Anse Sévère was our favorite beach on La Digue: very peaceful, shaded, and with a remarkable snorkeling spot at the entrance to the beach.
On the other hand, I was (unpleasantly) surprised upon arrival with the bikes, cars, and pedestrians—so many in the center. Actually, it makes sense on such a small island, between the tourists who stay there and those who come for the day; there’s a traffic jam around the port by midday 😎
Fortunately, as soon as you move away, everything becomes very peaceful again 🙂
Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
Tell me, at Anse Sévère, didn’t you go to Bikini Bottom?
Over there, the beach is really beautiful and there’s also a bar where you can enjoy some great cocktails.
Hey Alfred,
Anse Sévère was deserted—no bar was open, there was nobody around, everything was closed. It was perfect for just taking a walk. Bikini Bottom is right at the start of the beach, near the center, and it was closed too.
We walked all the way to the northern tip of the island and then turned back. I have to say, I really enjoyed the Sunday tranquility because this place gives you a sense that it must get pretty lively during opening hours.
As for cocktails, I never drink them before 10 a.m. and we have everything we need on the ship—they’re really good too. 😎
Luckily, as soon as you move away, everything becomes very peaceful again 🙂
Hi Muriel,
Moving away is the magic recipe to apply everywhere when possible to find a little peace and quiet. Humans tend to always settle where it’s easiest and requires no effort. 😉
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
In the early afternoon, as the heat is scorching, our excursion begins. We’re transported in "all-purpose" trucks—open on all sides, with just a roof for shade. We enjoy the breeze as we ride.
The driving habits here are still the same... My husband (and others) are relieved not to have to drive on these narrow, winding roads.
Our visit starts with a stop at Union Estate, a historic site that reflects La Digue’s agricultural past.
The grounds of this former traditional plantation offer a glimpse into life in the old days. Around the lime kiln and copra mill, our guide explains how coconut milk and coconut oil were extracted. Corals were dried and ground to be used like cement.
We’ve seen enough turtles during our trip that we unanimously decide to skip the stop at the tortoises here—they’re not roaming freely anyway. It’s really hot.
The colonial house has been restored and turned into a shop, looking much better than on our last visit. The roof has been redone with synthetic materials, which we’re told are more durable than natural ones.
The truck takes us to Anse Source d’Argent, one of the Seychelles’ most beautiful spots—at least, that’s what the ads say. Near the parking lot, the sea’s yellowish-brown water doesn’t look very inviting.
Anse Source d’Argent is one of the most stunning and visited beaches in the world, and it shows!
On the little path along the shore between the rocks and the sea, every tiny cove is occupied—there’s not a single free spot, and the area doesn’t exactly scream cleanliness.
The water is far from clear and pristine—it’s more of a slightly milky shade. It definitely doesn’t make you want to take a dip.
This place, so hyped up—probably too much—is really disappointing. The naturalists accompanying us say it’s because it’s the afternoon, and apparently, it’s better in the morning. They’re well-trained; they’ve got an answer for everything. 😉
Our next stop is the famous Grand Anse beach. Here, we’re greeted by a "party-party" vibe. The music is ear-splitting on this packed beach—it’s Sunday, and the locals are out in full force, enjoying themselves. So disappointed I didn’t take a photo.
At the far end of the beach, there are fewer people, but no break from the music.
All we want to do is escape. We find a backup plan and try to head back to the ship earlier with a group of English travelers. But the bus—well, the truck—almost full, doesn’t leave... it’s waiting for passengers who are still enjoying the beach and swimming. Ours starts filling up too... Who’s going to leave first?
Come on, off we go—back to "our" truck, which leaves right after the English group’s. We end up together on the 5 PM tender.
Quickly, quickly, we keep packing our suitcases, started this morning, before the meet-and-greet with the visible and invisible crew who work to bring us comfort and well-being throughout the cruise.
Final meal at our friendly table of six. That’s one of the perks of these cruises—making connections is so easy when you share the same language. Sharing the same zodiac and shore excursions fosters bonds and encounters. By the end of the cruise, you’re saying hello or goodnight to half the ship. With only 140 passengers, the atmosphere becomes warm and welcoming in no time.
