Merci !!!!!!
pour nous dernière ligne droite , décollage demain 20h !!!
Bonne croisière, vous ne serez probablement pas déçus même si le Fortuna n'est pas tout à fait à la hauteur pour ce beau parcours.
J'ai eu la chance (travail et plaisir) de parcourir toute la France. Je suis aussi allé vers 120 autres pays et fait 43 croisières maritimes et fluviales avec 7 compagnies.
Bonjour et bon retour ! je vous laisse souffler un peu mais si vous pouviez nous faire un compte rendu de votre croisière , et de votre séjour à Singapour , ce serait super pour nous qui partirons plus tard ! Quel hôtel d'ailleurs à Singapour , avez vous utilisé la bagagerie du terminal croisière le dernier jour avant d'aller à l'aéroport ? Pouvez vous nous donner les horaires de service du diner car le deuxième semble finir très tard surtout si on veut démarrer tôt le lendemain ! Tous vos conseils sont les bienvenus surtout concernant les escales ...
Cordialement et d'avance merci !
Bonjour Hélène,
je ferai bien sûr un compte rendu, mais il me reste 5080 photos à trier après un premier écrémage journalier !
Pour Singapour, nous avons pris un hôtel simple mais correct la première nuit, le Strand Hôtel, et le Marina Bay la seconde nuit, super.
Pour le dîner, choix varié et de qualité, nous étions au second service de 21h30 (21h15 pour l'autre restaurant) et ça a été la galère, nous terminions toujours vers 23h30, à tel point que nous avons fait plusieurs soirées pizzas entre nous. Le pauvre garçon se démenait mais il n'arrivait pas à suivre sans sommelier pour le soulager un peu. Le premier est à 18h45 et 19h
Le manque de personnel se fait vraiment sentir à tous les niveaux sur ce bateau et nous sommes plutôt mécontents de Costa. Heureusement que l'itinéraire est génial !
Nous avons utilisés le service de transfert des bagages vers l'aéroport qui se trouve après les contrôles au niveau 0 du terminal croisières.
Cordialement.
Alain
J'ai eu la chance (travail et plaisir) de parcourir toute la France. Je suis aussi allé vers 120 autres pays et fait 43 croisières maritimes et fluviales avec 7 compagnies.
Merci beaucoup ! Et bon triage de photos , en attendant votre compte rendu ... On a tout notre temps , disons avant l'été ...mais ce sera avec plaisir qu'on vous lira !!
Cordialement
Hélène
Bonjour aux futurs croisiéristes sur ce très beau circuit du Costa Fortuna,
Voici comme annoncé, avec un peu de retard, un CR succint de nos 3 semaines sur le Costa Fortuna.
- Arrivée à Singapour le 15 janvier avec transfert Costa.
- Lankawi :
*17 janvier :8h15, taxi du port et téléphérique du Mont Mat Cincang (23 km). Ensuite, Tanjung Rhu Beach (30 km) (xx) sympa.
- Phuket :
*18/1 - (en navette) 8h30 taxi pour centre-ville de Phuket (17km).Visite de la ville à pied (HAI LENG STATUE « Golden Dragon Monument » - SOI ROMANI ROAD - THALANG ROAD - PHANG NGA ROAD - WAT JUI JUI) architecture très très interessante. Après-midi plage de Patong (-) repos mais mer pleine d’algues.
Soirée Patong (quartier « chaud » très bruyant plein de monde et plus festif que glauque).
*19 janvier - 8h, taxi réservé pour 7h vers les plages du sud (pour snorkeling) Ya nui beach (xxx) (20km), puis temple Wat Chaithararam (11km) et Big Buddah (beau point de vue) puis plage Kata(x) et retour Bateau vers 17h.
- Penang :
*20 janvier : 8h - taxi direction nord ouest pour 2 temples magnifiques hors la ville le Thaï face au Birman, ensuite plage Batu Ferringi(x) puis retour taxi dans la ville à pied et en tuk tuk (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Chulia Steet, Kuan Yin temple, Kho Kongsi...) retour Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal à 17h.
- Port Klang :
*21/1 et 4/2 - Nous sommes allés à Kuala Lampur en taxi (grand taxi personnes 620/640 ringitts pour plus de 8 heures) : départ 8h15 (50’) retour (50’) pour 17h au bateau.
Twin Towers (xxx) + KL tower (très beau point de vue) + place de l’indépendance + chinatown et divers bâtiments art nouveau/art déco. Le chauffeur du taxi vous conseillera et vous attendra à chaque lieu d’intérêt. Très belle ville et très bon « deal ».
- Singapour :
* 22/1- 9h directement à Marina Bay Sands par MRT 3ème tour 57 èm étage, Gardens of the bay puis des km à pied Helix Bridge, Boat Quay et Clarke Quay.et nous avons remonté nord bridge street et la Victoria street …le quartier colonial jusqu’à Arab street un quartier très surprenant.(il y a tant à voir dans cette ville incroyable). Retour au bateau le + tard possible…(taxi pas très cher mais métro et bus très pratiques).
- Koh Samui :
*24/1 - 9h (en tender) 9h30 depuis Nathon Pear Choeng Mon beach(x) puis Coral Cove beach(x) mer un peu agitée retour sur Wat Plai Laem (un site exceptionnel)et Big Buddha puis village de pécheurs retour Nathon.
