Hi there,
Here’s a little review of our cruise on the Renaissance from October 18 to 29, 2025 (11 nights). It was our first experience with CFC.
Some other forum members were on board too, so we can probably compare notes and correct me if I’m wrong!
The stops were as follows:
10/18 departure from Marseille
10/19 at sea
10/20 Cartagena
10/21 Almería
10/22 Gibraltar
10/23 Cádiz
10/24 at sea
10/25 Leixões (Porto)
10/26 Vigo
10/27 at sea
10/28 at sea
10/29 Dunkirk
First, a quick intro. We’re a family of four with two kids, ages 8 and 11. We booked this cruise in January 2025, right when it went on sale. At the time, it was priced at 763 € per adult (+ 99 € in tips) and 114.45 € per child (under 12, no tips to pay) for an ocean-view cabin (all ocean-view categories were the same price). Since there was also a single-parent offer (meaning one paying adult in the cabin was enough to get the child rate for the accompanying kid), I asked if we could take advantage of this offer to get two double cabins at the same price as one quadruple cabin (to have more space), and yes, it was possible.
So we booked two premium ocean-view double cabins side by side. It was the same price as a quadruple. We booked directly through CFC because my husband had a promotional code from his works council. In total, for the four of us, we paid 1830 €, tips included. It’s true we booked early, but the rate was good, and we had the constraint of traveling as a family of four, so cabin choices were more limited. It’s also worth noting that the single-parent offer is limited.
Now, about embarkation:
10/18 Marseille
Coming from the north, we took the direct TGV that morning at 7:22 AM, scheduled to arrive in Marseille at 12:24 PM. The trip went smoothly, great weather, and we arrived just one minute late.
I had planned to get to the port using the free 35T shuttle from Joliette. To get to the bus stop, there were two options: the metro or walking. Since the weather was beautiful and the kids needed to stretch their legs, we opted for the second option. The route is all downhill, so it was pretty easy even with the suitcases. But I wouldn’t do it the other way around!
We arrived at Joliette around 12:50 PM, just in time for the 1:00 PM shuttle, which arrived a few minutes late. Other cruisers got on board too. That day, there were two Costa ships and one MSC ship at the port as well. Traffic was heavy, and the shuttle arrived at the port entrance at 1:30 PM. We were scheduled for 2:30 PM.
We were lucky to be at the closest embarkation terminal. So we were among those who had the least walking to do. We dropped off our suitcases and headed to the check-in counter. There were plenty of desks and almost no passengers. So we quickly completed the embarkation formalities—in just a few minutes—and when we boarded, it wasn’t even 2:00 PM yet.
We headed to the buffet, where there weren’t many people. As we finished lunch, it was around 3:00 PM when they announced the cabins were ready. We went down to drop off our luggage in the cabins and then went up to the top deck to take some photos. The ship’s daily program said the safety drill would be at 4:00 PM. So we went to deck 6 at the scheduled time. But later, they announced it would actually be at 4:30 PM! In short, we waited 30 minutes for nothing because of a difference between the scheduled and actual time! The drill itself was long. Gathering everyone took about 20 minutes, I think. Just as we finished, they announced the departure, originally scheduled for 5:00 PM, was delayed until 9:00 PM due to latecomers.
We went to check out the library, which had tons of board games and books—more than we’d ever seen. What stood out on this first day was that, for the first time, we had a French-speaking embarkation, announcements only in French (except for the safety drill), French-speaking servers, a paper daily program in French, books in French (which we’d never find on another ship), and menus in French.
To wrap up the day, we had dinner at Vatel. I had requested the first seating (6:30 PM) and a table for four, and we got it. We were seated upstairs near the window—a very pleasant table that we’d occupy every evening.
What was a little surprising, but we got used to it, was that you had to order everything you wanted at once. The portions weren’t big, but you could choose what you wanted. The cheese was French and excellent.
Here’s the continuation,
Sunday, October 19: At sea
I forgot to mention that I’ll be making a few comparisons with Royal Caribbean throughout this travel journal, since that’s the last cruise line we sailed with.
We had our first breakfast at the Belle-Île buffet. It’s set up in a "classic" way, meaning two identical lines with stations in sequence: raw vegetables, cold cuts, salmon, eggs Benedict, porridge, hot specialties (omelets, fried eggs, sausages, potatoes, waffles, French toast, pancakes, etc.). Lots of choices. Then there are stands for pastries, fruit, and yogurt. I should also note that French cheeses are available both at the buffet and at Vatel, morning, noon, and night. Nothing like what you’d find on American cruise lines. For cold dishes, you serve yourself, but everything hot is served by the staff.