About Anse Source d'Argent, I totally agree with you. I was left wanting more.
The first time I visited the Seychelles, I was really expecting a stunning beach, and unfortunately, I was disappointed. I’ve seen more beautiful beaches than that, whether in the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, or elsewhere—and on top of that, it’s paid entry. I don’t know if it was included in your excursion for you.
When I arrived, I thought it couldn’t be right: how can you swim in water that murky? I agree with you on that. However, regarding Grande Anse and Petite Anse, you visited on a weekend when the beach was packed, but there’s Petite Anse just behind it, which isn’t bad.
Anyway, for me, Anse Source d'Argent really isn’t my favorite beach in the Seychelles.
Looking forward to the conclusion, which I think will be quite mixed!
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for sharing this—it helped me discover sites and places I wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise.
The cruise ended up going much better than it started.
Have a great day! Guylène
Regarding Anse Source d'Argent, I completely agree with you. I was left wanting more.
The first time I visited the Seychelles, I was really expecting a stunning beach and, unfortunately, I was disappointed. I've seen more beautiful beaches than that, whether in the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, or elsewhere, and on top of that, it's paid entry. I don't know about you, if it was included in the excursion.
Hi Alfred,
I'm shocked to learn that Anse Source d'Argent beach has an entrance fee. That's really ridiculous. With that water quality? They’ve got some nerve.
Disembarking is never much fun, especially when the cruise has been so wonderful and memorable. We take our time enjoying our last breakfast on the terrace. But as the sun rises higher in the sky, the heat becomes a bit hard to handle.
We leave the ship at 9 AM, and staff on the dock call a taxi for us.
Our flight isn’t until 6 PM, so we head to a hotel in Beau Vallon (Savoy Hotel) that offers Day Passes. For 110 €, we get access to the pool and hotel amenities. The price also includes a 600-rupee "allowance" for a meal.
A fellow passenger found this great tip, which I shared with others, so we end up with quite a few people from the ship at this hotel.
And what a pool! We’ll be much more comfortable here than at the small Victoria airport. The taxi will come back to pick us up and take us to the airport later this afternoon.
We have a great time by and in the pool.
A sign says the pool is closed once a week at 5 PM for mosquito treatment. How lucky we are to be allowed to "mosquito-treat"! 😉
There’s just a path to cross to get to the beach.
We have a meal with a friendly couple from the ship on a lovely terrace facing the sea.
The menu offers fish burritos with guacamole. What arrives is chicken—no big deal—but what’s more annoying is that it’s very low-quality industrial food. For a hotel of this standard, it’s really disappointing.
A quick shower by the pool to freshen up before leaving, and off we go to the airport. The day went by much faster and more enjoyably thanks to this great tip.
All good things must come to an end, even if you had a few surprises and disappointments.
Thanks for sharing.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
That’s a great tip for a Day Pass! It’s really handy, and I actually do this quite often. When I arrive in the morning with a flight to catch only in the evening, I try to get a Day Pass at a hotel if possible.
However, regarding the Savoy Hotel, it *is* a very nice place, but I’m not entirely surprised by what you said about the food being industrial. Most of the time, when you check TripAdvisor, people often complain about the dining there. Even the lobsters are usually sourced from elsewhere.
Anyway, the concept is great, but 110 € per person for a Day Pass is a bit steep.
I once got a Day Pass in Moorea at the Sofitel Hotel during our last cruise, and if I remember correctly, it was 9,000 XPF per person (around 75 €), and it was pure bliss: an unforgettable experience, whether it was the location or the food—everything was perfect.
You have to admit that everything in the Seychelles is overpriced. But hey, the main thing is that it allowed you to relax a bit instead of spending the whole day at the airport.
Hi Catherine,
I just retrieved this report again... really busy at work these days 😅
Anyway, yes, I still hate the idea of boarding so late and missing the first day of the cruise —it’s Ponant’s way of saving on the first meal, which is really cheap 😒 oh well.
