The path to the viewpoint offers a lovely panorama even before reaching the top.
But then—disaster! My husband falls and cuts his head open. The walk is over. Returning to the ship with a bleeding head, the trip around the port feels much longer on the way back than it did going out. The cut isn’t deep, so I’ll play nurse—we have everything we need on board.
Three steri-strips later, we comfort ourselves with a pleasant meal on the Bougainville’s aft terrace.
After the meal, I head back ashore alone—some rest is necessary for the injured. It’s really bad luck for what was supposed to be the best day of the cruise.
The west coastal path leads toward Kamini. There’s no one on this stunning trail. It runs all the way to a picturesque little fishing port, which is especially lovely at this time of year.
Since I still have time, I continue along this beautiful path that winds along the shore until I reach this charming little bridge.
On the other side of the bridge, a tiny village stretches along the waterfront, made up of second homes and small beaches with crystal-clear waters.
As the path veers away from the seaside and heads inland, I end my walk here and turn back.
The coastal path heading east from the village has less charm and appeal.
Except for this stylized sun, a contemporary art piece installed in 2022 in a former slaughterhouse turned art space. The sculpture embodies the sun god Apollo, blending Greek mythology with contemporary art.
Back on the ship, we watch the first sunset of the evening, our last night on this cruise.
Hi Catherine,
It’s great you had the essentials for first aid. We always travel with a basic supply of medicine and bandages just in case.
Your husband enjoyed your stunning photos after your excursion—though I’m sure it would’ve been even better for him to see it in person.
Have a lovely day! Guylène
He actually discovered the photos while reading the trip report—I didn’t dare show them to him earlier so as not to upset him even more.
A basic first-aid kit is always essential. I’ll take this opportunity to share the little story behind this accident.
To clean the wound, I quickly used up all the tissues in the cabin. I stepped into the hallway to look for our cabin steward to ask for more. No one in the corridor.
Then the captain appeared. A charming man. I told him, "I know I shouldn’t be asking you this, but do you know where I could find some tissues?" and I explained why. He rummaged through a cart, and just then, our "savior," as the captain called him, walked by—the ship’s doctor.
He explained the situation to the doctor, who told me to meet him at the ship’s "hospital" so he could take a look.
Now, I was watching both of them (*It’s clearly stated in the terms that visits are chargeable and non-refundable, and I’m used to onboard ship fees*). So I told them I’d clean it myself (*and I swear I hate anything involving blood*), because I didn’t want to pay $200 for a visit. That made them laugh.
The doctor told me to come by the hospital—no problem. He examined my husband, gave us some gauze, disinfectant, and a cute duck-blue bandage, all for free. 🙂
That’s the kind of human connection, closeness, and kindness you find with Ponant.
Despite the unexpected challenges we encountered, we’re really happy with our cruise. We had a great time on board in what we found to be a unique atmosphere with Ponant. We loved the quality of the dining, the welcome, and the service. We shared some wonderful, warm, and friendly evenings with some really nice fellow passengers. That’s already a lot to ask for on a cruise.
The itinerary was original and different from the cruises in the Cyclades we’ve done before—those islands can get really crowded. I chose it because we didn’t know any of the stops.
The weather was a bit gloomy, not what we’d expected, and the trip would’ve been even more magical under bright sunshine.
We had two Greek guides who were perfectly fluent in French, highly qualified, with PhDs in history, and each with 50 years of professional experience. While their lectures were frequent and very interesting, as guides, they weren’t exactly captivating. Being a guide is an art, different from being a lecturer. As for the third guide… we wondered what she was even doing on the ship. The tour we took with her was completely uninteresting.
I’m glad I did this cruise, but I won’t be doing it again. Some stops were too short—we didn’t have time to explore Skiathos and Límnos on our own after the excursions, which was really frustrating.
The service on board Ponant is still excellent, though some of the premium offerings and little luxuries have taken a hit. The Pata Negra tastings are gone, Ladurée macarons have been replaced with Hermé, and the toiletries aren’t from Hermès or L’Occitane anymore—they’re in dispensers from a brand I’ve never heard of.
What I really didn’t like was having to drink recycled water—it wasn’t good at all. At the prices these cruises cost, the least they could do is offer mineral water.
