Original post
mais qui part du 18 au 25 octobre 2009 sur le Splendida de Marseille ? personne ne se manifeste
Josinette Lyon
Croisière sur le MSC Splendida du 18 au 25 octobre 2009 au départ de Marseille
by Josinette
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
bonjour josinette
je vois que vous n'avez trouvé personne qui va voyager comme vous sur le splendida msc, mais je me permet de vous envoyer ce petit message afin de vous souhaiter une très belle croisière, la date approche, j'ai moi même fait cette croisière du 30 aout au 6 septembre, et je me suis régalée, ainsi que mon mari, c'était la première, tout est magnifique à bord, la nourriture très bonne, de beaux spectacles, de belles cabines très propres, personnel très aimable, bon, je n'ai pas du tout le sens de l'orientation et je ne suis toujours pas arrivée à me repérer durant la semaine lol , nous n'étions que 300 français sur presque 4000 passagers, mais nous avons sympathisé à table avec 2 couples de français avec nous avons partagé des soirées et une escale de nous même. le bateau est de toute beauté, juste une chose c'est que les italiens sont sans gêne, et sont très bruyants et ils étaient en majorité avec beaucoup d'enfants car ils n'avaient pas repris l'école encore à la date où nous étions, mais nous restions à la piscine au fond du bateau tout en haut réservé aux adultes et c'était bien. c'est la seule chose qui nous a un peu dérangé sinon tout était parfait. vous n'allez pas regretté, croyez moi, cela va être une croisière magniifique, je vous souhaite une belle semaine et vous me direz vos impressions à votre retour, par mp si vous voulez bien. cordialement, meyline
je vois que vous n'avez trouvé personne qui va voyager comme vous sur le splendida msc, mais je me permet de vous envoyer ce petit message afin de vous souhaiter une très belle croisière, la date approche, j'ai moi même fait cette croisière du 30 aout au 6 septembre, et je me suis régalée, ainsi que mon mari, c'était la première, tout est magnifique à bord, la nourriture très bonne, de beaux spectacles, de belles cabines très propres, personnel très aimable, bon, je n'ai pas du tout le sens de l'orientation et je ne suis toujours pas arrivée à me repérer durant la semaine lol , nous n'étions que 300 français sur presque 4000 passagers, mais nous avons sympathisé à table avec 2 couples de français avec nous avons partagé des soirées et une escale de nous même. le bateau est de toute beauté, juste une chose c'est que les italiens sont sans gêne, et sont très bruyants et ils étaient en majorité avec beaucoup d'enfants car ils n'avaient pas repris l'école encore à la date où nous étions, mais nous restions à la piscine au fond du bateau tout en haut réservé aux adultes et c'était bien. c'est la seule chose qui nous a un peu dérangé sinon tout était parfait. vous n'allez pas regretté, croyez moi, cela va être une croisière magniifique, je vous souhaite une belle semaine et vous me direz vos impressions à votre retour, par mp si vous voulez bien. cordialement, meyline
merci de m'avoir répondu. Décidément, je n'arrive pas à trouver quelqu'un par avance qui parte en même temps que nous, du 18 au 25 octobre 09. Tans pis, je pense que nous trouverons sur place à moins que nous soyons les seuls Français !!
Nous habitons Lyon et arriverons par le train à Marseille. Nous avons l'habitude de voyager seuls et nous pensons très bien nous débrouiller aux escales, nous avons déjà établi notre programme en glanant de ci, de là des conseils sur le forum. Pratiquement, nous connaissons déjà toutes les villes que nous ferons mais irons dans un endroit plus spécifique cette fois-ci. On a beau connaitre, il manque toujours quelque endroit à visiter ou revisiter. Je suis impatiente d'essayer cette nouvelle formule de voyage et d'après tous les intervenants, cela à vraiment l'air d'être magnifique. Pour les italiens, on les connait certes un peu bruyants mais nous aurons l'avantage d'avoir moins d'enfants autour. Je vous ferai part de nos impressions au retour. A +
Bonsoir,
Avons fait la croisière 18-25 octobre 2009 sur Splendida. C'est vraiment exceptionnel. Le bateau est monstrueux, magnifique et avons apprécié tout ce luxe pendant 7 jours. Ce n'est pas désagréable pour changer de l'ordinaire. Avions emmené des vêtements de soirée et après la cavalcade des visites de chaque jour, avons apprécié de "s'habiller" chaque soir. Dans l'ensemble, les gens sont assez bien vêtus pour les soirées. La journée, on est tous style décontracté. Pour les excursions, ns ns sommes tjours débrouillés par nous-mêmes. On nous place au restaurant du soir avec d'autres français, on est à la même table avec les mêmes personnes toute la semaine. Et du coup, nous étions avec 2 autres couples et tous les 6, nous avons fait nos excursions ensemble. Déjà, à chaque escale, dans le port, on vous donne la carte de la ville à visiter :
A Barcelone, avons marché sur la Rambla et vieux quartier autour de la statue du port, de C. Colomb. Avons pris une navette publique qui passe dès qu'on sort du port pour 2 euros puis elle nous dépose au pied de la statue de C. Colomb. et retour de même.