Otherwise, you had a great cruise with those hidden-gem islands. The beauty of the SEYCHELLES really shines through!
I’m totally smitten with CURIEUSE—it looks amazing!
You barely mentioned the evenings; I’m guessing there were still only two musicians for entertainment?
Thanks so much for sharing this—your photos are gorgeous! 😊
Isabelle, amoureuse des croisières:
COSTA, MSC, ROYAL CARIBBEAN, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, NCL, HAL, PONANT, OCEANIA, AZAMARA
A VENIR
CELEBRITY EQUINOX 09/11/2026 Grèce Italie Malte
AZAMARA JOURNEY 14/01/2027 tour de l’Amérique du Sud
Thank you for the entire account of your journey/cruise to and around the Seychelles.
It really got me back into the mood (at least for the landscapes) of a classic Mahé, Praslin, La Digue trip, which was our honeymoon back in late 1998.... We also took the excursion to Cousin Island. For our part, we stayed in small Seychellois hotels with such friendly welcomes.
We also put on a few kilos and truly enjoyed some amazing local dishes.
Reading your post, I get the impression that the atmosphere has changed a lot, 28 years later.
Regarding the roads, as a driver on Mahé, I felt the same way you did, but aside from a blown tire, everything went smoothly.
Apart from the stunning landscapes, I’m afraid we’d be disappointed if we went back now....!!
It’s probably best to preserve our great memories as they are.
This cruise is one of the most beautiful we’ve ever taken. I’m returning in awe of what I saw of the Seychelles’ lesser-known islands during the trip—it was truly the right choice for discovering this destination.
An expedition cruise is the ideal way to visit places that are still pristine and untouched. And Ponant has a real talent for showing us these idyllic, unspoiled, and wild spots with optimal safety and comfort. Renting out an entire island for a day for 140 people? Only Ponant can pull that off.
The exceptional moments we experienced were incredible. The stunning images we’re bringing back from this trip will remain a true treasure of wonderful memories.
But I’m really disappointed with Mahé, La Digue, and Praslin. The postcard-perfect image of the Seychelles sold to travelers is far from reality and quite disappointing. Most beaches are surrounded by trash or garbage bins, and some of the most famous ones aren’t clean, with water that’s far from clear and crystalline. I’d be curious to see the water quality test results, if there are any…
Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue are nothing more than tourist factories cashing in on an image that doesn’t match reality. These islands don’t live up to what they claim to be. I definitely won’t be going back.
This cruise is perfect for people who are wary of the sea—there’s very little sailing involved. I missed the feeling of being on a boat that moves slightly, but luckily, the zodiac excursions made up for it.
The atmosphere on expedition cruises is different from classic cruises. The camaraderie shared during zodiac outings makes communication and good vibes easy.
We were really lucky with the weather—it was gorgeous during the best part of the trip, even though we were there during the rainy season.
Of course, the level of service on the ship keeps declining, which wasn’t surprising…
The champagne is still generous, but its quality has dropped.
The evening meals, though very good, were less refined than the ones we enjoyed in November on the *Bougainville*. Here, everything depends on the chef’s interpretation. The lunch buffets were beautiful and delicious. The carafe water was better than what was served on the *Bougainville*.
The music and songs have shifted to American trends—there’s no more French variety except during one themed evening. The daily songs were completely unknown to us and in English. I found the show highlighting "New York" out of place for a French company in the current international context.
But these details seem trivial after such a beautiful cruise. On this itinerary, that’s not what matters. What counts is what this cruise gave us—the exceptional moments we were offered. The wonderful mornings we spent on those deserted, stunning beaches. Discovering islands where thousands of birds live in complete tranquility. The cruise delivered on its promises; we saw the essence of the Seychelles.
I invite you to join me in Doha for the last day of this trip: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=11464568;live=1;#11464568
All good things must come to an end, even if you had a few surprises and disappointments.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jérôme,
Maybe the early disappointments made us appreciate the rest even more. All’s well that ends well—we’re heading home with wonderful memories, and that’s what counts.
In short, the concept is great, but 110 € per person for a day pass is a bit steep.
