Original post
Hi everyone,
I’d love to hear from your experience—does having just a carry-on bag actually save time during boarding and disembarking?
Thanks in advance!
Muriel
Saving time with just a carry-on bag on a cruise
by Ateliermurie
Translated into English.
Welcome to the forum!
Of course you save time without checked luggage. You just get off the plane and—boom—you're out. Waiting for baggage claim is at least half an hour (and sometimes your suitcase doesn’t even show up 😅). That said, watch out for prohibited items in your carry-on: bottles over 100ml, and so on… And you’ve gotta know how to travel light!
Of course you save time without checked luggage. You just get off the plane and—boom—you're out. Waiting for baggage claim is at least half an hour (and sometimes your suitcase doesn’t even show up 😅). That said, watch out for prohibited items in your carry-on: bottles over 100ml, and so on… And you’ve gotta know how to travel light!
Hello
Oh, absolutely! 😉 For the past few years, I’ve only traveled with a small carry-on suitcase. It’s a learning process! It means letting go of a lot of things and moving around without your usual habits. It’s all about surrendering—isn’t that the essence of travel? You just need to optimize space by rolling clothes and packing them side by side.
The advantages: -Time saved at departure: no checked bags, and I’d rather wander around the airport than stand in another line. -Time saved at arrival: I’ve waited over an hour at baggage carousels before. -No worries about lost luggage during a layover (been there, got nothing back). -No mix-ups with someone else’s bag (also been there—someone took mine, and I had to buy a bunch of stuff in New York). -No dragging luggage around on a multi-stop trip. -No scattered belongings in a hotel room. Easy! With so little to unpack... -No outrageous fees for extra baggage on low-cost flights.
Oh, absolutely! 😉 For the past few years, I’ve only traveled with a small carry-on suitcase. It’s a learning process! It means letting go of a lot of things and moving around without your usual habits. It’s all about surrendering—isn’t that the essence of travel? You just need to optimize space by rolling clothes and packing them side by side.
The advantages: -Time saved at departure: no checked bags, and I’d rather wander around the airport than stand in another line. -Time saved at arrival: I’ve waited over an hour at baggage carousels before. -No worries about lost luggage during a layover (been there, got nothing back). -No mix-ups with someone else’s bag (also been there—someone took mine, and I had to buy a bunch of stuff in New York). -No dragging luggage around on a multi-stop trip. -No scattered belongings in a hotel room. Easy! With so little to unpack... -No outrageous fees for extra baggage on low-cost flights.
Hello
Oh yes indeed! 😉 For the past few years, I’ve only traveled with a small suitcase that I take in the cabin. It’s a learning process! It means letting go of a lot of things and moving around without your usual habits. It’s all about letting go! But isn’t that the whole point of traveling? You just need to optimize space by rolling your clothes and packing them side by side.
I admire you 😊 I’d love to be able to do that, but it’s impossible for me. Even less so for my girlfriend 😅 The least we’ve managed is 12 kg for a month. And the backpack couldn’t be considered a carry-on 😢
Oh yes indeed! 😉 For the past few years, I’ve only traveled with a small suitcase that I take in the cabin. It’s a learning process! It means letting go of a lot of things and moving around without your usual habits. It’s all about letting go! But isn’t that the whole point of traveling? You just need to optimize space by rolling your clothes and packing them side by side.
I admire you 😊 I’d love to be able to do that, but it’s impossible for me. Even less so for my girlfriend 😅 The least we’ve managed is 12 kg for a month. And the backpack couldn’t be considered a carry-on 😢
I struggled at first, but after trying it, I’m hooked 😉
It’s so much better! That said, I’ve never gone on a long trip to a cold country—it’s easier with light clothes...
In the small extra bag (the one that fits under the seat), I manage to fit quite a bit: my camera, my toiletries, my iPad, a foldable backpack (3 € at Decathlon 😛), and my documents.
In the suitcase, my clothes and 2 pairs of shoes.
On me, I wear a bunch of things—jacket, sweater, scarf, etc.—which I’ll stash in the foldable bag once I arrive.
My travel buddies (the ones from India, for example 😉) did the same and are now total converts to the method !
And what about gifts on the way back—how do you bring them? 😅
Hi Montagnard, it’s for a cruise. But I think it should be the same, right!?
Thanks for the reply :)
Muriel
Hi Kate, and thanks for your reply.
As I mentioned to Montagnard, this is a Northern Europe cruise.
After a cruise in Norway, I realized how many clothes I didn’t wear over 15 days, so I’m scaling back my pack!
I’m thinking of boarding without waiting in line—who knows!
Muriel😇
Hi Montagnard, it's about a cruise. But I think it must be the same, right!?
Thanks for the reply :)
Muriel
Well, I'm stumped! 😕 I’ve only been on one cruise in my life, back in 2007, and I’ll admit I wouldn’t do it again (but that’s not the point). So, no idea 😅 There’s a section of the forum dedicated to cruises—ask your question there 🧑🏼✈️
Well, I'm stumped! 😕 I’ve only been on one cruise in my life, back in 2007, and I’ll admit I wouldn’t do it again (but that’s not the point). So, no idea 😅 There’s a section of the forum dedicated to cruises—ask your question there 🧑🏼✈️
And how do you bring back gifts on the way home? 🤔
I save money, I don’t bring back ANYTHING! :P No, that’s not true—actually, last time we cheated and bought a suitcase (a 5 € Samsonite knockoff) the day before flying back to France to carry all four of our amazing gifts.
