It’s a bit frustrating not to find a quiet spot on a ship to celebrate a special event!
Sure, you have to adapt, but still—it’s a bit much. Forced to go to the buffet every evening for dinner, and from what I understand, some nights it’s not even that well stocked. What a shame!
I think I’m a bit like you—we’ve become a bit picky after doing so many cruises.
Your next cruise will be really different from this one, since you’ll be on a more human-sized ship, friendlier, with a cozy atmosphere...
Hello,
Thank you for this report with beautiful photos and stunning landscapes—when the sun comes out, it’s truly breathtaking! 🙂
In 2018, we did the Baltic capitals with Princess and never had to wait for a restaurant or deal with noise.
Hi Marie-Christine,
That’s lucky—we’ve always experienced waiting issues on our recent Princess cruises. On the earlier ones, honestly, I don’t remember. Thanks for sharing your experience; maybe it’ll be better on a newer ship next time.
It’s a bit frustrating not to find a quiet spot on a ship to celebrate a special event!
We found that there was a lack of quiet lounges on this ship, both during the day and in the evening. The bars that were open were full every night, but if that hadn’t been the case that evening, we would’ve missed this beautiful navigation through the fjords. So it all worked out well in the end. 🙂
True, you have to adapt, but still, it’s a bit much. Forced to go to the buffet every night for dinner, and from what I understand, some nights it wasn’t even that well stocked. What a shame!
I only mentioned the paella story as an anecdote because it didn’t take long for the rice dish to be replaced with a new, well-stocked paella. The buffets were always very well filled and replenished. There’s nothing to complain about on that front. 🙂
Eating in the cafeteria isn’t a problem for us—we actually enjoy the atmosphere there in the evening. Even on Oceania, we often go to the cafeteria at night. The only line we don’t do that with is Ponant. 😉
I think I’m a bit like you—we’re getting a bit picky after doing so many cruises.
It’s true that we become more demanding, but at the same time, experience helps us adapt to situations to find what makes us happy, at least when the cruise quality is good, without the excesses you’ve experienced lately. From start to finish, we were very happy during this cruise. 🙂
Tonight is our first clear night, with no darkness to dim the sky.
Waking up to such a beautiful landscape and the promise of sunshine all day—what more could you ask for?
Tromsø is located on Tromsøya Island in Norwegian Lapland. It’s the northernmost city in the world with over 50,000 inhabitants and lies 350 km north of the Arctic Circle.
Today, we’ve planned a hike up Mount Fjellheisen, which faces Tromsøya Island and overlooks the city of Tromsø. The weather is perfect—we’re lucky.
At 8:30 AM, we’re outside. The ship is docked at Breivika Kai 24, a bit away from the city center. It’s about 5 km to the foot of Fjellheisen.
Princess offers a transfer to the city center for $20 per person. At that price, we’d rather walk. But just outside the port area, a few passengers are waiting for a bus that’s supposed to arrive in 4 minutes—it’s displayed very precisely on a digital sign. Why not?
On the bus, all you have to do is download the app to pay for the ride (40 NOK per person, about 3.40 €), and we save precious time.
The Tromsø Bridge is just over a kilometer long and rises 38 meters above sea level.
It takes us right in front of the Arctic Cathedral, which will wait for us until our return. We prefer to hike early since wind is forecast starting at 2 PM.
There are two ways to climb Fjellheisen: the cable car or the Sherpatrappa, a staircase with 1,300 steps. We opt for the easier option. Walking through the residential neighborhoods leading to the cable car’s starting point is a very pleasant route.
But when we arrive, bad luck—the cable car isn’t running. It’s under maintenance. I remember now that I’d read about it online months ago while planning this trip, but I should’ve checked again before coming… and I forgot.
Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (continued)
The only option left is the Sherpa Staircase...
The path to the starting point of this trail is already quite steep, but it quickly offers us a beautiful view of the bay, the Arctic Cathedral, the bridge, and our ship.
The steps are made of stone, varying in height but very stable. The sunlight filters through the branches of the young forest, where the leaves have just sprouted—it’s fresh and beautiful.
Hardly anyone is tackling this staircase. We can climb at our own pace, nice and relaxed.
To keep us motivated, the steps are numbered regularly starting from the 100th. It really lifts the spirits.
As we approach the summit, the vegetation becomes sparser, and we leave the cover of the trees.
The viewpoints are numerous and become more and more stunning as we climb. The clarity of the air and the coolness make them even more breathtaking.
Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (Part 2)
The nature up high becomes almost desert-like.
We're almost there!
