Je souhaite, en premier, remercier toutes les personnes de ce forum d'avoir partagé leurs expériences, les lieux visités et les moyens de s'y rendre.
Hambourg - Kiel (Allemagne)
Depuis l'aéroport de Hambourg (terminal 1), bus Kielius (Jaune-vert) pour la gare de Kiel (ZOB).
Trajet aller-retour : 35 Euro
A l'arrivée à Kiel, il ne faut pas suivre la ligne bleue.
Il est plus rapide de passer par la route longeant le canal.
En étant dos à la gare, prendre à droite, traverser la route et prendre à gauche (env. 12-15 min.)
Embarquement sur le Costa Pacifica est assez rapide.
Ma carte est sur le lit ainsi que le programme du jour de départ.
La carte de cabine sert aussi pour l'exercice de sauvetage. Il y a aussi le nom du restaurant, l'heure et le No de table.
Le panier de fruits et le prosecco sont aussi dans ma cabine.
J'ai pris le All Inclusive pour les boissons.
Je pose mes affaires et fait tout de suite un tour du navire.
Je connais déjà le Pacifica (Ma première croisière)
J'ai largement le temps de faire le tour du navire et de faire des photos et même de faire un tour à Kiel, avant l'exercice d'urgence obligatoire.
Après cet excercice, départ pour Gdynia.
Je suis inscrit au premier service pour le souper (18 heures).
Le problème du 1er soir : personne ne sait où se trouve sa table et les serveurs sont débordés.
Un plan des tables avec leurs numéros à l'entrée des restaurants serait le bienvenu.
Notre serveur est très sympathique et la nourriture excellente.
Jour en mer
Ce premier jour est parfait pour languir au soleil.
Costa à créé une application pour smartphone utilisable sur le navire via le Wi-Fi.
Cette application permet de téléphoner directement dans une cabine ou entre "amis" d'un smartphone à un autre, et aussi de s'envoyer des messages.
Le "today" est aussi accessible via l'internet interne au navire.
De cette manière, pas besoin de trimbaler le papier avec soi.
Pour chaque escale, j'ajoute le No local d'urgence à mes contacts de mon smartphone.
J'ai eu contact avec 2 couples de ce forum avant de partir.
Nous nous retrouvons pour faire connaissance et parler des différentes escales à venir.
Nous ferons tout par nous mêmes.
Gdynia (Pologne)
Arrivée tôt le matin.
Nous partons pour la gare de Gdynia pour prendre le train pour Gdansk.
30 min. à pieds.
Le billet coûte 6 zt. (env. 1,50 Euro).
Ne pas oublier de composter le billet.
A Gdansk, nous nous rendons à l'office du tourisme dans le Golden Gate.
C'est lundi. Tous les musées sont fermés !!
Nous ferons le tour de la ville, des monuments et des places.
Le retour se fait aussi en train.
Klaipéda (Lituanie)
Arrivée tôt le matin.
Je descends rapidement du navire. La libération pour les personnes individuelles est très rapide.
Aucune file d'attente.
A la sortie, le personnel de l'office du tourisme nous distribue des plans de la ville.
Il y a un parcours "type" que nous décidons de suivre.
Sur la place du marché, plusieurs marchands proposent des produits à base d'ambre.
Nous faisons le tour de la ville selon le plan.
Les musées ouvrent vers 10-11 heures.
La ville est truffée de sculptures en métal, bronze et autres matériaux.
Attention au pavés. Mieux vaut mettre des baskets.
Une fois de retour sur le navire, je mange en vitesse, car je vais ressortir pour aller en face sur l'île Smiltyne.
Le ferry est à 2,5 km.
Le prix aller-retour de la traversée est de 0,80 Euro.
Retour sur le navire pour profiter du soleil.
Départ à l'heure.
Riga (Lettonie)
Arrivée tôt le matin.
Je descends rapidement du navire. La libération pour les personnes individuelles est très rapide.
Aucune file d'attente.
Nous décidons de prendre un des bus "Hop-on Hop-off".
Ils nous attendent à la sortie du port. Il y a de la concurrence les "rouges" et les "jaunes".
Les prix et les parcours sont les mêmes.
Ceci nous permet d'avoir une bonne vue d'ensemble de la ville.
Depuis la place centrale, nous visitons ensuite la ville à pieds..
Place du marché couverte (anciennes halles pour la contruction des Zeppelins).
Les divers monuments et églises.
Le quartier "Art Deco" est à voir absolument.
Retour sur le navire.
Il y a du retard au départ de notre navire. L'information n'est pas très claire.
6 heures plus tard, nous quittons enfin le port.
Le programme du lendemain est décalé par rapport à ce qui était prévu.
Notre navire circule à grande vitesse pour rettraper en partie le retard.
