Croisière Grande civilisations antiques sur le Costa Deliziosa du 22 octobre: excursions
by Sylvie84660
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour,
l'escale à MESSINE ayant lieu un dimanche peut on aller a TAORMINA par nous memes avec un taxi ?
Y a t il des personnes susceptibles d'être intéressés par cette visite ?
A MARMARIS, j'aimerai bien aller à KOURION; quelqu'un est il également intéressés ?
Merci de votre réponse et surtout à bientot sur le bateau. Enfin les vacances !!!!!
😉😉😉Bonsoir SYLVIE,
84660 et moi 84830..... Comment va ma chère voisine !!!!
Concernant Messine, il n' y a pas de problème pour aller à TAORMINA.
Vous trouverez des infos dans la discussion que j'ai commencé sous ce lien :
voyageforum.com/voyage/deuxieme_album_vos_escales_recits_photos_en_croisiere_D3725789/
Pour la visite de MARMARIS, personnellement, j'ai opté pour DAYLAN et CAUNOS et là, dans le bas de ma page, il faut cliquer sur le lien du Méditerranée.
Voici des infos sur KOURION :
Ce site se trouve à 15 km de LIMASSOL et non de MARMARIS comme vous pouvez le voir sur cette carte :




Ce qu'il faut voir :
La maison aux mosaïques d'Achille. Autrefois construite dans la proximité de la porte de Paphos, cette maison s'élève sur la route Limassol-Paphos. Autour des vestiges d'une cour à ciel ouvert, étaient groupées des chambres précédées d'une galerie couverte protégeant le beau dallage de mosaïque du IVe siècle avant J.-C. Cette mosaïque représente une scène qui a lieu à la cour du roi Lycomède : Achille, déguisé en jeune fille, est reconnu par Ulysse (lui-même déguisé en marchand). Ce dernier présente aux femmes de la cour des bijoux et des armes; Achille se trahit en préférant les armes aux bijoux et Ulysse l'emmène au siège de Troie (ville, qui selon les prédictions de Calchas ne peut être prise sans Achille... Achille j dont les oracles ont prédit dans l'enfance qu'il périrait sous les murs de Troie, de là déguisement, représenté ici, préconisé par Thétis, sa mère). La maison des Gladiateurs. Le sol de deux salles de cette ancienne villa est orné de scènes de combats de gladiateurs. Les couleurs de ces mosaïques sont dans un état de conservation exceptionnel. L'acropole de Kourion fut détruite par un tremblement de terre au IV siècle après J.-C. La fraction du site qui fait face à la loge du gardien est un chantier de fouilles depuis le milieu des années soixante-dix. C'est ici, en l'occurrence qu'ont été mises au jour les mosaïques mentionnées plus haut. Plusieurs Colonnes à chapiteaux corinthiens ont déjà été relevées et réinstallées à leur place d'origine. La basilique. Si l'on en juge par le style des chapiteaux, la basilique - cathédrale des évêques de Kourion - fut construite au V, siècle de notre ère. La nef centrale était séparée des nefs latérales par douze colonnes de granit. L'abside unique était flanquée de salles orthogonales, elles-mêmes séparées des nefs latérales par des couples de colonnes Un déambulatoire dallé de pierres conduisant à l’extérieur, longeant l'extérieur des nefs latérales. Un baptistère dallé de mosaïques ouvrait sur la cour, ornée d'une fontaine hexagonale, qui précédait le narthex. Depuis le parvis de la basilique un panorama magnifique sur la côte, abrupte à cet endroit de l'Île s'offre au regard; la plage est visible, très loin en contrebas. Le théâtre pouvait accueillir quelque 3 500 spectateurs. On accédait aux tribunes de l'orchestre en hémicycle par un passage voûté percé de cinq entrées de l'amphithéâtre. Le mur de scène s'élevait, à l'origine, jusqu'au niveau des rangs les plus élevés. Au III siècle de notre ère ce lieu fut, pendant un court moment désaffecté de sa fonction première et servit d'arènes ou l'on venait assister à des combats d'animaux. Les thermes et la maison d'Eustolios. A l'est du théâtre et de sa tour d'escalier s'étendent les murs d'une construction palatiale du Ve siècle après J.