As promised, here’s my review of the cruise I took from the 5th to the 19th on the MSC Virtuosa.
As you know, I had initially booked a cruise with Mein Schiff departing from Dubai (from Dubai to Cape Town). It was a 22-day cruise. Due to the issues in the Persian Gulf, my cruise was canceled by Mein Schiff.
So, we started looking for a Plan B because we really wanted to go. Especially my wife, who had just had a minor procedure and needed some rest. Since she had already taken time off, she was determined to travel. However, we were looking for an affordable Plan B since we weren’t sure when Mein Schiff or the airline would reimburse us.
While browsing online, I found a 15-day cruise departing from Pointe-à-Pitre (including flights, transfers, the cruise, and drinks) for a price of 1,200 € in a Fantastica balcony cabin. We thought, *Why not?*
I should mention that I’m not usually a big fan of MSC. My last experience with them was post-Covid (I took two cruises, one in 2021 and another in 2022), and it was honestly a disaster. We didn’t want to repeat that, but after talking to Catherine, who told me she was very happy with a short Christmas cruise, we decided to give it a try.
I have to say, I was left speechless. Honestly, the cruise was absolutely perfect. There’s nothing to complain about (or just a few minor details). In terms of service and food, I felt like I was on a premium cruise line. I’d even say MSC has nothing to envy from some of those companies. While premium lines like Holland, Celebrity, and Royal are cutting back on services, I think MSC has made huge improvements. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting this at all. You’ll see what I mean as we chat more.
I won’t do a full review like I usually do because there weren’t many stops:
1. We boarded in Pointe-à-Pitre
2. We stopped in Saint-Martin
3. Then it was a direct crossing to the Azores...
This cruise was really about relaxing, even if it’s not the kind of trip we usually take.
First off, I’m not a big fan of "flight and cruise" packages. I asked if we could leave two days early, but they said it wasn’t possible. We had to take the flight, then the bus, and board the ship directly.
It’s not really my thing, but given the price we paid and since we really wanted to relax, we thought, *Why not?*
Here’s the itinerary:
Boarding in Pointe-à-Pitre
Saint-Martin
Five days at sea
The Azores
Four days at sea
Hamburg
One day at sea
Le Havre
But as I mentioned, it wasn’t about the itinerary. It was really about taking a break and unwinding. Honestly, I came back thrilled.
Hi Alfred,
I’m really happy this cruise worked out for you after the disappointment of the long-planned one being canceled—it’s such a nice consolation. And at the price you got, it’s a real win. 😏
Hi Alfred,
I’m so glad this cruise met your expectations after the disappointment of the long-planned one being canceled—it’s a real consolation. And at the price you got, it’s truly satisfying.
Hi Catherine!
It’s been a while since I’ve been this happy with a cruise. You’ll see throughout my review, honestly, there’s almost nothing to complain about.
Yeah, we got an amazing price. Sure, there weren’t many ports, but given the services we had, I think we got a great deal.
Just so you know, the price includes: Flight, transfer, cruise, service fees, and the "Easy Package" for drinks.
Hi Alfred,
So glad you enjoyed this cruise!
Like Catherine, I think the price is great for 2 weeks :)😎
Well done!
I’m in for the next one ;)
Hey Isa!
I thought of you on the ship because all the pools were heated to 27°C the whole cruise, and the jacuzzis were a good size (minimum 12 people). Since you love heated pools, you’d have been in heaven—and the jacuzzis were just as great.
Okay, I know I go regularly, but my wife doesn’t. On cruises, she says it’s a "bacterial soup"… but anyway, that’s another story! Still, I thought of you when it came to the pools and jacuzzis—it was perfect!
Our flight was scheduled for 10:50 AM at Orly. We left home around 7 AM. Since it was Easter Sunday, the roads were clear—hardly anyone between my place and the airport. It took about half an hour because we don’t live far from Orly.
I’d checked in online, so all that was left was to drop off our luggage, pick up the boarding pass, and head to the departure lounge to wait for the flight.
About an hour before departure—around 9:30 AM—they started boarding. When we reached the jet bridge, we were all held up because it had come loose.
Nothing serious, we waited about 40 minutes for a technician to arrive. After that, everything went smoothly, and we boarded the plane.
As a result, the flight took off about 45 minutes late. I’d booked our seats in advance and chose aisle seats so I could move around easily and avoid being disturbed.
It wasn’t a long flight—about 8 hours and 40 minutes. We moved around without any issues, and my wife had no problems. Everything was perfect, no issues with heavy legs.
However, the plane was packed—full to the brim—with 30 to 40% kids. That’s when we realized it was school vacation for Zone A. I thought to myself, *"I hope all these people aren’t heading to the MSC."* I hadn’t even realized it was school vacation; I’ve lost track.
As for the meal, with Caraïbes, I’m used to flying with them, and honestly, no complaints. We had an aperitif and a very decent meal tray (with real cutlery, not wooden ones).
Before landing, we got a little snack, which I didn’t try because it was sweet, and I don’t eat too many sweet things.
The flight went well. We arrived at the airport, picked up our luggage, and were met by an MSC agent. I think there were about fifty of us. I expected more, but it was around fifty. The MSC agent led us to the bus. However, someone had a luggage issue, so we ended up waiting over an hour in the parking lot before heading to the ship.
On the way, since it was Easter Sunday, everything was closed—it was dead quiet. For those who know Guadeloupe, between the airport, the port, and the city center, it’s usually packed, but this time it was smooth, almost no one around. Because on Easter Sunday, people go to the beach; they take advantage of it since it’s sacred in the French West Indies. It only took about fifteen minutes—I didn’t even count. When we arrived at the port, a few small shops were open.
