Nous faisons iles et terres du soleil (dont une escale à casablanca le vendredi) en juin prochain avec le costa deliziosa.
Nous voudrions visiter la mosquée Hassan II mais je vois sur le site de Casablanca qu'il y a des visites guidées tous les jours sauf le vendredi ?
Est ce que cela veut dire que l'on peut malgré tout la visiter sans guide ou est elle fermée toute la journée au public ???
Merci d'avance à ceux (celles) qui me répondront
Costa Concordia (2-9 mai 2010) - Costa Pacifica (16-27 avril 2011) - Costa Déliziosa (18-29 juin 2013) - MSC Preziosa (10-17 avril 2015) - MSC Armonia (5-10 avril 2016)-MSC Poesia (9-16 juin 2018)
J'ai un doute malgré tout puisque Costa la propose dans ses excursions, ce qui voudrait dire qu'elle est ouverte l'après midi ???
Je souhaiterai avoir les retours de gens qui ont vécu cette situation , mais merci quand même pour ton avis.
Costa Concordia (2-9 mai 2010) - Costa Pacifica (16-27 avril 2011) - Costa Déliziosa (18-29 juin 2013) - MSC Preziosa (10-17 avril 2015) - MSC Armonia (5-10 avril 2016)-MSC Poesia (9-16 juin 2018)
Espace Touriste >> Visiter Casablanca>> La Mosquée HassanIILa Mosquée HassanII
La Mosquée Hassan II
la Mosquée Hassan II est un monument incontournable.
Erigée sur l'eau, la mosquée impressionne par la démesure de ses proportions et la finesse de son exécution.
Le Minaret le plus haut du monde
Le minaret de la Mosquée Hassan II, construit dans la tradition arabo-andalouse, se singularise par sa hauteur et par la pierre marbrière qui le revêt.
Surmonté d'un lanterneau et d'un jamour, il atteint les 210 mètres ce qui fait de lui le minaret le plus haut du monde.
Du sommet, un rayon laser, orienté vers la Mecque, brille jusqu'à 30 km de distance.
L'ornementation sculptée qui couvre sa façade en marbre est faite principalement d'entrelacs, évoquant les minarets mérinides. Les pans de zellige qui décorent le sommet sont de couleur verte et blanche, couleurs symboliques de tolérance et de paix.
A l'intérieur, le minaret est équipé d'un ascenseur rapide d'une capacité de 12 personnes pouvant atteindre le sommet de l'édifice en moins d'une minute.
La Médersa
Collège religieux, les médersas ont été introduites au Maroc par la dynastie mérinide.
Sur le plan architectural, ces édifices ont permis l'épanouissement des arts décoratifs comme en témoignent les grandes médersas de Fès et Meknès.
La médersa de la Mosquée Hassan II s'inscrit dans cette prestigieuses tradition.
Construite en demi cercle, elle est adossée au mur de la qibla sur la façade est. Elle couvre 4 840 m2 et comporte un sous sol et deux niveaux.
A l'image de l'ensemble du complexe, la médersa a permis d'adapter la tradition aux grandes révolutions technologiques.
Des moyens pédagogiques modernes sont mis à la disposition des étudiants en théologie :
bibliothèque spécialisée, salles polyvalentes pour séminaires, toutes équipées de moyens audiovisuels.
La salle des prières
Située au coeur de l'édifice, la salle de prières est certainement l'élément le plus impressionnant de ce gigantesque complexe.
Destinée à abriter 25 000 fidèles, elle est conçue sur un plan rectangulaire de 200 mètres de long sur 100 mètres de large.
Elle est formée de trois nefs perpendiculaires au mur de la qibla occupant une surface de 20 000 m2.
Les horaires de visite
La Mosquée Hassan II est l'un des rares édifices religieux qui se visite. Ainsi, en prenant part à une visite guidée,
il est possible d'admirer la salle de prières, la salle des ablutions et les hammams.
Quatre visites guidées sont organisées tous les jours, sauf le vendredi, à 9h, 10h, 11h et 14h. ou 14h30 en été. La visite se fait en français, anglais et espagnol.
Et contrairement à ce qui a été dit plus haut, toutes les mosquées ne sont pas visitables puisqu"au Maroc c'est la seule
Bonjour et merci pour ta réponse.
