Original post
Départ pour la dolce vita à bord du Costa Concordia le 14 novembre 2009 ! Qui part à cette date ? Qui à des infos sur le bateau, les excursions...?
Croisière "Dolce Vita" sur le Costa Concordia, départ le 14 novembre
by Sylvain83
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Désolée je rentrerais de la meme croisiere le jour de votre départ....pour avoir des infos sur le bateau et les prestations, et excursions , il y a Girolle34 qui revient de cette meme croisiere. Sinon il y a le blog super d'olinath http://olinath2007.skyrock.com/
Bonjour,
fraichement débarqué du concordia, samedi 01 novembre, je peux tenter de répondre à tes questions...
il va falloir cependant être plus précis dans ce que tu désires savoir, car tes questions appellent tellement de réponses........
et n oublie de préciser si c est ta première croisière...
et quelles sont tes attentes....
Bonjour,
J'espère que vous avez passé une bonne croisière...
Ce sera ma 3éme croisiere (bleu de france en 2008 et coral en 2009) mais la 1ere sur un si gros paquebot.
J'ai tellement de questions...:
- avez-vous fait les excursions par vous même ou par le bateau ? que me conseillez vous ?
- lorsque l'excursion dure la journée, vous mangiez où le midi ? sur le bateau ?
- les boutiques hors taxes valent elle le coup ?
- y-a-t-il le choix des restaurants le midi ? le soir ?
- faut il prendre des packs boisson ?
- nous sommes sur le pont le plus bas le numéro 1, avez vous eu des echos ?
bref ça fait déjà beaucoup....
Merci d'avance
bien cordialement
🙂
- avez-vous fait les excursions par vous même ou par le bateau ? que me conseillez vous ?
- lorsque l'excursion dure la journée, vous mangiez où le midi ? sur le bateau ?
- les boutiques hors taxes valent elle le coup ?
- y-a-t-il le choix des restaurants le midi ? le soir ?
- faut il prendre des packs boisson ?
- nous sommes sur le pont le plus bas le numéro 1, avez vous eu des echos ?
bref ça fait déjà beaucoup....
Merci d'avance
bien cordialement
🙂
Coucou!!! tu auras les renseignements sur mon post"retour de croisiere la dolce vita costa concordia du 26septembre au 3 octobre!! bonne lecture et si tu as des questions je suis disponible!!🙂🙂🙂🙂
A bientot!
A bientot!
2009 la dolce vita costa concordia
2010 grandes civilisations antiques
Bonjour,
effectivement, que de questions...
mais je comprends...
je vais donc tenter de répondre au mieux,
pour les excursions?
les possibilités sont "infinies" ou presque... tout dépend de ce que l on aime 😉...
il y a donc les excursions Costa, pas de questions à se poser, vous êtes pris en charge avec un guide, dès la descente du bateau, jusqu' à votre retour.
et ensuite il y a "l' aventure"... à chaque escale vous trouverez: taxis, bus touristiques, trains, métro... et le plus utilisé VOS PIEDS ! 😛
mais ça vous devez déjà le savoir, étant donné votre passé de "croisiériste".
- Donc, la seule excursion Costa que nous ayions faite est Pompéi, sympa... à ne pas faire en tongue 🤪, par contre, plus de 2 heures de marche sur le site, impressionant... le petit plus, la visite (1/4 d heure) d' une manufacture de camée (une grande boutique !!!) mais où nous avons eu la chance de voir un "ancien" (*) travailler ...😮
- pour le reste, nous avons choisi de nous débrouiller par nous-même, avec des fortunes diverses...
