Hi there!
Here’s a quick review of my cruise on the REGAL PRINCESS.
This was my 35th cruise and my second on the REGAL PRINCESS, which I first discovered in 2017 during a Caribbean cruise.
A few months ago, we received an email from PRINCESS changing the itinerary—DUBLIN and EDINBURGH were replaced by two Scottish islands. We were a little disappointed, but since we’d never sailed around the UK, we didn’t really know any of the ports anyway.
The itinerary was:
SOUTHAMPTON
AT SEA
KIRKWALL
INVERGORDON
AT SEA
STORNOWAY
GLASGOW
BELFAST
AT SEA
CORK
AT SEA
PORTLAND
LE HAVRE
SOUTHAMPTON
A 13-day/12-night cruise for 1350 € per person in a guaranteed deluxe balcony cabin.
PRINCESS assigned us a balcony cabin on deck 8 with a large balcony. We ended up happy with our cabin, even though we’d initially preferred a higher deck.
I’ll admit I hesitated to choose this cruise because of the weather—I love sunshine and good weather—but the desire to discover new ports won out, especially with the promise of heading to Corsica afterward to soak up some sun again 😉
On PRINCESS, as Catherine mentioned, there’s no card—everyone has a medallion! I loved this system, which unlocks your cabin door as you approach. It’s really well thought out!
We took the EUROSTAR from Lille to London, then a train from London to Southampton the day before. We stayed in a nice IHG hotel near the port.
EMBARKATION
It’s Friday, August 1st. After a good breakfast and a quick check-out, we realize our UBER app isn’t working in England ;(. We have to go back to reception to ask for a taxi because, even though the hotel is close to the port, the ship is still over 2 km away—hardly ideal with luggage!
The problem is that many hotel guests also requested taxis... so we wait a good 30 minutes before ours arrives!
We get to the REGAL PRINCESS pretty quickly but are shocked to see a huge line outside!!! We hadn’t seen that in over a decade! Not the best start! 🙁
I’m thrilled to be joining you on this cruise around the British Isles. I hope you’re as excited as I am about my Norway cruise.
The only time in my 62 cruises that I chose a guaranteed cabin, I bitterly regretted it—and I didn’t sail with that company again for 11 years... It was with Princess. The cabin was poorly located, in bad condition, and the bed was sunken. They were completely unhelpful and refused to do anything for the entire cruise.
From the start, you’re luckier than I was. 😉
Hey friends!
Thanks for your encouragement! ;)
BOARDING CONTINUED
So here we are, stuck in a long line!! The photo I posted is misleading because the line in front of the door curves just before it, with an even longer line outside than expected!!! Seriously, the worst boarding we’ve ever had on an American cruise line . Luckily, it’s not raining!!!
The line moves slowly, but once we’re inside, things speed up: passports, check-in, getting our medallion, then another wait. Finally, security, and as a finishing touch, a photo op we decline—it’s already long enough!
In total, it took about 1 hour and 15 minutes 😕—we’ve definitely had better experiences!
THE CABIN
Just so you know, balcony cabins on PRINCESS are smaller than elsewhere. To get a similar size, you’d need to book the “DELUXE BALCONY” category. As mentioned before, we chose a guaranteed cabin, so we’re on Deck 8 with an atypical cabin—it has a larger balcony than the others because there’s a technical room below. It wasn’t bothersome except for 2 or 3 times when it made some noise. My mom was assigned a cabin on Deck 16, which is super convenient since it’s on the same deck as the pools and buffet.
The bathroom is smaller than on CELEBRITY and has a shower curtain—kind of a bummer!!!
But there’s a handy closet at the cabin entrance.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you—what a surprise to see two separate beds! As soon as our cabin steward introduces herself, we tell her we’d prefer one bed. She says that same morning, she’d changed the double bed into two singles based on our preference???? I check the app, and sure enough, it’s marked that we prefer two beds??? Anyway, the issue was resolved that same evening! ;)
The medallion is super practical—I love this system! It’s really well thought out.