J'avais déjà trouvé ces renseignements sur le site mais comment se fait il que Costa propose une excursion et la visite de la mosquée un vendredi ?
Ma question reste donc entière ...
Costa Concordia (2-9 mai 2010) - Costa Pacifica (16-27 avril 2011) - Costa Déliziosa (18-29 juin 2013) - MSC Preziosa (10-17 avril 2015) - MSC Armonia (5-10 avril 2016)-MSC Poesia (9-16 juin 2018)
Peut-être ont-ils leurs "entrées" ? Nous avons eu le cas un jour à Lisbonne avec un musée le jour de fermeture hebdomadaire. Le musée a ouvert ses portes pour les excursionnistes et les visiteurs individuels sont restés sur le trottoir.
Ou bien peut-être diront-ils au dernier moment que comme c'est vendredi il n'est pas possible de visiter la mosquée. C'est déjà arrivé aussi.
Il serait plus prudent de poser la question au bureau des excursions sur le bateau avant de réserver l'excursion.
Les excursions proposées par Costa ou MSC sur leur site sont faisables uniquement lorsqu'elles sont possibles (il y a toujours des astérisques et des petites lignes à lire qui renvoient vers le catalogue général). Le site internet indique les visites génériques pour l'ensemble de leurs croisières. Sur le bateau, les excursions proposées peuvent être différentes en fonction des jours d'ouvertures etc..des sites à visiter ou bien annulés s'il n'y a pas assez d'excursionnistes pour faire un type d'excursion.
Pour avoir fait la mosquée Hassan II hors organisation du croisiériste (mais pas un vendredi), ce que je peux vous dire, c'est que lorsque vous achetez un billet, vous devez rejoindre obligatoirement un guide de la Mosquée pour pouvoir visiter (il faut parfois attendre un guide dans votre langue). On ne pouvait pas déambuler seul dedans. Donc, s'il n'y a pas de visites guidées d'organiser, à mon avis, la visite est compromise un vendredi.
Je me pose la même question pour le vendredi en avril, impossible d'avoir une réponse. J'étais même à Paris à l'office du tourisme marocain, quel accueil, elles ne savaient pas , et nous a refilé une adresse mail , office du tourisme de Casablanca , ça fait 15 jours que j'attends la réponse. J'ai un numéro de téléphone, il faudrait appeler là-bas.....
Nous étions déjà un jour de semaine , à 10h , elle est superbe....espérons la revoir avec des amis.....mais comment savoir....
Cette mosquée est vraiment magnifique. Tous les petits détails architecturaux, les mosaïques, les couleurs vives... Malheureusement, nous n’avons pu la visiter de l’intérieur, car nous étions également un vendredi quand nous y étions. C'est un jour de prière.
Par contre, le déplacement vaut largement le détour pour admirer l'extérieur, très exotique. Peut-être que les excursions proposées parlent de vous amener sur le terrain pour vous faire sentir le pouls du coin et donner des explications avec mosquée en toile de fond, ce qui est déjà très bien :)
Savoir quoi ? si vous pouvez visiter le vendredi ? Il me semble que la réponse est claire ! Sans doute pensez vous qu’ils vont arrêter la prière pour vous ? Sans doute pensez vous qu’ils vont vous autoriser parce que vous êtes touriste ? J’ai du mal à comprendre votre post puisque la réponse est bien explicite. si vous voulez vraiment visiter vous venez dans les horaires de visites en vous estimant heureuse puisque les mosquées sont interdites de visites partout ailleurs au Maroc. Maintenant attendre une réponse à votre mail alors là vous croyez vraiment au père noël !!!!
Le forum est là pour répondre à des questions mais lorsque l’on voit que des personnes ne tiennent pas compte des réponses pourtant claires alors à quoi sert de vous renseigner ? si vous ne croyez pas ce que les gens vous répondent alors cherchez vous-même sur internet et vous aurez les réponses attendues mais ne venez pas insister comme vous le faites. Ceci dit je clos le chapitre
Quelqu'un sur ce même forum, l'a pourtant visitée un vendredi mais en précisant que la visite ne s'était faite pas avant 14h30.
D'ou la question posée:possible ou pas possible ?
Pour l'instant, personne n'ayant vécu la situation (escale un vendredi ) n'a apporté sa contribution...
