Hi there
A few photos from the Explora Journey—the ship is stunning, and I can confirm the dining is on par with Michelin-starred restaurants. Plus, you get to choose between several restaurants where everything is included, even drinks and champagne!
hi there
Thanks for this feedback 😉
It sounds really great, too bad that for a luxury positioning they don’t reserve cruises for adults.
Hi Isa,
I’m currently on board.
There are only a handful of kids here, and they’re very well-behaved....
Mind you, we’re outside school holidays, but I wouldn’t come on this ship with kids. There isn’t much for them to do.
Hi there,
I completely agree with you.
It's an amazing ship with exceptional service. Right now, there are fewer passengers than crew members.
And the dining is excellent.
It's going to be hard to go back to other cruises after this one.
Thanks!
For the vibe, it’s similar to Oceania...
From what I remember, there were a few kids, but they were very well-behaved.
The dining and service are a step above.
Thanks Sophie for these photos.
I’m also looking at this category of ships for an upcoming cruise.
But I don’t want to spend hours on a plane anymore, and the prices in Europe are still pretty high.
Hi Claudine,
I just went on a cruise on Oceania’s Vista—it was perfect, with top-notch food and service.
The Cruise Director was French, and I told him about Explora Journey.
He said a lot of the chefs and other staff came from Oceania. In his opinion, given the low passenger numbers, they’ll have to cut back on staff or services. We’ll see...
I’m still keeping an eye out for opportunities
I have to say that we’re outside school holidays, and on the ship I only saw one baby and a young child of barely 4 years old—we never saw or heard them, and I only spotted them at meals. I don’t even think there’ll be many kids later on, since there’s nothing for them on board except a small room with a pool table and foosball, and definitely no slide.
Small downside: lack of entertainment, but I think that’s intentional. However, during my last cruise on this ship in December departing from Miami, there were hardly any shows. Now there’s a small troupe of singers putting on a different show every night—they’re 6 singers with 6 musicians.
As for the price, with promotions it doesn’t end up being more expensive than YC, and the difference in service is noticeable. We left from Barcelona and returned to Barcelona. Since I live in Nice, I took EasyJet for a 1h15 flight. For 10 days, it cost 3500 € per person. I know that can be a significant amount, but as someone used to YC, I’ve already paid that much during peak season.
good evening
thanks for the details
I have to say, the price of the Yacht Club has doubled—it's unbelievable, there are no longer any reasonable prices
I'm waiting to see a good deal for EXPLORA, but maybe I'm dreaming 😏
Isabelle, amoureuse des croisières:
COSTA, MSC, ROYAL CARIBBEAN, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, NCL, HAL, PONANT, OCEANIA, AZAMARA
A VENIR
CELEBRITY EQUINOX 09/11/2026 Grèce Italie Malte
On the other hand, on the ship there are tons of little touches that you don’t even get in YC anymore: a free shuttle to the city center, nearly a hundred free movies you can watch in French on the TV, heated floors in the bathroom, and at night when you get up, a light turns on at the base of the bedside tables. When you arrive, they give you reusable water bottles, there are binoculars in the cabin, and if it rains when you go out, they provide very comfortable umbrellas. For two people, the hairdryer is a Dyson—and there are plenty of other little touches too!
Above all, the ship is absolutely peaceful. I spent the day by the indoor pool, and there wasn’t a sound louder than another—it’s complete relaxation. Though I think some people prefer the noisy atmosphere around the pool.
This ship has 4 pools, so there’s no crowding, and the staff constantly checks in to see if you need anything. They’ll lay out your towels for you, and if you have a plate in hand, they rush to carry it for you. I have to say, I really appreciate all of this!
I’d also read that they’d poached chefs from Oceania.
When I booked this cruise, Oceania was more expensive for equivalent cruises.
The basic cabins are equivalent to the balcony cabins in the Yacht Club.... No need to pay more in my opinion.
I paid 6,400 € for 10 days. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a Yacht Club cruise.... I don’t know how much a 10-day cruise costs now.
Plus, I don’t like the Yacht Club on ships bigger than the Fantasia series.
And between Yacht Club and Explora, there’s no comparison!!
They’re definitely not filling their ships..... and they’ve got four more planned!!