Savone: (*) pas grand chose à y faire et à y voir, il y a bien un marché de spécialités (*) dans une rue perpendiculaire à l allée centrale, mais comme il est "interdit" de monter de la nourriture à bord ( elle sera conservée et restituée à la fin de la croisière par Costa)... c est plus une étape qui permet au bateau de refaire le plein. (c est fou le nombre de palettes qu ils font rentrer ce jour-là...) donc à moins de prendre une excursion, Gênes est magnifique à voir (pour l avoir fait sur une précédente croisière), c est l occasion de visiter le bateau et de commencer à s' y repérer, et je dis bien commencer.😉 Naples: il y a donc Pompéi, comme écrit plus haut, par contre énormément de groupes sur le site (*) , un guide assez "agé" et qui parlait moins fort que certains de ses collègues...🙁 (mais ça c est la "loterie"). Le site d' Herculanum, pour certains est plus intéressant car mieux conservé, il parait... Par contre, beaucoup d avis négatif sur la visite de Naples pour ceux qui l ont fait soit en solo, soit en excursion... (bruyant, "sale"....)😕 Palerme: ville riche en monuments (*, *)...., bon d accord très bruyante aussi.... donc là nous avons avons pris un bus touristique pour la viste de la ville 😐... attention deux compagnies, soit le bus rouge, soit le bus bleu (3 euros moins cher...) je déconseille vivement le bus bleu... nous l avons pris : tour de la ville avec guide multilingue au micro, donc si plusieurs nationalités dans le bus, le temps qu il arrive aux explications en français, vous avez dépassé le site commenté ! 😕. Mais ce n est pas le pire... en effet, vous pouvez descendre où vous le désirez et remonter dans le suivant. Sauf qu il n y a que 2 bus qui tournent (un peu plus d une heure le tour), et il n est pas dit qu il y ait suffisamment de places pour remonter ! donc attendre de nouveau le prochain... je conseille le bus rouge (plus nombreux...) et casque fourni pour les commentaires dans la langue que vous voulez et au moment où vous passez devant le monument !😎 Tunis: à la Goulette plutôt (*) , 17 km de Tunis... à la descente du bateau, et après être passé devant la caméra thermique, seule escale où l' on s' inquiète de votre température, (H1N1 oblige 🏴☠️ ), 1ère possibilté, les taxis "officiels" avec 3 circuits de proposés Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Boussaid. exemple Tunis: 40 euro le taxi 4 places, pour l aller et le retour... donc si vous montez à 4, cela fait 10 euro par personne. et le petit "plus" si vous le voulez quand vous le quittez. Nous avons donc partagé le taxi avec un couple de mexicain qui venait d un autre bateau immense, le MSC Fantasia (*), je déconseille... car l heure de départ des bateaux étant différente, la motivation pour être au rendez-vous à l heure n est pas la même... et le bateau ne vous attend pas ! Ensuite , vous avez les taxis non officiels un peu plus loin, où il est possible de négocier son parcours, et votre chauffeur (pour certains) vous accompagne et vous sert de guide. Pour les plus téméraires il y une gare pas loin avec des trains (de banlieue) qui vous amènent à Tunis ou Sidi Boussaid pour un prix dérisoire, (centimes d euro...) avec atmosphère authentique garantie, juste un peu plus à marcher pour rejoindre le centre de Tunis, mais c est faisable. Sinon Tunis est une ville très "européenne" (*) dans sa conception et son architecture, avec en son centre la medina et ses souks (*) beaucoup plus traditionnels... trop peut-être ?... le touriste y est attendu à chaque étal, et le "marchandage" y est de rigueur ! 🙂. pour infos, la plupart des articles vendus aux souks, vous sont proposés au terminal d'embarquement, et pour la plupart, à d excellents prix (non négociables) que vous obtiendrez difficilement et au bout de longues négociations avec l'autochtone ...😉 ...pas le même "charme"... Sinon, beaucoup plus pittoresque et "calme" Sidi Boussaid..., nous avons regretté de ne pas l avoir fait..., mais il est vrai que l escale est vraiment très courte... Pour Carthage 😐 pas eu d échos.... Palma de Majorque: comme à Palerme, bus touristique pour visiter la ville, 🙂 avec possibilité de sarrêter aux points stratégiques et de reprendre le bus suivant, puis ballade à pieds... je recommande tout particulièrement la cathédrale (*). Sinon l' occasion de manger 😛 ailleurs que sur le bateau vu qu il n appareille pas avant 1h00. D ailleurs pas grande monde à bord lors du repas du soir, vu qu il y a une sortie de proposée ce même soir. Barcelone: pour terminer 🙁.... la journée ne suffit pas, tant il y a de choses à voir, à faire... et tant cette ville est grande.... alors là, pas d' hésitation, se procurer un plan de la ville, au bureau des excursions à bord, aller à la premère station de métro, au port, acheter un ticket vous permettant de prendre autant de fois que vous le désirerez le métro , et Barcelone est à vous ! 😎 c est la solution la plus économique pour "naviguer" d un point à un autre, en plus il est moderne et surpasse le bon vieux metro parisien et de loin ! de là, selon vos envies, vous pourrez recuperez le funiculaire qui vous amène sur la colline de Montjuic, ou vous pourrez prendre un télépherique (billet en sus) qui vous amènera au plus haut point de Barcelone le chateau de Montjuic (*). Vue imprenable sur la ville (*) ou bien filer au parc Güel, et admirer les oeuvres de Gaudi, que vous trouverez un peu partout dans Barcelone aussi. ou bien encore, aller voir cette "surprenante" église Sagrada Familia, commencée en 1882, et toujours pas achevée, des travaux empêchent la visite de l intérieur, mais l' extérieur à lui tout seul suffit à vous laisser "pantois" 🤪... sinon aller directement sur la place Catalunya, point de départ de la fameuse rambla qui descend au port, et qui vous réserve plein de surprises, ou de la rambla avec tous les magasins intéressants pour ces dames (*) ou bien encore le quartier gothique... et aussi le stade mythique du Nou Camp, pour les amoureux de football... donc vous l aurez compris énormément de choses ......... on y revient........