Donc je pense éffectivement, que cela ne sert à rien de s'énerver...😉
Costa Concordia (2-9 mai 2010) - Costa Pacifica (16-27 avril 2011) - Costa Déliziosa (18-29 juin 2013) - MSC Preziosa (10-17 avril 2015) - MSC Armonia (5-10 avril 2016)-MSC Poesia (9-16 juin 2018)
Bonjour Vincent,
Je pense malheureusement que tu ne pourras pas visister la Mosquée Hassan II un vendredi (Jour de prière) même en prenant une excursion COSTA, voici ce qu'ils disent à propos de la visite de cette Mosquée:
"Attention
Remarque : Il est recommandé de porter une tenue appropriée pour entrer dans les lieux de culte visités. Entrée dans la Mosquée avec genoux, épaules couvertes et sans chaussures. En cas de célébrations religieuses, la visite de la mosquée comprendra uniquement la façade extérieure. Le nombre de places étant limité, nous vous recommandons de réserver à l'avance. En raison de célébration religieuse o fête national, la visite du mausolée Mohammed V sera effectué seulement de l’extérieur. L'ordre des arrêts pourrait subir quelques variations."
Je pense que ce que tu as lu sur le forum concernant la visite un vendredi, la personne a certainement parlé de la visite extérieure.
Bonne croisière quand même.
Pascal
"Ce qui est important, ce n'est pas d'arriver, mais d'aller vers..."
Saint Exupéry
Cher Monsieur ,
Je m'empresse de vous répondre, de retour ce jour de ma croisière , à Casablanca , Malgré le jour de prière le vendredi , la mosquée était ouverte pour la visite à l'intérieure , pour votre information , il y a 2 visites organisées à 9h et 14h , et pour Costa spécialement pour le groupe à 10h. Je vous joindrai la photo ainsi que toutes les personnes du forums prise à la mosquée (heures d'ouverture annuelle),
Cela permettra de clarifier ce point pour tout le monde et le partager.
Il est vraiment dommage de rater cette visite , et l'accueil des guides à la Mosquée a été super agréable.
Je leur ai demandé de développer l'information sur leur site .... Cela permettra que les internautes se fassen pas ballader par des réponses parfois agressives.
Merci pour votre réponse qui apporte quelque chose de "vécu" et non pas comme certains des réponses agressives et fausses qui plus est !
Avez vous fait un C/R de votre voyage ??
Costa Concordia (2-9 mai 2010) - Costa Pacifica (16-27 avril 2011) - Costa Déliziosa (18-29 juin 2013) - MSC Preziosa (10-17 avril 2015) - MSC Armonia (5-10 avril 2016)-MSC Poesia (9-16 juin 2018)
Mon compte rendu est en cours , mais il faut tout d'abord s'occuper du linge, des valises et reprendre le boulot, mais il n'y aura pas de souci pour partager ,
A bientôt
Ah le retour fatal de la terre ferme !
Bon courage pour tout ça et j'ai hâte de lire ton CR.
Costa Concordia (2-9 mai 2010) - Costa Pacifica (16-27 avril 2011) - Costa Déliziosa (18-29 juin 2013) - MSC Preziosa (10-17 avril 2015) - MSC Armonia (5-10 avril 2016)-MSC Poesia (9-16 juin 2018)
Au moins une réponse claire, même en lisant l'information Costa, on pouvez en déduire qu'il n'était pas possible de visiter. 🙁
C'est bon pour Vincent.😉
Pascal
"Ce qui est important, ce n'est pas d'arriver, mais d'aller vers..."
Saint Exupéry
'' Sans doute pensez vous qu’ils vont vous autoriser parce que vous êtes touriste ?si vous voulez vraiment visiter vous venez dans les horaires de visites en vous estimant heureuse puisque les mosquées sont interdites de visites partout ailleurs au Maroc..... ......Maintenant attendre une réponse à votre mail alors là vous croyez vraiment au père noël !!!!
Je tombe sur votre post et je vous trouve bien agressif vis-à-vis des ''touristes'' qui, pourtant, font vivre le Maroc économiquement...🤪
'' s'estimer heureuse '' là, vous nous manquez de respect.😕
Je suis polie, mais ce que je pense de votre écrit et de vos manières me pousserait à vous dire certaines choses......seulement, moi, je respecte les gens.
Et ne critiquez pas le Père Noël, car moi je l'aime bien, mais...je suis Française.