But it seems like Explora is meant to be MSC’s showcase to restore its image.
To be continued.
Right now, there’s a promotion through agencies with 25 to 50% off (on the full price).
On the boat, if you choose an option, they transfer the file to your agency.
For me, Monacruise (I booked this one with them) and Croisiland (now they operate as Explora).
Hi Claudine,
To answer your question, I just took a 10-day Mediterranean cruise on the Splendida, which cost me a little under 5,500 €, including all the discounts that stacked up.
Have a great cruise.
While browsing, I found 3,500 € per person for 10 days in Yacht Club... no discount, of course, so 7,000 € for two. Prices have really gone up...
When I think about that 30-day cruise on the *Splendida* in Yacht Club, flights included (to Shanghai, which became Singapore, and back from Dubai), which cost us just over 6,000 €... but that was in 2020, and we took advantage of an IT department error for a few days. The cruise alone was over 10,000 € without flights.
The 5,500 € you got is more affordable... but if you compare the perks (like tips included on Explora, the quality of the wines—for example, champagne is included, and it’s Mercier brand—the free shuttles in some ports, and the overall service and food quality), the balance tips in Explora’s favor.
From what I understand, MSC wants to attract luxury cruise clients and former Yacht Club guests to Explora (there was even a 5% discount for them at one point) and offer the Yacht Club to MSC customers looking to upgrade.
Anyway, it always depends on promotions, itineraries, and personal preferences.
If I understood correctly, MSC wants to attract luxury cruise clientele and former Yacht Club members to Explora (there was a 5% discount for them at one point) and offer the Yacht Club to MSC customers looking to upgrade.
I totally agree with you, that’s exactly what I understood too. And the YC standard might drop even further with the perks given to the new Blue Diamond loyalty card.
I just got off the phone with the Monacruises agency (about another cruise), and they told me some promotions are coming for Explora during Black Friday, but they’re not amazing either...
Hi Claudine and Sophie,
I’m torn between three ships: the Viva from NCL, the cheapest option, but I loved the Prima, its twin; the Allura from Oceania, which has a French cruise director in July and August—that’s a big plus—and the Explora, the only line I’m not familiar with.
Can we have lunch in all the restaurants, or are there any that are pay-to-access or require a reservation?
Everything is included on this ship—there’s only one pay-to-enter gourmet restaurant, but honestly, it’s not worth it given the quality of the other four. Two of them are accessible without a reservation, and the other two require one since there isn’t as much space.
As for ships, I’m not familiar with the other two options right now—it really depends on the itinerary. I’ll admit that Explora’s routes aren’t the most exciting for me, but I prioritized the ship’s quality and dining. That said, I’ve been on over 100 cruises, so I know all the stops in the Mediterranean—they can’t exactly invent new cities!
Hi there! I’m also looking into taking a cruise on this ship, specifically the transatlantic route from Miami to Lisbon in April.
There are some interesting Black Friday deals available!
Hi there,
I’ve already booked this cruise myself, departing from Miami on April 2nd and returning to Barcelona. I got a deal and paid 11,000 € for two people for 18 days, but you’ll need to book the flight separately.
Maybe there’ll be an even better offer with Black Friday though!
Keep me posted for my info, will you?
Thanks Sophie for your reply.
Even though I haven’t been on as many cruises as you, it’s true that it’s almost impossible to find Mediterranean itineraries with lesser-known stops 😎
Hi Alfred and Nathalie,
Way too many days at sea for me,
Alfred, always up for a cruise 😎
Hi Catherine,
Yeah, always up for it, but my wife less so. LOL
I agree with you about the days at sea—it might feel a bit long (given the size of the ship, and I’m worried I’ll get bored...).
Nothing’s set in stone yet!
Hello
That’s exactly what’s holding me back too
Unless we have a French-speaking group!
Do you know when?
Hi Nathalie,
Well, I’ll know at the start of next week, because my wife requested a few days off (for 2025 planning) and she should get an answer pretty quickly.
Her leave normally runs from May to May, but she asked for a few days in April.
Just so you know, Aïda just canceled our cruise planned for December 2025, so we’re looking for a replacement. That’s why (maybe) this one.
My wife thinks the stops aren’t great because we’ve already done them several times.