We boarded the ship directly. I can’t imagine those who’ve never been to Guadeloupe and go straight to the port—*to me, they haven’t really experienced Guadeloupe.*
The Fantastica balcony cabin is very functional but sorely lacks storage space (nothing like American cruise lines).
Departure from Pointe-à-Pitre
Evening aperitif before dinner
Dinner
When it comes to meals, the portions are really small, but you can order two or even three dishes. As a big eater, I sometimes had two or three main courses or two desserts. As you can see in the photos, the portions are truly tiny.
It’s true that storage space is still lacking on MSC, even in YC.
In my opinion, the best cruise line for this is HAL—it’s what makes Renaissance passengers so happy these days. 😏
I totally agree with your wife about the jacuzzis. 😉
We only passed through Pointe-à-Pitre once, on a bus to catch a boat a long time ago. It was at night, and the city seemed pretty sketchy. We’ve never gone back.
It really makes you want to go! Especially with heated pools and jacuzzis! 😎
I dream of doing a transatlantic cruise!!! 😉
Hi Isa,
Actually, transatlantic cruises are really great. If you've never done one, you should try it to see for yourself. Not a long one, but there are 15-day transatlantic cruises—try one of those, you'll see.
As for me, I really like transatlantic cruises; they let me relax properly. And on sea days, I read, I do whatever I want... I never take part in the games they organize—they're mostly pretty silly (just my opinion).
Even if there are 5 or 6 days at sea, I try to make the most of them. Honestly, transatlantic cruises are great. You should try one and see for yourself.
It’s true that storage space is always lacking on MSC, even in YC.
The best cruise line in my opinion on that front is HAL—what makes Renaissance passengers so happy these days.
As for the jacuzzis, I totally agree with your wife. 😉
We only passed through Pointe-à-Pitre once, on a bus to catch a ship a long time ago. It was at night, and the city seemed pretty sketchy. We’ve never gone back.
Hi Catherine,
I agree with you about Pointe-à-Pitre. It’s really not great, especially in the evening. It’s even worse—it’s dead, and I’d say it’s actually dangerous to go out in the city.
But otherwise, there are some really nice spots in Guadeloupe. I think it’s a shame to leave the airport and head straight to the ship. Even just a short daytime visit could be a nice way to discover the area. There are also:
1. Deshaies
2. Saint-François
3. Sainte-Anne
And that’s not even mentioning islands like Les Saintes—it’s gorgeous! But for Pointe-à-Pitre, I agree with you—there’s nothing particularly exciting there.
Today, we're in Saint Martin. It's our only stop in the Caribbean, so we're going to try to make the most of it. The ship leaves at 6 PM.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
My wife ordered a classic breakfast in the cabin, while I decided to check out the buffet to see how it was.
To my surprise, since it was Easter Monday, the buffet was decorated with chocolates.
It wasn’t bad at all. However, what really surprised me was how well-stocked all the stations were:
1. There was hot food, cold food, sweet, and savory options.
2. The fruit was abundant—I’d never seen so much.
3. They even had smoked salmon and warm leg of lamb.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a well-stocked buffet, and I’m speaking from experience—I’ve been on enough cruises to compare. It looked more like lunch, but it was definitely breakfast. I ate well, and since I have the drinks package, I had some sparkling water to help digest all that food.
After that, I picked up my wife to disembark. It was around 9 or 9:30 AM. In Saint Martin, for those who know, there’s a water shuttle. When you get off the boat, you turn left to buy tickets. It’s $3.50 per person for a round-trip to downtown Philipsburg. You *can* walk, but since my wife didn’t feel like too much walking, we bought two tickets.
Once we got to downtown Philipsburg, since it was Easter Monday, everything was closed. Since it was still early, we decided not to head to the beach right away and instead took a local bus (for $2) to go to Marigot, on the French side.
There, we waited over an hour. Usually, buses come every five minutes, but it was dead quiet. Since it was Easter Monday, everyone was at the beach, and very few people were working.
In downtown Marigot, it was the same as Philipsburg—everything was closed. We saw an open market in the main square and a few restaurants. We took a little stroll by the water and bought some trinkets at the market.
Then we headed back to Philipsburg to finish the day at the beach. That said, on the way back, we saw a few shops that were open, but not all of them. Usually, the main street—if you know it—is packed with people, but this time, only a handful of shops were open. Just so you know, there were still two ships docked: the MSC Virtuosa and a Royal Caribbean ship.
To be continued...
Hi there,
Thanks for this review—we’ve never done a transatlantic cruise. I love reading, but my husband would get bored.
You’d think the shopkeepers in St. Martin don’t need money at all!!
Norvégian Gém NCL, Horizon CDF, musica MSC, Allure of the seas RCI, sérénade of the seas RCI, Symphony of the seas RCI, Régal PRINCESS, Fantasia MSC, seaside MSC, explorer of the seas RCI
Back in Philipsburg, my son had tasked me with buying him some Five Star Barbados rum, which is hard to find in Paris. I also took the opportunity to buy some good whisky since it’s always worth it. Nothing like the duty-free in Pointe-à-Pitre. The same rum you buy for 15 € in Pointe-à-Pitre can be found in Saint Martin for between 10 and 12 €. I bought Chivas and Jack Daniel’s—half price. So, two boxes. Since we’re heading back to France, there’s no weight issue. I stocked up on drinks.
On the beach, I negotiated two lounge chairs, an umbrella, and Wi-Fi for $15.