I save money, I don’t bring back ANYTHING! :P No, that’s not true—actually, last time we cheated and bought a suitcase (a 5 € Samsonite knockoff) the day before flying back to France to carry all four of our amazing gifts.
as I was telling Montagnard, it's a cruise in Northern Europe.
I’ve never been on a cruise :/ But for flights, my tips stay the same.
I’ve never been on a cruise :/ But for flights, my tips stay the same.
And how do you bring back gifts? 🤔
I save money, I don’t bring back ANYTHING! 😛 No, that’s not true—last time we cheated and bought a suitcase (a Samsonite knockoff for 5 €) the day before heading back to France to carry all four of our amazing gifts.
This is starting to get too complicated for me... The only reason I’d consider it is the cost, since more and more, prices are "no luggage included," and you quickly hit 100 or 150 € per person. And since I like to travel stress-free, I don’t want to deprive myself—so I pay...
I save money, I don’t bring back ANYTHING! 😛 No, that’s not true—last time we cheated and bought a suitcase (a Samsonite knockoff for 5 €) the day before heading back to France to carry all four of our amazing gifts.
This is starting to get too complicated for me... The only reason I’d consider it is the cost, since more and more, prices are "no luggage included," and you quickly hit 100 or 150 € per person. And since I like to travel stress-free, I don’t want to deprive myself—so I pay...
On long-haul flights, I’ve never paid extra for a checked bag.
But maybe that’s changing... or will change.
I forgot one thing... Since there were four of us on our last trip, luckily our suitcases weren’t too bulky, otherwise they wouldn’t have fit in the taxi trunk.
Hi there,
Traveling with just a carry-on bag really saves time and makes things more convenient. It depends on the flights and airlines, of course, but most of the time, it lets passengers who’ve checked in online skip the check-in counter entirely, head straight to security, and board. Just a side note—on many scheduled flights departing from Schengen countries, you often don’t even need to show your ID card, just a quick scan at boarding. At arrival, you’re out in no time—big time-saver. All in all, you can easily save an hour or more.
What’s your destination? Which flight? Which airline? Sometimes, you still have to go to the check-in counter, depending on the airport.
Michel
Traveling with just a carry-on bag really saves time and makes things more convenient. It depends on the flights and airlines, of course, but most of the time, it lets passengers who’ve checked in online skip the check-in counter entirely, head straight to security, and board. Just a side note—on many scheduled flights departing from Schengen countries, you often don’t even need to show your ID card, just a quick scan at boarding. At arrival, you’re out in no time—big time-saver. All in all, you can easily save an hour or more.
What’s your destination? Which flight? Which airline? Sometimes, you still have to go to the check-in counter, depending on the airport.
Michel
Hi there, as I mentioned, this is a cruise, not a flight.
On my last trip, boarding was really tough, especially since I had a broken ankle!
Since then, I’ve had trouble standing for long periods, and I’m boarding in Le Havre.
Muriel
Your question made me think it was about a flight, especially since the category wasn’t very clearly about cruise preparation either.
Michel
Michel
Hi there,
Not having checked luggage usually saves time on arrival, but not always. You also need to travel very light.
Be careful—just because you don’t have checked luggage doesn’t mean you won’t pay extra fees!
Depending on the airline, some carry-on bags are now subject to charges, and they’re not always flexible (often strict, in fact) about allowed dimensions and weight.
Some carry-on bags also end up in the hold if there’s no space left in the cabin, but they’re usually returned at the aircraft door.
Checked luggage is still free with some airlines, so comparing fares is getting trickier...
Finally, at certain stopovers, checked luggage can arrive on the carousel before passengers do. This tends to happen in: - Countries with strict entry formalities - Places where labor costs are low enough to have plenty of staff for quick handling - Flights where few people check bags - Planes that land on the tarmac (requiring bus transport)
Checked luggage isn’t an issue when flying from a small regional airport to another similar one.
Not having checked luggage usually saves time on arrival, but not always. You also need to travel very light.
Be careful—just because you don’t have checked luggage doesn’t mean you won’t pay extra fees!
Depending on the airline, some carry-on bags are now subject to charges, and they’re not always flexible (often strict, in fact) about allowed dimensions and weight.
Some carry-on bags also end up in the hold if there’s no space left in the cabin, but they’re usually returned at the aircraft door.
Checked luggage is still free with some airlines, so comparing fares is getting trickier...
Finally, at certain stopovers, checked luggage can arrive on the carousel before passengers do. This tends to happen in: - Countries with strict entry formalities - Places where labor costs are low enough to have plenty of staff for quick handling - Flights where few people check bags - Planes that land on the tarmac (requiring bus transport)
Checked luggage isn’t an issue when flying from a small regional airport to another similar one.
I only travel with a small suitcase that I take into the cabin.
Wow, I could never do that! ! Even with summer clothes.
It’s not that our suitcases are extremely heavy (we always have a big margin), but with everything needed for 15 days to a month away, it’s impossible. Even less so for cooler/cold countries or those that require some supplies or equipment.
On the other hand, one suitcase for two people for a dozen summer days? No problem.
? Just optimize space by rolling clothes and packing them side by side.
I don’t know why, but dirty clothes always take up more space than clean ones. !
Well, yeah, we just toss them in more haphazardly...
Some travelers optimize by using vacuum bags.
Hard to do on the way back unless you only pack rags and leave them behind...
worry about loss during a layover
To avoid that, I take a minimum in my carry-on, and we split everything between our two suitcases.