In 2019 with Oceania Insignia, we stayed 2 days in Bermuda, and this time there’s only 10 hours (a bit tight to get to Saint George’s side). Anyway, I’ll keep you posted if we decide to go or not.
Hi there! 👋👋
We were on board with Claudine and Sophie and two other French couples…
Lovely cruise and great meet-ups!!!!
Yep, the retractable-roof pool is definitely heated 👍🏽👍🏽 I can confirm
I have the same quote.
Looks like the sale really took off.
Hi Nathalie,
Just to confirm, I didn’t go ahead with this quote because I’m not doing this cruise.
Sure, the price is great, but the itinerary isn’t exactly thrilling, and on top of that, there are too many sea days.
The worst part is the stopover time in Bermuda (around 10 hours), which I think is just ridiculous. You should know that if you go to Bermuda, you *have* to visit St. George’s, and the travel time between Hamilton and St. George’s is really long. Anyway,
Let us know if you’ve confirmed your quote or not.
We really loved Explora.
Our next cruise is already booked with them.
The biggest plus is the food—even Oceania doesn’t compare.
Explora’s basic cabin is similar to YC’s.
The service is very attentive, maybe a bit above YC, especially in terms of crew numbers. However, for those who often make requests to their butler, they might miss having one. You don’t need a butler to get on and off the ship—there’s never a line. Even with one in YC, it’s not always smooth.
On the other hand, the shows are simpler on Explora. MSC does much better.
WiFi is free and really high-performing on Explora.
As for kids, there were few on Explora (5 or 6 on our cruise). They were very well-behaved. I think there are some activities for them, but I didn’t look into it.
In summary, our current cruise preferences would be:
Explora first, then Oceania (Marina or Riviera), and MSC in YC—but only on the Fantasia-class ships. We didn’t like the Seashore-class ones; the YC is too big.
However, Explora only has 2 ships, and the itineraries are limited to either the Mediterranean or the Caribbean.
If you have any questions, I’d be happy to try and answer them.
Hello,
I completely agree with you.
It's a fantastic ship with exceptional service. Right now, there are fewer passengers than crew members.
And the dining is excellent.
It's going to be hard to go back to other cruises after this.
o
Hi Clau05,
No problem with French?
Menus translated, majority nationality Italian? American? Any French passengers? 🤔
The official language on Explora is English.
There’s no translation into multiple languages like on MSC and Costa.
But you can get menus in French.
Basic English is enough, especially if you’re used to cruises.
The nationalities on board are mostly Americans, English, Canadians (Quebecers speak French), and Australians.
Few French people, and I don’t remember seeing any Italians.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share these details!
I’m finalizing everything tomorrow for a cruise on EXPLORA 2, departing Venice on May 18, 2026.
The ship looks absolutely stunning!
The "basic" suite cabin is already really, really nice 😉
True, the "standard" cabins are really nice.
They’re quite similar to the MSC Yacht Club cabins.
For us, it’s not worth paying extra, especially since the prices climb fast.
You’ll probably love this cruise.
Du mal a faire le plein Explora Journey, c’est la cerise sur le gâteau mais j’aimerais que la cerise devienne un melon », a d'ailleurs euphémisé Patrick…
Je m’apprête à réserver une croisière sur Explora 2 en mai 2026.. (option) jamais utilisé cette Cie (AZAMARA en 2024 et septembre 2025) le bateau est plus…
Nous partons avec le Celestyal Journey au mois d’août. Nous sommes habitués aux croisières mais nous ne connaissons pas cette compagnie, ni ce bateau. Je sais…
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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
Bonjour,
Nous voila de retour de cette croisière.
Embarquement à Dunkerque: les portes ouvraient à 12h environ, étant un peu en avance, je suis allée demander pour que mon mari PMR attende à l'intérieur plutôt que s/ son déambulateur dehors. Je l'ai donc laissé avec les 2 valises et nos 2 sacs à dos dans le petit hall pendant que j'allais garer le véhicule s/ le parking réservé avec CFC au tarif de 10 euros/ jour.