Sur ce, faites de beaux rêves et méditez un peu.
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Bonjour à tous, on pars en croisière pour une semaine et j'ai une question, peut-on voyager en train et en croisière avec des petites seringues injectables conservables au frais?
Dois t-on faire des formalités?
Et comment conserver ?
Merci d'avance pour vos retours.
I'm considering a cruise on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen over 11 days in mid-March 2027.
Has anyone already done this trip?
I think it’s a great way to discover the Norwegian coast with the chance to see magnificent northern lights, but isn’t the trip a bit *too* long?
There are about thirty stops, but most last only a few minutes, with just one daily stop of over 2 hours, which gives a quick glimpse of a few towns but doesn’t allow for a full excursion.
Is the supplement for an outside cabin with a porthole (800 € for 2!) really worth it?
It’s more pleasant than an inside cabin, but do you spend enough time in your cabin to make the most of it?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this journey.
Best regards.
Hi there,
Here’s the 2027 cruise schedule.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members!
2 essential rules:
1) Never "quote" the schedule when replying—this avoids any confusion.
2) Follow this format:
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry about that. IMPORTANT Please respect the templates!
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF 2027 CRUISES: 1
JANUARY
14/01 - poupou10 / AZAMARA JOURNEY / 74 days / South America Tour / Miami
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Hi everyone! I’m used to sailing on a sailboat with two or three people—it’s amazing. But I’d love to try the experience of a cruise. Just to clarify, I’ll be going alone. My first question: are there other solo travelers on these cruises, or is it mostly couples and families?
For a first cruise, I’d prefer a short one (maximum 8 days). Do those exist? And on the smallest boat possible. I live in Marseille, so a departure from Marseille would work, but I’m open to other ports too. If you have a cruise line to recommend and a destination you’ve enjoyed, or if you’ve had a great experience on a more intimate-sized ship, I’d love to hear about it!
Nous recherchons un groupe de personne disponible pour partager une excursion en direction de la route des trolls.
Nous avons contacté un prestataire local
Qui nous propose un tarif de :
- 6325 nok pour 4 personnes
- 6874 nok pour 5 à 8 personnes
N hésitez pas à nous contacter pour échanger sur le sujet
Bons préparatifs à tous !
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 there
Here’s the cruise schedule for 2026.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members.
2 essential rules:
1) never "quote" the calendar when replying—this’ll avoid any confusion
2) follow the format below
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry!PLEASE respect the templates!
COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF CRUISES 2026:
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Just back from our first cruise on the Renaissance, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about life on board. Our feelings are mixed—we wanted a change after several MSC cruises, but the value for money on this repositioning cruise left us torn.
After taking advantage of successive promotions, we finally secured a well-located balcony cabin for 2600 € (almost 50% off the brochure rate). Given the amenities and the ship’s age, this now feels like the absolute maximum we’d pay for that period.
Overall, we were happy with our vacation on board, but a few details—when added up—left us with a somewhat mixed impression.
The pros:
- Ship size
- Reasonable noise levels, except in the restaurants (aside from the covered pool area)
- Spacious balcony cabin (20 + 5 m²) with plenty of storage and a bathtub with jets
- Understated, tasteful decor
- French language spoken on board
- Friendly staff for the most part
- 100% French-speaking clientele
- Decent food with French dishes (even with an Indian chef)
- Tables for two available (though the ship was full, so no changes possible)
- Some high-quality shows, thanks to an excellent English-speaking troupe
- Interesting lectures (especially on history and cetaceans)
The cons:
- Unreliable air conditioning in common areas (you’d go from a freezing lounge to a hot one, as if the system only worked in certain spaces at certain times)
- Aging ship with a few glitches (noises, AC, toilet flushes, lights) reported at reception (luckily, our only issue was the bathroom door not closing...)
- Industrial, thawed-out bread and pastries (a letdown for a ship with a French image)
- Limited fruit selection (often just apples and watermelon/melon) and not much variety in vegetables
- Worn, sometimes stained restaurant towels
We’re not ruling out another cruise on the Renaissance—their itineraries are unique—but only at a very competitive price.
Hi everyone ...
We’re planning to do the 83-day Cunard cruise ...
departing from Southampton on January 10, 2027 aboard the Queen Anne ...
has anyone done it ... or have any info ... or tips ...
for example ... deck and cabin choices ... drink packages ... excursions ... etc.