Then comes a narrow 20 cm passage, very slippery in the snow after a few steps. A young Norwegian woman behind me gets annoyed because I’m not going fast enough. I’m in her way for her timed challenge. She sighs loudly and clearly shows her impatience. She’s not happy, and neither am I—I let her know just as loudly as her frustrated sighs are pressuring me. Even without understanding the words, she must’ve gotten the message.
Just a few more steps and we finally arrive! So glad we made it to the end!
Turns out, there’s a big construction site here for the cable car arrival area, which is currently being built.
The trail continues and gives us a stunning plunging view of the other side.
As for the temperature, this morning it was 9° and by late morning it was 12°. A really pleasant temperature for this hike, which we finished in T-shirts. 😎
Time to head back down.
We quickly realize we made the right call coming early. We’re running into more and more people, and by the time we reach the bottom, there’s almost a continuous line of people heading up.
Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (part 3)
The Arctic Cathedral, built in 1965, is actually a Protestant church. It’s very unique and beautiful from the outside—you can spot it from far away, and it really stands out in the landscape, even though it’s not very large. But I still refuse to pay to enter a church. Here, the price is 80 NOK per person (almost 7 €).
And after peeking inside through the glass... the price seems a bit steep.
After crossing the bridge in the other direction, we head to the old town—or at least, that’s what I read when planning my visit.
From the top of Fjellheisen, I started having doubts—nothing looked like an old town or a historic center...
This city was an isolated fishing village for centuries. It then saw major growth during the golden age of seal hunting in the early 20th century. Now, it’s a dynamic and multicultural city thanks to scientists from around the world, as it’s become one of the main departure points for polar expeditions.
So, it makes sense there’s no old town. The long shopping street and the harbor quays are pleasant to explore. There’s construction everywhere—it’s true that the season when work is possible is very short.
The Our Lady Cathedral in the city center is built of wood and dates back to the 19th century. It’s charming on the outside and simple but welcoming inside.
The square where it stands borders the shopping street on one side and slopes down to the sea on the other.
Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (part 4)
The quays by the water are lined with brightly colored buildings and large terraces for cafés and restaurants.
We walk back to the ship around 2:30 PM and spend the afternoon in the sun (14°C) until departure time. A little rest after covering 21 km is really nice.
We don’t realize how time flies because the sun, still high in the sky, keeps warming us pleasantly.
Today’s scenic cruise is gorgeous again.
And night never comes. It’s hard to fall asleep and get some rest.
Today’s surprise was a water shuttle disembarkation.
I’ve never experienced such great organization on any ship before. All you have to do is go to the dedicated bar to get a ticket when you’re ready to head ashore. A few minutes later—just enough time to sit down—the shuttle number is called. No more than fifteen minutes passed between leaving our cabin and sitting in the tender boat, with no rushing, no crowding, and no waiting. Simply perfect.
The main attraction during this stop is the North Cape. I booked a tour with Blue Puffin for a four-hour excursion across Magerøya Island with a few stops.
The tour departure times are adjusted to fit cruise ship schedules. The meet-up is right on the port in front of the Tourist Information—couldn’t be easier. Too bad our tour was delayed at the last minute; that lost time will cut into our day later.
Our guide was a bit hyper and disorganized. After a few back-and-forths because she kept forgetting something, we finally set off. Our driver may not be young, but he drives wonderfully well.
First stop at the end of a cove, in a small village with brightly colored houses, at a fisherman’s place.
We visit the shed where equipment is stored and where fish dry in the open air.
Tuesday, June 24, Honningsvåg, North Cape (part 1 continued)
A small exhibition of paintings opens its doors to us. These completely original works are made solely from cutouts taken from magazine pages. It’s stunning, and I regret only taking one photo. The work is very delicate and meticulous. The lady explains that winter is long and they need to keep busy. The nagging question I have is, how long will these pieces stay beautiful since the ink quality in magazines isn’t made to last…
A few steps further along a path, another cove where the village boats are safely sheltered.
The landscapes are stunning—desert-like, without a single tree, and dotted with patches of lingering snow. A freezing wind greets us as we step off the bus for this photo stop.
And we hit the road again, the scenery just as beautiful.
In the next village, we’re offered a king crab exhibition. Three unfortunate creatures sit at the bottom of a blue plastic pool. The largest, the male, is caught and lifted out for a photo session. Then it’s the female’s turn.
The village here is also nestled in a stunning setting of wild nature.
Tuesday, June 24, Honningsvåg, North Cape (Part 2)
The next stop is at an outdoor camp. There are tipis, a moose, and an actor posing for photos. The moose is very happy—it was served a large portion of lichen, which it’s enjoying.
