Cruises · Antilles

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

We have a cruise planned for next April to the ABC Islands and we’d love to hear your suggestions for sights, beaches, or special shopping spots. We’ve started our research and noticed that Bonaire isn’t highly recommended for beaches because of all the coral (great for diving, though). Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I’d like to know if the distance between Miami Airport and the Miami cruise embarkation port is far, and what transfer options are available. If I need to arrive a day early, are there any budget-friendly hotels near the port or the airport? Thanks in advance for all your tips! Cloclo

Hi, Do you know any companies or individuals offering day excursions for cruise passengers who disembark in the morning and have to wait for their evening flight, with luggage? Thanks in advance

I just got a mind-blowing response. I wanted to book 2 back-to-back cruises in the French West Indies on the Renaissance—arriving in Guadeloupe on December 23, 2025, and returning from Martinique (the end-of-cruise city) on January 13, 2026.

And guess what? It’s impossible because they’re pre-packaged deals. The only solution is to book just one cruise—not two in a row. It’s UNBELIEVABLE.

CFC, the French cruise company—well, no. It’s actually CAC, an English cruise company with "civil servants" wearing blinders.

I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve often combined two back-to-back cruises without any issues, but those were on "bare" ships. All they had to do was get me to Guadeloupe with the first cruise and have me depart with the second cruise’s start. It’s easy to book plane seats!

For the record, last year I did two back-to-back cruises in the Mediterranean, spending Christmas and New Year’s on the same ship.

Handing control over to the English wasn’t a good solution.

Oh well, I’ll find somewhere else with more open-minded people.

Hello soon-to-be retired travelers flying from Orly to Fort-de-France! We’re taking the transatlantic cruise on the Virtuosa, which departs from Fort-de-France on Saturday, April 5th and arrives in Le Havre on Sunday, April 20th. Are excursions possible without necessarily going through MSC for Guadeloupe, St. Martin, the Azores, and Lisbon? Has any forum traveler already done this cruise and have some tips and advice to share with us? Thanks in advance.

Is it easy to disembark from the MSC Virtuosa and do an independent excursion on our own? Is the ship docked at the pier in the various ports like Pointe-à-Pitre, Antigua, St Kitts, Saint Martin, and the British Virgin Islands (Tortola)? Thanks for your feedback! Danielle

Hello everyone,

Here’s the belated review of our 15-day Caribbean cruise on the COSTA MAGICA from March 1st to 15th.

It’ll be illustrated with photos for each port of call. You’ll need to click on them to enlarge.

We bought this cruise from AZUR CROISIÈRES, in an outside cabin, with the TOTAL COMFORT CLASSIC package, which includes: - The "Pranzo & cena - Lunch & Dinner" drinks package with unlimited drinks during meals: water, wine, sodas, and draft beer. - A discount on excursions: the more you book, the bigger the discount.

The "Pranzo & cena - Lunch & Dinner" package was offered onboard for 19.90 € per day per person for those who didn’t already have it.

The itinerary was as follows: Fort-de-France (Martinique) / Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) / At sea / Scarborough (Tobago) / St. George’s (Grenada) / Bridgetown (Barbados) / Castries (St. Lucia) / Fort-de-France (Martinique) / Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) / At sea / Willemstad (Curaçao) / Oranjestad (Aruba) / Kralendijk (Bonaire) / St. George’s (Grenada) / Fort-de-France (Martinique)

After many cruises with MSC, this was our first COSTA cruise. We couldn’t help but compare the two companies and made the following observations: - The elevators are faster on COSTA than MSC. You wait less often. - Fewer storage spaces in the cabin closets on COSTA than MSC. - Impossible to check your onboard account balance on the TV with COSTA. - The cost of excursions booked in advance online is deducted at the end of the cruise with COSTA, but immediately upon booking with MSC. - The decor is more contemporary and elegant on MSC than COSTA. - COSTA’s restaurant meals are just as good as MSC’s but more generous. - COSTA: On the first evening when you arrive at the restaurant for dinner, no staff member shows you to your table, unlike MSC! - The buffet desserts are better on COSTA. - COSTA: No "napkin folding" during the Italian evening, no pizzas at the buffet, no complimentary drinks in the lounges during the gala evening, and no Baked Alaska either! - The shows are slightly less impressive on COSTA but a bit longer. - COSTA offers the option to skip the evening turndown service (preparing the beds for the night with the sheets folded back).

Of course, this list may also depend on the ship you’re traveling on. Some of these observations might be specific to the COSTA MAGICA.

Before the cruise, we spent 2 days in Fort-de-France at the "La Batelière" hotel.

www.la-bateliere.com/

Some rooms need renovating, but the sea view is stunning. We had to carry our two large suitcases up two flights of stairs ourselves because there was no elevator in the part of the building where our room was. The restaurant is good, but service can be slow if it’s busy. Breakfast is excellent. The beds are comfortable. The area around the hotel isn’t interesting—it’s best not to venture out. At the foot of the hotel, there’s a tiny beach (not private) and a nice restaurant/bar with a good reputation: "Lili’s Beach." I recommend booking a superior category room rather than a standard one, or you might be disappointed.