If one gets lost, we’ll still have the other!
No luggage to drag around when doing a tour
Renting a car helps a lot with that.
How do you handle your toiletries bag?
Plus, I’ve never understood what’s allowed and what’s not... ! Shampoo and shower gel are fine. But toothpaste? Deodorant stick?
Wow, I could never do that! ! Even with summer clothes.
It’s not that our suitcases are extremely heavy (we always have a big margin), but with everything needed for 15 days to a month away, it’s impossible. Even less so for cooler/cold countries or those that require some supplies or equipment.
On the other hand, one suitcase for two people for a dozen summer days? No problem.
? Just optimize space by rolling clothes and packing them side by side.
I don’t know why, but dirty clothes always take up more space than clean ones. !
Well, yeah, we just toss them in more haphazardly...
Some travelers optimize by using vacuum bags.
Hard to do on the way back unless you only pack rags and leave them behind...
worry about loss during a layover
To avoid that, I take a minimum in my carry-on, and we split everything between our two suitcases.
If one gets lost, we’ll still have the other!
No luggage to drag around when doing a tour
Renting a car helps a lot with that.
How do you handle your toiletries bag?
Plus, I’ve never understood what’s allowed and what’s not... ! Shampoo and shower gel are fine. But toothpaste? Deodorant stick?
I don’t know why, but dirty clothes always take up more space than clean ones.
I keep them separate in a foldable bag and have them washed regularly by the hotels.
How do you handle your toiletries kit?
To hell with makeup—I put my products in 100ml max bottles. Nowadays, pharmacies have tons of mini products (including shaving foam!). Often, we buy things like shower gel, shampoo, and toothpaste on the spot. There are also hotel samples... It’s the meds that take up the most space!
Plus, I never understood what was allowed and what wasn’t... Shampoo and shower gel are fine. But toothpaste? Deodorant stick?
Everything is allowed as long as it doesn’t exceed 100ml. No problem with deodorant sticks or soap bars—they’re allowed. No size limit for meds. That’s how I’ve brought body creams and lotions.
Last month, I spent 10 days in Morocco with just the small bag that fits under the seat 😉 I spent hours figuring out how to optimize it! And I didn’t miss anything—except the frustration of only being able to bring back a few spices...
I keep them separate in a foldable bag and have them washed regularly by the hotels.
How do you handle your toiletries kit?
To hell with makeup—I put my products in 100ml max bottles. Nowadays, pharmacies have tons of mini products (including shaving foam!). Often, we buy things like shower gel, shampoo, and toothpaste on the spot. There are also hotel samples... It’s the meds that take up the most space!
Plus, I never understood what was allowed and what wasn’t... Shampoo and shower gel are fine. But toothpaste? Deodorant stick?
Everything is allowed as long as it doesn’t exceed 100ml. No problem with deodorant sticks or soap bars—they’re allowed. No size limit for meds. That’s how I’ve brought body creams and lotions.
Last month, I spent 10 days in Morocco with just the small bag that fits under the seat 😉 I spent hours figuring out how to optimize it! And I didn’t miss anything—except the frustration of only being able to bring back a few spices...
I regularly have them washed by hotels
Don’t do a circuit in Iceland—the laundry will quickly cost you more than a checked bag! 😄
Did you get your clothes back in one piece in India? Their cleaning is *energetic*...
Last month, I spent 10 days in Morocco with just the small bag that fits under the seat ;)
No way! I give up! 😲
Between contact lenses, spare glasses, my camera, smartphone, chargers, a book, some meds, documents, house and car keys, my wallet—it’s already full!
I suffered when Lufthansa lost my suitcase in Indonesia. In some countries, it’s really hard to find replacements, especially for women.
Don’t do a circuit in Iceland—the laundry will quickly cost you more than a checked bag! 😄
Did you get your clothes back in one piece in India? Their cleaning is *energetic*...
Last month, I spent 10 days in Morocco with just the small bag that fits under the seat ;)
No way! I give up! 😲
Between contact lenses, spare glasses, my camera, smartphone, chargers, a book, some meds, documents, house and car keys, my wallet—it’s already full!
I suffered when Lufthansa lost my suitcase in Indonesia. In some countries, it’s really hard to find replacements, especially for women.
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More discussions
Hello everyone!
Just a little backstory—my username comes from the year I took my first cruise.
Sixteen years and nine cruises later, I’m currently on my 10th, this time in the Yacht Club interior.
I’m taking you along with me!
Left Marseille on Wednesday, October 21st. After train troubles (issues on the Paris-Marseille line), then getting lost at La Joliette—years ago, I’d taken the metro and the port bus, thinking I had to go left once near the port, but no, the little gate is on the right after the shopping center.
Wait, she took the metro and bus to the Yacht Club? Yep! After waiting 15 minutes for the shuttle, once the bus dropped us off, it was a 15-20 minute walk to the ship. Finally, we made it to the boarding dock. Headed toward the little Yacht Club flag, where a nice young woman checked our IDs and gave us luggage tags. She walked us through security (we got to skip the line). After that, we went to the Yacht Club lounge, where two butlers were waiting. They offered us drinks, and a third person arrived to check passports and handle registration. Then, they gave us a form to pick a complimentary bottle—I didn’t do it right away. I felt a little rushed by everyone. I’ll explain more later in my story. Today, we’re in Barcelona. A few photos to come in the meantime.
