Je viens d' aller chercher mon carnet de voyage. ( parchemin incrusté de fougères, reliure soignée, et couverture en cuir brodée de files d' or ..... 🙂 ...non, c ' est faux 😎 😊 : ..... des photocopies de l' agence )
Bon, nous arrivons de Paris ( d'ou nous ne sommes que 12 ), a 7 h 30.
Il semblerait que l' on nous offre une excursion a Dubaï ( 19 DX ) avant de nous embarquer ... a 13 h.
J' ai découvert également une excursion MCT 05 a Muscat , AUH 01 a Abou, et IRK 02 en Crète.
Nous sommes satisfait de ne rien avoir réservé....avant ce carnet.
Nathalie, Alexandre, ... vous n' avez personne sur votre " face de bouc " fan de croisières, qui par de chez nous ? ... vol EK 076 sur A 380 .....de 21 h 30.
Coucou
Non pas connaissance de personnes qui partent de Paris.
Une connaissance de Paris (baltazer) mais qui a choisi de prendre le vol de Nice..pour éviter la nuit dans l'avion et avoir la chambre d’hôtel.
"Il semblerait que l' on nous offre une excursion a Dubaï (19 DX) avant de nous embarquer... a 13 h.
"
Bonne nouvelle? ou pas?
Cela peut aussi vouloir sous entendre que l'embarquement ne peut se faire le matin.? Parce que si msc "offre" il doit y avoir une raison.
Attention donc à ceux qui avait prévu d'embarquer tôt le matin.
"MCT 05 a Muscat, AUH 01 a Abou, et IRK 02 en Crète. "
oui c'est le pack grand voyage nous l'avons aussi.
Nous avons une connaissance (également en YC) politique mais il part le 22 mars et pas dans le même hôtel, mais on va y arriver à se retrouver si on trouve le temps, sinon cela sera au TSL le 25 mars...
Votre excursion selon le plan fera un départ à 19h30, l'exercice de sauvetage à 20h30 ?
DUBAÏ DE NUIT DEPUIS LE BURJ KHALIFA - DXB19
Cette excursion vous donnera l'occasion d'admirer en une seule fois la beauté époustouflante de Dubaï de nuit et le Burj Khalifa. Après avoir quitté le port, vous
parcourrez la route Cheikh Zayed, le boulevard le plus élégant de Dubaï, jusqu'au Burj Khalifa, qui détient actuellement le record de la tour la plus élevée au monde, avec
ses vertigineux 828 mètres de hauteur. La plateforme d'observation, au 124ème étage, vous offrira une vue à 360 degrés sur la ville de Dubaï et sur ses lumières
scintillantes. L'excursion vous fera découvrir ensuite le « Dubai Mall », le plus grand centre commercial du monde. Vous disposerez de temps libre afin de découvrir les
magasins de marques célèbres et les autres attractions variées du centre, comme un aquarium et un zoo sous-marin (billets d'entrée non inclus dans le prix de
l'excursion). Cette visite vous offrira également l'opportunité d'admirer le spectacle unique de la fontaine de Dubaï : une féérie fascinante de jets d'eau jaillissant d'un
bassin situé au pied du bâtiment Burj Khalifa. Vous regagnerez ensuite le port. Remarque : cette excursion n'est disponible que les vendredis soir. En raison de
différences significatives entre la température extérieure et celle des endroits visités ou des véhicules d'excursion climatisés, il vous est recommandé, pour votre confort,
d'emporter un gilet ou un cardigan léger en coton. Excursion disponible le vendredi soir ; départ du tour : 19h30.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fandepaquebots/
BouelMogdad, Navarino, Ausonia, Royal Viking Sky, Costa Riviera, Azur Victoria, Mediterranea, MSC Musica-Fantasia-Divina-Splendida-Preziosa, Fortuna, Serena, Magica, Concordia, Pacifica, Luminosa, Costa Neoromantica
Pour Dubai on est tentés de réserver au plus tôt une excursion mais tu signales que nous aurons , au conditionnel , une offerte par MSC... du coup on va peut être attendre quitte à réserver sur place.
Nous avons le même package :
"MCT 05 a Muscat, AUH 01 a Abou, et IRK 02 en Crète.
