Bonjour à tous, je souhaite partir au mois d'Aout 2008 en Egypte (trois adultes un enfant) en croisière et séjour (15 jours) et j'aimerai vos avis sur les meilleurs tours opérator pour ce faire.
Je m'oriente sur les paladiens Nouvelles Frontières. Qui peut m'indiquer ce que valent leur KOUDOO (nouveau club). Il me semble important que les clubs enfants soient francophones.
Les croisières et hotels se ressemblant tous sur catalogues, votre avis m'interesse.
Merci
Voir look voyage parce que ils ont un club totalement francophone(équipe d'animation -mini club) a Hurghada et une croisière sur le nile, ou club med mais attention parceque club-med est loin de Hutghada de 30 km vers le nord.
Bonjour,
Nous revenons d'Égypte avec un enfant de 9 ans. Nous avons acheté les billets d'avion puis nous avons organisé tout notre séjour incluant la croisière avec Madame Céline qui est Française de Merveilleuseégypte.com. Nous avons eu des guides francophones. Notre séjour a été parfait. Nous n'avons aucun point négatif. Service, ponctualité, guide excellent. Cette agence est au Caire et de cette façon, nous avons éviter tous les intermédiaires. Pour moins cher qu'un voyage organisé à partir de chez nous, nous avons eu une van privé pour nous trois ainsi qui des guides pour nous trois seulement.
Tout ce fait par internet et croyez-moi, nous sommes entièrement satisfaits. Vous pouvez organiser votre séjour comme il vous plaît et Madame Céline peut vous faire d'excellentes suggestions. Nos préférences: Abou Simbel est un incontournable et notre nuit dans le désert était fabuleux. Si vous désirez, je peux vous envoyer notre circuit.
Sophie
Bonjour Sophie, nous envisageons une croisière sur le Nil en avril avec nos deux filles de 9 et 13 ans, votre avis nous intéresse: durée du séjour, condition d'hébergement, rapport qualité/prix selon vous. Avez-vous tout organisé avant le départ ou bien une fois sur place?
Merci, Patrick.
Nous avons tout organisé avant notre départ mais une fois sur place, il nous a été possible d'ajouter des visites et de modifier nos horaires dans le cadre d'une journée. (Moyennant un surplus pour les ajouts).
En ce qui concerne les hébergements, c'est madame Céline qui nous a conseillé. ( ex.: 102 euros pour 3 nuits au Caire) Il y a en pour tous les goûts et tous les prix. Notre séjour était de deux semaines.
Rapport qualité/prix: pour nous venant du Québec, la différence de prix est énorme et surtout, nous avons apprécié faire le voyage en famille plutôt qu'avec un groupe dans un gros bus. Je ne saurais dire pour vous. Voyez avec Madame Céline.
Voici notre plan de voyage. Nous avons modifié des petites visites. Nous avons eu le temps de voir plus que ce programme.
Sophie
Jour 1 - lundi 31 décembre 2007 - Le Caire/Alexandrie
Arrivée à l'aéroport du Caire où notre représentant vous accueillera et assistera dans les différentes marches à suivre. Vous serez ensuite accompagnés en véhicule privé jusqu'à Alexandrie (environ 3h de route). Arrivée à Alexandrie, installation chez votre ami.
Jour 2 - mardi 01 janvier 2008 - Alexandrie
Le matin, notre équipe viendra vous prendre chez votre ami. Visite de cette ville construite en 332 avant J-C par l'architecte grec Dinocrates sur l'ordre d'Alexandre le Grand. Visite en premier lieu de la forteresse de Qayet bai récemment restaurée. Passage à la Colonne de Pompée, puis Visite de l’amphithéâtre romain de Kom el-Dick, dégagé en 1963, témoin unique des nombreux lieux de spectacles construits à Alexandrie. Visite de la célèbre bibliothèque d'Alexandrie bâtiment à l’architecture futuriste (bibliothèque et intéressant musée archéologique), visites des catacombes de Kom El Shuqqaffa (Ier et IIè siècle. ap. J.-C.) et ses hypogées sur plusieurs niveaux, qui sont parmi les plus importantes sépultures romaines en Égypte. En fin de visite, retour chez votre ami.