Cela se ressent au niveau de vibrations provenant des moteurs.
Tallin (Estonie)
Arrivée à 14 heures au lieu de 12 heures.
Départ à 19:30 heures au lieu de 18 heures.
Il y a déjà 2 autres navires au port (Norwegian Star et Aida Diva).
Je descends rapidement du navire. La libération pour les personnes individuelles est très rapide.
Aucune file d'attente.
Il y a un marché couvert à la sortie du port. A l'intérieur, il y a des cartes de la ville.
Nous nous rendons en ville à pieds. Environ 20 minutes.
Ici, les pavés sont présent partout. Prévoyez des baskets. Surtout pas de talons hauts.
Toute la vieille ville est envahie (3 gros navires et les ferrys), mais pas de bousculade.
Nous faisons le tour des bâtîments et places que nous avons prévu de voir.
Pharmacie, Hôtel de ville, églises, fortifications, etc...
Départ à l'heure.
St.Pertersbourg (Russie - 2 jours)
Arrivée tôt le matin.
Je descends rapidement du navire. La libération pour les personnes individuelles est très rapide.
Aucune file d'attente.
Par contre, à l'immigration et contrôle des visas, ce sont environ 20 files d'attente.
Le passage est tout de même assez rapide.
Nous avons organisé 2 jours d'excursions.
Nous attendons notre guide et le chauffeur.
Notre guide est d'origine arménienne. Elle s'appelle Nariné. Elle parle très bien le français.
Le petit groupe est composé de 5 personnes. Nous avons un magnifique bus Mercedes Vito.
Nous visitons :
- La cathédrale Saint-Nicolas des Marins (avec son carillon)
- La place Saint Isaac
- Un tour dans le métro avec quelques stations particulièrement bien décorées
- La cathédrale Saint-Sauveur-sur-le-sang-versé
- Le musée de l'Ermitage
- Perterhof et ses fontaines
- La cathédrale Saint-Isaac
- La perspective Nevski et ses bâtiments.
Les 2 jours sont bien remplis.
Départ à l'heure.
Helsinki (Finlande)
Arrivée tôt le matin.
Je descends rapidement du navire. La libération pour les personnes individuelles est très rapide.
Aucune file d'attente.
Il y a une petite roulotte de l'office du tourisme à la sortie du port.
Sur la carte, il y a 3 parcours pour la vieille ville.
Nous prenons le parcours rapide pour l'aller.
La vieille ville est petite, comme le palais présidentiel.
Nous visitons la Cathédrale Ouspenski et également la grande cathédrale luthérienne (sans y entrer. c'est dimanche. Il y a un culte).
La place du sénat et noire de monde et encerclée de cars (3 gros navires au port).
Je reviens au navire en prenant le parcours le long de la mer en passant vers le musée du design.
Le temps imparti est parfait.
Départ à l'heure à 13 heures.
Nynäshamn (Suède)
Arrivée tôt le matin.
Le navire est ancré au milieu du port.
Débarquement en chaloupes.
La veille, nous avons dû chercher des billets numérotés au théâtre.
120 personnes par chaloupes. La sortie se fait selon les numéros obtenus.
Sortie vers 8:45. Arrivée au port vers 9:00.
Depuis Nynäsahmn, nous prenons le train pour Stockholm (J35).
Le trajet à pied est d'environ 20-25 min. Suivre la ligne bleue.
Nous ne pourrons pas prendre le train de 9:20.
Nous prendrons celui de 9:50.
Un kiosque, à la gare, vend des cartes pour Stockholm (payable avec carte de crédit).
Nous prenons un aller-retour avec les transports publics de Stockholm (118 Sk + 20 Sk pour la carte réutilisable).
Le trajet dure 1:06.
Depuis la gare, nous prenons le métro pour une station, puis le tram No 7 pour le musée Vasa.
Il y a un contrôle des titres de transport dans le train et le tram.
Visite du musée Vasa.
Retour en ville avec le tram 7, puis le bus 55.
Nous faisons le tour du palais présidentiel, retour vers la gare en passant par la ville.
Nous avons de la marge pour retourner sur le bon quai de la gare afin de ne pas rater le dernier train pour retourner au navire.
Le retour est tranquille.
Départ à l'heure.
Jour en mer
Jour de détente et de repos après tous ces jours à marcher et découvrir de nombreuses villes et leurs trésors.
Croisière très intéressante et intensive.
Les escales sont un peu courtes, mais permettent d'avoir une bonne vue d'ensemble et de prévoir un voyage de quelques jours sur place.
Kiel (Allemagne)
Il est possible de descendre du navire de manière individuelle, sans utiliser les étiquettes de couleur.
Ceci implique de garder sa valise et de se rendre le matin au théâtre avec cette dernière.