But then, things took a turn for the worse. Since it was hot, I decided to go for a swim. Afterward, I got out and dried off. There was a coconut vendor nearby. My wife loves them, so I said, "Here, I’ll buy two coconuts—it’s $5 each." As the man was cutting the coconut, the machete slipped from his hands and grazed my fingers. I had a bleeding finger—it was everywhere. I nearly lost a finger! The man panicked, and the people nearby rushed to get a bandage and patched me up...
More fear than harm. I’ve always heard that when you’re at the beach, even a small cut heals faster in seawater. So, I went back into the sea. We drank the two coconuts, which were nice and fresh. I checked—it was just a graze on the skin. Then, while I was back in the water, suddenly, I couldn’t feel my legs. I started scratching. I’d been stung by two jellyfish. I got out immediately. It was itching all over. I rinsed my leg with cold water. My wife said, "No, no, we’re not staying. Let’s go back to the ship." She told me, "I have my medicine kit. Let’s see what we can put on it."
On the way back, I couldn’t take it anymore. It was itching like crazy. Once we got back on the ship, we put a little insect spray on it to disinfect. But it had already swollen up and turned red. Both my legs were swollen. I decided to go to the ship’s hospital. They told me the consultation would cost $150. Well, I told my wife, "It’s not the end of the world—a jellyfish sting will pass." But I swear, for three days, I suffered. I couldn’t sleep—it was itching so badly. With some soothing cream and antiseptics, it finally went away after three days.
When we boarded the ship—it was leaving at 6 PM—I went up to the pool deck to relax a bit. I had gum in my mouth. While chewing it, my dental implant came loose. That really topped off the day! So, I went down to our cabin, where my wife was napping, and explained what happened. She said, "You can’t be serious—all this in one day!" Luckily, it was a back tooth, so it wasn’t too noticeable. I just left it like that for the rest of the cruise. Since I had internet, I made an appointment with my dentist for when I got back. Anyway, it was quite the eventful day!
After all that chaos—which didn’t ruin the cruise at all (I promise, three days later, it was all forgotten)—it was time for aperitifs and dinner.
We ate well, just like the night before, and drank well too...
I’ll still write another post about the drink package because, for us, it wasn’t worth it since my wife doesn’t drink alcohol. Since I’m the only one drinking, I’ll share how I managed to let others on the ship benefit from it.
What a cursed day! After all that went wrong in one go 🏴☠️ I hope you’ll have some peace and quiet for a while Hope the coconut vendor gave you those for free after such a mishap 😉.
What a cursed day! After all that went wrong on the same day 🏴☠️ I hope you’ll have some peace and quiet for a while I hope the coconut vendor gave them to you for free after such a clumsy moment 😉.
Hey Catherine!
The rest of the cruise is going to be smooth sailing and nothing but bliss!
The coconut vendor didn’t offer me anything, and even if he had, I would’ve refused because he’s a street vendor just trying to make a living, and he really tugged at my heartstrings. Plus, he was panicked and apologized several times.
You know, along the beach, there are several of them with their carts selling coconuts or other things to get by.
During the five days at sea, there’s a culinary event every afternoon—either by the main pool when the weather’s nice or at the buffet entrance.
Each day has a different theme: Oriental, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Italian…
There’s always something planned.
There’s one thing I’ve seen on luxury ships before that surprised me a little: during sea days, staff walk around offering fruit and sandwiches. It’s something new for MSC. I don’t know if it’s just this ship, but if it’s like this on all their vessels, I think they’ll be seeing a lot of me!
I should also mention the ship was only 40% full (according to a server). Was that the reason? I’m not sure. But either way, the five days at sea flew by:
1. There were activities for those who wanted them.
2. There was always the option to step back and find some peace and quiet.
Anyway, I wasn’t bored at all—I always found something to do.
I’ll take this chance to share a few photos of the ship. I think MSC fans will recognize this class: it’s a smaller version of Royal’s Quantum class.
Atrium overlooking the promenade gallery
Promenade gallery with the shopping arcades...
Indoor pool
On every deck, there’s a chair in front of the elevators (super handy for some people)
Hi there,
Thanks so much for sharing!
We did a transatlantic crossing back in 2012 on the MSC Orchestra from Santos to Marseille, and we never found the days at sea long because there’s always something to do.
Mum49
Thanks for this lively report as always!
This ship is the spitting image of the Grandiosa, which I took in YC in the Mediterranean, and I can assure you the calm you enjoyed was due to the low number of passengers. Because when these ships are full, it’s *super* crowded everywhere—even in YC, it’s really noticeable!
Hello,
Thanks for this review. We’ve never done a transatlantic cruise—I love reading, but my husband would get bored.
You’d think the shopkeepers in St. Martin don’t need money!!
Hi Marie Christine,
Sorry for the late reply—I hadn’t seen your message!
If you love reading, you should definitely try a transatlantic cruise; you’ll really enjoy it.
Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing.
We did a transatlantic crossing in 2012 on the MSC Orchestra from Santos to Marseille, and we didn’t find the days at sea long at all because there’s always something to do.
Mum49
Hi Guylene,
Transatlantic cruises—you either love them or you don’t. But as far as I’m concerned, I’m totally into them, as the kids say! Not only are they cheaper, but there are also fewer kids running around. Generally, there are very few children on transatlantic cruises.
I’ve been lucky enough to do transatlantic crossings with several companies: Oceania, Celebrity, Royal, Princess, Holland, MSC...
But the company I like the least for transatlantic cruises is Holland because, honestly, it’s dead boring (whether it’s during the day or in the evening).
Other than that, I’ve never been bored on a transatlantic cruise.
Thanks as always for such a lively trip report!
This ship is an exact copy of the Grandiosa, which I took in YC in the Mediterranean, and I can assure you that the calm you enjoyed was due to the low number of passengers. Because when these ships are full, it’s absolutely packed everywhere—even in YC, it’s really noticeable!