It automatically unlocks your door when you arrive, but that’s not all! Everywhere you go, you’re identified. For example, at the restaurant entrance, they know who’s at the counter and call you by name. In some areas of the ship, you can order a drink via the app, and they’ll bring it to you because they know your location!
The ship leaves Southampton at 4 PM, heading north to the first Scottish island, KIRKWALL.
I check the weather, and it’s really not great—a storm is even mentioned 🙁... We packed rain gear, and I even have a handy rain poncho from our Norway trip. Fingers crossed, thinking weather forecasts aren’t always reliable. Looking back, I should’ve crossed them harder... 🏴☠️
to be continued!
AUGUST 1ST – DAY AT SEA
We’re heading to the buffet for lunch this morning. The buffet layout can be pretty confusing the first time, but we know the ship well—there are several aisles, and after a few days, you quickly get your bearings. The flow is smooth, and there are plenty of food choices... I’ll dedicate a whole chapter to dining later...
After this hearty breakfast, we decide to take a walk on the upper decks—bad move! They’re closed due to wind... yeah, it’s windy, but we’ve dealt with worse! What a letdown! How about a quick dip in the adults-only pool? Second bad move—it’s closed because of the wind too 😕 It’s so frustrating not being able to do much, ugh.
Still, I usually love days at sea, but not when we’re this limited on activities
Early afternoon, the captain makes an announcement! You should know—surprise captain announcements are NEVER good news!!
The weather forecast wasn’t wrong—storm FLORIS is heading our way! 🏴☠️ We won’t be able to avoid it, but according to the captain, we’ll change our route to minimize the impact!
Strong winds are expected, making it impossible to keep all the planned stops.
So here’s what’s decided: two Scottish stops are canceled—
- INVERGORDON
- STORNOWAY
Which means we won’t see Loch Ness 😕
The two stops are replaced with a day at sea and LIVERPOOL.
Tomorrow’s stop in KIRKWALL is still on.
We’re disappointed, but honestly, I get that there wasn’t much choice... that’s the risk when you pick destinations with such unpredictable weather...
Still here following you 😎
For those who want a spacious cabin, note the mini-suites—they’re not full suites, but a much larger balcony cabin with a big walk-in closet facing the bathroom, all at a reasonable price.
Thanks for this new report!
For the stopover in Invergordon that we did in 2012, there wasn’t much to see apart from the lake, "Loch Ness," which is just like any other lake, and a wooden shop on the shore selling souvenirs.
Have a great Sunday! Guylène
STOPOVERS
KIRKWALL
KIRKWALL is the main town of the Orkney Islands (Scottish islands located north of the United Kingdom).
I had prepared my stopover: either we’d take a taxi to visit the west coast, with its spectacular cliffs, arches, and beautiful panoramas if the weather was nice, or we’d head into town.
It’s raining! So the question doesn’t even arise.
According to my prep, we were close to the city center... not at all, we had to take a free shuttle to get there.
The rain stopped, but it was just waiting for us to stick our noses outside to start up again
We had to wait for the shuttle outside—there were a few shelters, but not enough. Luckily, we were equipped with rain jackets, rain ponchos, sweaters...
Finally, we’re on the bus—the trip takes about ten minutes. The color of the grass reminds me of what we saw in Iceland—it’s a particular shade of green.
Once in the city center, we head toward a small shop where they sell beanies. I buy one because I’m cold!
We make our way to the imposing St. MAGNUS CATHEDRAL. It has a very distinctive style, made of red brick with the cemetery around it.
We walk all the way around—different views are interesting.
The rain has stopped! Feels good!
Next to the church, there’s the old Earl’s Palace and the Bishop’s Palace. Their ruins tell the story of ecclesiastical power and the nobility of Orkney’s past.
We decide to pay and go inside. An interesting stroll through the different rooms and views of the castle—they’ve added various period games you can play to make the visit more fun.
Off to the Orkney Museum... we forgot it’s Sunday and it’s closed ;(
Oh well, there are still the shopping streets and stores. The town isn’t big, and not all the shops are open. The iconic souvenir is the emblematic bird of the islands—the puffin, also called the Atlantic puffin.