You’ve got to admit that in the Seychelles, everything is overpriced. But hey, the main thing is it let you unwind a little instead of spending the day at the airport.
Hi Alfred,
I think everything is ridiculously expensive in the Seychelles. That said, I don’t regret that day at all—it was really enjoyable and let us wrap up that part of the trip on a relaxed note.
Yeah, I still hate the idea of boarding so late and losing the first day of the cruise 😄—it’s just Ponant’s way of saving on the first meal, which is really stingy... anyway.
You barely mention the evenings—I’m guessing there were still only two musicians for entertainment?
Hi Isabelle,
Thanks for reading!
I don’t think boarding at 4 PM is about saving a meal that only costs a few euros per person on a ship. It’s more about getting the boat back in order and ensuring sanitary conditions between two groups of passengers. Even people doing a back-to-back cruise don’t stay on board but go on an excursion for the whole day.
It’s also the only day when the guides, naturalists, and hosts get a little free time—the other days, they work from 6 AM until the end of the evening activities.
I didn’t go into detail about meals and entertainment or the evenings because it’s been covered extensively in previous reviews. The evenings we had were very much in Ponant’s style—pretty quiet, nothing’s changed. If you want to party, have fun, or see Broadway-style shows, you’d need to choose another company. Every cruise line has its own vibe and perks. I wouldn’t expect zodiac excursions on a Celebrity ship. Here, the main draw was discovering nature and remote, less-visited places.
Thank you for the entire account of your journey/cruise to and around the Seychelles.
It really got me back into the mood (at least for the landscapes) of a classic Mahé, Praslin, La Digue trip, which was our honeymoon back in late 1998.... We also did the excursion to Cousin. For our part, we stayed in small Seychellois hotels with such a friendly welcome.
We also put on a few pounds, and really savored some amazing local dishes.
Reading you, I get the impression that the vibe has changed a lot, 28 years later.
Thank you, Alain, for your message.
It must have been a truly beautiful destination back when you visited—very different from what it’s become today. Hold onto those wonderful memories; you’d be bitterly disappointed to go back. Overtourism and all its excesses now rule these three main islands.
A huge thank you, Catherine, for this beautiful trip report and those stunning photos.
The color and shape of the rocks are truly exceptional and that’s the destination’s biggest draw.
You were lucky to enjoy those gorgeous beaches in such amazing conditions!
You’re right, Ponant is a great choice for expedition-style cruises with zodiac landings in the wild, but for other cruises, as you know, I’m more mixed about them 😎
That conclusion seemed obvious. I’ll see whether I go with Etihad in September or activate a Plan B 🤔
Thanks for sharing! 👍
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Thanks for this amazing trip report. You illustrated it with such beautiful photos, and in conclusion, you really summed up the Seychelles well for us.
True, for Mahé, La Digue, and Praslin, you could say it’s a "tourist factory." That said, it’s too bad you didn’t get to explore the south: there’s still Anse Takamaka, the Takamaka distillery isn’t bad either, the beach is nice, and there was a great vibe at Batista’s.
On weekends, you can have lunch there to the sound of music, which is pretty enjoyable. The southwest and south aren’t bad at all, but for the rest, I completely agree with you: it’s a tourist factory.
That said, this expedition cruise really sounded great—it’s out of the ordinary. Now, we need to plan another one soon because you have such a talent for writing trip reports, so we’re eagerly waiting for your next cruise.
Yeah, I still hate the idea of boarding so late and losing the first day of the cruise It’s just a way for PONANT to save on the first meal—it’s really stingy... anyway
You barely mention the evenings. I guess there’s still only 2 musicians for entertainment?
Hi Isabelle,
Thanks for reading my post.
I don’t think boarding at 4 PM is to save on a meal that only costs a few euros per person on a ship. It’s more about getting the boat back in order and ensuring sanitary conditions between two waves of passengers. Besides, even people doing a back-to-back cruise don’t stay on board but go on an excursion for the whole day.
It’s also the only day when the guides, naturalists, and hosts can get a little free time—the other days, they work from 6 AM until the end of the evening activities.