La navette qui devait reconduire les gens du parking au pavillon des maquettes devait arriver dans 5 minutes et au bout de 15 minutes toujours rien. Après 15 min d'attente j'ai vu un Mr qui partait à pieds et je lui ai demandé de l'accompagner. En 15 minutes nous étions arrivés et toujours pas vu de navette car elle nous aurait dépassé.Arrivée au pavillon des maquettes .
Mon mari avait déjà enregistré les valises avec l'aide d'1 personne de CFC.Restaient les formalités à remplir ce qui fut fait rapidement.Nous étions à bord à 12h15. Direction le buffet au pont 11 et attente de pouvoir accéder à la cabine dans 1 salon.
A 14h , découverte de la cabine balcon au pont 9 à l'arrière: spacieuse avec un grand balcon comparé à MSC/COSTA.
Etant à l'arrière, cabine 9202 , toujours un problème d'ascenseur le numéro 4: " car préference".
L'ascenseur numéro 2 s'arrête au pont 10...et l'ascenseur numéro 3 souvent en panne, il ne reste que le numéro 1 pour les PMR pour accéder au buffet pour les personnes ayant également du mal à monter les escaliers.A noter 1 seule enfant à bord et beaucoup de "cheveux gris".
JOUR 2: en mer. Beaucoup d'activités de proposées.
Jour 3: GOTEBORG ( Suède).soleil 19 degrés à 11h
Excursion prise avec CFC: Goteborg et Haga pour tous.
Visite interessante avec une guide TB. Le quartier HAGA à notre avis plein de pavés et rien de spécial et pas adapté aux personnes se déplaçant avec une canne ou fauteuil.Ascenseur numéro 3 en panne..
Jour 4: Copenhague15 degrés le matin, averses ap-midi.
Pas pris d'excursion ayant déjà fait escale avec CFC en 2025 et s/ les conseils des personnes de ce forum, nous avions pris le bus op-on/op-off face au bateau. Je suis allée quand même revoir la petite sirène .
Plus de TV, ascenseur réparé.
JOUR 5 : en mer , tj pas de TV
JOUR 6 : GDANSK ( Pologne).15 degrés pluie toute la journée.
Il y a 1 navette pour aller dans le C Ville.
Nous avons pris l'excursion:Panorama de Gdansk.
Le guide nous a laissé dans l'entrée du C Ville pour 45 minutes en nous donnant ce qu'il y avait à visiter.RV pour la suite des visites à 15h. Le bus est parti à 15h15 pour faire 10 km pour aller voir la Cathédrale d'Olivia .Nous y sommes arrivés à 16h16....le guide nous a dit que dans ce sens il y avait souvent des bouchons..Nous avons eu 10 min s/ place pour aller ensuite voir le phare et le monument de Westerplatte où là aussi nous avons eu 10 minutes s/ place.
Nous étions bcp à nous interroger pourquoi nous n'avions pas fait le circuit dans l'autre sens puisqu'il s'avait qu'il y aurait des bouchons...
Je suis allée à la réception me plaindre de cette organisation .La personne m'a lu le programme: nous devions commencer par le phare puis aller à la Cathédrale et y rester 30 min pour rejoindre le centre de Gdansk pour 1 courte promenade guidée avec un peu de temps libre pour acheter des souvenirs etc..
Le guide a fait tout le contraire de ce qui était prévu et pas de visite guidée puisqu'il nous a lâché dans la ville....
JOUR 7 : Ile de Bornholm (Danemark) 14 degrés quelques rayons de soleil
Nous avions vu dans les excursions qu'il y avait découverte de RONNE à pieds. Donc comme beaucoup nous avons visité par nous-mêmes. Il y avait 1 petit orchestre pour nous accueillir s/ le port et 2 personnes avec des plans de la ville. Nous avons pris la navette pour sortir du port, navette toutes les 15 min.Office du tourisme à côté du "shuttel bus". Visite agréable à notre rythme.
JOUR 8: KIEL ( Allemagne) 18-23 degrés, beau temps
Nous avons pris l'excursion KIEL pour tous. Guide TB et visites interessantes.
Le port est en ville et en 10 minutes nous sommes dans le CVille en suivant un trait bleu au sol depuis le port jusqu'au centre.Ascenseur 3 de nouveau bloqué...de nouveau la TV.
