I recently tried Seascanner for a cruise with Mein Schiff, but unfortunately, it’s not sold in France. I called all the agencies, and none of them sell Mein Schiff here.
On the other hand, everything with Seascanner is in English (calls and emails).
Unfortunately, due to reasons we’re all aware of in the Gulf, the cruise was canceled. Otherwise, I usually book my cruises through Croisiland or Logitravel.
Yes...
Actually, from what I’ve understood so far, MSC also used to contribute to its discounts on Facebook.
Now that’s no longer the case.
So the discount is only granted by the agency... They’re dipping into their own margins if they offer an extra discount, which apparently wasn’t the case before—it’s up to them who decides...
I don’t know how much margin MSC gives to agencies, but just as an example, NCL gives them 15%, so when they offer an 8% or 10% discount, it’s deducted from that margin.
CONTINUED
We still managed to sleep despite that horrible ventilation noise... but it’s annoying because when you wake up often during the night like I do, it’s not easy to fall back asleep.
We were in cabin 9123—I’d definitely advise against it because of this issue, which lasted until we left!
We found an invoice slipped under the door (for the cocktails we had last night). Of course, with their constant glitches, my bank card wasn’t registered. 😕
I decide to go pay right away while my husband finishes getting ready... but when I get to reception, there’s already a huge crowd—ugh—and it’s not moving since there are still only two people working there. I give up... we’ll pay before we leave!
Off to breakfast—this time it’s at the buffet on deck 11! The selection is varied and tasty, except for the undrinkable industrial fruit juices. There’s also a clear lack of staff to clear tables and restock when things run out.
I hear people complaining about their night... we weren’t the only ones with that ventilation problem. A woman tells me she didn’t sleep a wink, another says she has a terrible migraine and feels bad for future cruisers who’ll have to put up with this for days...
Someone else overhears us and mentions there was a leak in the hallway outside their cabin... that’s a lot of malfunctions!
Here are a few photos:
There’s a bit of everything—savory, sweet, hot, cold—too bad about the undrinkable fruit juices.
We decide to explore the outdoor decks since the weather’s nice today. There’s a walking circuit at the very top, but it’s not very interesting. The one on deck 6 is more pleasant.
I’m going to test the freezing outdoor pool, of course.
Then it’s off to the gym and spa.
One perk here—the spa is free, but the jacuzzi doesn’t bubble at all, so it’s just a big bathtub. The hammam wasn’t heated either... hopefully, that’s not usually the case.
The gym is decent.
We continue to the panoramic lounge, which is really nice—where they must hold dance parties.
Okay, we’ve seen it all. We head back through the cabin hallway, and you can still hear the ventilation in places—it’s unpleasant. Back in the cabin, the cabin steward came by to collect the water bottles—lol, I guess they’re afraid we’ll steal them. :)
Off to reception to pay, and—shock—there are about a hundred people waiting! Still only two people working there.
I’m thinking they’re really amateurish! It shouldn’t be hard to add staff when it’s this busy.
Some people are worried about missing their train, but from what I hear, a lot aren’t exactly sad to leave—what a shame!
Finally, it’s our turn. I pay—it should be quick, but no! Everything takes forever, even printing a simple invoice...
My mom mentions she drank a bottle of water, and the staff member says he doesn’t see any charge on his screen. He calls someone—no answer. He tries his cell—still no one. Finally, a bit exasperated, he says it’s fine, she doesn’t owe anything...
We head down, and the bus is there to take us back to the model pavilion.
Can you imagine a transatlantic crossing on this ship with that noise? It’s unbearable!
I usually enjoy transatlantic trips, but do you see me spending 20 days or more without sleeping at night? No way, it’s unthinkable.
As I’ve said before, this ship isn’t for us. And when I say "us," I mean you, me, Catherine, and the others. For regular travelers, no—it’s really not for us.
Yes, that's right..
MSC ended this partnership but still commissions agencies, of course.
The agency can do what it wants with this commission and may pass part of it back to the client..
That’s why some agencies still offer discounts to their customers.
Ugh+++
I'm at this bridge... hope I don't run into the same issue...
Is it inside the cabin or the whole deck?
I saw you were next to the laundry room... did you check it out?
Can you picture yourself on a transatlantic crossing on this ship with that kind of noise? It’s unbearable!
I usually enjoy transatlantic trips, but can you imagine 20 days or more without sleeping at night? No way, it’s unthinkable.