Left Marseille on Wednesday, October 21st. After train troubles (issues on the Paris-Marseille line), then getting lost at La Joliette—years ago, I’d taken the metro and the port bus, thinking I had to go left once near the port, but no, the little gate is on the right after the shopping center.
Wait, she took the metro and bus to the Yacht Club? Yep! After waiting 15 minutes for the shuttle, once the bus dropped us off, it was a 15-20 minute walk to the ship. Finally, we made it to the boarding dock. Headed toward the little Yacht Club flag, where a nice young woman checked our IDs and gave us luggage tags. She walked us through security (we got to skip the line). After that, we went to the Yacht Club lounge, where two butlers were waiting. They offered us drinks, and a third person arrived to check passports and handle registration. Then, they gave us a form to pick a complimentary bottle—I didn’t do it right away. I felt a little rushed by everyone. I’ll explain more later in my story. Today, we’re in Barcelona. A few photos to come in the meantime.
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
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,
We just got back a few days ago from our cruise on the Equinox. While our previous cruises had gone more or less as planned, this one was full of setbacks from start to finish.
Here’s the 10-night itinerary: 10/20 Barcelona 10/21 Palma de Mallorca 10/22 at sea 10/23 La Spezia 10/24 Civitavecchia 10/25 Naples 10/26 at sea 10/27 Valletta 10/28 Palermo 10/29 at sea 10/30 Barcelona
The only port we knew a little was Rome, since we’d spent a night there a long time ago.
We booked through Logitravel in June 2026—the V2 balcony cabin was 3,199 € for four people. I’d hesitated to book, and sure enough, it wasn’t a great deal. A month later, in July, the price for the last V2 cabins at the front was 2,744 €, the category above (midship) was 2,953 €, and the one above that (midship with a larger balcony) was 3,117 €. Usually, I book ocean-view cabins, but none were available.
Also, when I booked, I’d chosen select dining (it was listed as available on Celebrity’s site), but when I received the cruise booklet, I discovered we’d been assigned to the second seating. I think it’s pretty poor of Logitravel not to keep us better informed about the change.
At the time of booking, the most convenient option from the north for transportation seemed to be the train there and the Barcelona-Brussels flight back. But if I’d waited until July, I would’ve had a good round-trip deal from Brussels too. I’ll come back to that.
Instead of spending a night in Barcelona, where hotels for four are very expensive, I’d opted to split the trip into two parts: the train to Montpellier the day before departure, then the Montpellier-Barcelona train the next day.
The trip to Montpellier went pretty well, but the first letdown: when we arrived, it was pouring rain, and the department was on orange alert for rain. So much so that the SNCF screens suggested postponing travel if possible and warned of potential train cancellations—right during the 24 hours we were traveling! Needless to say, the trip started off more stressful than anything else.
Our train arrived at Sud de France station, and I’d booked a hotel (Appart’City Saint-Roch, very nice) near Saint-Roch station since our train the next day was leaving from there. Because of the rain, I couldn’t even show the kids a bit of Montpellier. We just went to dinner close to the hotel and went back to sleep, crossing our fingers that our train the next day wouldn’t be canceled. It rained a lot during the night, but by the next morning, it had calmed down a lot. We got an email in the morning from Renfe saying our train would finally leave from Sud de France. So we had to leave the hotel earlier to get to the station. The train was announced with a few minutes’ delay, but it was there, and we eventually arrived in Barcelona without any issues, just a little quarter-hour late.
When we got to the Barcelona station hall, there was a huge "Taxis" sign on the left directing us outside (Peiro Square). There was a line of taxis and a few people waiting, but it moved quickly. It was around 1 PM when we got into a taxi, and we were expected for boarding between 1:30 and 2 PM. We got a very friendly driver who spoke French. The ride cost about 25 €, which was a good deal for four. We dropped off our suitcases at 1:25 PM. There were quite a few people, but it moved fast. Passport check, we were told the rooms would be ready at 2 PM, and we boarded. To be continued: arrival on board
We just got back a few days ago from our cruise on the Equinox. While our previous cruises had gone more or less as planned, this one was full of setbacks from start to finish.
Here’s the 10-night itinerary: 10/20 Barcelona 10/21 Palma de Mallorca 10/22 at sea 10/23 La Spezia 10/24 Civitavecchia 10/25 Naples 10/26 at sea 10/27 Valletta 10/28 Palermo 10/29 at sea 10/30 Barcelona
The only port we knew a little was Rome, since we’d spent a night there a long time ago.
We booked through Logitravel in June 2026—the V2 balcony cabin was 3,199 € for four people. I’d hesitated to book, and sure enough, it wasn’t a great deal. A month later, in July, the price for the last V2 cabins at the front was 2,744 €, the category above (midship) was 2,953 €, and the one above that (midship with a larger balcony) was 3,117 €. Usually, I book ocean-view cabins, but none were available.
Also, when I booked, I’d chosen select dining (it was listed as available on Celebrity’s site), but when I received the cruise booklet, I discovered we’d been assigned to the second seating. I think it’s pretty poor of Logitravel not to keep us better informed about the change.
At the time of booking, the most convenient option from the north for transportation seemed to be the train there and the Barcelona-Brussels flight back. But if I’d waited until July, I would’ve had a good round-trip deal from Brussels too. I’ll come back to that.
Instead of spending a night in Barcelona, where hotels for four are very expensive, I’d opted to split the trip into two parts: the train to Montpellier the day before departure, then the Montpellier-Barcelona train the next day.
