only issue was the bathroom door not closing...)
- Industrial, thawed-out bread and pastries (a letdown for a ship with a French image)
- Limited fruit selection (often just apples and watermelon/melon) and not much variety in vegetables
- Worn, sometimes stained restaurant towels
We’re not ruling out another cruise on the Renaissance—their itineraries are unique—but only at a very competitive price.
Hi everyone ...
We’re planning to do the 83-day Cunard cruise ...
departing from Southampton on January 10, 2027 aboard the Queen Anne ...
has anyone done it ... or have any info ... or tips ...
for example ... deck and cabin choices ... drink packages ... excursions ... etc.
... anything good to know about this ship???
Thanks everyone ...
Hi everyone! I’m used to sailing on a sailboat with two or three people—it’s amazing. But I’d love to try the experience of a cruise. Just to clarify, I’ll be going alone. My first question: are there other solo travelers on these cruises, or is it mostly couples and families?
For a first cruise, I’d prefer a short one (maximum 8 days). Do those exist? And on the smallest boat possible. I live in Marseille, so a departure from Marseille would work, but I’m open to other ports too. If you have a cruise line to recommend and a destination you’ve enjoyed, or if you’ve had a great experience on a more intimate-sized ship, I’d love to hear about it!
I discovered solo cruises last year, and it was a wonderful experience. Since then, I’ve decided to do one every year, usually between October and March, departing from Marseille or Le Havre.
I travel alone, but I enjoy sharing certain moments with other travelers: having meals together, attending shows, enjoying the evening entertainment, grabbing a drink, or going on a few excursions. Of course, everyone keeps their freedom—the goal is simply to have a good time in a friendly atmosphere.
For the end of this year, I don’t have a cruise planned yet. However, I’m already booked on the MSC Magnifica from October 29 to November 3, 2027, departing from Marseille with an itinerary to Spain and Italy.
If you often travel solo or if you’re on this cruise, I’d love to chat with you before departure. Looking forward to meeting you! 🚢😊
Hi there,
Here’s the 2027 cruise schedule.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members!
2 essential rules:
1) Never "quote" the schedule when replying—this avoids any confusion.
2) Follow this format:
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 about that. IMPORTANT Please respect the templates!
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE
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 2027 CRUISES: 1
JANUARY
14/01 - poupou10 / AZAMARA JOURNEY / 74 days / South America Tour / Miami
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Hello!
After a lot of hesitation between different cruise lines (Explora, Oceania, YC, HAL, NCL) and several destinations like Norway, Ireland, and Iceland,
I finally chose NCL’s Star for Iceland.
I had already looked at this itinerary when I went to Scotland in April with CFC, but it was really expensive.
You should know that CFC often offers last-minute deals 45 days before departure (the point when you can no longer cancel or modify).
So, I got a great opportunity and grabbed it.
Departure is on August 23rd.
If there’s one trip I’ve always wanted to take, it’s a long boat journey far from my daily routine—something like crossing the Atlantic. I first thought about traveling on a cargo ship or similar, as some of these boats used to accept individual passengers, but I’ve read that this has become very rare since COVID. Plus, the options that might work for me are way out of my budget, like Neoline, for example.
A cruise seems like the best solution for me, especially since what I really love is the idea of a long stay on a ship—making stops in different places, exploring them, the change of scenery, and a real break from the daily grind. I’ve never been on a cruise before, so I was thinking of doing a 21-day cruise between a port in mainland France (Marseille) and Pointe-à-Pitre. The departure port doesn’t really matter—Marseille, Le Havre, or even a nearby European city would work.
Since I want to travel solo, I’m really keen on cruises designed for solo travelers. MSC has one from Marseille to Pointe-à-Pitre, lasting 21 days, departing next November (so in a few months). The price is within my budget, just over 1800 €.
I see that other cruises with similar routes and durations are planned for next year, November 2027, but the prices are totally different—around 3500 €, which is clearly out of my budget.
So, my question is: do you think I should wait for a possible price drop for the 2027 cruises (if I understand correctly, prices are adjusted based on how full the ship is and how close the departure date is) or should I book the one in November 2026? I could easily take three weeks off this fall. Also, is it too late to book for November 2026? I’ve read that visas might be required for some stops.
For the rest—accommodation in Guadeloupe and the flight ticket back to France—it’s not a problem; I can sort that out pretty easily.
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!
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’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.
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
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!
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.
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.