JOUR 9 : en mer; l'ascenseur 3 fonctionne
JOUR 10: en mer ; l'ascenseur 3 de nous veau en panne...
JOUR 11: débarquement à Dunkerque.
Les cabines doivent être libérées à 7h30.Buffet ouvert jusqu'à 9h.
Ascenseur numéro 1 "réquisitionné" , reste le 2 qui ne va pas jusqu'au 11... problème pour les PMR qui doivent traverser tout le pont 11 et essayer d'avoir un des 4 ascenseurs en fonction à l'avant avec bcp de monde à les utiliser.
Mon avis; escales interessantes.
Personnels à bord toujours aussi accueillants , souriants et parlant français pour la plupart.
Spectacles le soir de meilleure qualité qu'en Mars/Avril 2025 tant chanteurs-danseurs-animateurs et des costumes mieux..
Moins bien aimé ceux du "magicien".
Il y a eu 3 conférences à bord par une personne très cultivée mais qui débordait du sujet et trop historique à mon goût.Je n'ai pas assisté aux 2 autres, mon mari a suivi la 2ème mais pas la 3ème..
Pour cette croisière il y avait le thème du Bridge mais nous ne sommes pas joueurs ni intéressés.
Nous n'avions pas pris de forfait boissons à bord , il y a l'eau à disposition, café, thé, tisanes.
Nous avons eu un problème d'infiltration d'eau dans la cabine la veille du débarquement.Nous l'avons signalé et une fois le personnel technique passé ( avec traducteur ne parlant pas anglais), on nous a demandé de laisser la cabine pendant quelque temps pour la réparation.Nous sommes allés dans un salon et au bout d'1h30 je suis allée aux nouvelle à la réception. Réparation + longue que prévue...il fallait changer de cabine.....pas évident la veille du débarquement. Plus de cabine balcon disponible, nous avons eu 1 vue mer la 6075 avec baignoire ( impossible de l'utiliser pour nous deux). Nous avons donc fait nos valises , pris 1 douche dans notre cabine et nous sommes descendus dans la nouvelle.Bruits de chaises jusqu'à 0h30 car cabine sous un salon et un bruit continuel de ventilation dans le couloir.....le sommeil a été difficile à trouver.
Débarquement: bien organisé. Nous avons été aidés pour le transport des 2 valises + sacs dans la salle d'attente le temps que je prenne la navette pour aller récupérer le véhicule.
Guylène
Bonjour,
Nous allons faire 1 croisière vers l'Europe du Nord avec escale à SOUTHAMPTON.
Nous aimerions aller visiter le site de Stonehedge.
Est-il possible d'y aller par ses propres moyens , ( mon mari est PMR), car l'excursion proposée par MSC avec Salisbury est proposée à 127 euros/pers.
Il y aura aussi 1 escale à Rotterdam et il semblerait qu'aux alentours il y ait un "village miniature à visiter". Est-ce que l'un ou l'une d'entre vous l'auriez visité et par quels moyens.
Merci beaucoup pour vos conseils. Mum49
Si vous voyagez sur le Costa Diadema du 17 au 28 Octobre 2026 pour Lisbonne, Nous pouvons nous rencontrer autour d'un verre. Partager nos expériences de croisiéristes, une excursion, une table...
hi there, a group of friends and I are going on a cruise at the end of June with CFC in Norway. I’d love to get some info on the different stops we’ll be making. Most of them are one-day stops (from around 10 AM to 8 PM on average). Here are the stops: Andalsnes, Trondheim, Honningsvåg, Alta, Hellesylt, Sandane, Austefjorden.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what there is to see or do in these places.
When I get back, I’ll post what we did—it might help others who come after us.
Also, does anyone know if the boat sticks to the arrival time in Dunkirk for catching tickets to head back south? We’ll plan a buffer just in case.
Hi there, The day before boarding the Costa Favolosa for the Norwegian Fjords cruise departing from Hamburg, I'd like to book a hotel. Which one would be the most convenient location-wise relative to the port?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
I’m looking to get in touch with someone who’s been on an Arctic Cruise aboard the ship POLARFRONT, operated by the French company "LATITUDE BLANCHE", for some info.
Hi there, I was wondering if anyone has ever taken a cruise with this PO Cruise company.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
They’ve got some great itineraries for Norway.