Jour 3 - mercredi 02 janvier 2008 - Alexandrie/Louxor
Le matin, notre équipe viendra vous prendre chez votre ami. Transfert en véhicule privé à l'aéroport intérieur d'Alexandrie pour prendre le vol en direction de Louxor. Arrivée à Louxor, Visite du Temple de Karnak, dédié au principal du culte à la gloire du dieu Amon, mais comme de nombreux autres temples égyptiens, d'autres dieux et déesses y étaient vénérés. C'est le site religieux connu le plus ancien au monde. Et le Temple de Louxor, Il était consacré au dieu dynastique Amon sous ses deux aspects d’Amon-Rê céleste et de divinité ithyphallique. Les parties les plus anciennes actuellement visibles remontent à Amenhotep III et à Ramsès II. Transfert à votre hôtel et installation dans votre chambre. Reste de la journée libre. Son et lumière à Karnak. Nuit à l’hôtel Mercure.
Jour 4 - jeudi 03 janvier 2008 - Louxor
Petit-déjeuner à l'hôtel. Découverte de la Vallée des Rois, où la plupart des Pharaons de la XVIIIème à la XXème dynastie se firent inhumer et la Vallée des Reines, est la nécropole des épouses royales, des filles, parfois des fils des rois des XIXe et XXe dynasties. Puis continuation vers les deux imposants Colosses de Memnon, les derniers vestiges du gigantesque temple funéraire d'Amenhotep III qui n'existe plus de nos jours. Et enfin la visite de Deir el-Bahari le Temple d’Hatchepsout, le temple funéraire d'Hatchepsout, dédié au dieu Amon, mais aussi aux dieux Anubis et Hathor. Ce temple thébain est unique et se distingue des autres temples car il est en partie creusé dans le roc de la montagne thébaine à laquelle il s'adosse, et s’élève sur trois terrasses reliées par des rampes d'accès. En fin de visite, transfert en véhicule privé jusqu'à votre bateau de croisière Le Nile Style. Installation dans vos cabines. Après-midi libre. Diner et nuit à bord.
Jour 5 - vendredi 04 janvier 2008 - Louxor/ Esna / Edfou
Petit déjeuner à bord. En matinée, début de la navigation en direction d'Edfou. Déjeuner à bord. Après le Passage de l'Écluse d'Esna, navigation et arrivée à Edfou dans la soirée. Dîner et nuit à bord.
Jour 6 - Samedi 05 janvier 2008 - Edfou / Kom Ombo
Petit déjeuner à bord. Départ en calèche pour la visite du Temple d'Edfou, la ville sainte d’Horus et du temple édifié en son honneur. Ce temple aux dimensions extravagantes est le mieux conservé de toute l'Égypte. Déjeuner a bord. Navigation vers Kom Ombo. Visite du Temple de Kom Ombo, dont la particularité est d'être dédié à deux divinités : Sobek (à tête de crocodile) et Horus (à tête de faucon). Navigation jusqu'à Assouan. Diner et nuit à bord.
Jour 7 - Dimanche 06 janvier 2008 - Assouan
Petit déjeuner à bord. Visite du Temple de Philae, voué au culte de la déesse Isis, puis la carrière de granit avec l'Obélisque Inachevé et enfin le Haut Barrage Nasser donnant naissance au Lac Nasser. Déjeuner a bord. Puis balade en felouque autour de l’île Éléphantine est le meilleur moyen de ressentir le Nil et de se relaxer au grès du vent. Dîner à bord suivi d’une soirée orientale (danseuse du ventre, Soufi danseur et musique traditionnelle). Nuit à bord.
Jour 8 - Lundi 07 janvier 2008 - Assouan/Abou Simbel/Assouan/Le Caire
Petit-déjeuner à bord. Départ matinal en véhicule privé à destination d'Abou Simbel (en convoi obligatoire, environ 3h de route), visite du temple dédié à Ramsès II et de sa magnifique femme Néfertari. Après les visites retour a Assouan. Le soir, prenez le train couchette en direction du Caire. Diner et nuit dans le train.
Jour 9 - Mardi 08 janvier 2008 - Le Caire/ Oasis de Baharya
Petit-déjeuner dans le train. Le matin, arrivée au Caire, accueil et route en van prive en direction de l'oasis de Baharya. Vous serez accueilli par notre représentant qui vous accompagnera jusqu'à votre hôtel. Réputée pour ses vins dès le Moyen Empire, l'oasis du Nord – Ouhat Mehet – ne fut fermement rattachée au pouvoir central qu'à partir du Nouvel Empire. Elle développa ensuite de fécondes relations avec la colonie grecque de Cyrène. Déjeuner. Visiter le circuit local de l'Oasis de Baharya, les nombreux bains chaud et froid thérapeutiques, les montagnes noires, Gebel Al Ingleez, les montagnes pyramides et le musée de l'oasis. Nuit dans un camp.
