I think after experiencing the ear-splitting cruises with Costa, it must be nice to find this offer of calm and quiet cruises. The ship is old but has its charm—what bothers me are the smells and the questionable carpets.
When I asked our guide about the odors and whether anything was planned to fix this issue, which I believe has been recurring for some time, he was very surprised: "Odors? What odors? No, there are no bad smells."
And the ventilation? "No, it’s not noisy." Yet, it was already noisy during our cruises with HAL—we have some funny memories of that.
I noticed multiple times during this visit that every detail was managed on a very tight budget. Generosity and abundance aren’t part of CFC’s strategy.
I wanted to see for myself, and I did. I’m glad I did this visit instead of a cruise, even though the visit was paid and I find that a bit excessive.
After this visit, I’m definitely convinced that this ship is aimed at passengers disappointed and tired of Costa and MSC, tired of crowds and noise. But once you’ve experienced other companies, CFC doesn’t have enough potential to be appealing.
As they say, this is just my opinion. 😉 Because look what someone who posts a lot on Facebook wrote about this visit: "We had the pleasure of visiting the Renaissance ship from Compagnie Française de Croisières, and we can tell you that the charm works from the moment you step on the gangway. Warm atmosphere, refined gastronomy, carefully chosen stops... a real invitation to relaxation and discovery!" 😏 😏 😏
I hope you enjoyed this little share of my visit, and thank you for reading!
Thanks Catherine for your review!
I completely agree with the first two lines of your conclusion. However, in December, maybe our noses were stuffy, but we didn’t notice any bad smells.
As for the paid visits, it’s worth asking: Larguez les amarres and Planète Croisière often offer free visits, yet some "freeloaders"—after a great tour—wouldn’t sign up with Croisiland, for example, but went to destockages or So Croisière... just to save supposedly 50 €.
Speaking of great cruises, there’s currently Rivages du Monde, where you’ll find our friend Frédéric Mathieu (for those who knew him). He’s still as impressive, but it’s true the budget isn’t the same.
Personally, as soon as I get the green light from the oncologist, we’ll be back on the Renaissance!
Great review of this very detailed visit.
After that, you’ve got to consider the value for money of a cruise on this ship. I think I got your conclusion between the lines.... 😉
As for paid excursions, one might ask: Larguez les amarres and Planète Croisière often offer free visits, yet some "freeloaders"—after a great tour—wouldn’t book with Croisiland, for example, but went to destockages or so-called cruise deals... to supposedly save 50 €
Hi Agnès,
It’s great that you didn’t have any odor issues on the Renaissance. It can also depend on the cabin’s location. Some passengers have complained about fuel smells, or so I’ve heard.
I agree with you about the freeloaders.
As for Rivages du Monde, I tried them once and was terribly disappointed. It’s very expensive for the quality and services promised but not delivered. You can read my review of this experience HERE.
Between RDM and the Renaissance, I’d still prefer the Renaissance. I hope you get to go very soon.
Nice detailed review of this visit.
After that, you’ve got to weigh the quality-price ratio of a cruise on this ship. I think I caught your conclusion between the lines...😉
Thanks, Michel,
You really can only compare what’s comparable. CFC’s offers are now very appealing, but the cancellation fees equal to 100% of the cruise price from day one of booking are a bit of a turn-off. I wonder if insurance can cover that risk...
Thank you so much for this review, and what a fantastic conclusion!
Personally, I’m not at all drawn to this ship (even renovated).
I also saw that comment on FB. To each their own, as they say.
Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks Alfred,
It’s a good thing the cruise offerings are broad and diverse so everyone can find THE cruise that suits them. The main thing is being able to board a ship and live out your dreams.
CFC's offers are now very attractive, but the cancellation fees equal to 100% of the cruise price from the first day of booking are a bit off-putting. I wonder if insurance can cover this risk...
Hello,
I’ve taken CFC twice, and the cancellation terms are "normal."