... anything good to know about this ship???
Thanks everyone ...
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! 🚢😊
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.
Hi everyone,
I’m staying in a suite on the Pacifica in October and I can’t find any details about the suite benefits beyond the elite restaurant, the butler, and the espresso machine.
What about breakfast and meals served free in the cabin, and the spa?
Costa’s been cutting back on perks for Gold members, and it seems like suites are next.
Thanks for your replies!
Hello,
We’re back from this cruise.
Boarding in Dunkirk: The doors opened around 12 PM. Since we were a bit early, I asked if my husband, who uses a walker, could wait inside instead of outside. I left him with the two suitcases and our two backpacks in the small hall while I parked the car in the reserved CFC parking lot for 10 € per day.
The shuttle that was supposed to take people from the parking lot to the model pavilion was supposed to arrive in 5 minutes, but after 15 minutes, nothing. After waiting 15 minutes, I saw a man walking and asked if I could follow him. In 15 minutes, we arrived, and still no sign of the shuttle—it must have passed us. Arrived at the model pavilion.
My husband had already checked in the suitcases with the help of a CFC staff member. The remaining formalities were completed quickly. We were on board by 12:15 PM. Headed to the buffet on deck 11 and waited in a lounge to access our cabin.
At 2 PM, we discovered our balcony cabin on deck 9 at the rear: spacious with a large balcony compared to MSC/COSTA.
Since we were at the rear, cabin 9202, there was always an issue with elevator number 4: "priority."
Elevator number 2 stops at deck 10... and elevator number 3 was often out of order, leaving only number 1 for those with mobility issues to reach the buffet, especially for people who struggle with stairs. Note: only one child on board and lots of "gray hair."
DAY 2: At sea. Lots of activities offered.
Day 3: GOTHENBURG (Sweden). Sunny, 19°C at 11 AM.
Excursion booked with CFC: Gothenburg and Haga for all.
Interesting visit with a great guide. The HAGA district, in our opinion, is full of cobblestones and nothing special, not suitable for people using a cane or wheelchair. Elevator number 3 was out of order again.
Day 4: Copenhagen. 15°C in the morning, showers in the afternoon.
We didn’t book an excursion since we’d already stopped here with CFC in 2025, and based on advice from this forum, we took the hop-on/hop-off bus right in front of the ship. I still went to see the Little Mermaid again.
No TV, but the elevator was fixed.
DAY 5: At sea. Still no TV.
DAY 6: GDANSK (Poland). 15°C, rain all day.
There’s a shuttle to get to the city center.
We took the excursion: Panorama of Gdansk.
The guide left us at the entrance of the city center for 45 minutes, telling us what to visit. Meet-up for the rest of the tour at 3 PM. The bus left at 3:15 PM to cover 10 km to see St. Mary’s Cathedral. We arrived at 4:16 PM... The guide said there are often traffic jams in that direction. We had 10 minutes on site before heading to see the lighthouse and the Westerplatte monument, where we also had 10 minutes.
Many of us wondered why we didn’t do the tour in the opposite direction since they knew there would be traffic...
I went to reception to complain about the organization. The staff member read me the program: we were supposed to start with the lighthouse, then go to the cathedral and stay for 30 minutes before heading to the center of Gdansk for a short guided walk with some free time to buy souvenirs, etc.
The guide did the complete opposite of what was planned and didn’t even give us a guided tour—just dropped us off in the city...
DAY 7: Bornholm Island (Denmark). 14°C, a few sunny spells.
We saw in the excursions that there was a walking tour of RØNNE. So, like many others, we explored on our own. There was a small orchestra welcoming us at the port and two people with city maps. We took the shuttle to leave the port—it ran every 15 minutes. The tourist office was next to the "shuttle bus." A pleasant visit at our own pace.
DAY 8: KIEL (Germany). 18–23°C, nice weather.
We took the "Kiel for all" excursion. Great guide and interesting visits.
The port is in the city, and in 10 minutes, we were in the city center by following a blue line on the ground from the port. Elevator 3 was stuck again... and the TV was back.
DAY 9: At sea. Elevator 3 works.
DAY 10: At sea. Elevator 3 is out of order again...
DAY 11: Disembarkation in Dunkirk.