Hello,
We’ll be sailing on the Renaissance with CFC to southern Norway from July 4 to 11, 2026, departing from Dunkirk (the cruise was booked through "Planète Croisière").
When entering some personal details or pre-selecting options on the CFC website, I’m wondering about the "optional" categories for drinks and WiFi.
I’m actually a bit surprised by these extra charges, as we weren’t used to them on other cruises (Australis in Patagonia; Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express in Norway and Alaska; Rivages du Monde in the Arctic or on the Douro River; a Nile river cruise in Egypt), where we sometimes had access to basic drinks at meals and free WiFi when near land.
Anyway, for those who’ve already taken a CFC cruise on the Renaissance, could you share some advice? Specifically about the most basic drink package, called "Fraîcheur" (238 € for two), which doesn’t seem to be described anywhere. The "Premium" package seems excessive (490 € for two for the week) for light drinkers.
As for WiFi, it’s 10 € per day per person. While I find that price acceptable for parking our car in Dunkirk, it feels overpriced here (especially since it was free on the Nordlys "Coastal Express" just 3 or 4 years ago).
So, I’d love to hear from experienced cruisers who’ve been on this ship!
Looking forward to seeing the excursion prices, which should be available soon! 😐
Hi there,
I’m considering a cruise on this ship in the recently introduced Yacht Club category.
Have any forum members tried it?
What are your thoughts? Positive or negative? Which cabins should we go for—or avoid?
We’re already familiar with the Yacht Clubs on the Splendida, Fantasia, Preziosa, and Divina series.
We weren’t as keen on the one on the Seashore—we found it too big.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Claudine
Hi there,
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this cruise and its slightly unusual itinerary.
Also, what do you think about the price?
Good deal or too expensive?
Thanks
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,
In June we’re taking a cruise called "Pearls of the Baltic" on board Renaissance CFC Cruises—with stops in Kiel (Germany), Gdańsk (Poland), Rønne (Bornholm), Copenhagen (Denmark), and Gothenburg (Sweden).
This layover in Gothenburg doesn’t really inspire me—could you tell me what’s worth seeing? Are there locals offering excursions around the area by van right when you leave the port, like you often see on Caribbean cruises?
I saw there’s a hop-on hop-off bus, but I’m not sure if there’s a stop near the terminal.
What are your suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Hi! On June 10th, we’re heading off on a 10-day Baltic Sea cruise with CFC Cruises’ *Renaissance*. We’ll be stopping in Copenhagen, and we’re planning to take the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses to explore the city with multiple stops. Could anyone tell me which quay cruise ships usually dock at and how to get from the quay to the nearest stop to board the tour bus? Thanks for your tips and suggestions!
hi there
A group of friends and I are going on a CroisiEurope cruise along the Danube in September, from Vienna to Bucharest.
The excursions are optional and, in my opinion, pricey. I’m convinced we can manage on our own...
* In Vienna, is it easy to visit the city and Schönbrunn Palace in one day? (Since we only have a day, is it better to explore the palace grounds or the interior?) ...97 €
* In Bratislava, is visiting the castle and hiking in the Little Carpathians worth it? ...79 €
* Budapest: Széchenyi Baths ...119 € and the Great Market Hall ...84 €
* Kalocsa: the Puszta nature reserve and a horseback riding show ...76 €
* Novi Sad: a panoramic bus tour followed by a walk to Petrovaradin Fortress ...41 €
* Ruse: visiting the Rusenski Lom Valley ...43 €
For all these cities, can we get around on our own? If so, should we take a bus, a taxi, or is it enough to be good walkers? (Share all your tips!)
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Best regards
Densha Otaku - Lesser-Known Regions
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Bonjour
Je regarde pour une croisière dans le nord
Hi there, I was wondering if anyone has ever taken a cruise with this PO Cruise company.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
They’ve got some great itineraries for Norway.
Hi there,
So, I booked this cruise...
I know CFC gets a lot of criticism—
- And that it’s not really like the ships I usually take.
But the destination really interested me...
So, I’m giving it a try...
I’m going in with an open mind, thinking I got a good deal, so I’m not expecting the same experience as when I travel with Yacht Club or The Haven.
We’ll see... soon!