Il y a beaucoup de monde qui sort seul. Environ 10%, soit 300 personnes.
Retour à pieds à la gare de Kiel, le long des quais (sans suivre la ligne bleue).
Le bus Kielius arrive. Retour à l'aéroport de Hambourg.
11 jours bien remplis.
Costa Pacifica (5x), Norwegian Jade (1x), Costa Favolosa (1x) , Costa Fortuna (1x) , Costa Méditerranéa (1x), Costa Diadema (1x)
Quel formidable CR ! Merci pour cette foule de détails très utiles. Je projette de faire une croisière avec ce type d'itinéraire et votre CR me sera très utile !
120 personnes par chaloupe, je suis impressionnée ! Et encore plus par les 20 files d'attente en Russie !
Du prosecco dans la cabine, quelle chance. En quelle catégorie étiez-vous ?
Costa Serena - Fascinante Méditerranée (sept 2015)
MSC Sinfonia - Sur la route des Vikings (mai 2015)
Merci pour ton retour et les nombreuses photos.
Cet itinéraire me brancherait vraiment bien.
Je note ça dans mes tablettes 😉
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 Michael
Félicitations pour cet agréable compte rendu et toutes ces belles photos qui pourront faire rêver ceux qui n'ont pas encore eu l'occasion de faire cette croisière et merci également pour toutes vos indications qui seront bien utiles pour ceux qui auront la chance de l'effectuer.
Je vais faire parti de cette deuxième catégorie avec un départ le 27 août sur le Pacifica et je vais regarder avec attention toutes vos informations.
Je sais par expérience que la rédaction d'un retour d'expérience demande un "certain effort" mais profitant de l'expérience de certains de nos amis forumistes il me paraît, comme vous, normal de "renvoyer l'ascenseur".
Cordialement,
Jean-marie
Bonjour Michael
Pour les escales de Gdynia et Klapeida, pour le paiement des transports publics, je suppose que l'on ne peut payer qu'en monnaie locale ?
Aviez-vous changé des devises préalablement ou sur place?
Pour Gdynia, ce sont des Zlotys polonais.
Nous avions de l'argent local.
Le trajet en train Gdynia - Gdansk coûte 6 zt, soit 12 zt pour un aller-retour.
Ils prennent aussi les cartes.
Pour Klaipéda, c'est en Euro.
Idem pour Riga, Tallin et Helsinki.
A Stockholm, j'ai tout payé avec la carte.
Costa Pacifica (5x), Norwegian Jade (1x), Costa Favolosa (1x) , Costa Fortuna (1x) , Costa Méditerranéa (1x), Costa Diadema (1x)
Je ferai cette croisière à bord du Celebrity Silhouette en juin 2016. Vos informations et photos sont très appréciées!!
Est-ce que le visa pour St-Petersbourg est nécessaire si on fait les visites avec une autre agence que celle du bateau et que l'on est accompagné d'un guide? Je me suis fait dire que si nous étions avec un guide accompagnateur nous n'avions pas besoin du visa.
Vu le descriptif/prix du pacific dream aux caraibes nous avons envie de cette croisière début janvier 2010 mais l'ayant déjà faite sur costa classica en 1996…
Préambule Je souhaite, en premier, remercier toutes les personnes de ce forum d'avoir partagé leurs expériences, les lieux visités et les moyens de s'y rendre.…
Le Musica Très grand luxe, impressionnant, cabines bien équipées (savon, shampoing, sèche-cheveux, TV, prises de courant en suffisance, lit spacieux et…
Voici un petit résumé de notre expérience à bord du Costa Néo Romantica (Fjords et Spitzberg juillet 2014) J'attire votre attention sur le fait que le ressenti…
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 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
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 ...
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!
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?
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! 🚢😊
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
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.
If there’s one trip I’ve always wanted to take, it’s a long boat journey far from my daily routine—something like crossing the Atlantic. I first thought about traveling on a cargo ship or similar, as some of these boats used to accept individual passengers, but I’ve read that this has become very rare since COVID. Plus, the options that might work for me are way out of my budget, like Neoline, for example.
A cruise seems like the best solution for me, especially since what I really love is the idea of a long stay on a ship—making stops in different places, exploring them, the change of scenery, and a real break from the daily grind. I’ve never been on a cruise before, so I was thinking of doing a 21-day cruise between a port in mainland France (Marseille) and Pointe-à-Pitre. The departure port doesn’t really matter—Marseille, Le Havre, or even a nearby European city would work.
Since I want to travel solo, I’m really keen on cruises designed for solo travelers. MSC has one from Marseille to Pointe-à-Pitre, lasting 21 days, departing next November (so in a few months). The price is within my budget, just over 1800 €.
I see that other cruises with similar routes and durations are planned for next year, November 2027, but the prices are totally different—around 3500 €, which is clearly out of my budget.