Voilà pour les différents sites. Comme je le disais, plusieurs choses vous feront choisir telle ou telle activité, votre budget, je réitère: Costa c est cher! vos envies... la météo...votre forme...
les boutiques hors taxe ? c est comme tout il faut comparer... pour un parfum en tout cas la boutique du bord était la plus compétitive...
Pour les restaurants, vous avez un restaurant d attitré pour le soir 1er ou 2ème service, et ce pour toute la croisière. il faut savoir que le 1er service commence la plupart du temps à 18h30 😮, oui je sais c est hyper tôt..., le second 21h30 😕, c est un peu tard, c est vrai aussi.... Mais bon... une question d habitude... Par contre pour le midi: possibilité daller aussi bien dans n importe quel restaurant, ou alors la formule self au pont supérieur (9) valable aussi le soir. par contre que ce soit pour le petit déjeuner ou les repas du midi et du soir, une salle de restaurant est beaucoup plus calme que n importe quel self....🤪
les packs boissons ? tout va dépendre de votre soif, sachez simplement que les boissons prises individuellement sont rarement bon marché....
et pour finir, le pont n° 1 .... cela va dépendre... une fois de plus la loterie... nous avons cotoyé des personnes logées au pont 2 et qui ont souffert du bruit des machines, et d autres au pont 1 qui, ormis un léger ronronnement, n ont pas été dérangées plus que cela... si vous avez le sommeil sensible, n oubliez pas les bonnes vielles boules "Q..."
Voilà, j ai tenté de vous apporter une infime partie de ce que nous avons vécu, ainsi que quelques photos (*) et j espère avoir éclairé un tant soi peu votre lanterne. Si d autres questions vous viennent à l esprit....🙂
BON VOYAGE 😉
- Donc, la seule excursion Costa que nous ayions faite est Pompéi, sympa... à ne pas faire en tongue 🤪, par contre, plus de 2 heures de marche sur le site, impressionant... le petit plus, la visite (1/4 d heure) d' une manufacture de camée (une grande boutique !!!) mais où nous avons eu la chance de voir un "ancien" (*) travailler ...😮
- pour le reste, nous avons choisi de nous débrouiller par nous-même, avec des fortunes diverses...