Bonjour
Non non.. c'est Christian qui a signalé cela mais lui vient sur le vol de paris qui arrive très tôt : comme il ne sera peut être pas possible d'embarquer à cette heure là : msc leur prévoit une excursion pour patienter jusqu'à l'heure de l'embarquement : du mois moi je l'interprète ainsi
Cela ne sera pas notre cas puisque nous avons un transfert de l’hôtel à 11h30.
Nous partons de lyon le matin jusqu'à Nice. Et le vol Emirate l'après midi. Nous avons réservé la burj Khalifa seul sans msc bien avant d'avoir connaissance des excursions que vous citez.
Nous avons bien le pack de 3 excursions offertes pareil à tous mais n'avons pas d'excursion msc pour Dubai. Les visites par nous mêmes nous conviennent et ne regrettons pas .
À bientôt
SHFA19DX Shorex Package MCT 05AUH01 IRK 02 est le nom de l'offre d'excursions qui est inclus aux passagers Français de cette croisière.( en tout cas ceux qui ont réservé il y a longtemps).
Au début des réservations le FA19 était MCT05 DXB06 PIR04 puis l'itinéraire a changé puisqu'il n'y a plus d'escale au Piré (PIR04) et le pack a été modifié .
Il n'y a pas d'excursion DXB 19 le samedi. ( dx19 n'existe pas).
Bon weekend.
Catherine
................SHFA19DX Shorex Package MCT 05AUH01 IRK 02 est le nom de l'offre d'excursions qui est inclus aux passagers Franç .......................
Merci Catherine pour ces informations ....
Nous devrions donc embarquer plus tôt que 13 h, .?? !... depuis 7 h 30 a l' aéroport ..... ou il va y avoir un colossal petit déjeuner 😛
................. Excursion disponible le vendredi soir ; départ du tour : 19h30.
Avé Alexandre,
.. 😉 , Nous le vendredi soir , nous dînons a 11 000 m, d' altitude .... 😎
Catherine a donné l' explication de cette surprise dans le carnet de voyage ...
En Arrivant sur Dubaï, je me mettrai sur le balcon de l' A 380, pour tout voir quand même .... 😛
Pour se reconnaître j'ai demandé à mon mari de porter le tour de cou msc bleu. C'est une idée mais le tour de cou est petit. Le sac msc est plus grand c'est une bonne idée. Nathalie tu peux nous donner un point de rencontre.
Nous serons depuis 9h40 a l'aéroport.
Est ce qu'il y a des personnes intéressées pour Rome, il reste 4 places disponibles dans la voiture de notre guide Carole qui nous prend au bateau à 9h15 et nous ramène le soir au bateau .
Je vous mettrai en contact avec elle si vous êtes intéressé. Le coût par personne est de 50€. Pour infos, nous la connaissons déjà et cette guide est très professionnelle, elle nous dépose au pied de chaque moulinets et nous donne les explications en français sans s'éloigner de nous ; nous pouvons lui faire confiance.
Bonne soirée
Bonjour Nathalie,
Je viens de relever sur notre carnet de voyage le détail suivant :
SHFA19DX - FA19 Shorex Package MCT05 AUH01 IRK02
Les références en gras correspondent à quoi?
Bonne journée
Maghnia
J'ai la même chose que toi (pas en caractères gras ...) . Je n'ai pas de précisions mais sur le transfert en bus il y a écrit Sharaf tours . C'est probablement les transferts et peut être l'hôtel .
Bon dimanche
Claudine
Merci Claudine, Nathalie,
Ce doit être ça effectivement.
Que devient notre apéro de rencontre J4, tombé à l'eau.....lol🙁
Bon dimanche
Non l'apéro n'est pas tombé à l'eau ... au contraire il s' est transformé en apéro + repas en commun au buffet pour ceux qui le désirent .
C'est bien ça Christian ?
A bientôt
Claudine
Merci Claudine, Nathalie,
Ce doit être ça effectivement.
Que devient notre apéro de rencontre J4, tombé à l'eau.....lol🙁
Bon dimanche
Non l'apéro n'est pas tombé à l'eau ... au contraire il s' est transformé en apéro + repas en commun au buffet pour ceux qui le désirent .
C'est bien ça Christian ?................