A Tunis, comme ns étions 6, avons pris 2 taxis. Avons payé 10 euros par personne (10 euros x6 p) au sortir du port (c'est moins cher qu'au pied du bateau). Avons visité Sidi Bou Saïd et Carthage. Les 2 taxis nous ont attendus à chaque fois et on a eu le temps de tout faire avant qu'ils nous ramènent devant le port. (Les taxis qui rentrent dans le port pour arriver au pied du bateau doivent payer une taxe, donc ils sont plus chers et ils en profitent.)
A Malte, on sort du port (comme toujours) et on trouve tout de suite les autobus touristiques pour 15 euros qui nous emmènent faire un bon tour de l'ile de Malte avec visite de l'ancienne capitale M'Dina. Cela vaut la peine.On a un bon aperçu de l'Ile qui nous incite à y revenir plus longuement. Après cetour en bus, on est allé déjeuner sur le Splendida en vitesse et on est ressorti à pied tjours pour prendre un bus de la ville qui en 5 mn nous a montés dans La Valette.On a fait notre tour à pied et on est redescendu à pied au bateau. La ville domine le port et on voit le bateau de loin. En 10 mn, on redescend du centre de la Valette au bateau.
A Messine, le bateau est tout près du centre. On sort de l'enceinte du port tout de suite et en 10 mn, on est sur la place de la cathédrale où à midi, il y a une animation dans le clocher (pas terrible en fait, je préfère l'animation du clocher de Munich). On est monté en haut de la ville sur une terrasse dominante pour avoir un aperçu général et on voit encore de loin notre bateau tellement il est grandiose.
A Civitavecchia, une navette nous sort gratuitement du port en 5 mn puis on tombe sur un kiosque de tourisme, on prend la carte de Rome, on va à la gare en 10 mn à pieds (suivre le monde ou demander "la stazione"). On prend le train pour 9 euros A.R., et on s'arrête à San Pietro. (le train met 30 mn s'il est direct ou 45 mn si omnibus)Ils annoncent dans le train, le nom des stations desservies. On s'arrête à San Pietro(St Pierre) et là on a pris le bus touristique pour nous faire faire le tour des monuments principaux de Rome (On peut s'arrêter de ci de là et reprendre le suivant) tout cela pour 16 euros pp car ns étions 6. Ns connaissions déjà en détail Rome, et ce tour nous a remis un peu en tête tous les monuments. Le temps passe très vite et il ne faut pas rater le bateau. Mais les trains passent toutes les 20 mn pour revenir à Civitavecchia, et la navette pour revenir au bateau attend.
A Gênes, le bateau est tout près de la ville. On sort du port comme d'habitude et de là, on a pris les vieilles ruelles pour arriver sur la place Ferrari qui est au centre. Vieilles boutiques , vieilles rues, vieux batiments... avons fait du shopping, Avons trouvé des prix intéressants dans ce quartier qui part du port.
On aurait pu à la place, passer dans le vieux port pour prendre un bateau qui nous aurait emmenés à Portofino mais les nouveaux amis préféraient faire shopping. Donc on fera cela la prochaine fois.
A Marseille, au retour, on a fait la queue au pied du bateau pour prendre un taxi direction gare St Charles. On a demandé à un couple derrière nous s'il y allait, et on a pris le taxi à 4 pers. + le chauffeur pour 26 euros (donc 13 euros par couple - faut y penser)
Sur le bateau, on ne nous pousse pas à dépenser. Avons pris chaque soir au restaurant 1 bouteille eau minérale ou gazeuse pour 1, 90 euros (x7 jours) Le matin, à la cafétaria, on a des jus de fruits, thé café. Le midi à la cafétaria, on a aussi de l'eau gratuite. A 4 h aussi. Il n'y a que le soir à payer. et 1, 90 c'est bien. Mais vous pouvez commander du vin, mais c'est cher.