60 days or more before departure: 50 € per person,
from 59 to 30 days: 25% of the total amount,
from 29 to 15 days: 50%,
and from 14 days to the day of departure: 100%.
It’s only 100% of the total amount, regardless of the cancellation date, if it’s a promotional cruise or a Special Offer.
Best regards
Here’s what I originally wrote: "The current promotions are presented to us, starting at 999 € for a 14-day cruise in Northern Europe, for example. On top of that, there’s the advantage of getting back the cost of today’s visit. The amount will be refunded as an onboard credit if the cruise is booked before the end of the month. What they don’t tell us is that these rates require paying the full cruise price at booking, and there’s a 100% cancellation fee if you back out."
When I write "CFC’s deals are now very attractive, but...", "are now" is an expression, an observation.
We both agree that these aren’t their usual sales conditions—this arrangement only applies to the promotions.
Good evening Catherine, I read your review of the Renaissance very carefully. We’ve been traveling on cruises for 25 years and, I think, know the cruise market well. We’ve taken over 20 cruises with MSC and just as many with COSTA. In 2023, we did 3 cruises on the Renaissance, and we really enjoyed the ports of call, the hospitality, and the buffet—with ice cream, coffee, and cakes at 4 PM included at no extra cost. We also loved the quiet (no kids shouting), the friendly staff, the evening shows, and the cabins. Since then, we’ve stayed loyal to CFC despite the switch to an English company!
We’re heading out from Marseille from September 10 to 20 for the Adriatic. If we find too many changes, I’ll be sure to mention it on the forum. Thanks for your story and your thoughts.
Looking forward to reading more from you
Thanks for your feedback and the details you’ve shared. You’ve confirmed what I was thinking—CFC really adds something extra after Costa or MSC.
I hope you have a wonderful Adriatic cruise. The smaller ships make this destination even more beautiful.
Hi Catherine,
I just discovered your trip report, which I read with great pleasure, as usual.
We really wish you’d spent more than just a day on that boat!
I wasn’t too keen on trying this company, and your report didn’t change my mind.
Of course, the price matters—you’ve got to decide your budget and weigh the value for money, which is key. I think some cruisers might appreciate this offer, especially if peace and quiet are a priority.
As for me, the menu doesn’t appeal to me at all, and I’m not a fan of old boats.
Thanks again, Catherine, for sharing your experience.
I’m not surprised you’re hesitant about this ship—it’s really old, and I’ll admit that when I saw the state of the carpets... I had a little thought for you. 😉
Value for money is key, as you said, and with the discounted prices currently offered, it’s a great way to travel on a reasonable budget. But at full price, like it was just a few months ago, it’s way over what it’s worth compared to other companies.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons the company has had so many struggles since it started?
Hi Catherine,
I just read your review—your level of expertise makes it so engaging! Unfortunately, it confirms a lot of the feedback you can find on FB and other sites.
Air conditioning, evacuation system, and elevator breakdowns are pretty common.
I agree with you that it might be a good fit at first for those who want to escape the shouting Italians and kids on Costa and MSC, and probably for first-time cruisers too.
You didn’t mention the language spoken on board—do they *really* all speak French?
Have a great Sunday! 😊
Hi Poupou 10, I’m not Catherine, but we’ve taken several cruises on the Renaissance, including Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. One of the big perks for us is that the entire staff speaks French—great for those of us who struggle with English!
That said, there *are* some downsides Catherine mentioned: the AC in certain cabins, rain leaking in during heavy storms (like in Volos in 2023), the spas by the pool breaking down often, the casino closing after just the first year, and all those management changes that leave the staff unsettled. Plus, their cruise pricing policy keeps shifting every few months!
But overall, we still find the value for money (restaurants, buffet, shows, shore excursions) pretty reasonable.
It’s hard to tell in just one day whether the staff is truly Francophone. We only interacted with one person—our guide.