Mais oui, mais oui ..... rien n' est tombé a l' eau:
- J4, a la galette : - un grand rassemblement, ou le nom du chapitre a écrire sera : " - je ne les imaginais pas comme cela " 😎😎😎 🤪
- puis, a l' arrière de la " cafét " un buffet collectif, ( voir régional ?? ).... toujours, pour ceux ..... qui le veulent 😉
( Ahhhh, les " quileveulent " le deuxième goût du groupe .... 😊
Bonjour Alexandre,
Nous avons réservé Petra avec le déjeuner en novembre.. je l'avais signalé sur le forum.
En fait il reste toujours des places à bord, il faut aller vite. Sur le site, il peut y avoir des désistements...
Bonne recherche
Maghnia
Bonjour Claudine
Nous avons réservé la même que toi et elle figure effectivement sur le carnet de voyage.
Je suis entrain de préparer les vêtements, mais quel casse tête.. j'en emmène toujours trop...il va falloir me calmer car je vais certainement prendre un forfait blanchisserie.
Bon dimanche
Maghnia
Bonjour Claudine
Nous avons réservé la même que toi et elle figure effectivement sur le carnet de voyage.
Je suis entrain de préparer les vêtements, mais quel casse tête.. j'en emmène toujours trop...il va falloir me calmer car je vais certainement prendre un forfait blanchisserie.
Bon dimanche
Maghnia
C'est vrai que préparer des valises c'est toujours une grande interrogation .
Pour nous , même si c'est notre dix neuvième croisière , ce sera la plus longue et la première dans cette région du monde .
D'autant que les températures seront différentes à Dubai (26 º le matin 32 º l'après midi le 25 mars ) et à Rome le 10 avril .
Pour cette croisière , le sujet de mes questions c'est surtout sur les chaussures .
Pour moi , je fais un premier "jet " , puis je pèse et je rajoute ou j'enlève des choses .
Claudine
Pour la traversée de novembre, l'excursion de Petra en français était complète bien avant le départ de la croisière. Il restait quelques places le premier jour du voyage en allemand, un couple qui partageait notre table ont voulu reserver deux places deux jours plus tard, tous les bus étaient complets. Il faut dire que Petra est l'escale la plus sollicitée.
J'espère que vous allez réussir à réserver, d'après les forums c'est une escursion très prisée.
Il faut dire que la faire par ses propres moyens est risqué, on risque de louper le bateau...ce serait dommage, à moins de le rejoindre à la nage...
Bon dimanche
Maghnia
Bonjour
Nous avons réservé Petra avec le repas depuis janvier et bien que cette excursion soit chère elle a été complète rapidement.
Espérons que vous puissiez la commander sur je bateau lors de votre arrivée
Bonne journée
Bonjour Rose,
Absent quelques jours j'avais complètement zappé votre msg et proposition
si il y a encore deux places je suis intéressé par cette proposition pour visiter rome
Merci encore
Jakez(Kersel)
je vous donne les coordonnées de notre guide francophone Carole FAUDE PANETTA, son adresse mail est la suivante : carole_pan55@yahoo.it.
Vous pouvez la joindre également sur Messager à l'adresse suivante : carole faude panetta.
Réservez là rapidement avant que les places ne soient prises.
Je vous laisse vous mettre en rapport avec elle pour la réservation de la journée du lundi 10 avril.
Elle nous prend à la sortie du bateau entre 9 h et 9h15 et nous réglons sa prestation de 55€ au retour ; je crois avoir mis 50€ mais c'est une erreur de ma part;
Tenez-moi informée si vous avez des soucis pour réserver ou la joindre. Elle vous communiquera le programme de visite.
à bientôt
Merci Rose et merci également a Sylvain pour cette information je viens d'avoir carole Paneta tout est OK nous ferons donc parti de votre excursion RDV avec Carole a 9h15 au pied de la coupée A bientot a bord (Nous prenons le vol de Nice pour Dubai le 23/03 histoire de visiter Dubai que je n'ai pas vu depuis 1998!)
Merci encore
Jacques
Hello
Après beaucoup d'hésitation sur diverses compagnies ( explora, océania, yc, HAL, NCL) et plusieurs destinations Norvège, Irlande, Islande.
J'ai finalement choisi NCL star pour l'Islande.
J'avais déjà regardé cet itinéraire quand je suis parti en avril pour l'Écosse avec CFC mais il était vraiment très cher .
Il faut savoir que CFC fait souvent des dernières minutes 45 jours avant le départ ( moment où on ne peut plus annuler ni modifier )
Donc là j'ai eu une belle opportunité que j'ai saisi.
Départ le 23 août.
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
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!