The trip to Montpellier went pretty well, but the first letdown: when we arrived, it was pouring rain, and the department was on orange alert for rain. So much so that the SNCF screens suggested postponing travel if possible and warned of potential train cancellations—right during the 24 hours we were traveling! Needless to say, the trip started off more stressful than anything else.
Our train arrived at Sud de France station, and I’d booked a hotel (Appart’City Saint-Roch, very nice) near Saint-Roch station since our train the next day was leaving from there. Because of the rain, I couldn’t even show the kids a bit of Montpellier. We just went to dinner close to the hotel and went back to sleep, crossing our fingers that our train the next day wouldn’t be canceled. It rained a lot during the night, but by the next morning, it had calmed down a lot. We got an email in the morning from Renfe saying our train would finally leave from Sud de France. So we had to leave the hotel earlier to get to the station. The train was announced with a few minutes’ delay, but it was there, and we eventually arrived in Barcelona without any issues, just a little quarter-hour late.
When we got to the Barcelona station hall, there was a huge "Taxis" sign on the left directing us outside (Peiro Square). There was a line of taxis and a few people waiting, but it moved quickly. It was around 1 PM when we got into a taxi, and we were expected for boarding between 1:30 and 2 PM. We got a very friendly driver who spoke French. The ride cost about 25 €, which was a good deal for four. We dropped off our suitcases at 1:25 PM. There were quite a few people, but it moved fast. Passport check, we were told the rooms would be ready at 2 PM, and we boarded. To be continued: arrival on board
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
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
Hello,
We returned last night from the LE RHIN EN FETE cruise with Croisieurope.
We were notified the day before boarding of a change in boat and itinerary. Here’s what was originally planned: - Day 1: Boarding in Strasbourg at 6 PM. Departure on the cruise. - Day 2: Oberwesel-DUDESHEIM Sailing toward ST GOAR to see the LORELEI rock, then a visit to Reichenstein Castle and sailing toward Rudesheim. - Day 3: Rudesheim-MANNHEIM Up the Rhine to Mannheim and a visit to Heidelberg Castle. Sailing back to Strasbourg. - Day 4: Strasbourg by *bateau mouche* in the morning. Afternoon show at the Royal Palace in KIRWILLER and return to the boat. - Day 5: Disembarkation in Strasbourg at 9 AM.
Here’s what we actually did due to the change in boat and itinerary because of the Rhine’s water level. I assume this had been known for some time...
- Day 1: Strasbourg to Mainz or nearby by COACH. Departure around 4:30 PM. About 217 km. We arrived at the boat at 9 PM because the driver had trouble finding it. - Day 2: MAINZ-RUDESHEIM Morning sailing to ST GOAR to see the LORELEI. Lunch at Reichenstein Castle (as originally planned). 30-minute coach ride each way. - Day 3: RUDESHEIM-MAINZ Morning sailing to Mainz. Afternoon excursion to Heidelberg Castle (originally planned). 91 km each way. - Day 4: Mainz to Kirwiller by coach, about 207 km each way. Lunch and show at the Royal Palace: very good. - Day 5: MAINZ-STRASBOURG, about 194 km by coach. We left Mainz at 7:30 AM to arrive at Strasbourg train station at 10:05 AM.
In short, 110 km of sailing and over 1000 km by coach... a joke for a cruise, and about 14-15 hours of coach travel. We came back exhausted. We had booked a PRM cabin on the FRANCE but ended up with a standard cabin on the MONET... about 11 m², separate beds that couldn’t be moved together, and difficulty showering (only one shower taken in 4 days, not to mention the struggle to get up from the toilet... sorry, but it’s really problematic for a PRM person).
The visits were very interesting. All the crew on the MONET: excellent. Meals were also excellent.
Following this change in boat and itinerary, Croisieurope is offering us a 150 € voucher per person for a future cruise. We booked this cruise after a promotion (1 paying, 1 free) during their conference in Angers on 07/10/26. We think Croisieurope was already aware of the navigation difficulties on the Rhine. There were no company boats in Strasbourg... and cruises are still being sold with departures from Strasbourg. We’re very skeptical about traveling with Croisieurope again... Have a great day, everyone! Mum49
We returned last night from the LE RHIN EN FETE cruise with Croisieurope.
We were notified the day before boarding of a change in boat and itinerary. Here’s what was originally planned: - Day 1: Boarding in Strasbourg at 6 PM. Departure on the cruise. - Day 2: Oberwesel-DUDESHEIM Sailing toward ST GOAR to see the LORELEI rock, then a visit to Reichenstein Castle and sailing toward Rudesheim. - Day 3: Rudesheim-MANNHEIM Up the Rhine to Mannheim and a visit to Heidelberg Castle. Sailing back to Strasbourg. - Day 4: Strasbourg by *bateau mouche* in the morning. Afternoon show at the Royal Palace in KIRWILLER and return to the boat. - Day 5: Disembarkation in Strasbourg at 9 AM.
Here’s what we actually did due to the change in boat and itinerary because of the Rhine’s water level. I assume this had been known for some time...
- Day 1: Strasbourg to Mainz or nearby by COACH. Departure around 4:30 PM. About 217 km. We arrived at the boat at 9 PM because the driver had trouble finding it. - Day 2: MAINZ-RUDESHEIM Morning sailing to ST GOAR to see the LORELEI. Lunch at Reichenstein Castle (as originally planned). 30-minute coach ride each way. - Day 3: RUDESHEIM-MAINZ Morning sailing to Mainz. Afternoon excursion to Heidelberg Castle (originally planned). 91 km each way. - Day 4: Mainz to Kirwiller by coach, about 207 km each way. Lunch and show at the Royal Palace: very good. - Day 5: MAINZ-STRASBOURG, about 194 km by coach. We left Mainz at 7:30 AM to arrive at Strasbourg train station at 10:05 AM.