As for drinks, there are water dispensers—including sparkling water—two dispensers with a variety of fruit juices (apple, orange, pineapple—nectar-style), and three hot drink dispensers. The drink selection is huge. On other cruise lines, you often just get regular coffee and tea, but here you have café crème, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate, etc. In short, I’d never seen anything like it before, and it’s available all day. One machine even offers decaf. The only downside is that there isn’t an extra machine, so they’re so popular that there was often a wait.
That day, around 8 a.m., we arrived at the buffet, and only one of the two lines was open. As a result, there was a bit of a line, especially since it was the first morning and people were still getting settled. We didn’t have this issue on later days—it was much smoother.
It was a beautiful, calm, sunny day. We took advantage of it to relax on the lounge chairs on the aft deck.
It’s a quiet spot I love—no screens, no music, no noise, and usually not too crowded. Plus, there’s a great view of the ocean. It’s not always easy to find something like this on other ships. Either the deck layout doesn’t allow for it (like on our last ship, the *Jewel of the Seas*), or there’s music playing.
The ship has two jacuzzis and two pools (one of them open-air). Except on very hot days, they weren’t very busy. I didn’t try them, but I think they’re only slightly heated because my kids, who had no problem swimming with Royal Caribbean even when it was 20°C outside, didn’t go in these under similar weather conditions.
The pools weren’t supervised (unlike on RCI), and there weren’t any floaties available for kids either.
After that, we attended the 10:30 a.m. lecture on Cartagena, Alicante, and Cádiz. A huge advantage of this ship is that you can attend lectures in French. This one focused on Roman theaters and ruins in those cities.
At lunchtime, we ate at Vatel. The service was a bit slow (fortunately, it improved in the following days). Our table was assigned based on arrival (for breakfast and lunch). Some days, we had a table for four, and other days, we didn’t.
After a short nap, the kids went in the jacuzzi, and I attended the beginning of my second lecture on the myths and legends of Gibraltar.
At 4 p.m., it was tea time at the buffet: a choice of two savory snacks and various cookies and cakes. Tea time happens every day at the buffet from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
I should also mention that, unlike what I’ve experienced on other cruise lines, Vatel is open every day for breakfast and lunch, even on port days.
The menus are displayed in French at the buffet, with English translations. Most of the servers understand French, and if they don’t, you can always ask them in English thanks to the translations. The kids had no trouble getting by on their own.
That evening was the gala night. The menu included seared foie gras (delicious—the best dish I had on this entire cruise), salmon terrine, beef Wellington, halibut fillet, and cheesecake.
As for the cabin, while it’s well-designed, you can see signs of wear, especially around the porthole and the outdated carpet. The common areas, however, were in very good condition.
Docked from 8 AM to 7 PM: Beautiful weather and hot
The port of Cartagena that welcomes cruise ships is right in the city, just a stone's throw from the center. However, when we woke up, we noticed we weren't docked at that pier as expected—instead, we were in the commercial port, a five-minute bus ride away.
Indeed, there were three ships in Cartagena that day: 1 Ritz Carlton Yacht, 1 Silversea, and the Renaissance. Oddly enough, the Silversea, which arrived after us, was moored in the center, while the Renaissance, which arrived earlier, was relegated to the back of the port.
We were told that shuttles would be set up to take us into town.
Just so you know, every port day, a leaflet is available at reception to introduce the destination, with a mini map of the city and sightseeing tips.
We left around 9 AM to catch the shuttle waiting at the foot of the gangway. In just five minutes, we were dropped off in the city center—specifically, at a bus stop on Paseo de Alfonso XII, the avenue facing the cruise terminal. I have to say, the shuttles were particularly efficient that day. We never had to wait for them, and they were easy to spot. We didn’t really mind being relegated to the back of the port.
Since it was Monday, all the museums were closed. Such a shame—we couldn’t visit the Roman Theatre Museum or the Naval Museum. No matter, we headed to the street next to the Roman Theatre, on its left side, which offers a view of it from the outside. Then, we took a stroll through the city center (Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Calle Mayor). After that, we wandered along the waterfront. Time to break out the hats and sunglasses—it was starting to get pretty intense!
We then took the shuttle back to have lunch at the buffet on board and snap a few photos from the deck.
In the afternoon, we went out again to visit the Castle of La Concepción, which offers a panoramic view from its promontory, about a fifteen-minute walk from the city center. The climb was quite easy and very pleasant, with its exotic gardens (at least to us!) and a view of the nearby Roman Theatre. Of course, don’t expect to visit the building at the top since it was Monday!
When we returned on board, we checked out the Dutch billiards activity and then played a round of mini-golf. The Renaissance offers little indoor games like these every day.