As I’ve said before, this ship isn’t for us. And when I say “us,” I mean you, me, Catherine, and the others. For regulars like us, no, it’s really not our kind of thing.
I’ll be there for the wrap-up!
I totally agree with you!
On this ship, the cabin situation is like Russian roulette… My mom was on deck 6 with an old-school ventilation system, but she didn’t have that problem.
I can't help thinking they're really quite amateurish!!
There are just so many things going wrong!
As I've said before, this boat isn't for us. And when I say "us," I mean you, me, Catherine, and the others. For the regulars, no, it's really not for us.
Hi Alfred, Hi Isa,
Unfortunately, we’ve come to the same conclusion about this company.
I’ve just finished reading all your posts with great interest, and I really want to thank you because I got back 2 days ago from a terrible 8-day experience on the MSC World Europa (I’m putting together a short review of this “giant of the seas”), and I decided to check out CFC instead. I already remember Catherine’s less-than-stellar experience last year… and this time? More of the same. Between the cold pool, the noise, and everything else… the verdict’s in—I’m looking elsewhere!
Thanks to everyone.
Francis
Hi there,
Yes, it’s pretty risky to book with this company unless you get a really good deal, since their prices are high.
Why not try an American cruise line like CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, OCEANIA, or AZAMARA, depending on your budget?
I’m familiar with these lines—if you tell me what you’re looking for, I can point you in the right direction ;)
CONCLUSION
First of all, I don’t regret this experience. Being able to test a ship under these conditions is, at its core, a great idea. Seriously, I’d love for other companies to take inspiration from it!
But… what a shame they didn’t go the extra mile to win over future customers. You could tell there was real potential, left a bit at the dock.
Sure, the ship is old, and we knew that when we boarded. But since it was renovated, we could’ve hoped for a more… convincing refresh. Let’s just say they probably prioritized the essentials—though, faced with slightly cracked cabin walls, you do wonder where the “essentials” begin and end.
That said, a ship with a bit of history wasn’t what bothered me most. After all, it almost gives it charm… almost.
The most negative points:
No swimming or jacuzzi access—so much for a relaxing cruise.
A pretty glaring lack of staff. At times, you’d wonder if the crew hadn’t gone on an excursion without us. 😉
An embarkation and disembarkation process that felt like a nightmare, with security checks that seemed more amateur than reassuring. Given there’ve already been incidents during tender disembarkations, it’s not exactly comforting…
Repeated technical issues: finicky air conditioning, unreliable ventilation, chaotic check-in, leaks, and even hot water shortages (a shout-out to my mom, who couldn’t wash up the morning of disembarkation, and my husband, who got lukewarm water for his shower…).
Staff not always attentive, and not as French-speaking as promised, which can be surprising.
A value-for-money ratio that’s hard to justify: the prices are clearly higher than the quality of services offered.
Few onboard activities. Without a usable pool, days at sea can quickly start to feel like… well, long days at sea—or even in a retirement home. 😄
The positive points:
Food was actually quite good, whether at the buffet or the restaurant (though, again, the lack of staff was noticeable).
Shows were decent quality—if they’re all at the level of the one I saw, that’s a real highlight.
In short, you’ve probably gathered that this experience didn’t make me want to sail with this company again. At this rate, I’m afraid they’ll end up joining some of those old cruise lines in the “memories” section.
A shout-out to that dear agency PLANETE CROISIERE—this experience also showed me just how dishonest and bad-faith they were!
THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG 🙂
I can’t help thinking they’re really quite amateurish!!
There are just too many things going wrong!
As I’ve said before, this boat isn’t for us. And when I say “us,” I mean you, me, Catherine, and the others. For the regulars, no, it’s really not for us.
Hi Alfred, hi Isa,
Unfortunately, we’ve come to the same conclusion about this company.
Sure thing, Catherine!
I never doubted your account anyway, but this was a great opportunity for me to see it with my own eyes 😉
Just a little backstory—I hesitated a lot before booking with CFC myself. Given all the negative comments you could find, I also came across more nuanced reviews, and the price I was offered was really appealing, so I decided to take the plunge, though not without some apprehension.
In the end, not everything was perfect. Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any major issues on board. The air conditioning breakdown I noticed in my cabin was fixed the same day I reported it.
After weighing all the elements—both the negatives and positives—I don’t regret this trip at all. For us, it had far more pleasant moments than unpleasant ones. But of course, everyone has their own experience, and the balance can tip either way depending on the situation.