Could you give me some info about organizing layovers on our own in: Antigua, Barbados, Roseau, Grenada, Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Tortola, Tobago, St. Martin What currency should we use? Can we pay with a bank card or a Revolut card, or do we need dollars? Thanks so much!

Cruise on the MSC Virtuosa with stopovers in Pointe-à-Pitre, Antigua, St Kitts, Philipsburg, and Tortola from March 8 to 15, 2025. Is it better to book MSC’s excursions, or are there easy ways to explore on our own in some ports?

Thanks for your feedback!

Danielle

Hello, I’m reaching out for your valuable advice before our Caribbean cruise on the Seascape (departing February 22, 2025, from Miami).

In Jamaica, we’re considering the excursion to the Green Grotto Caves. If anyone has done this excursion, what did you think, please? We also planned to take the “Tulum Mayan Ruins” excursion in Mexico and the “Island-to-Island Panoramic Tour, Hell and Starfish Point” in the Cayman Islands. Unfortunately, these two excursions are fully booked. What do you recommend? Can we visit on our own (not the Mayan ruins, as they’re too far and the risk of missing the ship is too high in my opinion)? Is it safe enough? Will these excursions be available on the ship (in case of cancellations, for example)? For your information, I’m traveling with my parents, who are 80 years old. Thanks in advance for your advice and suggestions...

Hi there, we're leaving on January 30th for a Caribbean cruise—there are four couples in our group—and we'd like to organize our own stopovers.

Do you have any great tips for visiting each island, with a preference for landscapes over beaches? Which island has buses to get around, or options for 4x4s/taxis? We're open to all your ideas!

Hello,

My family and I (2 adults and a 6-year-old girl) are going on a cruise in January to the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. We’re departing from Guadeloupe, where we live. This is a first for me because personally, I’m not a fan of this kind of trip (I prefer traveling on foot with a backpack, but I want to make my family happy 😉). I’m used to planning my trips from A to Z, so it’s unthinkable for me to take the excursions offered by the cruise line (too crowded and too expensive). I’ve already sent a few requests to car rental companies on these islands, but if you have any contacts or great tips, I’d love to hear them! 🙂 I’m also wondering what itineraries to do during these short days ashore? Which places or activities shouldn’t be missed? (Preferably nature, culture, no shopping—unless it’s local crafts worth the detour!)

Anyway, I’m open to all your advice

Thanks so much!

Hi Isabelle,

Thanks for starting this! 🙂 Here’s our cruise:

22/02 - Sounou / MSC VIRTUOSA / 15 days / Lesser Antilles / Fort-de-France

Happy 2025! Thanks so much! 😊

We're leaving from Marseille on the Costa Fortuna on November 22nd, heading to Fort-de-France, then spending 8 days in the Caribbean islands. We'd love to meet some fellow travelers!

Hello,

We’ll be on a cruise in February 2025. Among our stops are Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico. - We’d like to swim with dolphins but are torn between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Which would you recommend? - Does anyone have recommendations for French-speaking guides in either of these destinations? - In Mexico, we’re thinking of taking the Tulum excursion. Has anyone tried it? If so, is it worth it? On our last day, we arrive in Miami at 7 AM and our flight is at 6:25 PM. We’re considering the MSC excursion “Miami city tour: ends at the airport,” but I’d love to hear if anyone has done it. We’re wondering if there are stops during the bus tour of different neighborhoods or if it’s just a drive-by with the tour ending at Bayside Market before heading back to the airport. Thanks in advance

Hi there, I’m looking to rent a car at the Pointe-à-Pitre cruise terminal. Any tips? Thanks

Hello, Looking forward to a beautiful transatlantic crossing on December 6th. Anyone from the forum going?

Bonjour, J'hésite à réserver une croisière MSC pour le début d'année 2021 aux caraïbes ... j'aimerai avoir le retour de ceux et celles qui reviennent de croisière. Comment se passent les escales ? Merci à vous.

Bonjour, Je souhaite partir en croisière en Octobre 21 dans les Caraïbes au départ de MIami ou Port Canaveral et j'hésite entre Royal Caribean sur le Symphony of the seas ou Carnival sur le Mardi Gras (encore en construction à ce jour). Que me conseillez vous entre RC et Carnival? Ou peut être une autre compagnie? Merci d'avance pour votre aide.

Je suis très surpris de ne pas voir ici de réactions concernant la plainte ouverte par quelques 180 passagers contre Costa suite à la catastrophique croisière du Magica aux Antilles en Mars dernier.