Pour les pourboires, vous pouvez dire avant le dernier jour, que vous ne pouvez pas donner les 6 euros par jour et par personne. Alors on vous demande le n° de votre cabine et d'inscrire sur une feuille combien vous pouvez donner. Vous écrivez combien d'euros vous voulez mettre et c'est bon. (j'ai connu un couple qui a écrit 20 euros et on leur a débité 20 euros à la fin sans problème) A vous de voir... Chacun fait comme il pense
A l'arrivée sur le bateau, je n'ai pas voulu leur donner l'empreinte de ma carte de crédit. Sans problème, A la fin, j'ai payé ma note en donnant ma carte. Autour de nous, tout s'est bien passé, je n'ai pas vu de personnes mécontentes.
Je n'ai pas pris les forfaits boissons proposés avant de monter sur le bateau car en octobre, on n'a pas vraiment soif. C'est intéressant pour les jours chauds car si on boit beaucoup, c'est moins cher au forfait. Nous, on achetait de l'eau minérale aux escales, et même un pack de 6 bières qu'on mettait dans le sac à dos. Pas de problème pour rentrer dans le bateau car rangé dans le sac. On mettait nos bières dans le petit frigidaire de la cabine et personne ne nous a rien dit.
Je m'arrête car je commence à être trop bavarde. Pour d'autres questions, vs pouvez me les poser directement sur mon mail.
En conclusion, je repartirai bientôt dans ce genre de croisière mais pour un autre circuit, hors saison naturellement, c'est plus calme au niveau des enfants qui sont en classe.
Avons fait la croisière 18-25 octobre 2009 sur Splendida. C'est vraiment exceptionnel. Le bateau est monstrueux, magnifique et avons apprécié tout ce luxe pendant 7 jours. Ce n'est pas désagréable pour changer de l'ordinaire. Avions emmené des vêtements de soirée et après la cavalcade des visites de chaque jour, avons apprécié de "s'habiller" chaque soir. Dans l'ensemble, les gens sont assez bien vêtus pour les soirées. La journée, on est tous style décontracté. Pour les excursions, ns ns sommes tjours débrouillés par nous-mêmes. On nous place au restaurant du soir avec d'autres français, on est à la même table avec les mêmes personnes toute la semaine. Et du coup, nous étions avec 2 autres couples et tous les 6, nous avons fait nos excursions ensemble. Déjà, à chaque escale, dans le port, on vous donne la carte de la ville à visiter :
A Barcelone, avons marché sur la Rambla et vieux quartier autour de la statue du port, de C. Colomb. Avons pris une navette publique qui passe dès qu'on sort du port pour 2 euros puis elle nous dépose au pied de la statue de C. Colomb. et retour de même.
A Tunis, comme ns étions 6, avons pris 2 taxis. Avons payé 10 euros par personne (10 euros x6 p) au sortir du port (c'est moins cher qu'au pied du bateau). Avons visité Sidi Bou Saïd et Carthage. Les 2 taxis nous ont attendus à chaque fois et on a eu le temps de tout faire avant qu'ils nous ramènent devant le port. (Les taxis qui rentrent dans le port pour arriver au pied du bateau doivent payer une taxe, donc ils sont plus chers et ils en profitent.)
A Malte, on sort du port (comme toujours) et on trouve tout de suite les autobus touristiques pour 15 euros qui nous emmènent faire un bon tour de l'ile de Malte avec visite de l'ancienne capitale M'Dina. Cela vaut la peine.On a un bon aperçu de l'Ile qui nous incite à y revenir plus longuement. Après cetour en bus, on est allé déjeuner sur le Splendida en vitesse et on est ressorti à pied tjours pour prendre un bus de la ville qui en 5 mn nous a montés dans La Valette.On a fait notre tour à pied et on est redescendu à pied au bateau. La ville domine le port et on voit le bateau de loin. En 10 mn, on redescend du centre de la Valette au bateau.
A Messine, le bateau est tout près du centre. On sort de l'enceinte du port tout de suite et en 10 mn, on est sur la place de la cathédrale où à midi, il y a une animation dans le clocher (pas terrible en fait, je préfère l'animation du clocher de Munich). On est monté en haut de la ville sur une terrasse dominante pour avoir un aperçu général et on voit encore de loin notre bateau tellement il est grandiose.