I didn’t go into detail about meals and entertainment or the evenings because it’s been covered extensively in previous reviews. The evenings we had were very much in Ponant’s style—pretty quiet, nothing’s changed. If you want to have fun, party, or see Broadway-style shows, you’d need to choose another company. Every cruise line has its own quirks and advantages. I wouldn’t ask for zodiac excursions on a Celebrity ship. The main appeal here was discovering nature and remote, less-visited places.
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for your reply.
I still think they’re being cheap—even when you board earlier than expected (check-in at 1 PM), they don’t provide anything to eat, and the afternoon snack is skipped too... 😕 It’s not worthy of a company charging these prices.
I get that the zodiac excursions must be amazing, but there should still be *some* perks 😉
I understand they can’t put on high-quality shows, but they could at least make an effort... Still, Ponant has a lot of regulars, so they must not miss it since they don’t know anything else—it’s their strength.
Anyway, I agree with you about the off-the-beaten-path stops—that’s their only real selling point in my eyes.
See you soon!
PS: I don’t know if it’s just me, but I never get notifications anymore when someone replies, and this happens in every discussion... weird
Isabelle, amoureuse des croisières:
COSTA, MSC, ROYAL CARIBBEAN, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, NCL, HAL, PONANT, OCEANIA, AZAMARA
A VENIR
CELEBRITY EQUINOX 09/11/2026 Grèce Italie Malte
AZAMARA JOURNEY 14/01/2027 tour de l’Amérique du Sud
Hi Catherine,
Thank you so much for sharing this. I traveled with you and enjoyed your beautiful photos and always insightful comments.
I discovered the "DAY PASS"—I had no idea it existed!
Have a great weekend, Guylène
A big thank you, Catherine, for this great review and those amazing photos.
Thanks, Catherine! 🙂 Regarding the photos, this was the first time I traveled without a DSLR—I bought a smartphone with photo quality as the main criterion, and I’m really happy with it.
You’re right, Ponant is a good choice for expedition-style cruises with Zodiac landings in the wild. For other types of cruises, as you know, I’m more mixed.😎
I totally respect your opinion on Ponant. We all have our own priorities and preferences—no company can please everyone.
This was our fourth expedition cruise, and like every time, when we got back, we had no desire to do classic cruises anymore. 😕
All good things must come to an end, even if you had a few surprises and disappointments.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Jérôme, for sticking with me till the end. Whatever your choice, I wish you the best for this future trip. Did you get a new flight offer for Australia? That’s a destination I love. My dream would be to do the Kimberley expedition cruise (Ponant), but my wallet isn’t enthusiastic at all. 🏴☠️
Indeed, for Mahé, La Digue, and Praslin, you could say it’s a "tourist factory." Still, it’s too bad you didn’t get to explore the south: there’s Anse Takamaka, the Takamaka distillery isn’t bad either, the beach is nice, and there was a great vibe at Batista’s.
On weekends, you can have lunch there with music playing, which is pretty enjoyable. The southwest and south aren’t bad at all, but for the rest, I completely agree with you: it’s a tourist factory.
Thanks, Alfred, for following along.
It’s because we were so put off that we didn’t go any further when we headed south. Would there even have been anywhere to park?
I still think they’re pretty stingy—even when we board earlier than scheduled for our experience (called in at 1 PM), they don’t provide anything to eat, and the afternoon snack is skipped too... 😕
You didn’t have much luck—we’ve always had a snack at boarding.
I get that they can’t put on high-quality shows, but they could at least make an effort...
There are quality shows on themed cruises, often musical ones, and sometimes with prestigious guests. During Covid, we took a cruise with Franck Ferrand—it was a really great show.
But with PONANT, there are a lot of regulars, so they probably don’t miss it since they don’t know anything else—that’s their strength.
It’s not uncommon to see passengers on Ponant who switch from one company to another without any issues—from Rivages du Monde, CFC, Hurtigruten, or even from Costa to Ponant. I’ve met them often.
PS: I don’t know if it’s just me, but I never get notifications anymore to alert me when there’s a reply, no matter the discussion... weird.