Waking up, we catch sight of the strikingly different landscapes of Andalusia—mountainous and very dry.
We’re told a shuttle will be set up to leave the port. Odd, since we’re docked right across from the city, just a few dozen meters away. A fence separates the dock from the city, though. So, we wait for the shuttle (5 minutes), which takes us on a nearly 3 km detour just to drop us off at a bus stop facing our ship—but on the other side of the fence!
The main attraction in town is the Alcazaba, a fortress overlooking the city that’s clearly visible from the ship. A short 15-minute walk gets us there. The fortress is quite large and offers a great viewpoint of the surroundings. Entry is free.
The Renaissance in Almeria
The Alcazaba
On the way down, we pass the cathedral but don’t go in. Then we decide to head back to the buffet for lunch. To do that, we wait about 5 minutes for the shuttle.
In the afternoon, we decide to take another quick stroll around town—but it wasn’t worth it! The shuttles just aren’t as efficient as they were in Cartagena. We wait around 10 minutes for the outbound shuttle and nearly 20 minutes for the return trip. If I’d known, I would’ve extended my morning outing a bit and stayed on board in the afternoon. Especially since there isn’t much to see in town besides the Alcazaba.
Docked from 8 AM to 5 PM: a few clouds, pleasant temperature!
This morning, breakfast at Vatel. Tables are filled as guests arrive for breakfast. You’re given a menu where you can choose from a selection of hot and cold dishes (omelet, eggs, fruit, salmon, etc.). There’s also the smoothie of the day (which isn’t available at the buffet). They offer tea, coffee, milk, pastries, and bread. There’s also a daily specialty. It’s a very calm and pleasant spot in the morning.
Breakfast menu
The port of Gibraltar is relatively small. There’s a terminal at the foot of the ship with Wi-Fi and a couple of shops. There’s also a welcome desk where you can pick up a very well-made map of the peninsula and the city center.
To get to the center, there were taxis with fares displayed at 5 € per person. We chose to walk (about 20 minutes). No shuttle needed this time!
The city is quite well set up for tourists. Signage directs you to the city center, and another set of signs points to the cruise terminal.
The weather was cloudier, but the temperature was much less stifling than in Almeria.
In the city center, there’s a pedestrian shopping street (Main Street) that’s very pleasant. Some shops also display prices in euros.
We then headed back toward the port via a parallel street and ended our walk at Westside Park, facing the port. With kids in tow, they regularly ask for a stop at the local park. We’ve visited quite a few playgrounds in different countries this way!
I really liked Gibraltar—it’s a curiosity.
On the way back, I headed to the ship’s laundry to start a load that would run during our buffet lunch. We also received the disembarkation form for the last day. It states that our disembarkation is scheduled for 11 AM. If we need to leave earlier, we have to return the form to reception.
Since our return train is at 11:12 AM, we submitted the amended form to reception to leave at 9:30 AM.
We finished the afternoon with a board game in the library, then tea time, and finally watched the 5 PM departure from the deck. This was the only departure we could watch from the deck—we were always at Vatel for the others.
Docked from 7 AM to 11 PM: blue skies and warm weather.
This morning we were told that a shuttle would be set up to drop us off at the port entrance.
There were three ships in port that day, including a Ritz-Carlton yacht and the Queen Anne (Cunard). The latter had the spots closest to the city and could skip the shuttle. Since we were at the far end of the port, we had to take a 5-minute shuttle ride. While not as disorganized as in Almería, it wasn’t as efficient as the one in Cartagena.
This was my first time seeing a Cunard ship. The Queen Anne is the company’s newest vessel.
It’s really beautiful—I’d love to try this cruise line someday.
Once we passed through the port terminal gate, where we were given a detailed map of Cádiz, we were right in the city. I’d prepared a short walking route that I adjusted based on our pace.
We started by heading to the cathedral, whose towers we could see from the Renaissance. The city is easy to explore on foot, with many pedestrian streets.
From there, we crossed the city to visit the Cádiz Museum, which is free for EU citizens. Not much to see, though—the museum is under renovation, and only the ground floor was of interest, with its ancient collections.
Next, we strolled through the parks along the waterfront before returning to the ship for lunch.
In the afternoon, we went back out to explore the alleys east of the city. We visited the Roman theater, whose entrance, tucked at the end of a narrow street, is very discreet. I hadn’t specifically planned to visit it, but luckily, it was open and free. It was a great discovery and made up for the theater in Cartagena, which we’d only seen from a distance.
It was hot, so we headed back to the port, and the kids went to the pool. Later, before dinner, we listened to the pianist performing in one of the lounges in the evening. We went back to listen again after dinner.