Hello Marcus,
Thanks for your message!
I can imagine that when the ship is at full capacity—meaning 100% full—it must be something else. I’m not surprised at all.
I stopped going to the buffet for breakfast to limit the damage since there were too many temptations.
My wife keeps ordering breakfast in the cabin (juice, coffee, croissants...), and we’ll have a plate of fruit every morning at the Atmosphere Bar near the pool, where there’s a mini buffet with fruit and pastries. Perfect for snacking throughout the day.
During the sea days, we had a small issue in the cabin—no soap in the bathroom. I picked up the phone to call reception, but it wasn’t working; there was no dial tone.
So I went down to reception to report the problem. They immediately sent a technician. The next day, I received a message of apology along with some petits fours and a bottle of Prosecco.
I was surprised because it was just a simple dial tone issue, but they explained that the guest must be fully satisfied and wanted to apologize with this little gift.
Even though Prosecco isn’t really my thing, it’s the thought that counts, and I really appreciated it.
There was also the gala evening where I thought people really played along. Sure, some folks were walking around in shorts everywhere, but most made an effort.
However, what surprised me was seeing people walking around in bathrobes all day. You’d see them in the casino, in the shopping gallery, and even in the restaurant. Just strolling around in their bathrobes like they’re putting on a show—it’s ridiculous!
We even met a couple on the 16th floor, where the indoor pool is. We crossed paths and said hello. The first thing they said to us was, “We’re with the rich crowd.” My wife replied, “Good for you, because we like to mix. That’s why we’re with the common folk.” NO COMMENT!
Today, we're in the Azores, specifically in Ponta Delgada. After five days at sea, we’re finally on solid ground. It’s Sunday, and just like in Saint-Martin, everything is closed, so there are very few shops open.
We disembarked around 9:30 AM. Since we hadn’t booked anything in advance, I’d looked online, especially on GetYourGuide, but didn’t find anything, so I figured we’d see what was available once we got there.
At the exit of the ship (about 300 meters from the dock), there were quite a few drivers offering tours and visits. However, it was pretty hard to negotiate. Eventually, I found a driver who offered a 4-hour tour for 50 € per person. I negotiated the price down to 35 €, but he only agreed on the condition that he’d find 6 people total.
He had us wait to the side. After half an hour, since he hadn’t found the two missing people (there was already an English couple with us who had accepted the full price), he was honest: he told us we’d leave anyway and that he’d honor the negotiated price. He even told the English couple, “This gentleman is a great negotiator, so instead of 50 €, you’ll only pay 35 € like him.” The two of them were so happy they thanked me.
The driver doesn’t speak a word of French (it’s actually not easy to find a French-speaking guide), but since I speak a little English, it wasn’t a problem. He’s very chatty and really friendly. He took us on a tour, giving us lots of explanations about Ponta Delgada, and then we visited different places.
Visit to the Furnas Valley and tea plantation
Belvedere of Pico do Ferro
Furnas Volcano… Start of the visit
Then, Tea Plantation and factory (which is still operational but closed since it was Sunday)
At the end of the visit, I took his card and told him, "You never know, just in case," because he was really nice. So I gave him a 5 € tip.
He then dropped us off in the city center. There were a few small shops open, but almost everything was closed.
This city is gorgeous. It’s really too bad that almost everything was closed (even the church).
We still took some lovely walks around the city and got back on the ship just in the nick of time.
It was a truly beautiful day that we all enjoyed.
Some truly stunning views, a fantastic visit, and all under glorious sunshine—what more could you ask for? Yeah, the shops opening, I forgot about that
It was such a lucky break to have this stopover in such beautiful weather. This cruise was definitely a great choice. 😎
Thanks for sharing and for the photos. We’ve always wanted to visit Ponta Delgada, but few cruises offer this itinerary.
Regarding MSC, we really appreciated last year that they called us to the reception to check if everything was going well and if we had any specific needs for my husband, who uses a wheelchair.
Have a great weekend! Mum49
Here we go again for four days at sea. During these days, it's the usual routine: sleeping in, a plate of fruit for breakfast, then a late lunch around 1:30 or 2 PM.
On the first day, we had lunch at the restaurant. It was good, but the service was a bit slow.
We thought we should head back to the buffet instead since there’s more variety and, since the ship isn’t full, there’s space everywhere.
On the second day, when we arrived at the buffet around 1:30 PM, we saw a long line. It was the “Seafood Festival.”
As I got closer, I saw: lobster tails, shrimp, grilled prawns, baked oysters, langoustines, mussels, scallops...
It was insane (as the kids say)! I’ve never seen anything like this on a cruise ship, except maybe on Holland America back in the early 2000s.
Catherine, let me know if I’m wrong, but I think HAL used to do seafood brunches with all-you-can-eat seafood, except it was cold. Here, everything was grilled.
I don’t know if they stocked up in the Azores or just wanted to empty the freezers, but even the MSC regulars said they don’t usually get this. We ate pretty much just lobster and prawns with salad; we went all out.
Around 3 PM, just before closing, a Mauritian server offered us more since there was still some left. Since we were full, he said, “In that case, you can take a little and bring it back to your cabin for an aperitif.” That’s what I did—I took a plate of lobster tails with lemon and left it on the balcony for our 7 PM drinks.
It was really incredible. Even on Oceania, we’ve had lobster before, but it’s either in the restaurants or in the evening. Having this much lobster available for lunch is just crazy.
After eating well, my wife went down to the cabin for a nap. I headed up to deck 16 (by the pool) to digest a little and do some reading.