A tent offers a wide selection of made-in-China items at Norwegian prices.
And we hit the road again toward our main destination.
We arrive at the North Cape, windswept and freezing. It’s summer—how do people live here year-round in the cold? A ticket given to us by the guide grants access to the massive tourist complex built on the site.
Before warming up inside, we explore the outdoor area. Various sculptures decorate the place, but the landscape is the real highlight.
As for the globe—the symbol of the North Cape—it’s swarmed by visitors.
Shivering and frozen by the wind, we head inside to warm up.
A movie is announced in a few minutes on a massive 125° screen. It showcases the four seasons at the North Cape through stunning landscapes—from the midnight sun to winter storms in the snow. It’s beautiful and very well done. The last time the sun set here this year was on May 14, and the next time it’ll disappear will be on July 29.
We have a great time and leave feeling warmed up.
On the bus ride back, the guide hands out small bags of dried reindeer meat—just a few grams. It’s the tasting included in the program… but it’s a bit lean and disappointing for a tasting.
I booked this tour well in advance online with Blue Puffin. We’re very happy with it—it was fully booked and varied, and we saw a lot of landscapes crossing the island from south to north. It’s a great overview of this extreme territory. Even if we didn’t fully enjoy the King Crab demonstrations or the micro village of tipis, we had a lovely morning. The price was, of course, much lower than the excursions offered by Princess: 1699 NOK (144 €) per person.
With the time lost this morning at departure, we return to the ship at 3 PM, which means we won’t have time to go back ashore—the ship is too far from the port. A quick visit to Honningsvåg and its coastline would’ve been nice, so it’s a bit of a shame. If we’d been docked, it would’ve been possible, but a Mein Schiff ship is taking up the space.
How lucky to have had a smooth disembarkation by tender boat with practically no waiting.
I had a really bad experience with NCL & Oceania where disembarkation was painfully slow. The worst was on the Marina—I missed my excursion in Bora Bora because of the truly chaotic disembarkation.
This stop is still well north of the Arctic Circle, between Tromsø and the North Cape. The weather is mild (11°C), cloudy, and windless.
Yesterday’s tender landing was so great that we’re doing it again today. And it’s even better than yesterday—we grab our tickets and are immediately invited to board without even having time to sit down.
The tenders drop us off in the tiny port of Alta, about 8 km from the city center. Princess offered a bus transfer for $20. Only two taxis are waiting at the port exit.
Just a few meters away is a city bus stop. Luck is on our side—the next bus is at 9:05 in a few minutes. About ten people are already waiting. We’d like to explore the town and visit the Alta Museum, which is outdoors and has gotten great reviews.
But there’s no bus in sight... 9:15, still nothing. The next one is at 9:20... Let’s wait a little longer. 9:28, still no bus. Did Princess commandeer all the buses in town?
So we won’t be going to Alta. To get there, you’d have to walk along the main road where cars drive way too fast for pedestrians, and it’s not pleasant.
We change plans and head in the opposite direction for a short hike around a lake.
We walk through very quiet residential neighborhoods and don’t see a single person—it’s really deserted.
Great view of the airfield, the fjord, and the ship.
The hike starts at the edge of Lake Skogvannet, a spot set up for swimming and very popular in the summer, but today there’s no one here except us.
This route, with its ups and downs, offers stunning landscapes. The unobstructed view across this wild nature, where nothing blocks the horizon, is a real treat.
Back at the port, we’re faced with every cruiser’s nightmare: a never-ending line of passengers. But once again, the organization is excellent, and we only wait for less than a quarter of an hour.
Same at the buffet—it’s busy, but not crowded. Then comes the well-deserved reward after walking over 20 km.
We don’t have enough time to head into Alta for the rest of the afternoon, and we’re more than happy to relax on lounge chairs by the pool. With the temperature at 15°C and no wind, the sun feels perfect.
Sailing through the fjords this evening is once again absolutely stunning.
To let us enjoy these breathtaking landscapes for as long as possible, the sun doesn’t set.
I’m back online… thanks so much for these stunning landscapes!
I recognized some of the scenery from a 2012 trip on the Costa Voyager organized by TAAJ, which has since gone bankrupt.
Have a great week! Guylène
So glad to see you back here—it’s really frustrating to be without internet.
The landscapes, though, don’t change over time ;) and that’s a good thing. We never get tired of seeing them again.
Hi there, By sheer chance, a family housewarming in Brussels gave us the opportunity to depart from Zeebrugge for our first experience with CFC, allowing us to…
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 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 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
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 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,
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!
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
to be continued...
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.