I think no one gets notifications anymore. I suspect it’s to save money 😉—it’s the trend these days. It’s been going on for months.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I traveled along with you and enjoyed your beautiful photos and always insightful comments.
I discovered the "DAY PASS"—I had no idea it existed!
You’re welcome, Guylène! I’m really glad if I could share something useful with you.
True, for Mahé, La Digue, and Praslin, you could say it’s a "tourist factory." Still, it’s a shame you didn’t get to explore the south: Anse Takamaka is worth it, and the Takamaka distillery isn’t bad either. The beach is nice, and there was a great vibe at Batista’s.
On weekends, you can have lunch there with music playing—it’s pretty enjoyable. The southwest and south aren’t bad at all, but for the rest, I completely agree with you: it’s a tourist factory.
Thanks, Alfred, for following along.
We were so put off that we didn’t push further when we headed south. Would there even have been anywhere to park?
Hi Catherine!
Yes, there’s actually a large public parking lot at the entrance to Batista’s. On the right side of the same lot, there are plenty of giant tortoises, and you can easily access the beach from there. So, there *is* a big public parking lot.
Same goes for visiting the Takamaka distillery—there’s parking there too. I get it, though; you were both so fed up with the drive that you couldn’t do it. It was really nice—I loved Anse Takamaka and the distillery too.
Yes, yes, there really is a large public parking lot at the entrance to Batista’s place. On that same lot, to the right, there are plenty of giant tortoises, and you can easily access the beach afterward. So, there is indeed a large public parking lot.
It’s the same for visiting the Takamaka distillery: there’s a parking lot.
Thanks, Alfred—too late for us, but this info might be useful to others. 😎
Thanks for this awesome report. I got an alert for every new message added in this thread and in the other threads I follow.
Thanks for reading!
You’re so lucky! Over the past year, I’ve written to VF asking them to restore my alerts. The first two times, they did, but at the start of this travel journal, they didn’t do anything and didn’t reply. 🙁
Thanks, Catherine, for this really enjoyable travel journal with beautiful photos 🙂.
I’d be a bit less negative than you about Praslin, though 😉. Apart from the Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio (which are very tourist-focused), we found the island really pleasant and peaceful.
Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
Thanks for the details, Catherine!
We’ll never agree on PONANT, but that’s okay! 😉
Have a great Sunday!
Isabelle, amoureuse des croisières:
COSTA, MSC, ROYAL CARIBBEAN, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, NCL, HAL, PONANT, OCEANIA, AZAMARA
A VENIR
CELEBRITY EQUINOX 09/11/2026 Grèce Italie Malte
AZAMARA JOURNEY 14/01/2027 tour de l’Amérique du Sud
I’d be less negative than you about Praslin though 😉: aside from the Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio (very tourist-focused), we found the island very pleasant and peaceful.
Glad you had a better experience than I did and have good memories of Praslin!
It’s great to have different opinions, especially for the Seychelles—if everyone thought like me, there wouldn’t be many tourists left.
Hi Catherine,
I asked Qatar for a refund on my flights from Australia. I rebooked others via Shanghai at a great price 10 days before and just arrived in Sydney.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Got back to Sydney yesterday and I’m loving it—plus it’s 28/29°C here!
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
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Hi, we're heading to Venice soon. We have a hotel in Mestre and we'd like to know which bus can take us from the Mestre hotel to Marghera Port. Thanks.
Hi,
We’ll be visiting Barcelona for the first time on our upcoming cruise.
I was wondering if it’s better to book a taxi in advance to get from the train station to the cruise terminal, since there’ll be four of us. Are there enough taxis around that we won’t have to wait too long?
For the return trip, same question—are there enough taxis, since we have a flight to catch? Though I doubt we’ll know in advance which terminal we’ll dock at.
I came across this site below—has anyone heard of it?
https://taxibarcelona.taxi/fr/
Hi there,
Here’s the 2027 cruise schedule.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members!
2 essential rules:
1) Never "quote" the schedule when replying—this avoids any confusion.