In short, 110 km of sailing and over 1000 km by coach... a joke for a cruise, and about 14-15 hours of coach travel. We came back exhausted. We had booked a PRM cabin on the FRANCE but ended up with a standard cabin on the MONET... about 11 m², separate beds that couldn’t be moved together, and difficulty showering (only one shower taken in 4 days, not to mention the struggle to get up from the toilet... sorry, but it’s really problematic for a PRM person).
The visits were very interesting. All the crew on the MONET: excellent. Meals were also excellent.
Following this change in boat and itinerary, Croisieurope is offering us a 150 € voucher per person for a future cruise. We booked this cruise after a promotion (1 paying, 1 free) during their conference in Angers on 07/10/26. We think Croisieurope was already aware of the navigation difficulties on the Rhine. There were no company boats in Strasbourg... and cruises are still being sold with departures from Strasbourg. We’re very skeptical about traveling with Croisieurope again... Have a great day, everyone! Mum49
hi everyone!
are there other cruise formats besides the coastal express to see the northern lights in Norway in winter?
Hi everyone, I’m going on a cruise at the end of January with MSC and I’m looking into the excursions I could do. I’d like to know if I can do the excursions on my own or if I absolutely have to go through MSC based on safety levels.
We’ll be stopping in Montego Bay in Jamaica, Cartagena in Colombia, Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, Belize City, and Colón in Panama.
Thanks!
Emeline
Hi there,
Has anyone here tried GigSky’s “Cruise + Land” eSIM during your cruise?
I’ve seen on various forums that they offer some great deals. For my part, I found a one-month plan (5 GB) for 78 €, whereas MSC charges 290 € on board.
Since we can’t afford to go completely offline (especially my wife—we need to stay in touch for several reasons), we absolutely need an internet plan.
Thanks in advance
Has anyone here tried GigSky’s “Cruise + Land” eSIM during your cruise?
I’ve seen on various forums that they offer some great deals. For my part, I found a one-month plan (5 GB) for 78 €, whereas MSC charges 290 € on board.
Since we can’t afford to go completely offline (especially my wife—we need to stay in touch for several reasons), we absolutely need an internet plan.
Thanks in advance
Hi there,
I’m looking into a Mediterranean cruise on the Splendida in YC.
I’d love to know if it’s a ship with a lot of triple and quadruple cabins in the Yacht Club. The thing is, I’m planning to depart from Malta, and either the cruise ends during the French school holidays in October with a departure from Marseille—which means there’s a risk of lots of kids on board—or the other option is a departure on October 30th, which might also have some French kids during the first part of the cruise.
I read that some ships in the Fantasia class have more triple or quadruple cabins than others, but I’m not sure if the Splendida is one of them.
If anyone has that info… PS: This isn’t about starting a debate on traveling with or without kids… I’d just like a quiet week, and that’s not always easy in a small space with lots of children around.
I’d love to know if it’s a ship with a lot of triple and quadruple cabins in the Yacht Club. The thing is, I’m planning to depart from Malta, and either the cruise ends during the French school holidays in October with a departure from Marseille—which means there’s a risk of lots of kids on board—or the other option is a departure on October 30th, which might also have some French kids during the first part of the cruise.
I read that some ships in the Fantasia class have more triple or quadruple cabins than others, but I’m not sure if the Splendida is one of them.
If anyone has that info… PS: This isn’t about starting a debate on traveling with or without kids… I’d just like a quiet week, and that’s not always easy in a small space with lots of children around.
Hello,
I'm considering a cruise on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen over 11 days in mid-March 2027. Has anyone already done this trip? I think it’s a great way to discover the Norwegian coast with the chance to see magnificent northern lights, but isn’t the trip a bit *too* long? There are about thirty stops, but most last only a few minutes, with just one daily stop of over 2 hours, which gives a quick glimpse of a few towns but doesn’t allow for a full excursion. Is the supplement for an outside cabin with a porthole (800 € for 2!) really worth it? It’s more pleasant than an inside cabin, but do you spend enough time in your cabin to make the most of it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this journey. Best regards.
I'm considering a cruise on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen over 11 days in mid-March 2027. Has anyone already done this trip? I think it’s a great way to discover the Norwegian coast with the chance to see magnificent northern lights, but isn’t the trip a bit *too* long? There are about thirty stops, but most last only a few minutes, with just one daily stop of over 2 hours, which gives a quick glimpse of a few towns but doesn’t allow for a full excursion. Is the supplement for an outside cabin with a porthole (800 € for 2!) really worth it? It’s more pleasant than an inside cabin, but do you spend enough time in your cabin to make the most of it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this journey. Best regards.
Hello, I’ll be on the Costa Serena from April 27 to May 4, 2027. Given that the excursions offered by Costa can sometimes be pricey, what would you recommend for the following stopovers?
Cagliari.
Tunis.
Palermo.
Marseille.
Thanks for keeping in mind that we’re in our sixties and one member of our small group can’t handle very long walks (so no more than 6 km in a day).
Thank you for your help.
Hi,
QWhen a cruise ship stays overnight at port, can we spend the night off the ship?
Thanks!