-C. La zone des bains, spacieuse et confortable, semble indiquer - par l'échelle - qu'il s'agirait là de thermes publics. Une inscription fragmentaire dans la mosaïque (partie orientale de l'édifice) indique le nom de l'architecte de ce «frais refuge à l'abri du vent»: Eustolios. En outre l'inscription fait référence à Apollon, dieu protecteur de la Kourion paÏenne. Mais une autre inscription encore - contemporaine de la première - indique le nom du Christ. L'élément le plus fastueux de l'installation est un dallage de mosaïque admirablement conservé dans la salle principale (partie nord). La qui incarne la Créativité (Ktisis) est remarquablement belle. Elle tient, représentation d'une jeune femme dans la main droite, une règle qui correspond exactement à la longueur du pied romain. Non moins fascinante est la partie de la mosaïque qui représente une perdrix entourée d'oiseaux et de poissons. Des bains de pieds peu profonds relient la salle principale aux bains froids, tandis qu'à l'ouest sont encore visibles les chambres ou était chauffé l'air qui servait lui-même à chauffer les thermes. Une représentation théâtrale ou un concert au théâtre antique de. Kourion. (Paphos) sont des événements inoubliables auxquels contribue l'acoustique fabuleuse du lieu, On y donne, pendant les mois d'été, les pièces des auteurs grecs classiques ainsi que des drames shakespeariens. Des informations à ce sujet sont dispensées par l'office du tourisme ou la réception de votre hôtel. Le stade. A 1 km environ à l'ouest de l'acropole, en bordure de la ville, s'étend le stade qui fut construit au IIe siècle après J-C. Il fut utilise pendant près de six siècles. De cet édifice immense qui pouvait accueillir 6 000 spectateurs, ne subsiste que l'enceinte en forme de fer 1 cheval, dotée de trois accès. Les tribunes ont été partiellement reconstruites. Le sanctuaire d'Apollon. Un kilomètre plus loin à l'ouest, s'élève le sanctuaire d'Apollon Hylatès «APOllON protecteur des forêts »). Ce lieu, l'un des plus sacrés de la Chypre antique, se trouvait jadis au milieu d'une réserve sauvage (bois sacré); on y célébra dès le VIIIe avant J-C. le culte d'Apollon protecteur des forêts, ainsi qu'il été démontré. La plupart des décombres dégagés par les fouilles appartiennent à un autre temple, érigé bien plus tard, vers l'an 100 de notre ère. il est très vraisemblable que ce dernier ait été considérablement endommagé par le séisme du IVe siècle après J-C., mais qu'il n'ait toutefois pas été désaffecté avant le Ve siècle. Comme cela se voit fréquemment à Chypre, le temple reconstruit est un édifice de dimensions relativement petites, la plupart des rituels ayant lieu en plein air. Une large volée de marches et un porche à quatre colonnes conduisaient jusqu'à l'autel. Oser porter la main sur l'autel était sacrilège et puni de mort, rapporte Strabon (géographe et historien grec de la dernière période hellénistique) ; le fautif était précipité dans la mer du haut de la falaise. Les éléments architectoniques les mieux conservés sont les chambres qui étaient destinés aux pèlerins et les thermes d'époque romaine L'élément le plus intéressant du point de vue archéologique a été dégagé en 1978-1980 (il est encore entouré de palissades); de plan cruciforme il est d'époque pré-chrétienne et sa section la plus large est de 18 mètres mieux conservés sont les chambres Il est possible que de jeunes arbres sacrés aient été qui étaient destinées aux pèlerins plantés à l'intérieur des remarquables dépressions circulaires, et qu'autour de ces arbres les pèlerins aient exécuté des danses rituelles ou bien les aient contournés en longues théories. Rien qui leur soit comparable n'a à ce jour été découvert dans le monde méditerranéen.
JC
84660 et moi 84830..... Comment va ma chère voisine !!!!
Concernant Messine, il n' y a pas de problème pour aller à TAORMINA.
Vous trouverez des infos dans la discussion que j'ai commencé sous ce lien :
voyageforum.com/voyage/deuxieme_album_vos_escales_recits_photos_en_croisiere_D3725789/
Pour la visite de MARMARIS, personnellement, j'ai opté pour DAYLAN et CAUNOS et là, dans le bas de ma page, il faut cliquer sur le lien du Méditerranée.