In the evening, around 6 PM, I had two whiskies as an aperitif. I sat on the balcony to keep the smell out of the cabin and enjoyed the lobster tails I’d brought back.
Then we went to the restaurant just for fun, to meet the people we usually dine with in the evening. We barely ate—just had one dish and a dessert.
Gorgeous views, a fantastic visit, and all under a beautiful sun—what more could you ask for? Yes, the shops opening, I forgot about that
It was lucky to have this stopover in such great weather; this cruise was definitely a good choice. 😎
Hi Catherine!
Too bad about the shops, but we still had a really nice day since the great weather showed up for the meet-up.
Thanks for sharing and for the photos. We’ve always wanted to visit Ponta Delgada, but few cruises include it in their itinerary.
Last year, we really appreciated that MSC called us to the reception to check if everything was going well and if we had any specific needs for my husband, who uses a wheelchair.
Have a great weekend! Mum49
Hi Guylene,
We fell in love with Ponta Delgada and will probably go back, but for a stay of a few days.
Hi Alfred,
What a beautiful visit during this stopover in Ponta Delgada, and what amazing light!
It was truly a fantastic cruise that makes you want more.
That said, I wonder if the deck chairs are always that empty... because that really contributed to the success of this trip!
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
Sure enough, it was with HAL that we had those amazing seafood buffets on sea days. I loved those cruises so much!
With MSC, I’ve never seen buffets like that, even in the YC. It really feels like they just want to empty the freezers. You were lucky to hit the right ship at the right time.
The Azores look gorgeous, and I’d love to go for a short stay too—but it’s one of those "someday..." plans. 😉
Hi Alfred,
What a beautiful visit during this stopover in Ponta Delgada and what brightness!
It was truly an amazing cruise that makes you want more.
Afterwards, I wonder if the deck chairs are always so empty... because that really contributed to the success of this trip!
Hi Isa,
I completely agree with you. The fact that the ship was only 40% full really contributed to the success of this cruise. According to the servers, for them, the ship was almost empty, even though there were still a few people around.
That’s why MSC had a flash sale and tried to fill it up, but unfortunately, it didn’t work.
Still, we have to admit there were a lot of sea days, which put off quite a few people.
In the end, given the price we paid, we weren’t bothered at all, and it was all a bonus for us.
You're right, it was indeed at HAL where we had those amazing seafood buffets on sea days. I loved those cruises so much!
At MSC, I’ve never seen buffets like that, even in the YC. It really feels like they just want to empty the freezers. You were lucky to hit the right ship at the right time.
The Azores look stunning, and I’d love to go for a short stay too, but it’s one of those "someday..." plans. 😉
Hi Catherine,
I had the same thought as you—it seemed like they were just trying to empty the freezers, which is why we had so much seafood at the buffet. Honestly, I’d never seen anything like it.
As for Ponta Delgada, it’s my absolute favorite. That’s why we’re looking into a short stay there, maybe in the fall. It’s so beautiful and lush. Plus, it’s not too far from Paris (well, when I say "not too far," everything’s relative, right?)
MSC set up a shuttle for 17 € to get to the city center. I compared it with Rome2Rio since the port is really far from downtown—it takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and honestly, MSC’s shuttle was the better deal. So, we decided to take it.
That said, the organization was really lacking:
1. There were only two shuttles for almost the entire ship (the others were reserved for excursions).
2. When disembarking, there was an endless line with at least an hour’s wait. Even crew members who had a few hours off ended up turning back.
3. On the way back, around 2 p.m., there was a full two-hour wait to get back on the bus. Some passengers ended up calling taxis or Ubers (a couple told me they paid 40 € to get back).
4. By 4 p.m., there were still so many people that the company had to call in extra buses last-minute.
Once in the city, we took a "Hop-on Hop-off" bus. We paid 35 € per person to explore the city and its surroundings.
The downtown port where you can take a small boat for an Elbe River excursion, with views of the Elbphilharmonie and the Speicherstadt.
The canals.
City Hall: A striking building constructed in 1720 (19th-century architecture) right in the heart of the city, towering over everything with its majestic presence.
That evening, the vibe had completely changed. Some English passengers came on board for a three-day mini-cruise to Southampton. Thankfully for us, it was the end of our trip.
A waiter told me they were only there to drink and party.
There were "corpses" (empty bottles and glasses) all over the floor, and the staff spent their time picking them up.
People were completely wasted.
Luckily, we were on the 9th floor, so we didn’t hear them too much, but I talked to a couple on the 5th floor who found it unbearable.
They say Italians are loud, but the English and Germans aren’t any better!
It was so chaotic that the captain had to make an announcement to the whole ship around 2 AM.
Hamburg seems like a really beautiful city—I don’t know it at all. Still sunny, you were lucky!
It’s wild that the captain had to make an announcement to try to calm down the partiers. No wonder the cruise line limits drinks to 15 per day with their packages—you’d think that wouldn’t be enough. 😏
The shift in vibe is so noticeable during the Christmas cruises. When the passengers boarding for the New Year’s cruise start arriving, everything changes. 😄
Hamburg seems like a really beautiful city—I’ve never been there. You were lucky with the sunshine!
It’s crazy that the captain had to make an announcement to try to calm down the partiers. No wonder the company limits drinks to 15 per day with their packages—you’d think that wouldn’t be enough. 😏
The shift in vibe is so noticeable on Christmas cruises. When the New Year’s Eve passengers start boarding, everything changes.
Hi Catherine,
About the 15-drink limit, I totally agree with you, but if there are two people in a cabin, that’s 30 drinks—and that’s probably enough to get drunk.
I think they must’ve brought their own bottles of alcohol on board because MSC is pretty relaxed about that. I also don’t think alcohol was the only thing they consumed—you know what I mean to get into that state. 😅 Anyway! !
