Cruises · Espagne

Hi, we have a layover in Motril and want to get to the Alhambra on our own. Has anyone here already made this trip? Thanks! :)

Hi there,

I’m taking my first cruise on the MSC Fantasia in two weeks, so I’m looking for great tips on what to visit during the stops in Ibiza, Majorca, Naples, Livorno, and Genoa. I’d love to hear all your suggestions and visit ideas. If you still have your itineraries, I’d really appreciate them!

Thanks so much.

Have a great day.

Hi everyone,

I’ve got a full-day layover in Ibiza—arriving at 10 AM and leaving at 10 PM. Could you tell me if there are any local shuttles available when we disembark, without having to take the MSC buses? Do you know of a reliable car rental company?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi everyone, how do I get from TENERIFE SOUTH Airport to the port of TENERIFE??? Thanks for your reply

Hi there, I’m traveling on a transatlantic cruise from Rio to Barcelona from March 16 to 31, 2026. My partner only drinks water, and I’m looking for another couple in the same situation so we can optimize a drinks package that isn’t worth it if one of us doesn’t consume anything (Costa). Thanks for your feedback, Daniel

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone has been to the secret bar on the MSC World Europa and what goes on in there. Thanks in advance. Best regards.

hi there, we’re leaving on 11/11 on the Costa Favolosa. Since we’ve already visited CADIZ several times, we’re doing the excursion to SEVILLE. There are two options: a guided tour or SEVILLE on your own. If anyone’s done it, how does the "freedom" day go? THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.

Best regards.

Hello everyone, I’m looking for a cruise line that stops in BARCEELONA and can go to the BARCELONA Aquarium to buy a magnet. I bought one for my 9-year-old grandson, but unfortunately, his dad dropped it, and the boy is sad because it was his grandfather’s. So if someone could buy another one, it’s around 4 €, and I’ll cover the shipping costs. I’ve attached a photo of the model. Thank you so much! Best regards, Patrick

Hello Which cruisers from the forum who’ve already stopped in Barcelona with the cruise ship Splendida could give me some info: Is the port far from the city? What are the best ways to explore on our own—taxis, hop-on-hop-off buses, something else? And prices, if you remember any. Thanks in advance

Hi, does anyone have info on excursions to do? The worst: Athens Heraklion, Corfu Rhodes Barcelona Malta Thanks! Have a great day.

Hi, Could anyone give me some info about Formentera island? We arrive at IBIZA port with MSC Armonia around 9 AM. We set sail again the next day at 7 AM. How do we get to this island? Thanks in advance

Hi there, we’re going on a cruise and I’d like to know what time the shows are at the theater so we can pick our dinner times. Thanks for your help

Can someone please give me some info on the stopovers in Cádiz, Lisbon, and Alicante? Thanks!!!

Hi, I’m on a layover in Barcelona—what’s the best way to get to Barcelona’s football stadium? Thanks

Hi everyone, I’m starting to look into small solo cruises, for now in November. It’s my first cruise, so I’m a bit nervous. Anyone potentially interested in 7 days in Italy, Tunisia, and Spain? If you’ve got any tips, I’d love to hear them. Looking forward to reading your replies

During the stopover in Cadiz, Costa offers a bus transfer for a self-guided visit to Arcos de la FRONTERA and Jerez de la FRONTERA. Given the distance from Cadiz and the size of these towns, do you really think we’ll have enough time? What do you think?

Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum and I’m going on a Costa cruise in three weeks with my family (there’ll be 14 of us in total). The planned stops are: Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Palermo, Rome, and Savona. Given the high cost of the excursions offered by Costa, I’m looking for tips and great deals. In your opinion, what are the best excursions to do at these stops? Which sites shouldn’t be missed? Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

SANDRINE🙂

Short version: I booked through Croisières.fr, and everything went smoothly until my order was confirmed. When I requested a date change—due to administrative reasons—the sales rep initially assured me the fee would be 50 € per person, but then demanded 600 € (negotiated down to 338 €), even though the price remained unchanged. On top of that, Paul, the sales rep, was dishonest, claiming that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages, which is completely false. All drinks—even water—are charged onboard. I had also requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother, a request that wasn’t honored, forcing me to sleep on a small couch. To make matters worse, all my emails and calls to customer service were ignored or handled carelessly. While the cruise itself was satisfactory—thanks to Costa for the onboard organization—I recommend booking directly with Costa to avoid these bad surprises with Croisières.fr.

Long version: I booked a cruise for two through Croisières.fr, and the process went perfectly until the final confirmation of my order, which initially reinforced my trust. However, as soon as I requested a change in departure dates—due to a delay in obtaining my mother’s ID card—the situation quickly deteriorated. During this process, Paul, the Croisières.fr sales rep, initially told me that the date-change fee would be only 50 € per person. To my surprise, I was then hit with an exorbitant processing fee of 600 €, which was eventually negotiated down to 338 €. This turnaround was all the more baffling because the new cruise offered was priced exactly the same as the original booking on the website.