Cabins had to be vacated by 7:30 AM. Buffet open until 9 AM.
Elevator number 1 was "reserved," leaving only number 2, which doesn’t go up to deck 11... a problem for people with mobility issues who had to cross the entire deck 11 and try to use one of the four working elevators at the front, which were crowded.
My opinion: Interesting stops.
The onboard staff were always welcoming, smiling, and mostly French-speaking.
Evening shows were better than in March/April 2025—better singers, dancers, and presenters, and the costumes were improved.
I liked the "magician" shows less.
There were three onboard lectures by a very cultured person, but they went off-topic and were too historical for my taste. I didn’t attend the other two; my husband went to the second but not the third.
For this cruise, there was a bridge theme, but we’re not players or interested.
We didn’t take a drink package on board—water, coffee, tea, and herbal teas were available.
We had a water leak in our cabin the night before disembarkation. We reported it, and after the technical staff came (with a translator who didn’t speak English), we were asked to leave the cabin for a while for repairs. We went to a lounge, and after 1.5 hours, I checked in at reception. The repair took longer than expected... we had to change cabins... not ideal the night before disembarkation. No balcony cabins were available, so we got an ocean-view cabin, 6075, with a bathtub (impossible for both of us to use). We packed our suitcases, took a shower in our cabin, and moved to the new one. Noise from chairs until 12:30 AM because the cabin was under a lounge, and constant ventilation noise in the hallway... sleep was hard to come by.
Disembarkation: Well organized. We were helped with transporting the two suitcases and bags to the waiting room while I took the shuttle to get the car.
Guylène
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
hi,
I’m leaving Hamburg for Iceland at the end of July. The boat arrives in Reykjavik on Tuesday, August 4th at 8 AM, and I’d like to book a day trip like the Golden Circle or Secret Lagoon… The sites like GetYourGuide and others list departures at 8 AM. If you’ve used these sites with the MSC Preziosa, could you let me know how to go about it?
Thanks! 😉
allyMB007
Hello everyone,
It’s with immense sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of our friend Nathalie (nadu). Many of us knew her through this forum, which she loved so much. She enjoyed reading your travel stories, joining discussions, sharing her cruise reviews, and offering valuable advice—always with kindness, gentleness, and discretion.
For me, Nathalie was so much more than just a cruise enthusiast. She was a friend, a deeply kind person who was always there to listen, despite the many health challenges she faced with tremendous courage. We corresponded regularly, and sometimes we had the chance to visit each other’s homes or attend the cruise show together with our respective husbands.
We shared a common dream: when we both retired, we had planned to finally go on a cruise together. Life had other plans, and that trip will forever remain a journey we never had the chance to take. That thought weighs heavily on my heart today.
I’ll remember her as a gentle, generous woman who was always ready to help others. Her presence on this forum will leave a huge void, just as her friendship has in my life.
I send my sincerest thoughts to her husband, her family, and all those who had the chance to know her.
Fair winds, Nathalie. I like to think you’re now sailing on an infinitely calm sea, under an eternally blue sky. You’ll remain in our thoughts and hearts every time we talk about cruises or set off on a new journey.
Rest in peace, Nathalie.
For those who’d like to send a message of comfort and sympathy to her husband, you can send me a PM, and I’ll pass it along.
THANK YOU
Hello everyone,
So happy to be back on this Forum!
We’re heading off on another cruise—our 7th—after a 5-year break...
We’ll be leaving from Venice on April 26th with stops in Kotor, Mykonos, Santorini, and Ancona.
Could you help me plan the stops by sharing tips, tricks, and advice?
For those who already know me, you know we prefer not to take the cruise line’s excursions but instead organize everything ourselves.
Thanks in advance to everyone, and looking forward to chatting with you all!
hi there, a group of friends and I are going on a cruise at the end of June with CFC in Norway. I’d love to get some info on the different stops we’ll be making. Most of them are one-day stops (from around 10 AM to 8 PM on average). Here are the stops: Andalsnes, Trondheim, Honningsvåg, Alta, Hellesylt, Sandane, Austefjorden.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what there is to see or do in these places.
When I get back, I’ll post what we did—it might help others who come after us.
Also, does anyone know if the boat sticks to the arrival time in Dunkirk for catching tickets to head back south? We’ll plan a buffer just in case.
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.