As for the music, if I remember correctly, there was a classical music duo, a pianist, and a guitarist performing at different times in the lounges. Of course, there were shows every night, but we didn’t go because they were either at 7:30 PM (too tight when you’re at the first seating) or 9:30 PM, which was too late for the kids.
Today, the weather is cloudier and quite a bit cooler. We wake up to heavy swells. The ship is rocking a lot, and it’ll last all day. This will be the roughest day of navigation on the cruise.
On TV, there’s a channel that shows the position of the Renaissance. We’re currently passing off the coast of Portugal, at the extreme southwest, and now heading north.
Just to note, the TV offers a few French channels that come in more or less clearly depending on the ship’s position. There’s also an internal channel that broadcasts a French movie at set times (shown on-screen).
After breakfast at Vatel, we attend a lecture on the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. I’m not particularly prone to seasickness, but I can’t wait to rest a bit before lunch, which we have at Vatel.
The kids and I don’t have much of an appetite, so we head off for a nap as soon as possible. In the afternoon, we feel a little better. After a trip to the library, we go to tea time. Then, with my daughter, we watch the movie shown in the auditorium. A French film is screened twice a day—it’s nice to be able to enjoy that.
Saturday, October 25: Leixões
Docked from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM: showers, around 18°C
For the first time, we have bad weather. While we get ready and head to the buffet for lunch, a good shower falls on the port of Leixões.
A shuttle is set up between the terminal and the port exit, which takes about 5 minutes.
We take the metro at Matosinhos Sul station to go to Porto. It’s about a 10-minute walk.
Note that it’s called a metro on Porto’s public transport website, but in reality, it’s what we’d call a tram back home. It runs at street level, not underground.
At the stop, there’s a ticket machine that speaks several languages. The list of stops with their different zones is displayed, so you can find the fare for your destination. The machine sells rechargeable tickets. On the first purchase, you pay for the ticket (card = 60 cents) and the number of trips you want to load (1.80 € for a round trip). In total, card + round trip, it costs 4.20 € per person. There’s a validator on the platform.
We board the tram at 9:15 AM. It takes about 25 minutes to reach Trindade stop, near Porto’s city center. During the trip, the showers become less frequent. They’ll stop by mid-morning, but the sky stays cloudy all day.
Arriving at Trindade, we head down toward the riverbanks. The walk is pleasant. We stroll all the way to the cathedral, then down to the quays, where we have a great view of Dom Luís Bridge. The city center is actually quite small and easy to explore on foot. The elevation changes are significant, though.
We continue our walk through the center, passing by the Palácio da Bolsa and Rua da Silveira. Finally, we head back toward Dom Luís Bridge, which we haven’t crossed yet. The upper part of the bridge is reserved for the metro and pedestrians. From up there, we have a beautiful view of the city and the Douro River.
Porto
The steep alleys
We then head back to take the metro at Trindade. Once back in Leixões, we make our way to the port. Just at the entrance, there’s a sheltered waiting area with benches to wait for the shuttle. We board it and, back on the ship by 1:30 PM, we go up for lunch at the buffet.
In the afternoon, a bit of ping pong, tea time, and dinner at Vatel.
This morning, we plan to leave the ship very early to try and catch a bus to Santiago de Compostela. I say "try" because I didn’t buy tickets in advance, thinking, you never know, we might not make it to the bus station in time... Plus, I assumed we could buy tickets on the spot at the counter or a machine.
Since the bus leaves at 8:45 AM, we aim to head out a little before 8:00. To do that, we ordered breakfast in our cabin between 6:30 and 7:00 AM to eat early and quickly (the buffet breakfast doesn’t open until 7:00).
Sure enough, at 6:30 sharp, breakfast is delivered. We leave at the planned time. The port and city are still deserted. Daylight is just breaking.
We walk up the main avenue to the bus station. I think it takes us a good 20 minutes. We arrive just before 8:15 AM. However, the ticket counters are closed, and while there’s a machine, it won’t sell tickets for the 8:45 bus—only the next one. Same goes for the online site. There’s clearly a cutoff time for buying tickets this way. Finally, someone opens a counter, and after asking around, we learn we can buy tickets directly from the driver.
We head to the platforms. It’s worth noting there’s no signage indicating where to go. At 8:45 AM, buses start arriving, and we spot ours simply by the destination displayed on it.
A long line forms, and the driver starts by calling people who already have tickets. Luckily, there aren’t many—maybe ten. Apparently, buying tickets from the driver is common practice.