Jour 10 - Mercredi 09 janvier 2008 - Oasis de Baharya/Le Caire
Après le petit-déjeuner, découverte près du village de Bawiti, les vestiges du temple d'Amasis et les ruines d'une église. C'est également dans l'oasis que l'égyptologue égyptien Zahi Hawass et son équipe sont en train de mettre au jour un nombre impressionnant de tombeaux et de sarcophages intacts qui ont fait surnommer cet endroit la "vallée des momies". Le site d'El-Qasr a livré aux archéologues plusieurs chapelles consacrées à Apriès, tandis qu'à Qaret Helwa, nous verrons la tombe d'Amenhotep Houy, qui fut gouverneur de l'oasis à la fin de la XVIIIe dynastie. Déjeuner. Retour en véhicule privé pour le Caire à l’hôtel Happy City.
Jour 11 - Jeudi 10 janvier 2008 - Le Caire
Le matin, notre équipe viendra vous prendre chez votre ami ou à l’hôtel et visite du Plateau de Gizeh Pyramides avec les trois grandes pyramides: Khéops, Khéphren et Mykérinos ; et le Sphinx, Lion à tête humaine incarnant le roi ou le dieu sous un aspect vengeur. Reste de la journée libre, visite libre au Caire. En fin de visite, installation à l’hôtel Happy City.
Jour 12 - vendredi 11 janvier 2008 - Le Caire
Le matin, notre équipe viendra vous prendre chez votre ami ou à l’hôtel. Visite de Dachour avec la pyramide rouge et la pyramide Bent. Ensuite visite de la nécropole de Sakkarah avec la célèbre pyramide à degrés du roi Djoser, les pyramides royales, les textes funéraires, les mastabas.... Et pour finir la journée, visite de Memphis, un colosse de Ramsès II en albâtre de belles dimensions.
Le soir, assistez au spectaculaire Sons et Lumières aux Pyramides, La voix du Grand Sphinx vous racontera l'histoire et la vie des pharaons et de leurs grandes pyramides. (Entrée au spectacle non comprise) ou soirée libre au Caire. En fin de visite, installation à l’hôtel Happy City.
Jour 13 - samedi 12 janvier 2008 - le Caire
Notre équipe viendra vous prendre chez votre ami et transfert en véhicule privé à l'aéroport International du Caire pour votre départ.
Merci Sophie pour toutes ces infos, peux-tu me dire combien vous-a couté le séjour?.Je n'ai aucune idée du prix de toutes ces prestations.
Merci, Patrick.
Le montant pour 2 adultes et 1 enfant est autour de 2000 euros. Les frais additionnels étaient les entrées sur les sites, les 5-6 repas, les pourboires et les souvenirs.
moi je suis partie 15j, en 2004 avec croisière sur le nil, puis sejour à Hurghada, avec Fram
et franchement rien à dire
comme tout sejour, le plus long ce sont les transferts et l'attente pour l'enregistrement au depart
mais la croisière nous a bcp plu, du coup, on repart en voyage sur bateau en avril(en mediterranée)
Sur notre bateau, rien à voir avec le luxe de costa et on mange pas mal de poulet, mais les repas en buffet sont assez variés et bons, le personnel tres tres sympa, les cabines pas mal, avec salle de bains avec baignoire et vue sur le nil
Pas de mal de mer, ca bouge pas du tout
Par contre, pour les enfants, je me suis pas renseignée, j'en avais pas encore :)
mais à l'hotel, ca a l'air d'être plus organisé au niveau des clubs pour les activités
tout le monde parlait français
pour les petits ils ont la possibilité de decouvrir la faune marine exceptionnelle rien qu'avec le masque et tuba!c'est vraiment à faire!🙂
Par contre en mai, il faisait déjà chaud pour la visites des temples, alors en aout, charge en crème, chapeau et brumisateur...😉
bonjour, je sais que vous avez poste ce message il y a2 ans mais es ce que je peut avoir votre itinairaire ainsi que les adresse merci - sylvie.montie@neuf.fr voyage egypte
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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
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.
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
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.
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, 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.
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.