Savone: (*) pas grand chose à y faire et à y voir, il y a bien un marché de spécialités (*) dans une rue perpendiculaire à l allée centrale, mais comme il est "interdit" de monter de la nourriture à bord ( elle sera conservée et restituée à la fin de la croisière par Costa)... c est plus une étape qui permet au bateau de refaire le plein. (c est fou le nombre de palettes qu ils font rentrer ce jour-là...) donc à moins de prendre une excursion, Gênes est magnifique à voir (pour l avoir fait sur une précédente croisière), c est l occasion de visiter le bateau et de commencer à s' y repérer, et je dis bien commencer.😉 Naples: il y a donc Pompéi, comme écrit plus haut, par contre énormément de groupes sur le site (*) , un guide assez "agé" et qui parlait moins fort que certains de ses collègues...🙁 (mais ça c est la "loterie"). Le site d' Herculanum, pour certains est plus intéressant car mieux conservé, il parait... Par contre, beaucoup d avis négatif sur la visite de Naples pour ceux qui l ont fait soit en solo, soit en excursion... (bruyant, "sale"....)😕 Palerme: ville riche en monuments (*, *)...., bon d accord très bruyante aussi.... donc là nous avons avons pris un bus touristique pour la viste de la ville 😐... attention deux compagnies, soit le bus rouge, soit le bus bleu (3 euros moins cher...) je déconseille vivement le bus bleu... nous l avons pris : tour de la ville avec guide multilingue au micro, donc si plusieurs nationalités dans le bus, le temps qu il arrive aux explications en français, vous avez dépassé le site commenté ! 😕. Mais ce n est pas le pire... en effet, vous pouvez descendre où vous le désirez et remonter dans le suivant. Sauf qu il n y a que 2 bus qui tournent (un peu plus d une heure le tour), et il n est pas dit qu il y ait suffisamment de places pour remonter ! donc attendre de nouveau le prochain... je conseille le bus rouge (plus nombreux...) et casque fourni pour les commentaires dans la langue que vous voulez et au moment où vous passez devant le monument !😎 Tunis: à la Goulette plutôt (*) , 17 km de Tunis... à la descente du bateau, et après être passé devant la caméra thermique, seule escale où l' on s' inquiète de votre température, (H1N1 oblige 🏴☠️ ), 1ère possibilté, les taxis "officiels" avec 3 circuits de proposés Tunis, Carthage, Sidi Boussaid. exemple Tunis: 40 euro le taxi 4 places, pour l aller et le retour... donc si vous montez à 4, cela fait 10 euro par personne. et le petit "plus" si vous le voulez quand vous le quittez. Nous avons donc partagé le taxi avec un couple de mexicain qui venait d un autre bateau immense, le MSC Fantasia (*), je déconseille... car l heure de départ des bateaux étant différente, la motivation pour être au rendez-vous à l heure n est pas la même... et le bateau ne vous attend pas ! Ensuite , vous avez les taxis non officiels un peu plus loin, où il est possible de négocier son parcours, et votre chauffeur (pour certains) vous accompagne et vous sert de guide. Pour les plus téméraires il y une gare pas loin avec des trains (de banlieue) qui vous amènent à Tunis ou Sidi Boussaid pour un prix dérisoire, (centimes d euro...) avec atmosphère authentique garantie, juste un peu plus à marcher pour rejoindre le centre de Tunis, mais c est faisable. Sinon Tunis est une ville très "européenne" (*) dans sa conception et son architecture, avec en son centre la medina et ses souks (*) beaucoup plus traditionnels... trop peut-être ?... le touriste y est attendu à chaque étal, et le "marchandage" y est de rigueur ! 🙂. pour infos, la plupart des articles vendus aux souks, vous sont proposés au terminal d'embarquement, et pour la plupart, à d excellents prix (non négociables) que vous obtiendrez difficilement et au bout de longues négociations avec l'autochtone ...😉 ...pas le même "charme"... Sinon, beaucoup plus pittoresque et "calme" Sidi Boussaid..., nous avons regretté de ne pas l avoir fait..., mais il est vrai que l escale est vraiment très courte... Pour Carthage 😐 pas eu d échos.... Palma de Majorque: comme à Palerme, bus touristique pour visiter la ville, 🙂 avec possibilité de sarrêter aux points stratégiques et de reprendre le bus suivant, puis ballade à pieds... je recommande tout particulièrement la cathédrale (*). Sinon l' occasion de manger 😛 ailleurs que sur le bateau vu qu il n appareille pas avant 1h00. D ailleurs pas grande monde à bord lors du repas du soir, vu qu il y a une sortie de proposée ce même soir. Barcelone: pour terminer 🙁.... la journée ne suffit pas, tant il y a de choses à voir, à faire... et tant cette ville est grande.... alors là, pas d' hésitation, se procurer un plan de la ville, au bureau des excursions à bord, aller à la premère station de métro, au port, acheter un ticket vous permettant de prendre autant de fois que vous le désirerez le métro , et Barcelone est à vous ! 😎 c est la solution la plus économique pour "naviguer" d un point à un autre, en plus il est moderne et surpasse le bon vieux metro parisien et de loin ! de là, selon vos envies, vous pourrez recuperez le funiculaire qui vous amène sur la colline de Montjuic, ou vous pourrez prendre un télépherique (billet en sus) qui vous amènera au plus haut point de Barcelone le chateau de Montjuic (*). Vue imprenable sur la ville (*) ou bien filer au parc Güel, et admirer les oeuvres de Gaudi, que vous trouverez un peu partout dans Barcelone aussi. ou bien encore, aller voir cette "surprenante" église Sagrada Familia, commencée en 1882, et toujours pas achevée, des travaux empêchent la visite de l intérieur, mais l' extérieur à lui tout seul suffit à vous laisser "pantois" 🤪... sinon aller directement sur la place Catalunya, point de départ de la fameuse rambla qui descend au port, et qui vous réserve plein de surprises, ou de la rambla avec tous les magasins intéressants pour ces dames (*) ou bien encore le quartier gothique... et aussi le stade mythique du Nou Camp, pour les amoureux de football... donc vous l aurez compris énormément de choses ......... on y revient........