We buy our one-way tickets from the driver, but the return trip will have to be purchased online, at a machine, or from the return bus driver. And we’re lucky—some people won’t be able to board because the bus is full. As soon as we’re settled, we buy our return tickets (1:10 PM bus) online while the other passengers board. FYI, there’s Wi-Fi on these buses, which can be really handy.
We leave Vigo about ten minutes late. However, the weather is gorgeous, and since it’s Sunday, the trip goes smoothly. We arrive only five minutes late, at 10:10 AM, in Santiago. The round-trip fare is 15.60 € (https://www.monbus.es/), with no special child rate.
In Santiago, it takes another 15–20 minutes to reach the city center. Note that the bus station is well-equipped (cafeteria, restrooms, Wi-Fi), with screens showing the (estimated!) bus platforms. It’s chilly, though, so a sweater and jacket are a good idea.
Bad luck—we arrive on the day of a footrace in the city center. We still manage to make our way to the main square (Praza do Obradoiro) to photograph the cathedral façade. However, we can’t enter from there. The museum entrance is nearby, on the right. We ask if we can visit the cathedral, and it turns out we can, but the entrance is actually at the back. So we walk around the building. Entry (free) is through Praza das Praterias.
It’s crowded inside. After exploring the cathedral, we stroll through the surrounding streets, which are definitely worth the detour. Three hours were enough for our visit (without touring the cathedral museum).
At the bus station, the Vigo bus is listed on a departure screen with a platform number, but our bus ends up on the adjacent platform. So, the info isn’t very reliable.
We take the 1:10 PM bus and arrive right on time at 2:30 PM in Vigo. We’re back on the ship around 3:00 PM. Since the buffet is closed at this hour, we eat at the Moana Grill near the pool, which serves salads and burgers all afternoon. We follow that up with tea time as dessert. Then, I do a load of laundry. I figure the machines will be hard to access during the last two days of the crossing, so I take advantage. Finally, to wrap up the afternoon, a quick visit to the piano bar and dinner.
Monday, October 27 and Tuesday, October 28: At sea
Monday was still a rather cloudy and choppy day, but less so than the previous Friday. Tuesday was very calm, with almost no wind and beautiful sunny spells—a pleasant time to walk on the deck. We spent most of these two days resting.
On Tuesday, we also received the luggage tags for disembarkation and left our bags in the hallway. It was specified that cabins had to be vacated by 10 AM the next day at the latest. We’d be taken by shuttle to the port exit, to the building where we’d wait for our suitcases. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk (if you’re not loaded down!) to the train station.
I strongly advise against using the laundry on the last day—it’ll be packed!
Wednesday, October 29: Dunkirk
We docked around 7:30 AM. We had our last breakfast at the Vatel.
At 8:15 AM, they called the people who had kept their luggage with them to disembark. The shuttle would take them directly to the train station. They were the first to leave.
At 8:30 AM, the first people with tags—those who had to pick up their luggage at the port exit—were allowed to disembark. So far, everything seemed to be going normally. But then a long wait began. We were supposed to disembark at 9:30 AM, and time kept passing. At 9:30 AM, they called a color, but not ours. I started to worry. Until now, we’d never disembarked late. So what was going on?
Just before 10 AM, still nothing. I went to ask at reception: "We’re a little behind schedule." That was an understatement! Almost everyone had a train to catch. At 10:15 AM, we were finally allowed to disembark—45 minutes late! I’d never seen anything like it. This was Dunkirk’s first time hosting a cruise ship, and clearly, they didn’t know what they were doing. We got on the shuttle, which left the port at 10:20 AM.
The minutes ticked by, and we finally arrived at the pavilion where we were supposed to pick up our luggage. But the parking lot entrance was blocked by a barrier. Security guards stopped us from entering. What were they waiting for? No idea. More minutes passed, and I started to understand where the extra hour of delay had come from. A few buses were already parked in the lot, and when they finally left, our shuttle was allowed to park. We rushed to grab our bags and ran out of the building as fast as our luggage would allow. We sprinted to the train station with the kids. When we finally reached the station, completely exhausted, it was exactly 11 AM. Luckily, the train was on the first platform. We barely made it on board, and it left a few minutes later.
I’ve never seen such a disastrous disembarkation or one that showed so little respect for customers. So, if you’re disembarking in Dunkirk, don’t rely on the scheduled disembarkation time—plan to get off at least 2 to 2.5 hours before your train leaves.
Otherwise, keep your luggage with you and check what time you’ll actually be allowed to disembark, and you’ll be dropped off at the station by shuttle.