Pour rappel : https://www.lechotouristique.com/article/180-passagers-du-costa-magica-portent-plainte-collectivement-contre-costa-croisieres

(Mais il y a plein d'autres articles)

nous avions réservé en janvier dernier une croisière au départ de Fort de France avec le Splendida, départ le 5 décembre 2020. Nous avons reçu un mail de MSC nous informant du changement de bateau ce sera le Poésia. Nous devions payer le solde de notre croisière en novembre, la date a été avancée à octobre. Nous sommes quand même dans l'incertitude ? Les excursions ne sont pas disponibles pour le moment et bien sûr nous le comprenons par rapport à la pandémie.... d'autres personnes sont elles dans le même cas que nous ? Nous avions couplé cette croisière de 7 jours avec un petit séjour en Martinique, notre vol est bien maintenu pour le moment.... soyons patients !!!! ce n'est pas si grave.....

Bonjour je devais faire une croisière avec le Meraviglia de MSC le 8 mars 2020 j ai du annuler le 5 mars car ayant vu les situations sur ce navire bagarres pas de dialogues avec le commandant média net et télé ayant des problèmes cardiaques je ne voulais pas partir car je fais beaucoup de stress l annulation a été faite ms répondu de croisierenet que Msc ne voulait pas nous donner un avoir alors que l ordonance du decret 2020-315 dit que l annulation du voyageur ou du professionel est compatible a cet avoir du montant payer et valable 18 mois a compter du 1 mars 2020 au 15 sept 2020 y a til des passagers de le même ca que nous ou des passagers qui ont fait malgré tout la croisiere car nous savons que aucun pays ne les a reçu a part ocean cay que l l'ile appartient à MSC svp puis je avoir des réponses Merci

Mon épouse et moi-même sommes inscrits pour la croisière sur le Costa Favolosa, départ de Fort de France le 20 mars prochain et retour à Marseille le 11 avril suivant, soit pour une durée de 23 jours. Ce sera notre 7ème transatlantique. On aime ça... Y a t'il des personnes qui feront cette croisière et qui aimeraient avoir des contacts?

Bonsoir Notre croisière d'avril étant annulée pour cause de coronavirus nous souhaiterions la reporter sur les Caraïbes en février. Nous ne sommes jamais allés dans les Caraïbes et j'hésite entre 2 parcours ( le bateau m'importe peu et je connais les deux). Donc soit : Guadeloupe, la Romana, île Catalina, Tortola, Saint Martin, Martinique soit : Martinique, Guadeloupe, Curaçao, Aruba, îles Bes, Grenade. Nous avons envie de belles plages bien sûr mais aussi de choses à voir ou faire. Nous sommes un couple la cinquantaine et une ado 16 ans. Merci de vos conseils si vous connaissez ces destinations !

Après le Westerdam, qui a erré dans les mers d'Asie, en étant refusé dans plusieurs ports, c'est au tour du Meraviglia, qui a été refusé aux Caïmans et en Jamaïque, comme l'écrit Var matin https://www.varmatin.com/sante/coronavirus-deux-varois-bloques-avec-4500-passagers-a-bord-dun-navire-de-croisiere-dans-les-caraibes-470672

Bonjour Quelqu’un aurait il des infos sur transatlantique départ Pointe a Pitre via Savone avec Costa ? Merci

13/03/2020 : Le Prefet Stanislas Cazelle a indiqué que "les navires avec plus de 1.000 personnes (passagers plus équipage) ne seront plus dès à présent autorisés à accoster en Martinique" en vertu des directives gouvernementales qui interdisent les rassemblements de plus de 1.000 personnes. "Au vu de l’urgence sanitaire globale en cours (...), Costa Croisières a décidé d’annuler la prochaine croisière du Costa Magica de même que sa croisière transatlantique (respectivement les 13 et 20 mars)", a indiqué le groupe. "La même décision a été prise pour les deux prochaines croisières dans les Caraïbes et la croisière transatlantique du Costa Favolosa (14, 21 et 28 mars)".

Bonjour Plusieurs dates et lieux de départs et d’escales pour cette transat au départ des Caraïbes (Guadeloupe ou Martinique) sur le Costa Magica du 12 ou 19 mars au 4 avril (et Canaries Gibraltar Barcelone Savone Marseille) C’est un peu l’omnibus de l’Atlantique... Qui sera sur le navire de où à quand ? J’y monte le 19 mars à Fort de France ( où j’arrive le 16 mars) pour finir le 4 avril à Marseille... ce sera ma 4e transat. Je serai ravie de rencontrer des forumeurs. Si toutefois le « virus à couronne  » nous laisse embarquer et descendre aux escales. Qu’en pensez-vous Cordialement Dominique

Bonjour

il y a t il des français qui participent à cette croisière d'une semaine au départ de Miami? avez vous déjà réserve des excursions?

savez vous si le personnel parle un peu français? qui connait le prix des boissons sur place (hésites à prendre le forfait car cher) Merci