Voici des infos sur KOURION :
Ce site se trouve à 15 km de LIMASSOL et non de MARMARIS comme vous pouvez le voir sur cette carte :




Ce qu'il faut voir :
La maison aux mosaïques d'Achille. Autrefois construite dans la proximité de la porte de Paphos, cette maison s'élève sur la route Limassol-Paphos. Autour des vestiges d'une cour à ciel ouvert, étaient groupées des chambres précédées d'une galerie couverte protégeant le beau dallage de mosaïque du IVe siècle avant J.-C. Cette mosaïque représente une scène qui a lieu à la cour du roi Lycomède : Achille, déguisé en jeune fille, est reconnu par Ulysse (lui-même déguisé en marchand). Ce dernier présente aux femmes de la cour des bijoux et des armes; Achille se trahit en préférant les armes aux bijoux et Ulysse l'emmène au siège de Troie (ville, qui selon les prédictions de Calchas ne peut être prise sans Achille... Achille j dont les oracles ont prédit dans l'enfance qu'il périrait sous les murs de Troie, de là déguisement, représenté ici, préconisé par Thétis, sa mère). La maison des Gladiateurs. Le sol de deux salles de cette ancienne villa est orné de scènes de combats de gladiateurs. Les couleurs de ces mosaïques sont dans un état de conservation exceptionnel. L'acropole de Kourion fut détruite par un tremblement de terre au IV siècle après J.-C. La fraction du site qui fait face à la loge du gardien est un chantier de fouilles depuis le milieu des années soixante-dix. C'est ici, en l'occurrence qu'ont été mises au jour les mosaïques mentionnées plus haut. Plusieurs Colonnes à chapiteaux corinthiens ont déjà été relevées et réinstallées à leur place d'origine. La basilique. Si l'on en juge par le style des chapiteaux, la basilique - cathédrale des évêques de Kourion - fut construite au V, siècle de notre ère. La nef centrale était séparée des nefs latérales par douze colonnes de granit. L'abside unique était flanquée de salles orthogonales, elles-mêmes séparées des nefs latérales par des couples de colonnes Un déambulatoire dallé de pierres conduisant à l’extérieur, longeant l'extérieur des nefs latérales. Un baptistère dallé de mosaïques ouvrait sur la cour, ornée d'une fontaine hexagonale, qui précédait le narthex. Depuis le parvis de la basilique un panorama magnifique sur la côte, abrupte à cet endroit de l'Île s'offre au regard; la plage est visible, très loin en contrebas. Le théâtre pouvait accueillir quelque 3 500 spectateurs. On accédait aux tribunes de l'orchestre en hémicycle par un passage voûté percé de cinq entrées de l'amphithéâtre. Le mur de scène s'élevait, à l'origine, jusqu'au niveau des rangs les plus élevés. Au III siècle de notre ère ce lieu fut, pendant un court moment désaffecté de sa fonction première et servit d'arènes ou l'on venait assister à des combats d'animaux. Les thermes et la maison d'Eustolios. A l'est du théâtre et de sa tour d'escalier s'étendent les murs d'une construction palatiale du Ve siècle après J.-C. La zone des bains, spacieuse et confortable, semble indiquer - par l'échelle - qu'il s'agirait là de thermes publics. Une inscription fragmentaire dans la mosaïque (partie orientale de l'édifice) indique le nom de l'architecte de ce «frais refuge à l'abri du vent»: Eustolios. En outre l'inscription fait référence à Apollon, dieu protecteur de la Kourion paÏenne. Mais une autre inscription encore - contemporaine de la première - indique le nom du Christ. L'élément le plus fastueux de l'installation est un dallage de mosaïque admirablement conservé dans la salle principale (partie nord). La qui incarne la Créativité (Ktisis) est remarquablement belle. Elle tient, représentation d'une jeune femme dans la main droite, une règle qui correspond exactement à la longueur du pied romain. Non moins fascinante est la partie de la mosaïque qui représente une perdrix entourée d'oiseaux et de poissons. Des bains de pieds peu profonds relient la salle principale aux bains froids, tandis qu'à l'ouest sont encore visibles les chambres ou était chauffé l'air qui servait lui-même à chauffer les thermes. Une représentation théâtrale ou un concert au théâtre antique de. Kourion. (Paphos) sont des événements inoubliables auxquels contribue l'acoustique fabuleuse du lieu, On y donne, pendant les mois d'été, les pièces des auteurs grecs classiques ainsi que des drames shakespeariens. Des informations à ce sujet sont dispensées par l'office du tourisme ou la réception de votre hôtel. Le stade. A 1 km environ à l'ouest de l'acropole, en bordure de la ville, s'étend le stade qui fut construit au IIe siècle après J-C. Il fut utilise pendant près de six siècles. De cet édifice immense qui pouvait accueillir 6 000 spectateurs, ne subsiste que l'enceinte en forme de fer 1 cheval, dotée de trois accès. Les tribunes ont été partiellement reconstruites. Le sanctuaire d'Apollon. Un kilomètre plus loin à l'ouest, s'élève le sanctuaire d'Apollon Hylatès «APOllON protecteur des forêts »). Ce lieu, l'un des plus sacrés de la Chypre antique, se trouvait jadis au milieu d'une réserve sauvage (bois sacré); on y célébra dès le VIIIe avant J-C. le