However, at the restaurant, I got the impression (though it’s just an impression) that the staff understood French, similar to what we experienced (a long time ago) with Costa. Basically, they receive training that teaches them around 70 or 80 words in our language so they can understand what guests ask for.
I also noticed that some announcements over the PA were in English, but it was English spoken (I assume 😉) by a French person because it was very easy to understand. 😏
What’s certain is that the Francophone aspect of the Renaissance might take a hit with the Caribbean cruises, since those sailings will be shared with a large proportion of English and Dutch passengers (I’ve forgotten the exact number).
Hi Catherine,
I can only confirm my previous opinion.
Of course, it’s based on just one experience, which isn’t necessarily representative, especially since it benefited from particularly favorable conditions (including the weather).
Regarding embarkation and disembarkation, which took place in Zeebrugge, there were very few passengers, so it was particularly quick. We did notice, however, that it was much more complicated in Le Havre.
Still, I remember those procedures and the long queues with other cruise lines—just as problematic—from which we only escaped because, due to our seniority, we were "priority."
As for any potential odors, I personally didn’t notice anything.
As I mentioned, since the ship wasn’t full, the staff may have been more available. It’s worth noting that everyone I interacted with spoke French (many were of Mauritian origin or from the French overseas territories).
At the second seating in the restaurant (which wasn’t full), the dishes—though modest in quantity—were of very good quality, served quickly, and hot, which isn’t always the case. Our servers also respected our cooking preferences.
It’s true that the carpet in our cabin was a bit worn, but otherwise, there was nothing to complain about. The ship, with its slightly old-fashioned charm, was pleasant and comfortable. We enjoyed its many lounges and the theater.
I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to repeat this experience, as departures from Dunkirk don’t suit me, and the proposed stops are places I’ve already visited many times.
Maybe someday, a short Mediterranean cruise from Marseille—just a stone’s throw from home—just to get away without the hassle.
It’s clear that this cruise line caters to a certain clientele who appreciate calm, French-speaking staff (at least for now), and a smaller-sized ship. Based on their feedback, with a few exceptions, the vast majority are delighted with their cruises.
Best regards,
Jean-Marie
On our side, we’ve already done 4 cruises with them, including 1 themed one on the Renaissance, and we have 2 more booked for next year.
It’s a company that’s still finding its footing. And like any company, there are ups and downs.
It’s an older ship that’s been renovated, but it’s still an older ship with its charm and quirks.
For us, its biggest strength is offering ports of call that are different from what MSC or Costa offer. However, the flip side is that it’s dependent on the weather, the sea’s mood, and the lack of infrastructure to handle mass tourism. But the captain does what he can to adapt. For example, on New Year’s Eve in Barcelona, the plan was for the ship to stay docked until 1 a.m. without further details. The company’s gamble was to surprise passengers with Barcelona’s fireworks. However, the port decided to close and evacuate ships by 8 p.m. The captain informed the passengers and suggested staying offshore. Result: fireworks, a table with champagne and treats on the outdoor deck, and the symphony of surrounding boats at midnight.
The themed humor cruise was also excellent (aside from Boujenah’s behavior and his off-stage remarks). Gérald Dahan was exceptional. Worth doing again.
The shows were good, but they’ve been the same for 2 years. That said, things will change starting in October with the end of the artists’ contracts as Ambassador takes over. We’ll see how that goes.
The food at Vatel is good. The paid restaurants don’t seem to draw crowds. If the ship is full, the staff can get overwhelmed quickly.
Deck 6 and the terrace cabins are very nice.
As for the atmosphere, it’s pretty calm. There’s only 1 musician/group during the evenings. Board games attract way more people. Otherwise, you have to wait until late night at the panoramic bar/disco for a real party vibe.
The movie theater concept is cool.
One issue that still needs improvement is customs control for trips to England. It’s gotten better, but it’s still not great.
This is a ship to book when you find a good deal. Less risk of being disappointed if something goes wrong.
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.
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
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
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, 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
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.
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'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, 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.
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
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/
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 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!
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!
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 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!