That said, the quality of the meals was an absolute delight, a treat from start to finish. The sommelier even had sulfite-free wine to offer. The service was relaxed but attentive, warm, and generous—it was a real pleasure.
Traveling on a mostly French-speaking ship is a real joy and makes it much easier to connect with other passengers. Sharing a table with friendly people really enhances the cruise experience.
I love Ponant, but I’m not sure I’ll sail with them again after my next cruise—their prices have become unreasonable, shooting up across all destinations in recent months.
A thousand thanks for this great review (as usual)!
It’s too bad there are fewer reviews on this forum—there’s a packed calendar, but not many trip reports. Sure, it’s not the easiest thing to do, but even a quick recap or summary is always helpful. Anyway!
The free visit to the doctor was a great perk (a big plus for Ponant), since most companies charge astronomical fees for even a small "ouch."
True, the weather didn’t cooperate, but it seems the onboard services made up for it. That said, drinking recycled water on a cruise like that feels a bit "cheap."
I’d love to try this company, but the prices are really over the top.
Can’t wait for the next cruise (coming up fast!), which will be very different from this one—and especially for the longer review, since we love your writing!
Thanks, Alfred, for your message—it really made my day to read it!
Like you, I’d love to see more trip reports or even just quick summaries of experiences. It’s such a pleasure to swap cruise stories and hear about others’ adventures.
I really didn’t like the recycled water at all, and I told them so in my comments. But ecology seems to be the easy excuse. Thankfully, there’s always the Champagne 😉 and the cocktails are excellent.
I can’t wait for my next cruise—especially since it’ll be an expedition cruise, my favorite kind. Unless there’s a miracle, I’m afraid this might be my last with Ponant. It’s a shame, but enough is enough.
A big thank you, Catherine, for this great review and your beautiful photos.
Hydra is a really pleasant stop.
What a shame about your husband.
It’s true that during my Ponant cruise, the ship’s doctor was very present, especially at reception where he asks if you have any health issues.
I heard he saw passengers who reported a cough for free. The cost of a visit to the infirmary is quite reasonable, in line with expectations, even if it’s a bit above the French social security rates.
Of course, it’s nothing like the outrageous prices charged on American ships, and that’s a big plus for Ponant.
Several passengers regretted a certain drop in service quality and an increase in prices.
Thanks again, and can’t wait for the next cruises!
Thanks, Catherine, for reading all the way through.
Indeed, I don’t think any Ponant passenger would disagree: the drop in service quality, combined with the price increases, has become a shared observation.
Thanks for this detailed review with gorgeous photos.
I’ll post a review of the short cruise in Holland I’ve got planned with CFC from April 11th to 16th, 2026, but no photos—I don’t know how to do that.
Have a great weekend! Guylène
Thanks, Guylène, for your kind words—it’s really nice of you. I think we’ll all be happy to read your next travel journal.
It’s not very complicated to insert images. How to do it is explained in the FAQ:
On the page where you’re writing your public post, click the "Browse/Upload" button (a new window will open). Then, in the new window, select your photo/image file and click the "Upload image" button. The allowed file types are: jpg, png, and bmp.
Once your photo is uploaded, you can click the "Add to text" button below the photo to insert it into your post where the blinking cursor is. The photo will appear in large format in your text once it’s posted or when you preview it (using the "Preview" button).
If you don’t insert the photo into your text, it will appear as a small thumbnail at the bottom of your post as an attachment. Users can view it in large format by clicking on it.
Thanks again, Catherine, for those beautiful, evocative stops—it should inspire others (including myself, of course!) to take the time to tap away on their keyboards and share even a short review, since it brings so much joy to everyone. And it’s true, there’s such a mismatch between a packed cruise calendar and so few reviews. I used to be a regular review writer myself, but I stopped, thinking there wasn’t much left to inform or move people. But *mea maxima culpa*—even if we’re not Nobel Prize winners in literature, we can always provide someone with useful info… and that’s always a win. So, let’s keep our wonderful forum alive, saved by a miracle, and pick up the pen for texts and photos. I’ll keep Catherine’s tutorial in my travel journal for my own tips.
I promise, I’ll get to it next time—I’m leaving at the end of March and will write a little review.