I wouldn’t pay "full price" to sail with CFC, but if a good deal came up again, I’d definitely be up for another trip with them. For example, I managed to get two double cabins for the same price as a quadruple, whereas with another company, it would’ve cost me a lot more. And I know how hard it is to find a good deal during school holidays.
The kids really enjoyed their trip too (aside from the pool temperature 😉). Thanks to the French-speaking environment on board, they could take full advantage of all the services and activities—they weren’t bored at all. That was actually one of the things that caught my attention when I booked; it seemed like a great perk for them.
It’s true there probably aren’t as many activities as with other cruise lines (just to give you a few examples: indoor pétanque, mini-golf, molkky, cooking demonstrations, quizzes, etc.), but the ones they had were well-received.
I wanted to give CFC a chance, whereas Costa and MSC still don’t appeal to me at all.
GOOD FOR YOU if you were happy with it!
With kids, RCI is 150 steps above, though—gotta say that 😉
After all, there’s something for every taste and every age, but I doubt this company’s staying power when they keep letting technical issues come back again and again without really taking action.
not that I’m trying to defend them (far from it, quite the opposite)
maybe when it comes to the ventilation noise, there’s just nothing they can do?
You can’t make something new out of something old.
But for everything related to organization, yeah, they *should* take action... though since the complaints seem to disappear...
without meaning to defend them (far from it, quite the opposite)
maybe regarding the ventilation noise, there’s nothing they can do?
You can’t make something new out of something old.
But for everything related to organization, yes, they should act... though since the complaints disappear...
Some people say they have cabin issues and get changes—what happens if the boat is full? It probably doesn’t happen often, but still... I actually recorded the ventilation noise, I’ll share it on FB
I had fun asking the AI the question yesterday...
and here’s its answer:
The highest-risk cabins
On this type of ship, ventilation noise mainly occurs:
❌ near technical shafts
❌ under public decks (pool/restaurant)
❌ close to central areas where air ducts run
Why was cabin 9123 noisy?
Makes total sense:
located right next to:
the main ventilation shafts
vertical technical zones
so:
constant airflow
possible vibrations
👉 This is typically the riskiest spot on the deck.
Here’s the letter I sent to the great agency PLANETE CROISIERES.
I’ll share their response if I get one.
Hello,
I’m writing to file a complaint as a former member of the FAN DE CFC CROISIERES group, following my recent experience and your management of the Facebook group titled « FAN DE CFC CROISIÈRES ».
After sharing a factual, measured, and respectful experience, I noticed that my post was deleted and I was removed from the group. My feedback was simply about concrete observations from the cruise, including:
an abnormally cold pool,
a jacuzzi that didn’t meet expected standards (no jets, very limited functionality),
a particularly disorganized boarding process with inconsistent and sloppy checks,
as well as various malfunctions (air conditioning, ventilation, check-in, water leaks).
These points, expressed without aggression, represent a legitimate consumer experience.
I also note that this group presents itself as a space for exchange among enthusiasts, when in reality it appears to be a promotional tool, managed with commercial objectives, where negative reviews—even when respectfully worded—are systematically deleted. I’m not the only one who has been subjected to this moderation.
This approach is misleading for consumers, as it presents a biased and exclusively positive image of the services offered.
I’d like to remind you that such practices may qualify as misleading commercial practices, under articles L121-2 to L121-4 of the Consumer Code, specifically:
hiding the commercial intent of content presented as independent,
as well as manipulating or deleting reviews to alter consumers’ perceptions.
I want to express my deep disappointment with these methods, which fall short of the professionalism expected from a travel agency.
As a result, I ask that you:
provide an explanation for these practices,
and review the management of this group to ensure honest and transparent information for consumers.
Here’s the agency’s response!
Of course, I had misunderstood—my removal was temporary! LOL
Dear Ms. Pihen,
We have received your letter today regarding your experience on board and your exclusion from the Facebook group « FANS OF CFC CRUISES ». We regret that your stay did not meet your expectations regarding certain facilities (pool, jacuzzis, air conditioning).
Regarding the technical incidents on board: Please note that we take your comments very seriously. We have already forwarded your observations (pool temperature, jacuzzi operation, and boarding organization) to the CFC company to obtain technical explanations for these occasional malfunctions. You will receive a specific response as soon as we have their feedback.
Regarding the moderation of the Facebook group:
The group « FANS OF CFC CRUISES » is a private community space governed by a code of conduct that you accepted upon joining.