After walking the few streets of the city center and doing a bit of window shopping, we head back to the ship. In the end, we escaped the worst—the rain didn’t come back, and the sun even peeked out. We leave Kirkwall with the sun shining, making the most of these moments, because tomorrow we’ll meet FLORØ.
Two years ago, we were luckier than you with the weather in Kirkwall. We took a great taxi tour that was really interesting, visiting the cliffs and many other sites with a very friendly driver.
I’m sharing this gentleman’s website in case it might interest someone.
https://www.craigiestaxis.co.uk/
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for this interesting info—since the town isn’t very big, it’s definitely a good idea to get moving here when the weather allows it...
PORT STOPS (continued)
Before telling you about this second stop, I’ve got to talk about our second day at sea with FLORIS!
We’re dreading this day—I get seasick and I don’t like feeling the ship move too much.
There’s a lot of wind and overcast skies, and once again the outer decks and the adults-only pool are closed . It’s really frustrating because there’s not much to do except eat, read, or play board games.
The wind and rain pick up in the afternoon, the spray rises all the way to the upper deck, and we feel like we’re in a flying pea-soup fog. The wind howls loudly, even with the balcony door tightly shut.
The ship tilts a little, but in terms of pitching, nothing dramatic. I still take my pills because I’m sensitive, but it’s a relief that nothing looks too scary. The captain comes on to tell us the wind is very strong but we’re sailing safely.
The storm starts to calm down in the evening, and we have a good night’s sleep.
GLASGOW
The weather isn’t great—it’s not warm, but at least it’s not raining.
The ship docks in GREENOCK, and we have to take the train to get to GLASGOW. The trip takes 45 minutes.
I’d planned this stop, so we follow the schedule .
The station is in the city center, but it takes us 30 minutes to reach St. Mungo’s Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Scotland. It’s pretty, and its catacombs are definitely worth seeing. After the visit, we head to the necropolis, which overlooks the religious building. There are some impressive tombs, and it offers sweeping views of the city.
Now we head to the heart of the city center, George Square, and we’re in for a nasty surprise— the whole square is under construction and surrounded by metal sheets, blocking any view!!! Great, right in the middle of summer! They really know how to welcome tourists .
Next, we head to the Gallery of Modern Art, then stroll through the pedestrian streets (Buchanan Street).
Then we see the famous statue of the Duke of Wellington.
Fun fact: The city center, where the Duke’s statue is located, was undergoing major roadworks. With little effort, locals had access to more than one cone at hand! To prevent injuries from pranksters climbing the statue and to protect this historic monument, the Glasgow city council tried repeatedly to remove the cone. But their efforts were in vain—because within just a few hours of it being taken down by the police, the cone would reappear on the statue. The motto: Keep the cone!
Finally, we take a break in some luxury shopping arcades where we stop for a drink.
Last visit of the day: Kelvingrove Museum.
There’s a subway in GLASGOW that loops around—you just have to choose the right direction to get to the nearest stop as quickly as possible.
It’s a magnificent and free national museum, one of the most important in Scotland.
We loved this visit!
We take the subway again—there’s a stop near the station—and the train takes us back to GREENOCK. We really enjoyed this visit despite the construction! But as a huge cherry on top, we saw the sun .
Thanks for sharing! I see we’ll have the same stop in June 2026 with CFC.
Looks like it got pretty rough—good to know so we can pack some motion-sickness pills just in case.
Have a great day! Guylène
LIVERPOOL
So here’s our substitute stop—we couldn’t prepare anything, so I’m checking out points of interest online before we head out.
This is the Beatles’ city! They’re everywhere—in shops, statues outside, and there’s even a dedicated museum. You really can’t miss them! 😉
We decide to start by walking along the docks to the museum we want to visit.
The stroll is pleasant—no rain, everything’s going well...
When we arrive at the museum, we get a nasty surprise: we can’t buy tickets on the spot. You *have* to book them online and reserve an entry time.
So we book for late morning—the next available slot is in 1 hour and 15 minutes!
We head back to wander along the port and browse the shops while we wait...