Today was disembarkation day. We went to the buffet for breakfast because it was going to be a long day.
We had to vacate our cabin by 8 AM and leave the ship by 9:30 AM. We had a meet-up at 9:30 AM in the theater to disembark. However, the disembarkation process itself went smoothly, by number. Everyone respected their assigned number, so there weren’t any issues on that front.
The real problem was the port of Le Havre. The port is supposedly new and recently built, but it’s a total mess. I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s definitely room for improvement. Honestly, when you compare it to the port of Ponta Delgada in the Azores or Hamburg’s port, those are proper ports. This one? A complete disaster. I wasn’t the only one saying it—there were two ships docked, the NCL Sky and ours. People were asking, "What is this?" Anyway.
The disembarkation process was well-organized when leaving the ship, but once we got inside the luggage retrieval area—whatever it’s called—it was chaos. In short, there’s a lot of work to be done.
**Conclusion:**
Since my cruise on the Mein Schiff was canceled and I didn’t want to spend a lot (I wasn’t sure when Mein Schiff would reimburse me, as it was a significant amount), it had nothing to do with this cruise. We were just looking for a short, affordable cruise to relax and take a break. Then I came across this flash sale, and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s happened to me before—spending a lot on a cruise and coming back disappointed. But this time, I’m really satisfied.
I’ll start with the negatives because, let’s be real, no cruise is 100% perfect. There are always a few downsides.
1. **Cabin**
* The cabins are well-designed and spacious, but there’s a lack of storage, so we had to leave some things in our suitcases.
* **Bathroom:** The toiletries provided were just shower gel and conditioner. No tissues... We asked for some, and the cabin steward told us, "No, MSC doesn’t provide those, sir." My wife wanted tissues, so we ended up buying some during our first stop.
* Towels: Same issue. You get one large towel and one small one. If you want an extra towel, you have to ask.
* The cabins are serviced twice a day, but in the evening, they only come to change the towels. Eventually, I told them, "Just give us the towels—no need to come just for that."
2. **Bar**
* In the bars at night, you can’t get napkins unless you ask. When you order a cocktail or a snack, you need something to wipe your hands, but no—napkins aren’t provided. They put your drink down with a little coaster on top, but that’s it. I had a Mauritian server who always prepared napkins for me when I arrived. They were the same paper towels you find in the restrooms, but at least it let me wipe my hands.
**Positives:**
Honestly, I think the fact that the cruise wasn’t fully booked played a big part in why we enjoyed it so much—it met almost all our expectations.
1. **Ship**
* The MSC Virtuosa is stunning and packed with modern features, including its spectacular gallery and immersive LED ceiling that changes ambiance.
Between the outdoor adventure course and the multiple pools, there’s plenty of excitement and relaxation. A special shout-out to the robotic bartender, which makes futuristic cocktails—it’s a unique experience.
The casino, shows, and Swarovski staircase add a touch of luxury and entertainment.
It’s a true floating palace where every detail is designed to impress and inspire.
2. **Food**
* No complaints here. We ate really well, whether at the buffet or the restaurant.
* At lunch in the restaurant, the food was good, but the service was a bit slow. That’s why we ended up sticking to the buffet.
The pool is heated and supervised, which is a big plus. There are also large jacuzzis, so no need to wait in line—there are enough for everyone. Though, the fact that the ship was only about 40% full probably helped.
The entertainment was great, with something for everyone, whether in the theater or the bars.
MSC has really improved compared to 2021–2022. If this is the new standard, I think we’ll be back often. Honestly, there’s not much to complain about.
**Drinks Package:**
We initially chose a package that included everything (flights, transfers, cruise, tips, and drinks), but we had the option to skip the drinks package. My wife and I figured it wasn’t expensive, so why not?
In the end, it wasn’t worth it for us. My wife doesn’t drink alcohol, and I only have two aperitifs at lunch and two in the evening—about four drinks a day on average. Plus, whenever I asked for a good whiskey, I had to pay extra. During the day, I’d order basic cocktails, but in the evening, I’d have to pay extra for something decent. Otherwise, I would’ve needed the premium package.
Even with the basic package, we weren’t saving money. I ended up talking to two couples (one English couple we met on an excursion and one French couple) and offered to buy them drinks since we weren’t using our package. I’d get them drinks at lunch and dinner, but we still never exceeded the daily limit of 30 drinks (15 each).
I also noticed that having a drinks package encourages overconsumption, which isn’t great for your health. Next time, I won’t get a package. I’d rather drink when I feel like it—at dinner, I’ll order a bottle of wine that can last me three or four meals. Thankfully, I found these people to share with—they were thrilled.
Thanks for reading! My next cruise will probably be at the end of the year if all goes well. I’ll be semi-retired in a few months, and my wife, who’s still working, will try to take some unpaid leave. If it works out, we’re planning a 29-day transatlantic cruise with MSC and another 19-day transatlantic with Celebrity early next year.