As soon as I got home, I wrote to CFC to tell them about the unacceptable way the disembarkation was handled. I think the main culprits were the port authorities, who were completely incapable of managing it. But CFC was our point of contact, so in my opinion, they were responsible for the mad dash we had to make to the station. If I’d been forced to take a taxi or buy a new train ticket, I would’ve sent them the bill. I’d taken precautions by leaving what I thought was enough time to disembark, given that I’d never experienced a delay before.
It’s really too bad that a cruise that had otherwise gone so well ended on such a negative note and left such a bad final impression.
To wrap up, the things I won’t comment on for this cruise are the shows and the evening buffet, since I didn’t try them—our table at the Vatel was so pleasant.
Positive points:
Otherwise, I was very happy with the quality of the meals, both at the buffet and at the Vatel. I appreciated the wide variety of free drinks. The only downside is that there wasn’t an extra hot drinks dispenser.
The cabin was very comfortable but a bit outdated. I forgot to mention that when we arrived, the AC wasn’t working in the cabin. I waited 48 hours before reporting it to reception to make sure it wasn’t just a temporary issue and to see if the temperature was bearable—but it was too hot. It was fixed that same evening.
Other positives: the French-language experience (welcome, entertainment, movies, announcements, signage, etc.). If I sail with CFC again, it’ll definitely be for that aspect, which is great for kids too (TV, books, activities, etc.). Also, the quiet on the outdoor decks was really nice.
The laundry.
Negative points:
- Some minor repairs here and there on the ship, but nothing too bothersome.
- The disembarkation in Dunkirk
- Two elevators that, from what I could tell, didn’t work the entire trip
- The state of the cabin carpet
- The average cleanliness of the cabin: when we arrived, I noticed a thin layer of dust on the desk and the bathroom shelves
To finish, here are a few photos of the dishes at the Vatel. Thanks for reading!
Hi Marie-Noëlle. Thanks for this super-detailed report. I’ll add Emilie Rose, the singer-pianist who created such a great vibe every evening and got us all singing. And the group of musicians who performed in the shows and sometimes at the Panoramique evenings. As for disembarking in Dunkirk, I’d expected there might be some chaos since it was the first time. I left at 9:00 AM. The shuttle picked me up at 9:30. The luggage was already almost all in the hangar (which is a plus). So I had quite a bit of time before my train. We all gathered in the station hall—with just 4 chairs! The station square is a disaster: no shops, no café, nothing. Some people stayed outside in the cold, sitting on the square. I’d spotted the B&B Hotel and asked if we could grab a coffee there. The staff was really nice. A few of us ended up hanging out there like that. The train was at the platform very early, and we were allowed to board right away. My carriage was full from the start, only cruisers. The congestion at Dunkirk station with hundreds of cruisers all at once is a major downside.
Hello,
You said:
"At 8:15 AM, they call the passengers who kept their luggage with them to disembark. The shuttle will take them directly to the train station. These are the first people to disembark."
I was on the Renaissance in Dunkirk and also had a train to catch. But I never heard or read on the disembarkation sheet that the shuttle would take passengers who kept their luggage straight to the station. Otherwise, I would’ve taken it.
By the way, why didn’t you take that first shuttle yourselves?
Best regards
Hello Marie-Noëlle. Thanks for this super-detailed report. I’d add Emilie Rose, the pianist-singer who created such a great vibe every evening and got us all singing. And the group of musicians who performed in the shows and sometimes at the Panoramique during the evenings. As for disembarking in Dunkirk, I figured there might be some hiccups since it was the first time. I got off at 9:00 AM. The shuttle picked me up at 9:30. The luggage was already almost all in the hangar (which is a plus). So, I had quite a bit of time before my train. We all gathered in the station hall—with just four chairs! The station square was a ghost town: no shops, no café, nothing. Some people stayed outside in the cold, sitting on the square. I’d spotted the B&B Hotel and asked if we could grab a coffee there. The staff was really nice. A few of us ended up hanging out there like that. The train was already at the platform early, and we were allowed to board right away. My carriage was full from the start, only cruisers. The congestion at Dunkirk station with hundreds of cruisers all at once is a major downside.
Sure enough, the delays just kept piling up as the morning went on. The station congestion was even worse because, since the cruise started and ended at different ports, almost everyone had a train to catch upon arrival.
Hello
You said:
"At 8:15 AM, they call the passengers who kept their luggage with them to disembark. The shuttle will take them directly to the train station. These are the first people to disembark."
I was on the Renaissance in Dunkirk and also had a train to catch. But I never heard or read on the disembarkation sheet that the shuttle would take passengers who kept their luggage directly to the station. Otherwise, I would’ve taken it.
By the way, why didn’t you take that first shuttle yourselves?