So, my question is: do you think I should wait for a possible price drop for the 2027 cruises (if I understand correctly, prices are adjusted based on how full the ship is and how close the departure date is) or should I book the one in November 2026? I could easily take three weeks off this fall. Also, is it too late to book for November 2026? I’ve read that visas might be required for some stops.
For the rest—accommodation in Guadeloupe and the flight ticket back to France—it’s not a problem; I can sort that out pretty easily.
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!
We’re doing the next CFC cruise in Norway and we’re looking for the excursion program and their prices.
For those who’ve done this cruise before, could you share this info with us?
I know the company doesn’t release it until 8 weeks before departure. I like to plan ahead and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
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.
Hello,
We’ll be sailing on the Renaissance with CFC to southern Norway from July 4 to 11, 2026, departing from Dunkirk (the cruise was booked through "Planète Croisière").
When entering some personal details or pre-selecting options on the CFC website, I’m wondering about the "optional" categories for drinks and WiFi.
I’m actually a bit surprised by these extra charges, as we weren’t used to them on other cruises (Australis in Patagonia; Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express in Norway and Alaska; Rivages du Monde in the Arctic or on the Douro River; a Nile river cruise in Egypt), where we sometimes had access to basic drinks at meals and free WiFi when near land.
Anyway, for those who’ve already taken a CFC cruise on the Renaissance, could you share some advice? Specifically about the most basic drink package, called "Fraîcheur" (238 € for two), which doesn’t seem to be described anywhere. The "Premium" package seems excessive (490 € for two for the week) for light drinkers.
As for WiFi, it’s 10 € per day per person. While I find that price acceptable for parking our car in Dunkirk, it feels overpriced here (especially since it was free on the Nordlys "Coastal Express" just 3 or 4 years ago).
So, I’d love to hear from experienced cruisers who’ve been on this ship!
Looking forward to seeing the excursion prices, which should be available soon! 😐
Hi there,
I’m considering a cruise on this ship in the recently introduced Yacht Club category.
Have any forum members tried it?
What are your thoughts? Positive or negative? Which cabins should we go for—or avoid?
We’re already familiar with the Yacht Clubs on the Splendida, Fantasia, Preziosa, and Divina series.
We weren’t as keen on the one on the Seashore—we found it too big.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Claudine
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!
Plan de Kiel
Chargement sur le Costa Pacifica
Le Ostseekai et le Costa Pacifica
La ligne "bleue" pour le contre-ville (300m) et la gare principale (1700m)
Le port de Gdynia
Le plan de Gdansk
La gare de Gdansk
Le Golden Gate (ici se trouve l'office de tourisme)
Le musée de l'ambre
La fontaine "Neptune" et l'hôtel de ville
Green Gate
La grue en bois
La basilique Notre Dame et la chapelle Royale
Des gargouilles à la rue Mariacka.
Le marché couvert
Le port de Klaipéda
Le plan de Klaipéda
Accueil folklorique en musique
La place du marché
Le Dragon
Le ramoneur
La sirène
Le chat gentleman
La plage de sable
Coucher de soleil
Accostage à Riga
La cathédrale de Riga
Le monument de la Liberté
Les halles du marché couvert. Ces bâtiments ont servi à la construction des Zeppelins.
Le quartier "Art Deco"
Château de Riga
Plan de Tallin
1ère vue en arrivant depuis le port.
La rue principale "Pikk"
L'eglise du Saint-Esprit
L'hôtel de ville
La cathédrale Alexandre Nevski
Vue sur la ville et ses toits
L'académie des sciences
Le carillon de la cathdrale de St.Nicolas des Marins.
Ma vidéo avec le carillon : 
Cathédrale St.Nicolas des Marins
Cathédrale St.Isaac
Les colonnes rostrales
Forteresse Pierre et Paul
Poushkin dans sa station de métro
Immeuble de la compagnie Singer sur la perspektive Nevski
Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur sur le sang versé
Musée de l'Ermitage
Palais et fontaines de Peterhof
Le magasin du fan club du Zenith de Saint Petersbourg
Musée Fabergé à Saint Petersbourg
Plan de Helsinki
Cathédrale Uspenski à Helsinki
Place du Sénat, la grande Cathédrale et la statue d'Alexandre II
Le palais présidentiel avec en arrière-plan, la grande cathédrale
Plan de Stockholm
Le kiosque de la gare de Nynäshamn
Théâtre d'Art Dramatique
Musée Vasa
Rosendals Slott
Musée Nordiska
Le Palais Royal à Stockholm
Hôtel de Ville de Stockholm
La gare centrale de Stockholm pour les lignes "J" pour retourner à Nynäshamn avec la J35
Les horaires sur l'écran du quai de gare
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.