Voilà pour les différents sites. Comme je le disais, plusieurs choses vous feront choisir telle ou telle activité, votre budget, je réitère: Costa c est cher! vos envies... la météo...votre forme...
les boutiques hors taxe ? c est comme tout il faut comparer... pour un parfum en tout cas la boutique du bord était la plus compétitive...
Pour les restaurants, vous avez un restaurant d attitré pour le soir 1er ou 2ème service, et ce pour toute la croisière. il faut savoir que le 1er service commence la plupart du temps à 18h30 😮, oui je sais c est hyper tôt..., le second 21h30 😕, c est un peu tard, c est vrai aussi.... Mais bon... une question d habitude... Par contre pour le midi: possibilité daller aussi bien dans n importe quel restaurant, ou alors la formule self au pont supérieur (9) valable aussi le soir. par contre que ce soit pour le petit déjeuner ou les repas du midi et du soir, une salle de restaurant est beaucoup plus calme que n importe quel self....🤪
les packs boissons ? tout va dépendre de votre soif, sachez simplement que les boissons prises individuellement sont rarement bon marché....
et pour finir, le pont n° 1 .... cela va dépendre... une fois de plus la loterie... nous avons cotoyé des personnes logées au pont 2 et qui ont souffert du bruit des machines, et d autres au pont 1 qui, ormis un léger ronronnement, n ont pas été dérangées plus que cela... si vous avez le sommeil sensible, n oubliez pas les bonnes vielles boules "Q..."
Voilà, j ai tenté de vous apporter une infime partie de ce que nous avons vécu, ainsi que quelques photos (*) et j espère avoir éclairé un tant soi peu votre lanterne. Si d autres questions vous viennent à l esprit....🙂
BON VOYAGE 😉
Bonjour Sylvain,
J'étais sur le Costa Concordia aux mêmes dates. Qu'avez-vous pensé de votre croisière ?
Mon mari et moi étions au pont 8 et notre table du soir était 2ème service resto Milano.
Personnellement, j'ai du mal à revenir sur terre car c'était magique.
Tout est extra, le service, la propreté, le personnel, les buffets.
J'attends vos impressions.🙂
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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!
Thanks a million for your replies! Marie
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!
Thanks a million for your replies! Marie
Hi there,
We’re looking for a group of people available to share an excursion to the Trollstigen (Trolls’ Road). We’ve contacted a local provider who’s offering us the following rates: - 6,325 NOK for 4 people - 6,874 NOK for 5 to 8 people
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to discuss! Happy planning to everyone! !
We’re looking for a group of people available to share an excursion to the Trollstigen (Trolls’ Road). We’ve contacted a local provider who’s offering us the following rates: - 6,325 NOK for 4 people - 6,874 NOK for 5 to 8 people
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to discuss! Happy planning to everyone! !
Has anyone here ever done an excursion with privatetunisia.com?
Is it any good?
https://privatetunisia.com/fr/excursions/croisiere-carthage-sidi-bou-said
Hello,
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
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
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 everyone!
are there other cruise formats besides the coastal express to see the northern lights in Norway in winter?
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.
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 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! 🚢😊
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 everyone,
I’m doing some research to find our dream cruise for next year and just came across this site that offers absolutely incredible packages!