Best regards
Hello,
Indeed, this information wasn’t on the disembarkation sheet. It was the 8:15 AM announcement by the cruise director that let us know. The announcement called passengers who kept their luggage with them to disembark and added that the shuttle would drop them off at the train station.
For my part, I didn’t think of this option. On one hand, I didn’t expect there to be so much delay during disembarkation, and on the other, I didn’t think to check with reception about the disembarkation conditions if we wanted to keep our luggage. But I might consider this option next time.
Indeed, the instructions were clear: since there are shuttles, we had to drop off our luggage the night before. So I was really surprised to hear there was a disembarkation with luggage directly to the train station at 8:15 AM.
Hello,
Thank you for this lovely review.
I just want to add a few details about what was the major downside of this cruise: disembarkation.
This isn’t the first time cruises have departed from and arrived in Dunkirk. I’ve already embarked and disembarked there with Costa (Baltic Jewels cruise in May 2014). We docked at Quay Freycinet 12—I think that’s the only spot where ships with a significant draft can dock. Costa had set up tents on the quay where we picked up our luggage, and the shuttle buses left from there to go straight to the train station. But I remember there were very, very few taxis. Back to CFC: three days before departure, I called them to ask how disembarkation would work. I didn’t get any information. Rumors mentioned the maritime museum. On board, reception told us six days before arrival that it would be at the “Dunkirk Library,” even though on social media, those boarding the next cruise said they had the “Model Pavilion” as their departure point. In short, it seemed like the disembarkation details were only confirmed at the last minute. And hardly anyone in Dunkirk (taxis, hotels, restaurants, etc.) knew a cruise ship was docking that day.
Since we were in a Suite, we were called first to disembark at 8:30 AM. Even though there are only 25 suites, at least 200 of us were stuck at the exit. Many didn’t respect the call time, and what also slowed things down was retrieving items confiscated at departure (electrical devices, knives, power strips, etc.) after the CFC card check—whereas usually, all this is returned to the cabin the day before, according to CFC’s website. I understand why the following groups were delayed.
However, I don’t agree with you when you say “the main culprits are the port authorities.” We were moored on time, port exit authorizations were granted quickly, and the port dockers (from Barra SNSM) did a great job delivering the luggage on time (passengers didn’t have to wait to retrieve it). But it was CFC that organized the shuttle rotation and rented the “Model Pavilion” from the city of Dunkirk—a place not at all designed to be a cruise terminal and poorly served by city buses. Plus, there were no taxis. We called, along with other waiting passengers, two taxi companies. They had no idea that over 1,000 passengers were arriving at the Model Pavilion, not to mention all the crew disembarking.
Contractually, CFC’s services ended at the Model Pavilion. If you had missed your train, you would have had no recourse. There’s nothing mentioned on CFC’s website or brochure about the “buffer” (which you mentioned) between the ship’s arrival time and the departure time of a transport option—but with Costa, for example, it’s recommended to allow at least 4 hours.
Best regards
Thanks, Micax, for the details and your experience with this disembarkation. There was clearly an organizational issue on CFC’s part. It would’ve been better if we’d had all the info about the disembarkation address and, most importantly, where to pick up our luggage before departure.
That "last-minute" organization feeling didn’t leave a great impression.
I guess picking up our bags at the dock would’ve definitely made things easier and reduced the risk of delays.
Thanks Micax for your details and your experience with this disembarkation. There was clearly an organizational issue on CFC’s part. It would have been preferable if we’d had all the information about the disembarkation address and especially the baggage retrieval before departure.
This "last-minute" organization didn’t leave a good impression.
I suppose that retrieving baggage at the dock would have certainly simplified things and reduced the risk of delay.
As soon as I booked the cruise with CFC, they could only tell me that disembarkation details would be given on board. It was impossible to know which dock (since apart from Freycinet 12, there’s nowhere else deep enough to accommodate the Renaissance), where to pick up luggage, whether there’d be a shuttle to leave the port or go to the train station, etc. I pointed out, through several channels, that "on board" info wasn’t very practical for planning the return trip, but apparently, no one cared. Expecting the worst, I booked a hotel and the TGV to Paris for the next day.
Apart from the lack of a cruise terminal, the other issue CFC will face in Dunkirk is parking. If in 2026 hundreds of passengers arrive by car, where will they be able to leave their vehicles in a secure spot like in Marseille? Here too, they’d better not wait until the last minute to address the question.
Apart from the lack of a cruise terminal, the other issue that will arise for CFC in Dunkirk is parking. If several hundred passengers arrive by car in 2026, where will they be able to leave their vehicles in a secure spot like in Marseille? They really shouldn’t wait until the last minute to address this.
Hi there,
CFC must have realized the parking issue in Dunkirk because they’ve just sent emails these past few days to future passengers of the first 2026 cruises to ask if they plan to come by car.