- Laem Chabang :
*25/1 - Nous avons réservé un van pour 7 personnes. Pour 145 $ aller et retour du Terminal croisière de Laem Chabang à Bangkok. Avec un départ à 8h30 (le bateau accoste à 7h) et un retour de Bangkok à 18h (de l’Hôtel Mandarin Oriental – cet hôtel magnifique est situé en bord de rivière ce qui permet l’accès par bateau soit au centre historique soit un tour en bateau dans les Klong etc…) mais le trajet a duré environ 3h et le retour 2h30…. donc partir plus tôt.
*26/1 –8h départ pour Pattaya en taxi. Mauvaise expérience : Bali Hai Pier à Pattaya nous avons pris une vedette rapide pour aller sur l’ile de Kho Larn en espérant faire un peu de snorkeling : une arnaque ! les navigateurs des speed boat ne vous emmènent que là où ils veulent et non pas là où vous voulez aller !! et en plus ils sont pressés donc « tape cul » peu agréable ! et la plage surpeuplée pas terrible pour masque et tuba. A éviter.
Heureusement après nous sommes allés en taxi au Santuaire of Truth. C’est une très belle réalisation, prévoyez une petite heure : ça vaut la peine.
- Sihanoukville :
*27/1 -9h nous sommes partis en tuk tuk (pour 40 dollars le chauffeur est resté toute la journée avec nous) nous sommes allés directement à Otres Long Beach (12 km de Victory Beach Pear), une magnifique plage, un lieu de rêve : the secret garden un hotel restaurant en bord de plage accueillant et très peu cher, puis visite de temples (Wat Krom et Leu Pagoda). La ville (pas très propre) présente peu d’intérêt à part peut-être pour le shopping, il y a, parait-il, un marché intéressant.
- Singapour :
*29/1 – Nous avons pris un taxi pour le cable de l’ile de Sentosa …. C’est à voir. Nous avons visité un max d’attractions et réalisations « gaudesques » , grâce aux trains, cables, funiculaires, trams etc. qui vous proposent des circuits et nous avons fini la matinée sur une plage artificielle : Tajung beach ensuite en metro de Harbourfront à Outram Park Station par le Nord East Line puis à pied Keong Saik Road, Club Steet, Sri Mariamman Temple, China town, une richesse architecturale exceptionnelle et très colorée.
- Phuket :
*31 janvier - Toute la journée Phang Nga Bay depuis Patong en minibus puis en Big Boat. Très belle excursion.
Le soir à nouveau la folie Patong.
*1er février : en taxi pour 7 heures : plages du sud avec Ya Nui beach, puis observatoire Cape et Karon beach (xx)
- Lankawi :
*2 février - en longtail vers Pulau Beras Basah à partir d’un village proche de l’accostage. La plage est plutôt un lieu de visite, l’eau est trouble et pas terrible pour masque et tuba. De plus, la plage est envahie de singes voleurs et agressifs. Ensuite, en taxi, nous avons fait un tour dans Kuah, la capitale de l’ile. Pas grand-chose à voir, à part le l’espace très bien aménagé de l’Aigle de Lankawi et un très joli petit Temple Bouddhiste au nord-est près de la ville.
- Penang :
*3 février :8h - taxi jusqu'à Batu Maung avec plusieurs arrêts. Puis retour vers la vieille ville, mais en passant par le Snake Temple et le temple Kek Lok Si (xx), puis Penang Hill .Ce trajet d'environ 60 km s’est fait avec un taxi tarifé à l'heure, pour 7 heures (environ 400 ringitts) :. Nous finissons la journée par une promenade dans la vieille ville et retour terminal vers 17h15.
- Singapour :
*5/2 – Nous n’avons pas attendu le transfert aéroport avec Costa pour partir le + tôt possible (vers 9h15) en taxi (15 dollars singapour). Nous avons laissé nos 4 bagages en consigne à l’aéroport (2 grosses valises et 2 petites = pour 25 dollars singapour). Ainsi nous avons pu profiter du dernier jour à Singapour avant notre vol prévu à 23h10. Plus de 9h30 de marche et transports en commun pour les quartiers Art Nouveau/Art Déco de Katong et de Geylang puis China Town (Nouvel An chinois), Little India… et 21h retour aéroport back to Paris and Marseille.
Bien cordialement et bonne croisière.
Crijan .... Prochaines croisières:
Costa Fortuna du 30 aout d'Amsterdam (Angleterre - Irlande - Ecosse) 15j
Costa Favolosa du 15 novembre de Marseille (Espagne - Maroc - Italie) 12J
Costa Pacifica du 13/2/2021 de Buenos Aires (Amérique du sud) 18j.
Bonjour
Merci beaucoup pour votre CR il est bien détaillé
Nous avons fait cette croisière début janvier et nous avons fait beaucoup moins de choses
Encore merci
Belle journée ensoleillée
Florence
pour info j'ai commencé un C.R de la croisière, c'est ici :
https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9307895;live=1;
Bonne lecture
J'ai eu la chance (travail et plaisir) de parcourir toute la France. Je suis aussi allé vers 120 autres pays et fait 43 croisières maritimes et fluviales avec 7 compagnies.
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!