Hi Alfred,
Thanks so much for this really detailed and enjoyable trip report. I didn’t want to monopolize the conversation, but it seems like readers are pretty quiet or shy? 🙁
It’s really great that this cruise—though very different from what was initially planned—turned out to be a success. In your misfortune, you were lucky, and that’s a good thing. But don’t expect all future MSC cruises to be of such high quality, especially when it comes to the exceptional amount of langoustines. Still, I think MSC is making efforts to generally raise their standards. 🙂
On my last cruise, the cabin was only cleaned once a day, and the steward didn’t come by in the evening. But honestly, I didn’t find that bothersome—though the lack of tissues was more annoying, so I bring my own box now. 😉
Wishing you a wonderful pre-retirement and, I’ve no doubt, many more amazing cruises to come! 😎
Hello Alfred,
Thank you so much for this really friendly and detailed review—it was a pleasure to read. I didn’t want to monopolize the conversation, but it seems like readers are pretty quiet or shy? 🙁
It’s really great that this cruise, though very different from what was initially planned, turned out to be a success. In your misfortune, you were lucky, and that’s a good thing. But don’t expect all future MSC cruises to be of such high quality, especially when it comes to the exceptional amount of lobster. Still, I think MSC is making efforts to generally raise the standard. 🙂
On my last cruise, the cabin was only cleaned once a day, and the steward didn’t come by in the evening, but I didn’t find that bothersome. What bothers me more is the lack of tissues, so I bring my own box. 😉
I wish you a wonderful pre-retirement and, I have no doubt, many more great cruises to come! 😎
Hi Catherine!
Thank you for your message—it really made my day and warmed my heart.
About this forum, I’m a bit disappointed and surprised because I feel like it’s not what it used to be, and that’s really too bad.
There are so few reviews, and when you post one, there’s very little encouragement. That said, I’ll keep posting them as usual. At least it’ll bring a little cheer to this forum, but that’s just how it is—you’ve got to roll with it.
I don’t think all cruises are like this, so it’s best not to get your hopes up. This one was truly exceptional. If I ever do another, I’ll go in with my eyes open. As long as the food is good and the price is right, there won’t be any issues.
Hi Alfred,
Thanks for your super-detailed account—I really enjoyed reading it.
I compared it with my own experience on the Virtuosa.
It was a 22-day loop from Hamburg to the Canary Islands in January 2023.
The price advertised in November was unbeatable, especially for a solo cabin.
And at that price, the ship was packed to the brim.
That was a real problem. There’s very little space to relax—way less than on older ships. The gym is also smaller, and the entertainment areas, like the dance floor or gym, are ridiculously tiny.
Lines at the buffet, endless queues to get on and off at ports. Restaurants fully booked. Even had to wait to order a coffee at noon—only two bars served it. And always the feeling of being in the middle of a crowd.
You had to rush to sign up for the theater to get a seat. Then queue again to get in, just to make sure you’d be decently placed with your friends.
Otherwise, I loved the itinerary and the length. And I met some really nice people.
The real issue was the ship being completely full and the limited capacity of the public and entertainment areas.
I’m glad you had great conditions. Maybe I’ll give it another try.
Sorry for the late reply—I’ve been a bit wiped out lately.
About the comparison with your cruise on the Virtuosa, I completely agree with you. When the ship is at full capacity, it must be something else, with crowds everywhere as you mentioned. But that wasn’t the case at all this time, and for me, that really helped make the cruise a success.
By the way, you told me the price you saw in November was unbeatable. For this one, in April, the rates were also very low. I think the inside cabins started at 400 €, and it was probably a flash sale that only lasted a few days.
Despite that, the ship wasn’t full. I should also mention there were very few port stops—maybe that’s why. But hey, it worked out great for us, and we had a fantastic cruise.
Maybe we should try a transatlantic at another time to see. Honestly, though, I don’t have much negative to say.
I’ve been lucky enough to go on several cruises with different companies, and honestly, this one was flawless. Apart from a few minor details, there’s really nothing to complain about.
Hi Alfred,
Thanks for this awesome report—it really makes me want to do a transatlantic crossing! I’ve been wanting to do one for ages, but every time I plan it, something unexpected comes up. Anyway, I’ll get there eventually!
Do you know how many cabins were still for sale? Because low occupancy seems to be the key to a successful cruise like this 🙂
I see I won’t be the only one in early retirement this year 😎—hope your wife won’t have to wait too long 😉
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
Hi Alfred,
Thanks for this great review!
It really makes me want to do a transatlantic cruise! I’ve been wanting to do one for ages, but every time I plan it, something unexpected comes up... Anyway, I’ll get there eventually!
Do you know how many cabins were still for sale? Because low occupancy seems to be the key to a successful cruise like this 🙂
I see I won’t be the only one in early retirement this year 😎 I hope your wife won’t have to wait too long 😉
Hi Isa,
Thanks for your message.
Absolutely, a transatlantic cruise is great because there are fewer kids running around, it’s significantly cheaper, and it’s rarely 100% full.
According to my server, the ship was only about 40% occupied. I don’t know exactly how many cabins were still for sale, but the occupancy rate was pretty low.
Honestly, you should try a short transatlantic cruise first—there are 15-day options to the Caribbean or Brazil, for example.
As for me, I’m retiring two years earlier than planned. There’s a voluntary departure plan at my job, and I’m taking advantage of it. Now, only my wife is still working part-time—just two days a week. I hope she can retire soon so we can enjoy life, because you never know what tomorrow holds.
Je ne vais pas vous décrire toute la croisière (cela ce sera sur mon blog) mais j'ai très envie de vous dire simplement combien nous avons apprécié cette…
Ill y a quelques mois CFC a mis en vente l’expérience EN VOGUE au départ de Dunkerque J’ai réservé cette formule, pour tester de moi même, ce bateau et les…
C’est totalement par hasard que j’ai trouvé cette croisière lors d’une discussion avec Alfred en novembre 2024. Elle n’était pas prévue mais le prix était…
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Je vous invite si vous le souhaitez, à embarquer pour une petite croisière d’une semaine vers le nord de la Grèce dans des ports souvent peu fréquentés par les…
Hello
Après beaucoup d'hésitation sur diverses compagnies ( explora, océania, yc, HAL, NCL) et plusieurs destinations Norvège, Irlande, Islande.