Thank you for following along until the end of this trip.
Sharing experiences is always a pleasant moment to spend on the forum. It’s a great idea to write more travel journals—I’ll be happy to read yours.
See you soon, and happy holidays to you too.
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for your great review and beautiful photos—I followed them with interest since Ponant isn’t mentioned much on VF given the prices. I’m not sure what to think about your conclusion: should I go or not? Sometimes there are transatlantic crossings without stops that aren’t too expensive, just to try Ponant 😉
mich74
Thanks for following me.
The price increase for Ponant cruises is outrageous, and I’m not the only one discouraged from traveling with them again, even though I really like their travel style and services. Up to a 60% increase for the same destination from one year to the next is just excessive.
You’re right—only the "sea voyages" without stops are at more reasonable prices. Often, it’s Ponant regulars who do these and then move on to another cruise. You really have to love the sea, because is a cruise without stops really a cruise, or just a ferry?
Below, I’m sharing some passenger comments I read on Facebook.
You really made me laugh with "cruise or ferry" 😉 for a transatlantic trip, I’d rather think of a luxurious hotel and a great restaurant where you can really enjoy the ship.
If Ponant manages to fill their ships, they won’t lower the prices.
Oceania has really increased their cruise prices and reduced the perks—the Ultimate package is a thing of the past.
If they manage to fill their ships, Ponant won’t lower their prices.
Oceania has really raised their cruise prices and cut back on perks—the Ultimate benefits are a thing of the past.
That’s exactly it. Tough life for cruisers, huh? [;]
Thanks, Catherine, for this review!
I think PONANT can afford to raise its prices even more...
From my little experience, the ship was 90% full of regulars who mostly only knew COSTA or MSC and nothing else... and all convinced they were on the best cruise line in the world !
If only they knew there’s much better out there
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
It's well known that we don’t all have the same expectations when choosing a cruise.
Personally, despite some positive points—mainly the French language on board—I was really disappointed with Ponant, and even if there was a half-price offer, I wouldn’t go with them again.
The size of the cabins, and even the size of the ship and lounges, are an issue.
Celebrity and Oceania are in a completely different league, and Oceania, for me, offers superior dining, spaces, and even service compared to Ponant.
I’ve taken five cruises with them, on the Riviera, Allura, and Marina: a true delight with original itineraries. I hope the Marina will be renovated soon—their weak point is that there’s almost no French spoken.
I’m looking forward to trying Explora Journey, but unfortunately, the prices are very high there too! 😕
You're absolutely right—everyone has different expectations, and thankfully that keeps the variety in the offerings.
Clémence was the one who was right in the end; she really understood your profile.
For me, the small size of these ships is a real plus, allowing them to go where the bigger ones can’t. And for an expedition cruise, it’s even more of an advantage.
Of course, not everyone will appreciate the same things. Personally, Oceania really disappointed me on my last cruise.
Hi Catherine,
Indeed, our points of view differ, and we’ll never agree on this topic.
You’re comparing PONANT to CELEBRITY or OCEANIA.
In terms of price, with CELEBRITY, you can do 3 or 4 cruises for the same price as Ponant.
Sure, the ships are bigger, but the buffet, evening entertainment, and shows are much richer, and there’s a real pool—yet it’s still peaceful.
OCEANIA is high-quality and expensive too. The food is excellent, and the onboard service is far superior to Ponant’s. Apparently, the quality has dropped, which is a real shame.
I think Ponant isn’t for everyone—it’s very specific. The ship is so small you can’t even walk around the deck. It made me feel claustrophobic. Sea days must be really long without the chance to walk, entertain yourself, or go for a swim... Fortunately, there don’t seem to be many of those in their itineraries.
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
It’s not that we disagree. We simply have different tastes.
I love the "small ship" feel, the intimate atmosphere, and I appreciate the quality of the meals more than on American ships (no matter which ones). As for the pool, I couldn’t care less.
I find that you never get bored on these ships because there’s always a lecture, a pre-port briefing, or a daily debrief to attend.
What I love most are expedition cruises without excursions, where outings are done by Zodiac.
That, for me, is an unmatched joy as a cruise style.
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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
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 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.
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.
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!