Hi, I’m about to go on a cruise on the Costa Smeralda but I’ve never been on a cruise before. Could anyone share the à-la-carte drink menu? I’d like to know if the prices are excessive, since the MyDrinks drink packages, for example, cost 266 € per adult.
Have a great day! 😉
We're leaving on August 25th for a Danube cruise from Vienna to Bucharest. The travel agency refuses to postpone this cruise despite navigation changes due to the exceptional drought, which include bus transfers that don’t interest us.
Have you had any experiences with this that you’d like to share?
Just back from our first cruise on the Renaissance, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about life on board. Our feelings are mixed—we wanted a change after several MSC cruises, but the value for money on this repositioning cruise left us torn.
After taking advantage of successive promotions, we finally secured a well-located balcony cabin for 2600 € (almost 50% off the brochure rate). Given the amenities and the ship’s age, this now feels like the absolute maximum we’d pay for that period.
Overall, we were happy with our vacation on board, but a few details—when added up—left us with a somewhat mixed impression.
The pros: - Ship size - Reasonable noise levels, except in the restaurants (aside from the covered pool area) - Spacious balcony cabin (20 + 5 m²) with plenty of storage and a bathtub with jets - Understated, tasteful decor - French language spoken on board - Friendly staff for the most part - 100% French-speaking clientele - Decent food with French dishes (even with an Indian chef) - Tables for two available (though the ship was full, so no changes possible) - Some high-quality shows, thanks to an excellent English-speaking troupe - Interesting lectures (especially on history and cetaceans)
The cons: - Unreliable air conditioning in common areas (you’d go from a freezing lounge to a hot one, as if the system only worked in certain spaces at certain times) - Aging ship with a few glitches (noises, AC, toilet flushes, lights) reported at reception (luckily, our only issue was the bathroom door not closing...) - Industrial, thawed-out bread and pastries (a letdown for a ship with a French image) - Limited fruit selection (often just apples and watermelon/melon) and not much variety in vegetables - Worn, sometimes stained restaurant towels
We’re not ruling out another cruise on the Renaissance—their itineraries are unique—but only at a very competitive price.
The pros: - Ship size - Reasonable noise levels, except in the restaurants (aside from the covered pool area) - Spacious balcony cabin (20 + 5 m²) with plenty of storage and a bathtub with jets - Understated, tasteful decor - French language spoken on board - Friendly staff for the most part - 100% French-speaking clientele - Decent food with French dishes (even with an Indian chef) - Tables for two available (though the ship was full, so no changes possible) - Some high-quality shows, thanks to an excellent English-speaking troupe - Interesting lectures (especially on history and cetaceans)
The cons: - Unreliable air conditioning in common areas (you’d go from a freezing lounge to a hot one, as if the system only worked in certain spaces at certain times) - Aging ship with a few glitches (noises, AC, toilet flushes, lights) reported at reception (luckily, our only issue was the bathroom door not closing...) - Industrial, thawed-out bread and pastries (a letdown for a ship with a French image) - Limited fruit selection (often just apples and watermelon/melon) and not much variety in vegetables - Worn, sometimes stained restaurant towels
We’re not ruling out another cruise on the Renaissance—their itineraries are unique—but only at a very competitive price.
Hi everyone,
I’m going on a Mediterranean cruise in November and I’m looking for some "tips" to visit the cities of Naples, Messina, and Valletta in Malta without booking the ship’s excursions, which are really expensive.
Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions. We’re a group of 6 people.
Looking forward to hearing from you...
Best,
M
PS: We’re also stopping in Genoa and Barcelona—even though we know these two cities, we’d still love any tips for visiting them! Thanks
PS: We’re also stopping in Genoa and Barcelona—even though we know these two cities, we’d still love any tips for visiting them! Thanks
Hello everyone,
We’re a senior couple signed up for a 13-day cruise in Japan on the Princess Sapphire, departing from Yokohama on April 8, 2027.
Are there any other French speakers on this forum who’ll be on this trip?
Hoping for a reply...
Hi, we're heading to Venice soon. We have a hotel in Mestre and we'd like to know which bus can take us from the Mestre hotel to Marghera Port. Thanks.
Hi everyone ...
We’re planning to do the 83-day Cunard cruise ...
departing from Southampton on January 10, 2027 aboard the Queen Anne ...
has anyone done it ... or have any info ... or tips ...
for example ... deck and cabin choices ... drink packages ... excursions ... etc.
... anything good to know about this ship???
Thanks everyone ...
Hi,
We’ll be visiting Barcelona for the first time on our upcoming cruise.
I was wondering if it’s better to book a taxi in advance to get from the train station to the cruise terminal, since there’ll be four of us. Are there enough taxis around that we won’t have to wait too long?
For the return trip, same question—are there enough taxis, since we have a flight to catch? Though I doubt we’ll know in advance which terminal we’ll dock at.
I came across this site below—has anyone heard of it?
https://taxibarcelona.taxi/fr/
Thanks! !
Thanks! !
Hi everyone, we're going on a week-long cruise and I have a question: can we travel by train and on a cruise with small refrigerated injectable syringes?
Do we need to complete any formalities?
And how should we store them?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the sites to discover.
Best,
Hi everyone! I’m used to sailing on a sailboat with two or three people—it’s amazing. But I’d love to try the experience of a cruise. Just to clarify, I’ll be going alone. My first question: are there other solo travelers on these cruises, or is it mostly couples and families?