J'ai finalement choisi NCL star pour l'Islande.
J'avais déjà regardé cet itinéraire quand je suis parti en avril pour l'Écosse avec CFC mais il était vraiment très cher .
Il faut savoir que CFC fait souvent des dernières minutes 45 jours avant le départ ( moment où on ne peut plus annuler ni modifier )
Donc là j'ai eu une belle opportunité que j'ai saisi.
Départ le 23 août.
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
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 / /
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
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
Hi everyone,
I’m staying in a suite on the Pacifica in October and I can’t find any details about the suite benefits beyond the elite restaurant, the butler, and the espresso machine.
What about breakfast and meals served free in the cabin, and the spa?
Costa’s been cutting back on perks for Gold members, and it seems like suites are next.
Thanks for your replies!
hi,
I’m leaving Hamburg for Iceland at the end of July. The boat arrives in Reykjavik on Tuesday, August 4th at 8 AM, and I’d like to book a day trip like the Golden Circle or Secret Lagoon… The sites like GetYourGuide and others list departures at 8 AM. If you’ve used these sites with the MSC Preziosa, could you let me know how to go about it?
Thanks! 😉
allyMB007
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!
Hello,
We’re taking a cruise to Northern Europe with a stop in SOUTHAMPTON.
We’d like to visit the Stonehenge site.
Is it possible to get there on our own (my husband is a wheelchair user), since the MSC excursion to Salisbury is priced at 127 € per person?
There’s also a stop in Rotterdam, and it seems there’s a "miniature village to visit" nearby. Has anyone here been there, and if so, how did you get there?
Thanks so much for your tips. Mum49
If you're traveling on the Costa Diadema from October 17th to 28th, 2026 to Lisbon, we can meet up for a drink. Share our cruising experiences, an excursion, a table...
hi there, a group of friends and I are going on a cruise at the end of June with CFC in Norway. I’d love to get some info on the different stops we’ll be making. Most of them are one-day stops (from around 10 AM to 8 PM on average). Here are the stops: Andalsnes, Trondheim, Honningsvåg, Alta, Hellesylt, Sandane, Austefjorden.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what there is to see or do in these places.
When I get back, I’ll post what we did—it might help others who come after us.
Also, does anyone know if the boat sticks to the arrival time in Dunkirk for catching tickets to head back south? We’ll plan a buffer just in case.
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!
My husband, our two teens, and I are going on a cruise on the COSTA Esmeralda at the beginning of July. We’re thinking of exploring the ports on our own. Do any of you have recent experiences or tips to share? Are there shuttles between the port and the city center? Are they free? Looking forward to hearing from you.
We’re stopping over in Rovinj this coming May, and since we’ve already visited the main sights (port, church, etc.), is there a walk we can do on our own—no boat needed—that would fill a morning?
Thanks to anyone who knows the area…
My wife and I are going on a cruise on the MS Vesteralen on August 4th. The ship stays close to the coast to deliver mail and packages. My wife is a musician and is sensitive to the movement of the boat. Which deck and cabin should we choose?
Hi there,
So, I booked this cruise...
I know CFC gets a lot of criticism—
- And that it’s not really like the ships I usually take.
But the destination really interested me...
So, I’m giving it a try...
I’m going in with an open mind, thinking I got a good deal, so I’m not expecting the same experience as when I travel with Yacht Club or The Haven.
We’ll see... soon!
hi, we’re going on a cruise with MSC Virtuosa in the Caribbean. Has anyone done this cruise before and could give us some tips for excursions on the different islands? Thanks for your help
😉Hi there,
A few months ago, CFC put the EN VOGUE experience on sale, departing from Dunkirk.
I booked this package to test the boat and onboard services for myself.
I’d read a lot of reviews mentioning numerous issues on board, so I wanted to see for myself what it was really like…
Okay, I’ll stop rambling…
The package included boarding at 6 PM on Friday, dinner, a show, an overnight stay, and breakfast.
We chose an interior cabin for this experience—since the boat wasn’t leaving the dock, we didn’t see the point in paying more… All in all, it cost 130 € per person.
My mom joined us; she got the same cabin for 130 € with no single occupancy supplement.
We’d checked in online to board faster.
We took the train to DUNKIRK, then a taxi to the shuttle pavilion—7 € for the ride.
When we arrived at the pavilion, we were told to wait because there was a connection issue with check-in. Great start…
After about ten minutes, we were finally allowed to proceed.
At the counter, they said they didn’t have our cabin cards and no record of our check-in… Very odd.
With no solution, they put us on the bus and said we’d sort it out at reception. Perfect.
We went through security, and they confiscated our water bottles—never seen that before! Then they said my mom had a corkscrew in her bag, so they searched it… but there was no corkscrew. Total amateur hour… They eventually dropped it.
We got on the bus for a ten-minute ride…
We boarded the ship with a crew member and headed to reception.
Turns out, we weren’t the only ones in this situation.
The nightmare began… Only two staff members were handling all the issues, and everything seemed complicated.
They told my mom her cabin had been given to someone else 😲.
That was the last straw…
It took forever—they had to redo the entire check-in.
Finally, they told my mom her cabin was good to go; they’d mixed her up with someone else… After a solid half-hour, we could finally head to our cabin.
I’m determined to test everything: the pool, jacuzzi, show, restaurant, spa, etc…
TO BE CONTINUED
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.
Hi there,
So, I booked this cruise...
I know CFC gets a lot of criticism—
- And that it’s not really like the ships I usually take.
But the destination really interested me...
So, I’m giving it a try...
I’m going in with an open mind, thinking I got a good deal, so I’m not expecting the same experience as when I travel with Yacht Club or The Haven.
We’ll see... soon!