The reason for moderation: Rule No. 3 of our charter states that while issues can be shared, they must be done so with "moderation" and not be "exclusively negative." The finding: Your comments, though based on your personal experience, were deemed by the moderation team to lack the goodwill required by the community.
Transparency: Contrary to what you feared, we are not trying to hide reviews but to maintain a constructive and courteous exchange, far from the "bad publicity" prohibited by our rules. I remind you that this group is called Fans of CFC.
I don’t want to leave things on this disagreement. If you commit to respecting the group’s charter of goodwill and objectivity in the future, I am fully prepared to lift your exclusion immediately—it was temporary—so you can continue to engage with the community in a more peaceful manner. What do you think?
Looking forward to your response,
Best regards,
Lylian SCHILLINGER
Director, Planète Croisière
For info, here’s the message he sent me via Facebook Messenger:
I’m sorry, Ms. Pihen, but I’m just doing my job. I’m required to moderate repeated negative comments on a group managed by the agency, as was the case this morning, and you weren’t the only one affected. If I hadn’t done it, the CFC company and other users would have held it against me. It’s not personal at all.
Hello,
I want to point out that the criticisms you’ve made against me are unfounded. Throughout our exchanges, I’ve remained objective and courteous.
I fully stand by my observations: the pool was particularly cold, even freezing, which clearly displeases you, and the facilities presented as jacuzzis did not meet expected standards.
While I may have mentioned certain aspects like dining, the theater, the cabin, and the spa, you didn’t give me the chance to fully express myself. That’s regrettable, especially since I have some visibility in the cruise industry, being active and recognized for nearly twenty years on various specialized forums.
I didn’t hesitate to share a detailed account of this experience in several groups, also mentioning your moderation practices at Planète Croisière.
Without any pretension, I believe I have enough experience to assess the quality of a cruise line’s services with discernment. I’ve traveled with many well-known companies, such as Costa, MSC, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Ponant, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Azamara.
Additionally, I’m also familiar with the agency Naja Tourisme, which I’m sure you know. I actually attend the Cruise Salon every year.
Under these circumstances, I don’t wish to rejoin your group. On the contrary, I’m particularly shocked by your practices, which I find questionable. Deleting negative reviews simply because of their quantity could be seen as misleading for consumers.
I’d also like to remind you that you clearly told me, via Facebook, that you were forced to delete unfavorable reviews about CFC. I still have this written exchange, so I encourage you to adopt more transparent communication.
Finally, I should mention that my exclusion isn’t an isolated case, as you yourself confirmed. Several people have also told me, in other groups, that they’ve been banned under similar circumstances.
These elements suggest that this is a recurring practice within Planète Croisière.
With such actions, not only will you fail to help this company address its recurring technical issues, but you also risk losing other customers who are just as dissatisfied and shocked as I am by these questionable practices.
Best regards,
Well said!
And the group is public, not private.
So it’s even worse because deleting real and justified comments amounts to fraud, especially if those comments are removed by a travel agency—meaning a professional.
On another note, I just found out that the Renaissance won’t be going to the North Cape after all. They’ve apparently canceled the stops, likely due to the weather...
Hi Isa,
I’m picking up the ongoing discussion about CFC.
Regarding laundry on CFC, I use laundry wipes, which are really handy when traveling.
We’re going on a cruise from Dunkirk for 6 days/5 nights—the Tulip Cruise—because the cabin is on promotion (487 € per person for an inside cabin).
We’ll see if there are any noticeable differences compared to the one in March/April 2025.
Apparently, it won’t be the young Captain anymore, which is a shame because he was really nice and approachable.
What surprised me was having to register my credit card to access the boarding passes... With MSC/COSTA, I always register my card at the counter on embarkation day. I don’t think this is normal in case their CFC site gets hacked...
Hopefully, we’ll get a cabin without noisy air conditioning (we’ll be on deck 4 at the back).
We’re expecting broken elevators.
I’ll share my little review after we return.
Have a great evening! Magguy
Hi Guylène, I just got back from a cruise on MSC and didn’t register my credit card to get my boarding pass.
Sure, MSC offers it without making it mandatory. Like you, I don’t really like my credit card details floating around. So I did what I usually do—I registered myself and my group of friends (some of whom were first-time cruisers) at the dedicated kiosks.
Have a great cruise, and I’m looking forward to your trip report!