For example:
https://www.cruisemonks.com/ALL-CRUISE-OFFERS?AppID%3D%20UYC6JxBtzrZEs2vD35IKg%3D%3D%26latest_deals%3D866834
Has anyone heard of this site? Looking forward to your thoughts! Best, Stéfanie
For example:
https://www.cruisemonks.com/ALL-CRUISE-OFFERS?AppID%3D%20UYC6JxBtzrZEs2vD35IKg%3D%3D%26latest_deals%3D866834
Has anyone heard of this site? Looking forward to your thoughts! Best, Stéfanie
We're considering a Danube cruise that stops in Bucharest.
Are there any travelers currently on the river, which is at its lowest level?
Hi there,
I’m taking a cruise on the Costa Pacifica in December—what should I expect in terms of rough seas?
contact me to get referred at MSC, for your first cruise or if you haven't traveled with MSC in over 5 years
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.
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.
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 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,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? Thanks
Hello
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
hi,
I’m leaving Hamburg for Iceland at the end of July. The boat arrives in Reykjavik on Tuesday, August 4th at 8 AM, and I’d like to book a day trip like the Golden Circle or Secret Lagoon… The sites like GetYourGuide and others list departures at 8 AM. If you’ve used these sites with the MSC Preziosa, could you let me know how to go about it?
Thanks! 😉
allyMB007
Hi
Has anyone taken the CFC recently?
Thoughts?
Thanks
Thoughts?
Thanks
Hello everyone,
It’s with immense sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of our friend Nathalie (nadu). Many of us knew her through this forum, which she loved so much. She enjoyed reading your travel stories, joining discussions, sharing her cruise reviews, and offering valuable advice—always with kindness, gentleness, and discretion.
For me, Nathalie was so much more than just a cruise enthusiast. She was a friend, a deeply kind person who was always there to listen, despite the many health challenges she faced with tremendous courage. We corresponded regularly, and sometimes we had the chance to visit each other’s homes or attend the cruise show together with our respective husbands.
We shared a common dream: when we both retired, we had planned to finally go on a cruise together. Life had other plans, and that trip will forever remain a journey we never had the chance to take. That thought weighs heavily on my heart today.
I’ll remember her as a gentle, generous woman who was always ready to help others. Her presence on this forum will leave a huge void, just as her friendship has in my life.
I send my sincerest thoughts to her husband, her family, and all those who had the chance to know her.
Fair winds, Nathalie. I like to think you’re now sailing on an infinitely calm sea, under an eternally blue sky. You’ll remain in our thoughts and hearts every time we talk about cruises or set off on a new journey.
Rest in peace, Nathalie.
For those who’d like to send a message of comfort and sympathy to her husband, you can send me a PM, and I’ll pass it along. THANK YOU
For me, Nathalie was so much more than just a cruise enthusiast. She was a friend, a deeply kind person who was always there to listen, despite the many health challenges she faced with tremendous courage. We corresponded regularly, and sometimes we had the chance to visit each other’s homes or attend the cruise show together with our respective husbands.
We shared a common dream: when we both retired, we had planned to finally go on a cruise together. Life had other plans, and that trip will forever remain a journey we never had the chance to take. That thought weighs heavily on my heart today.
I’ll remember her as a gentle, generous woman who was always ready to help others. Her presence on this forum will leave a huge void, just as her friendship has in my life.
I send my sincerest thoughts to her husband, her family, and all those who had the chance to know her.
Fair winds, Nathalie. I like to think you’re now sailing on an infinitely calm sea, under an eternally blue sky. You’ll remain in our thoughts and hearts every time we talk about cruises or set off on a new journey.
Rest in peace, Nathalie.
For those who’d like to send a message of comfort and sympathy to her husband, you can send me a PM, and I’ll pass it along. THANK YOU
Hello everyone,
So happy to be back on this Forum!
We’re heading off on another cruise—our 7th—after a 5-year break...
We’ll be leaving from Venice on April 26th with stops in Kotor, Mykonos, Santorini, and Ancona.
Could you help me plan the stops by sharing tips, tricks, and advice?
For those who already know me, you know we prefer not to take the cruise line’s excursions but instead organize everything ourselves.
Thanks in advance to everyone, and looking forward to chatting with you all!