A Civitavecchia, une navette nous sort gratuitement du port en 5 mn puis on tombe sur un kiosque de tourisme, on prend la carte de Rome, on va à la gare en 10 mn à pieds (suivre le monde ou demander "la stazione"). On prend le train pour 9 euros A.R., et on s'arrête à San Pietro. (le train met 30 mn s'il est direct ou 45 mn si omnibus)Ils annoncent dans le train, le nom des stations desservies. On s'arrête à San Pietro(St Pierre) et là on a pris le bus touristique pour nous faire faire le tour des monuments principaux de Rome (On peut s'arrêter de ci de là et reprendre le suivant) tout cela pour 16 euros pp car ns étions 6. Ns connaissions déjà en détail Rome, et ce tour nous a remis un peu en tête tous les monuments. Le temps passe très vite et il ne faut pas rater le bateau. Mais les trains passent toutes les 20 mn pour revenir à Civitavecchia, et la navette pour revenir au bateau attend.
A Gênes, le bateau est tout près de la ville. On sort du port comme d'habitude et de là, on a pris les vieilles ruelles pour arriver sur la place Ferrari qui est au centre. Vieilles boutiques , vieilles rues, vieux batiments... avons fait du shopping, Avons trouvé des prix intéressants dans ce quartier qui part du port.
On aurait pu à la place, passer dans le vieux port pour prendre un bateau qui nous aurait emmenés à Portofino mais les nouveaux amis préféraient faire shopping. Donc on fera cela la prochaine fois.
A Marseille, au retour, on a fait la queue au pied du bateau pour prendre un taxi direction gare St Charles. On a demandé à un couple derrière nous s'il y allait, et on a pris le taxi à 4 pers. + le chauffeur pour 26 euros (donc 13 euros par couple - faut y penser)
Sur le bateau, on ne nous pousse pas à dépenser. Avons pris chaque soir au restaurant 1 bouteille eau minérale ou gazeuse pour 1, 90 euros (x7 jours) Le matin, à la cafétaria, on a des jus de fruits, thé café. Le midi à la cafétaria, on a aussi de l'eau gratuite. A 4 h aussi. Il n'y a que le soir à payer. et 1, 90 c'est bien. Mais vous pouvez commander du vin, mais c'est cher.
Pour les pourboires, vous pouvez dire avant le dernier jour, que vous ne pouvez pas donner les 6 euros par jour et par personne. Alors on vous demande le n° de votre cabine et d'inscrire sur une feuille combien vous pouvez donner. Vous écrivez combien d'euros vous voulez mettre et c'est bon. (j'ai connu un couple qui a écrit 20 euros et on leur a débité 20 euros à la fin sans problème) A vous de voir... Chacun fait comme il pense
A l'arrivée sur le bateau, je n'ai pas voulu leur donner l'empreinte de ma carte de crédit. Sans problème, A la fin, j'ai payé ma note en donnant ma carte. Autour de nous, tout s'est bien passé, je n'ai pas vu de personnes mécontentes.
Je n'ai pas pris les forfaits boissons proposés avant de monter sur le bateau car en octobre, on n'a pas vraiment soif. C'est intéressant pour les jours chauds car si on boit beaucoup, c'est moins cher au forfait. Nous, on achetait de l'eau minérale aux escales, et même un pack de 6 bières qu'on mettait dans le sac à dos. Pas de problème pour rentrer dans le bateau car rangé dans le sac. On mettait nos bières dans le petit frigidaire de la cabine et personne ne nous a rien dit.
Je m'arrête car je commence à être trop bavarde. Pour d'autres questions, vs pouvez me les poser directement sur mon mail.
En conclusion, je repartirai bientôt dans ce genre de croisière mais pour un autre circuit, hors saison naturellement, c'est plus calme au niveau des enfants qui sont en classe.
Pas besoin de changer de l'argent à Tunis, ils acceptent tous volontiers des Euros.
Renseignez-vous sur place sur le taux de change officiel mais il consistait pour nous de
multiplier les dinars par 0.53 ou 0.54 selon les jours. mais ce n'est pas la peine de changer.
Un conseil, sur le bateau ne pas oublier d'apporter des tongs ou des claquettes pour se rendre à la piscine et en ressortir et regagner sa cabine car en chaussures de ville avec son peignoir de bain ce n'est pas top.
amicalement.
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Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? Thanks
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
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