The situation worsened when the cruise line later changed the dates for internal reasons at Costa. The new dates didn’t work for us at all, especially because of my mother’s non-reschedulable medical appointment. Despite my flexibility and numerous phone calls and emails, we were forced to accept these new dates against our will. It took a lot of effort to secure another slot, even though we had been accommodating on almost all other dates.

I also noticed other serious shortcomings in Croisières.fr’s sales service. Paul, the sales rep, turned out to be dishonest: he claimed that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included in the ticket price and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages. That’s absolutely not true! Without a package, all drinks—even water—are charged onboard. Additionally, I had specifically requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother. This request wasn’t honored, and I had to make do with a small couch because there was no way to set up two separate beds.

I’m willing to accept rules and constraints if they’re communicated upfront, but these crucial details were never shared with me. What disappoints me the most is how my requests were handled by customer service. None of the emails I sent received a response, and my numerous phone calls were dealt with carelessly and without any consideration. Everything was fine until the order was confirmed, and then suddenly, there was a complete lack of attention and follow-up, leaving a bitter taste.

That said, despite these issues, I was very satisfied with the cruise itself, and I’d like to sincerely thank Costa for their excellent onboard organization. Based on this experience, I strongly advise travelers to book directly with Costa to avoid the bad surprises and lack of follow-up that seem characteristic of Croisières.fr.

Hi there, I’d like to make the crossing between Barcelona and Civitavecchia with Grimaldi. I’d love to hear about your experiences. I’m also considering GNV for Genoa.

Looking forward to reading your replies. Sandy

Hi everyone, has anyone had a stopover in VALENCIA and IBIZA during a cruise??? Could you give me some tips on how to do the excursions on our own? Thanks!

Hi, I’ll be going on a cruise with Costa Toscana soon. During the stopover in Barcelona, is it possible to walk to La Rambla from where the ship docks, or is it better to take a bus or taxi? Also, any ideas for the Ibiza stopover? Thanks, Diane

HELLO, here’s a little review of my cruise on the CELEBRITY EQUINOX 9-night / 10-day cruise CONCIERGE CLASS BALCONY CABIN at 1170 € per person EMBARKATION We arrived around 11:30 AM and were taken care of right away. Priority boarding is now only for suites, but it’s not really necessary since everyone boards quickly. In less than 15 minutes, we were on board. The best part? We could head straight to our muster station for the lifeboat drill—done in no time! AZAMARA, if you’re listening : ) Disembarkations at ports were also very smooth, with a little stand offering wet towels and refreshing drinks. THE CABIN CONCIERGE BALCONY 2108 Perfectly located, with a huge balcony, on the same deck as the pools, just below the buffet, and close to the elevators that took us straight to the restaurant or reception. Concierge class doesn’t come with many perks—we only went to the concierge desk once. We got a small plate of canapés in the cabin every day and access to a few invitations we declined, lol. What really stood out was the location and the large balcony. DINING The buffet is always great, with tons of choices—the best buffet of any cruise line, in my opinion, even if PRINCESS isn’t bad either. It was sometimes crowded, but the island layout meant we never had to queue, except for the last two days when we couldn’t serve ourselves due to a GASTRO outbreak... The only downside was the desserts, which weren’t as good as before. Is it the chef? Or a budget cut? The last day’s FAREWELL BUFFET was amazing. At the restaurant, we noticed a drop in quality, especially with the starters—mostly veggies or soup, basically cheap stuff :( . Though the escargots were still available and just as good. Also, we often got the pager because no tables were free, and service was sometimes really slow. We went to the specialty restaurant « LE MURANO » for around $50 per person. The menu is always the same, but it’s still delicious, with attentive service and the chef flambéing the lobster right in front of you. We loved it! THE PORTS OF CALL BARCELONA / AT SEA / LISBON (2 DAYS) / PORTO / AT SEA / TANGIER / CADIZ / AT SEA A great itinerary with 3 sea days in total. We had mostly great weather, even really nice weather during the 3 sea days. It was less sunny and warm in PORTO and CADIZ. We did everything on our own, except for the first day in Lisbon, where we took a guided TUK TUK tour with Filipe—it was AMAZING! He was really interesting, and we learned so many fun facts. Loved it! In PORTO, everything costs money, which was a bit disappointing. The churches and cathedrals are expensive :( TANGIER was a great discovery. Too bad no mosques are open to visitors, but it’s still a pleasant stop. We’d already visited CADIZ and love this city.

ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE DAY It’s always quiet during the day. You can play mini-golf or pétanque on the grass, and we didn’t hesitate to do laps around the deck. Of course, we also enjoyed the fantastic adults-only pool in the solarium, though sometimes we went to the outdoor pools too. This adults-only pool is still incredible—big and heated, except for 2 days when I complained because the water was suddenly cold. I don’t know why! Of course, some parents try to bring their kids in at the start of the cruise, but not on my watch, lol. After 2 or 3 days, they give up—the outdoor pools were well-heated anyway, so there was no reason to. Apparently, some people didn’t know CELEBRITY—they must’ve realized it’s not a cruise line for kids, pff. IN THE EVENING Apart from the comedian, we saw all the shows. Some were really beautiful, others just okay, but overall, it was a success. The dance nights, though, were pretty average, except for the ABBA night, which always delivers.

CONCLUSION CELEBRITY is still a pleasant cruise line, even if the quality has dropped a little. We still love that fabulous heated adults-only pool, the calm atmosphere on board, the few kids, no Italians, and the zen vibe. The ship is showing its age a bit, but nothing major. We had a great cruise with good value for money. Can’t wait for the next one on the CELEBRITY INFINITY in February! Thanks for reading 😉 PS: Some photos to come

Hi there. Who’s setting off on a 36-day cruise on the Costa Smeralda from Marseille on November 16, 2024? Destinations: Spain, the Canary Islands, then Namibia, South Africa, Mauritius, and Oman before finishing in Dubai (return flight).

Bonjour,

Moi et mon amie envisageons de faire une croisière pour juillet 2021. Quand on regarde les prix actuellement, ils sont assez élevés (compagnie MSC).

On a un budget de 1500 €. Ma question est la suivante : est-ce que d’ici l’année 2021 et 3 mois avant, on peut s’attendre à une bonne réduction parce qu’actuellement on tourne autour de 849 euros pp.

Les tarifs sont toujours plus cher l’été mais y aura t il des bonnes réduction à votre avis, à quel prix pourrait elle descendre ? Comment ça s’est passé pour ceux qui ont réservé aux dates de février mars l’année dernière pour une croisière en juillet 2019 ? Merci d’avance.

Bonjour,

Qui a une réservation sur le Costa Pacifica pour le 26 septembre 2020 au départ de Barcelone ? je n'ai pas forcément beaucoup de nouvelles de Costa Suisse....

Cordialement

Pour info: Le gouvernement espagnol a prolongé par décret l’interdiction d’entrées des bateaux de croisières.

La nouvelle n’est pas réjouissante pour le secteur des croisières, également durement touché par la crise du coronavirus: le gouvernement espagnol a décidé de maintenir l’interdiction d’accoster dans les ports espagnols pour les navires de croisière. C’est ce qu’indique le «Boletín Oficial del Estado» (BOE) publié samedi dernier (27.6.). L’accostage des navires de tourisme ne sera à nouveau autorisé qu’après la crise du coronavirus. Ces mesures sont considérées conformes aux recommandations de l’OMS selon lesquelles l’objectif est de prévenir toute nouvelle propagation du virus. Ces mesures sont «importantes et nécessaires», indique le BOE. La Covid-19 avait fait éruption à plusieurs reprises à bord de navires de croisière. L’interdiction peut être levée par le directeur général de la marine marchande, qui peut convenir d’exceptions avec les responsables des ports et en consultation avec le ministère de la santé, écrit le «Mallorca-Zeitung».

Pouvez-vous m'aider en me donnant des astuces bon marché aux escales de Barcelone, Palma, Palerme, Civitavecchia et Savone ?

ON a loue 2 cabine catégorie yacht club sur MSC DIVINA escale marseille genes rome palerme gagliari majorque valencia trés décu priorié embarquement débarquement ( prévu mais réalité = inexistante ) exemple il mette 2 passerelles mitoyenne pont 4 et pont 5 , meme ascenseur ( pour 4.000 pax ) dont les client vont pour ascenseur pont 5 çà rempli 100% les ascenseur , ceux au pont 4 appelle l’ascenseur qui descend au 4 - plein- donc les passagers rentrant ne peuvent pas y pénétrer, mais essayent quand même , ascenseur déclenche = surcharge...... et çà pousse etc ne parlons pas de l'arrivé sur le quai pour embarquer aux escales ( là msc se réfugie derriere autorité portuaire pour la foire d'empoigne ) on arrive à un bout du navire , on passe en se bousculant la longue sécurité - même accompagné par gentil personnel Yacht club - parfois qu un poste !!! avec écran , pour ressortir à l'autre bout du bateau sous les tentes , mais par le jeux des barrieres , vous refaites ( notre cas 6 fois sur 7 escales) toute la longueur du bateau pour marcher sur le quai et y rentrer principalement à l arrière , donc si yacht club , une fois à l interieur , vous refaite les 250/300m m pour accéder à vos cabines soit 3 à 4 fois 250/300 m à pied