culte d'Apollon protecteur des forêts, ainsi qu'il été démontré. La plupart des décombres dégagés par les fouilles appartiennent à un autre temple, érigé bien plus tard, vers l'an 100 de notre ère. il est très vraisemblable que ce dernier ait été considérablement endommagé par le séisme du IVe siècle après J-C., mais qu'il n'ait toutefois pas été désaffecté avant le Ve siècle. Comme cela se voit fréquemment à Chypre, le temple reconstruit est un édifice de dimensions relativement petites, la plupart des rituels ayant lieu en plein air. Une large volée de marches et un porche à quatre colonnes conduisaient jusqu'à l'autel. Oser porter la main sur l'autel était sacrilège et puni de mort, rapporte Strabon (géographe et historien grec de la dernière période hellénistique) ; le fautif était précipité dans la mer du haut de la falaise. Les éléments architectoniques les mieux conservés sont les chambres qui étaient destinés aux pèlerins et les thermes d'époque romaine L'élément le plus intéressant du point de vue archéologique a été dégagé en 1978-1980 (il est encore entouré de palissades); de plan cruciforme il est d'époque pré-chrétienne et sa section la plus large est de 18 mètres mieux conservés sont les chambres Il est possible que de jeunes arbres sacrés aient été qui étaient destinées aux pèlerins plantés à l'intérieur des remarquables dépressions circulaires, et qu'autour de ces arbres les pèlerins aient exécuté des danses rituelles ou bien les aient contournés en longues théories. Rien qui leur soit comparable n'a à ce jour été découvert dans le monde méditerranéen.
JC
Cap Saint-Jacques, Foucault, Leclerc, Brazza, Mangin, Mermoz, Romanza, Massalia, Mélody, Club Med 2, Concordia, Magica, Victoria, Mediterranea, Atlantica, Epic, Deliziosa, Favolosa, Divina, Fantasia, Serena, Deliziosa, Pacifica, Magica, Preziosa, Meraviglia, Magnifica, Poesia, Splendida, Orchestra.
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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
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
1) Never "quote" the schedule when replying—this avoids any confusion. 2) Follow this format: DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry about that. IMPORTANT Please respect the templates! PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / / It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF 2027 CRUISES: 1 JANUARY 14/01 - poupou10 / AZAMARA JOURNEY / 74 days / South America Tour / Miami FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Hello!
After a lot of hesitation between different cruise lines (Explora, Oceania, YC, HAL, NCL) and several destinations like Norway, Ireland, and Iceland,
I finally chose NCL’s Star for Iceland. I had already looked at this itinerary when I went to Scotland in April with CFC, but it was really expensive. You should know that CFC often offers last-minute deals 45 days before departure (the point when you can no longer cancel or modify). So, I got a great opportunity and grabbed it. Departure is on August 23rd.


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 there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? Thanks
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
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
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 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
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!
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.
Thanks everyone!
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.
Thanks everyone!
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! 😐
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’d love to hear from travelers who’ve done this cruise with Rivages du Monde or CroisiEurope.
Thanks!
Elettra69
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!
Hi there,
Do you have a hotel near the cruise port (or easy to reach by metro with luggage) to recommend? I’m planning to spend two days there before boarding.
Thanks in advance! Claudine
Do you have a hotel near the cruise port (or easy to reach by metro with luggage) to recommend? I’m planning to spend two days there before boarding.
Thanks in advance! Claudine
Hello,
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.
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.
Hi, can you eat in the evening at the Costa Smeralda’s cafeteria, or do you have to dine at the restaurant? Thanks for your reply.
contact me to get referred at MSC, for your first cruise or if you haven't traveled with MSC in over 5 years
Hi everyone,
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.
Departure and boarding details to come
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.
Departure and boarding details to come
Hi there
Is the water from the cabin sinks drinkable?
Is the water from the cabin sinks drinkable?
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?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
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
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