For a first cruise, I’d prefer a short one (maximum 8 days). Do those exist? And on the smallest boat possible. I live in Marseille, so a departure from Marseille would work, but I’m open to other ports too. If you have a cruise line to recommend and a destination you’ve enjoyed, or if you’ve had a great experience on a more intimate-sized ship, I’d love to hear about it!
Thanks a million for your replies! Marie
For a first cruise, I’d prefer a short one (maximum 8 days). Do those exist? And on the smallest boat possible. I live in Marseille, so a departure from Marseille would work, but I’m open to other ports too. If you have a cruise line to recommend and a destination you’ve enjoyed, or if you’ve had a great experience on a more intimate-sized ship, I’d love to hear about it!
Thanks a million for your replies! Marie
Hello,
We just returned from a cruise from 08/13/26 to 08/20/26 on the MSC ORCHESTRA with stops in Tarragona, Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa, and back to Marseille. The ship was fully booked. Deck chairs were already occupied by beach towels early in the morning, and there were only 1 or 2 people in the pools... However, on the day the Italians disembarked, there were very few towels on the deck chairs. We found the Italians less talkative.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 9, starboard side. The cabin was spacious, but the sofa was facing the desk, making it a pain to watch TV (neck strain guaranteed). So, we changed the sofa’s orientation to face the TV (we put it back in place on disembarkation day). There were 325 French speakers on board, and a lot of staff from Mauritius, which made communication easier.
No annoying announcements about bingo, etc.—a nice change from COSTA.
For dinner, we were at the first sitting at 7:45 PM, at a table for 6. On the first night, we were two "gray-haired" couples at the table. The second night, two young women joined us but asked to change tables after seeing us... The show for our dinner time was at 10:15 PM and ended around 11:00 PM. We found that a bit late for us. The shows were varied and of good quality. The restaurant menus offered plenty of choices, but at the buffet at lunchtime, there were a lot of dishes with quite a few carbs. Afternoon tea from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM included some great pastries, among other things.
We had an issue with the air conditioning and bad odors in the cabin one afternoon. I reported the problem to the reception, and staff along with our cabin steward came to check the cabin. The issue was resolved that same afternoon. Two days later, we were surprised to find a bag with items inside: 2 MSC mugs and 2 MSC thermos flasks that keep drinks hot or cold for 10 hours. It was a gift from customer service following the bad odors in our cabin. We weren’t expecting this at all and thanked MSC’s customer service.
For excursions, MSC always offers port-to-city-center transfers for 14 € per adult in Valencia and Tarragona, and 12 € per child. In Livorno, it was 10 € per adult and 7 € per child. In Civitavecchia, there was a shuttle to the train station for 6 €. On the MSC for Me app, there were "promotions" on certain excursions. We really enjoyed this cruise, but we couldn’t revisit some stops (Tarragona and Valencia) on our own because it was too hot. Great evening: Mum49
We just returned from a cruise from 08/13/26 to 08/20/26 on the MSC ORCHESTRA with stops in Tarragona, Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa, and back to Marseille. The ship was fully booked. Deck chairs were already occupied by beach towels early in the morning, and there were only 1 or 2 people in the pools... However, on the day the Italians disembarked, there were very few towels on the deck chairs. We found the Italians less talkative.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 9, starboard side. The cabin was spacious, but the sofa was facing the desk, making it a pain to watch TV (neck strain guaranteed). So, we changed the sofa’s orientation to face the TV (we put it back in place on disembarkation day). There were 325 French speakers on board, and a lot of staff from Mauritius, which made communication easier.
No annoying announcements about bingo, etc.—a nice change from COSTA.
For dinner, we were at the first sitting at 7:45 PM, at a table for 6. On the first night, we were two "gray-haired" couples at the table. The second night, two young women joined us but asked to change tables after seeing us... The show for our dinner time was at 10:15 PM and ended around 11:00 PM. We found that a bit late for us. The shows were varied and of good quality. The restaurant menus offered plenty of choices, but at the buffet at lunchtime, there were a lot of dishes with quite a few carbs. Afternoon tea from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM included some great pastries, among other things.
We had an issue with the air conditioning and bad odors in the cabin one afternoon. I reported the problem to the reception, and staff along with our cabin steward came to check the cabin. The issue was resolved that same afternoon. Two days later, we were surprised to find a bag with items inside: 2 MSC mugs and 2 MSC thermos flasks that keep drinks hot or cold for 10 hours. It was a gift from customer service following the bad odors in our cabin. We weren’t expecting this at all and thanked MSC’s customer service.
For excursions, MSC always offers port-to-city-center transfers for 14 € per adult in Valencia and Tarragona, and 12 € per child. In Livorno, it was 10 € per adult and 7 € per child. In Civitavecchia, there was a shuttle to the train station for 6 €. On the MSC for Me app, there were "promotions" on certain excursions. We really enjoyed this cruise, but we couldn’t revisit some stops (Tarragona and Valencia) on our own because it was too hot. Great evening: Mum49
Hi there!
I’m going on a cruise with MSC on the World Europa this coming October.
Stops: Genoa, Naples, Messina, Malta.
Has anyone visited Mount Etna and Pompeii?
Could you share some tips for each of these stops?
I’d like to explore on my own without booking the ship’s excursions.
Thanks for your advice!
We're considering a Danube cruise that stops in Bucharest.
Are there any travelers currently on the river, which is at its lowest level?
Hi there,
I’m taking a cruise on the Costa Pacifica in December—what should I expect in terms of rough seas?
contact me to get referred at MSC, for your first cruise or if you haven't traveled with MSC in over 5 years
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.
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 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!