comme ce bateau et Bellissima idem est un autobus faisant de avril à octobre chaque semaine le meme circuit et embarquant debarquant des pax à chaque escale ( non pas une seule fois ) dont la séance obligatoire sécurité gilet de sauvetage tous les jours pour les nouveaux - çà vous pollue les oreilles tous les jours de 16 à 17 hr , eles gens courant dans tious les ens pour rejoindre le théatre

spectacles Bien beaucoup de dance , ou de plus en plus , croisieres aprés croisieres les danceurs/ danceuses bougent plutot que les bras et des bout de tissus que les jambes mais ils sont 10 à 12 parfois 15/16 , c'est mieux que certaines compagnies ou ils sont 3 à 4...... les chants à 90% en anglais et le concours étant = à celui qu gueulera le plus fort lolllll quelques beaux numeros acrobaties ou voltige c'est plutot beaucoup mieux que beaucoup meme chez Cunard le meneur du show lui aussi se croie intelligent de gueuler son bla bla stupide pour nous mais c'est le progrés ....... lolll

les restaurants attribués client yacht club - dont 100% des cabines sont tout a l'avant -est tout à l'arriére du bateau il faut quitté le pont 15 , descendre au pont 7 traverser toute la longueur du bateau en étant trés genéé par la dizaine de stands de photographe qui débordent dans l'allée ( reste moins de 1 m de passage ) puis au bout , reprendre l’ascenseur pour remonter au 15 pour diner : duré trajet si tout va bien 10 ' pour 50/60% non climatisée ......., meme scenario pour le petit déjeuner ou pour petit dejeuner si on veut rester coté yacht club il y a un Petit dejeuner continental restreint au pont 15 ( climatisé ) , si vous voulez du chaud omelette etc il faut monter au pont 18 a l'extérieur dans la chaleur à 9.30 déjà 30/31° , il y a une tente sur 4 poteaux qui vous fait = omelette , oeuf au plat

irrrréaliste service et personnel tres gentil pour tou t yacht club butller aussi n a que 9 cabines et femmes de chambre aussi , ont 30/40 par cabine 2 à 3 fois jour super propre buttler efficace et service accueil yacht club trés efficace les autre pont elles ont 15' par cabine et 18/20 cabines chacune midi soir idem tres basic mini snack ( rondelle de pain avec mini tranche de jambon ) au 15, si vous voulez du chaud = monter au 18 , et là nourriture type fast food sans saveur fade et 2 choix ) 1 bout de poisson , ou un bout de viande avec pate sauce tomate , et 30 metre plus loin salade crudité c'est tout avec 35/40° de chaleur ou vous faite le périple vers l'arriére à votre restaurant dédié mais ce que vous lisez sur menu est trés poétique , mais dans l assiette c'est different lolllllll fade, insipîde idem le soir là = servi à table , trés rapide , mais tiéde .... , nappe, serviette tissus enfin nourriture tres insipide , fade , partout à peine tiéde ou vous allez dans les 2 /3 restaurants payant certain vide tous les soirs . à 40€ minimum par pax ???? piscine privé yacht club ( pour 70/71 cabines = 200 pax ) au 18 etage 4 metres sur 4 metres profondeur 1.10 m il y a 20 personnes dedans ( debout ) plus 2 jacuzzi 6 places

on a été voir le buffet pour les catégories pax moins chers , c'est de 12 à 15.30 hr comme dans un metro parisien , la foule qui se bouscule , pas assez de place assisse et pizza , hamburger , barquette papier = frite , hot dog , fruit.........

pour trouver la piscine catégorie aurea c'est le parcours de combattant , mais là personne oufff calme , idem introuvable l'accés au tobogan aquatique ( court) mais personne aussi

voilà bonne critique

bonjour,

je dois partir en croisière avec le costa smeralda fin avril, départ de Marseille et escale en Espagne et Italie. bateau de plus de 5 000 croisiéristes et 1 500 personnes d'équipage. actuellement pas de possibilité d'annuler la croisières sauf à payer 20% voir 30% du coût. Je suis surpris, à la vue de la capacité du bateau, que cette croisière ne soit pas annulée par les conditions à respecter pour éviter le coronavirus

Merci pour vos retours sur ce sujet

Amicalement

Après l’Italie c’est au tour de l’Espagne de fermer les ports ( y compris Barcelone )

Msc Grandiosa définitivement annulé, il rentre à Marseille demain puis Gênes et Rome pour débarquer les passagers.

Les Transatlantiques s’annoncent compliqué!

On se retrouvera donc d’ici 1 mois pour parler de croisière en Méditerranée...