2) Follow this format:
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry about that. IMPORTANT Please respect the templates!
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF 2027 CRUISES: 1
JANUARY
14/01 - poupou10 / AZAMARA JOURNEY / 74 days / South America Tour / Miami
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
hi 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 / /
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NUMBER OF CRUISES 2026:
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Hi everyone, we're going on a week-long cruise and I have a question: can we travel by train and on a cruise with small refrigerated injectable syringes?
Do we need to complete any formalities?
And how should we store them?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
I'm considering a cruise on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen over 11 days in mid-March 2027.
Has anyone already done this trip?
I think it’s a great way to discover the Norwegian coast with the chance to see magnificent northern lights, but isn’t the trip a bit *too* long?
There are about thirty stops, but most last only a few minutes, with just one daily stop of over 2 hours, which gives a quick glimpse of a few towns but doesn’t allow for a full excursion.
Is the supplement for an outside cabin with a porthole (800 € for 2!) really worth it?
It’s more pleasant than an inside cabin, but do you spend enough time in your cabin to make the most of it?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this journey.
Best regards.
Hi 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 looking for a group of people available to share an excursion to the Trollstigen (Trolls’ Road).
We’ve contacted a local provider who’s offering us the following rates:
- 6,325 NOK for 4 people
- 6,874 NOK for 5 to 8 people
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to discuss!
Happy planning to everyone! !
We just returned from a cruise from 08/13/26 to 08/20/26 on the MSC ORCHESTRA with stops in Tarragona, Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa, and back to Marseille.
The ship was fully booked. Deck chairs were already occupied by beach towels early in the morning, and there were only 1 or 2 people in the pools... However, on the day the Italians disembarked, there were very few towels on the deck chairs.
We found the Italians less talkative.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 9, starboard side. The cabin was spacious, but the sofa was facing the desk, making it a pain to watch TV (neck strain guaranteed). So, we changed the sofa’s orientation to face the TV (we put it back in place on disembarkation day).
There were 325 French speakers on board, and a lot of staff from Mauritius, which made communication easier.
No annoying announcements about bingo, etc.—a nice change from COSTA.
For dinner, we were at the first sitting at 7:45 PM, at a table for 6. On the first night, we were two "gray-haired" couples at the table. The second night, two young women joined us but asked to change tables after seeing us...
The show for our dinner time was at 10:15 PM and ended around 11:00 PM. We found that a bit late for us. The shows were varied and of good quality.
The restaurant menus offered plenty of choices, but at the buffet at lunchtime, there were a lot of dishes with quite a few carbs. Afternoon tea from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM included some great pastries, among other things.
We had an issue with the air conditioning and bad odors in the cabin one afternoon. I reported the problem to the reception, and staff along with our cabin steward came to check the cabin. The issue was resolved that same afternoon.
Two days later, we were surprised to find a bag with items inside: 2 MSC mugs and 2 MSC thermos flasks that keep drinks hot or cold for 10 hours. It was a gift from customer service following the bad odors in our cabin. We weren’t expecting this at all and thanked MSC’s customer service.
For excursions, MSC always offers port-to-city-center transfers for 14 € per adult in Valencia and Tarragona, and 12 € per child. In Livorno, it was 10 € per adult and 7 € per child.
In Civitavecchia, there was a shuttle to the train station for 6 €.
On the MSC for Me app, there were "promotions" on certain excursions.
We really enjoyed this cruise, but we couldn’t revisit some stops (Tarragona and Valencia) on our own because it was too hot.
Great evening: Mum49
We're leaving on August 25th for a Danube cruise from Vienna to Bucharest. The travel agency refuses to postpone this cruise despite navigation changes due to the exceptional drought, which include bus transfers that don’t interest us.
Have you had any experiences with this that you’d like to share?
Hi there!
I’m going on a cruise with MSC on the World Europa this coming October.
Stops: Genoa, Naples, Messina, Malta.
Has anyone visited Mount Etna and Pompeii?
Could you share some tips for each of these stops?
I’d like to explore on my own without booking the ship’s excursions.
Thanks for your advice!
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!
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Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.