Francis
Hi Francis,
The "catch" with CFC is that if I didn’t enter my credit card numbers, I couldn’t access our boarding passes... Last year, I registered my card at the reception desk on the day of embarkation.
Apparently, the weather won’t be great for this cruise—pullovers and pants will be a must.
I’ll post my review around 04/21–04/22/26.
Have a great day! Mum49
But photos in the fog and soft lighting are always stunning for their evocative power... it’s such a change from sarongs and palm trees...!
Have a great cruise.
F.
Isabelle, many passengers in the various groups are saying the same as you—that the pool is freezing and obviously not heated.
I have two written records from the CFC chat confirming that the pool—or even both pools—are heated.
So this is a real lie and close to fraud.
Like you, the pool is important to me and truly part of the enjoyment of traveling.
I fully intend to file a complaint if it’s still cold during my cruise.
This is indeed misleading commercial practice (Art. L121-1 of the Consumer Code).
Do you have any advice or tips for this complaint?
Should I do it upon return or on board?
Should I go through the travel agency, the tourism mediator, or directly with the company?
How would you proceed?
Thanks
Hi,
If I were you, I’d use every means at my disposal.
Okay, the travel agency PLANETE CROISIERE, CFC’s partner, probably won’t help you,
but don’t hesitate to file a complaint with the cruise line, copying the tourism mediator, the travel agency, and especially the DGCCRF, which always makes an impact.
You’ll need proof, so bring a thermometer to measure the water temperature on-site.
Then don’t hesitate to tell them you’ll share this experience on social media—they don’t like that—and sometimes, miraculously, they’ll offer you fair compensation in exchange for your silence...
Well, yeah, you have to be on board, document it with photos, provide proof, etc...
The travel agency PLANETE CROISIERE, as useless as they may be, is also responsible, so they should be copied on this.
Now, Nathalie, let’s drop this pool issue—I don’t want to waste that much time on it. As you know, heating the pool isn’t exactly my area. Planète already sent an email, and I just followed up. Happy cruising!
It may not be within their remit to heat the pool, but selling the cruise and anything that might not be suitable is legally their responsibility.
The "stop with this pool story, Nathalie" used in the response is a strange way to talk to a customer. And he doesn’t have time to waste!!!! This message is worth keeping.
You should take action against the agency. The mediator only comes into play after that, just before court.
Great!
I already have two, and now here’s a third.
Can you manage to copy the time and date because I don’t have that right—I’m not sure if it’s important, but anyway, I’ve had it happen twice, and two other people confirmed it too.
Do you think that’s enough to accuse them of deception and questionable business practices?
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,…
Hi there, By sheer chance, a family housewarming in Brussels gave us the opportunity to depart from Zeebrugge for our first experience with CFC, allowing us to…
Hi everyone, As promised, here s my review of the cruise I took from the 5th to the 19th on the MSC Virtuosa. As you know, I had initially booked a cruise with…
Hi everyone, It was totally by chance that I found this cruise while chatting with Alfred in November 2024. It wasn t planned, but the price was attractive one…
Hi everyone, Okay, here I go I haven t done a cruise review in ages, and even longer since I ve posted one on this forum. So, this is kinda your fault,…
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,
I’m going on a Mediterranean cruise in November and I’m looking for some "tips" to visit the cities of Naples, Messina, and Valletta in Malta without booking the ship’s excursions, which are really expensive.
Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions. We’re a group of 6 people.
Looking forward to hearing from you...
Best,
M
PS: We’re also stopping in Genoa and Barcelona—even though we know these two cities, we’d still love any tips for visiting them!
Thanks
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 everyone ...
We’re planning to do the 83-day Cunard cruise ...
departing from Southampton on January 10, 2027 aboard the Queen Anne ...
has anyone done it ... or have any info ... or tips ...
for example ... deck and cabin choices ... drink packages ... excursions ... etc.
... anything good to know about this ship???
Thanks everyone ...
Hi 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,
I’m looking for an all-inclusive Nile cruise on a comfortable boat with as few passengers as possible.
Which tour operator can you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
I’m about to book the panoramic suite, and I’m not sure whether I should go for the one at the front of the ship or the one at the back. I’d really appreciate any feedback—anyone who’s already booked this kind of suite and can share the pros and cons?
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 cruise schedule for 2026.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members.
2 essential rules:
1) never "quote" the calendar when replying—this’ll avoid any confusion
2) follow the format below
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry!PLEASE respect the templates!
COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF CRUISES 2026:
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Hi everyone, we're 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!
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 there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.