Best regards
We’re also worried about parking for this departure from Dunkirk.
We would’ve preferred if CFC cruises departed from Le Havre, since there was quay work underway to create parking lots, and in March 2025 we’d booked a parking spot near the train station at a great rate, with the taxi from the station to the port costing 10 €.
We received an email from CFC about a departure in June 2026, but our kids, who are leaving in April 2026, haven’t received anything about how to get to Dunkirk.
We’re counting on this forum to find out about accessible parking for reduced mobility and transportation options to Dunkirk port.
Have a great weekend! Mum49
Hi Mum,
The city of Dunkirk has launched a website for parking (https://www.dk-stationnement.fr). But what exactly is meant by "Port of Dunkirk"? There’s no cruise terminal. We still need to know where embarkation/disembarkation procedures will take place. This year, we only got that information a few days beforehand. CFC rented the Model Pavilion, which isn’t equipped at all to be a cruise terminal. Will that still be the case in 2026? Back in 2014 with the Costa Classica, tents were set up right on the quay—everything happened at the foot of the ship. Freycinet Quay 12 is 3 or 4 km from the city center and isn’t served by public transport. Buses are free in Dunkirk (https://www.dkbus.com), but taxis are pretty scarce. In 2014, taxis were waiting on the quay; this year, there weren’t any—not even at the Model Pavilion parking lot. As for accessibility for reduced mobility (PMR), see https://www.dkbus.com/page.php?rubrique=2&id=accessibilite. The buses are electric and mostly very modern, but the Line 16 shuttle (closest stop to the Model Pavilion) is a small 8–9 seater that isn’t particularly PMR-friendly or great for carrying lots of luggage, and it doesn’t run on Sundays.
Best regards.
Thanks for the info. I’ve taken good note of it. Let’s hope those leaving from Dunkirk on 03/28/26 get details on the boarding location and how to get there.
Leaving from CALAIS would’ve been more convenient, but probably not the same cost?
I think the solution would be to drop off my husband and the luggage, along with the walker, as close to the port as possible, then meet up with him later using different modes of transport.
Have a great Sunday! mum49
Hi Mum,
CFC officially provides the embarkation location 14 days before departure on the cruise ticket. As for disembarkation, apart from the docking time, we only got the information on the ship 3 days before arrival.
If embarkation always takes place at the Model Pavilion, it’s very easy to get there by car and to park behind the building. However, the port of Dunkirk, just like Calais, doesn’t have a parking lot where you can leave a vehicle for 8 days or more.
I don’t think Calais would be any better than Dunkirk. There’s no cruise terminal there either. *Croisières de France* left from there with the *Horizon* in the summer of 2014—they had set up a big tent on the quay. Currently, no cruise ships dock in Calais anymore.
Best regards.
Good evening Micax,
We just have to wait for the information before the cruise departs. Since we’re driving, we won’t have any issues with disembarkation—we’ll have our own time.
I’ll definitely share updates on this site as soon as I have them, leaving on 04/11/26.
Have a great evening! Mum49
Food is subjective. Especially since quality can vary from ship to ship within the same cruise line.
It’s hard to compare because I think there are pros and cons on both sides.
In the morning at the buffet, there were *very* good eggs Benedict Royale. That’s not always available on American cruise lines. But no fresh fruit juice like I’ve had on HAL.
On the other hand, we found the waffles and pancakes not as good as the ones on American lines.
Lots of high-quality specialty breads, smoked salmon, French cheeses at every meal, proper espresso, and pastries that lived up to the name.
On CFC, just like on American cruise lines, the savory dishes were always very good.
But the ingredients/prep on CFC—especially at the buffet—were simpler. For example, with HAL, there were shrimp every lunch; I don’t remember seeing any on CFC.
At the CFC buffet, you could get beef bourguignon.
There was made-to-order Caesar salad—simple but delicious.
It was good and varied, but in my opinion, the ingredients weren’t as refined.
The buffet starters, though, were pretty much the same crudités every time.
For desserts, they were fairly simple too (panna cotta, fruit cakes, pudding), but better than the ones on American cruise lines, which we find bland and tasteless. Except for the cruise we took on the *Rotterdam*, which was truly excellent in every culinary aspect.
The ice cream selection wasn’t very varied, but it was much better than on RCI.
In the dining room, the dish pairings were really well done. The gala meals were more elaborate—especially a delicious seared foie gras...
Overall, in my opinion, I found my experience better than RCI but not quite up to HAL. For Celebrity, I’m on the fence—my experience is more distant.
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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 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
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
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 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
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.
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,
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!