The person filtering at the entrance is really unpleasant—they won’t let my mom sit on the low wall, so we have to wait standing up. 😕
Finally, we’re called in! We grab an audio guide in French, and the visit quickly immerses us in the Beatles’ world, from the band’s creation to their peak. Posters, various objects, recreated streets—even the Yellow Submarine is there!
It’s an interesting and enjoyable visit, so I definitely recommend booking online!
Now we’re leaving the docks for the city center—pedestrian streets, beautiful monuments, a public garden, the national museum...
Everything’s walkable—it’s a really pleasant city to explore! In the end, this substitute stop turned out to be a great surprise!
BELFAST part 1!
After the Beatles' city, we've now arrived in the city where the TITANIC was built.
We preferred taking a taxi rather than the paid shuttle offered by PRINCESS. It's a scam—they refuse to use their meter and charge £20 for the ride. It's about 5 km, which isn’t worth it! Anyway, we noticed that many taxis tried to scam us in the UK 😡—better to be very careful with the change they give you.
ANYWAY... we get dropped off in front of the stunning City Hall.
Gorgeous and imposing!
My mom decides to take the red bus to see the city since she’s tired. We head to the covered market, unfortunately closed that day. We walk through some typical downtown streets and make our way to the TITANIC Museum.
It’s out of the way, so we take a bridge and walk along the docks.
Same issue as in LIVERPOOL—no entry possible without booking a time slot. There are no slots left before 3:30 PM, so we hesitate but book anyway. The problem is that the museum isn’t really close to the city center, so we’ll have to come back...
Tickets in hand, we take a taxi back to the center—a shopping mall with a dome where you can overlook BELFAST.
A bit of window shopping, and we go up to enjoy the panoramic view. Here, the points of interest are spread out...
We take another taxi to the botanical garden, which is also free. It’s AMAZING! Greenhouses, large gardens, incredible flowers, and squirrels playing hide-and-seek—we loved this place. We end the visit by grabbing a little ice cream and savoring it on a bench.
We pass by the university again—it’s really pretty.
And we randomly find a taxi that looks bored ;). Off we go to the TITANIC Museum!
BELFAST part 2
We arrived a little early at the Titanic Museum, but no big deal—we managed to find a spot in the museum café and sat down for a drink.
Prices are sky-high, as usual...
We started our visit with a French audio guide, which is really well done—each room has a number. The museum traces the history of the Titanic from its construction to the shipwreck. There are impressive photos and videos, and a large section explaining the ship’s construction, where many people lost their lives 😕. Some parts are more interactive, where you become part of the action, like having to quickly place a rivet—it’s not easy, but it’s a fun hands-on experience 🙂. Then there’s a line for a kind of ride that takes you through the Titanic’s scaffolding and construction. You can see images and short explanatory films as the ride progresses—it’s INCREDIBLY well designed!
Back on solid ground, we continued the visit by focusing on the crew and all the people who boarded the ship. You can take your time learning about certain passengers’ stories—some saved up for years to be able to leave, while others were looking to start a new life and try their luck elsewhere...
Then we reached the final part: a tour of the first-, second-, and third-class cabins, followed by a 4D film that makes you feel like you’re on this magnificent ship. Unfortunately, it then shows the collision with the iceberg and the hour-by-hour sinking...
All the names of the people on board are engraved—some survivors and others who weren’t so lucky 🙁.
Original objects are on display, like recovered glasses, clocks, and various small items, etc... Finally, the conclusion explains why the Titanic met such a tragic fate.
TO SUM UP: one of the most beautiful museums we’ve ever seen! It’s a must-visit in BELFAST!
HEY THERE! `
I’m back for the rest of the story—I know some of the stops (don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything cute with Loch Ness—it’s not even a little charming). `
But I’d love to know how you two manage to get prices like that… Between you and Catherine, I’m amazed by the rates you’re quoting. Which agency do you book with?
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
After walking the few streets of the city center and doing a bit of window shopping, we head back to the ship. In the end, we escaped the worst—the rain didn’t come back, and the sun even peeked out. We leave Kirkwall with the sun shining, making the most of these moments, because tomorrow we’ll meet FLORØ.
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.