hi everyone!
are there other cruise formats besides the coastal express to see the northern lights in Norway in winter?
Review of Renaissance Cruise (Iberian Flavors) from October 18 to 29, 2025
by Noug29
Translated into English.
Hello,
Thank you for this lovely review.
I just want to add a few details about what was the major downside of this cruise: disembarkation.
This isn’t the first time cruises have departed from and arrived in Dunkirk. I’ve already embarked and disembarked there with Costa (Baltic Jewels cruise in May 2014). We docked at Quay Freycinet 12—I think that’s the only spot where ships with a significant draft can dock. Costa had set up tents on the quay where we picked up our luggage, and the shuttle buses left from there to go straight to the train station. But I remember there were very, very few taxis. Back to CFC: three days before departure, I called them to ask how disembarkation would work. I didn’t get any information. Rumors mentioned the maritime museum. On board, reception told us six days before arrival that it would be at the “Dunkirk Library,” even though on social media, those boarding the next cruise said they had the “Model Pavilion” as their departure point. In short, it seemed like the disembarkation details were only confirmed at the last minute. And hardly anyone in Dunkirk (taxis, hotels, restaurants, etc.) knew a cruise ship was docking that day.
Since we were in a Suite, we were called first to disembark at 8:30 AM. Even though there are only 25 suites, at least 200 of us were stuck at the exit. Many didn’t respect the call time, and what also slowed things down was retrieving items confiscated at departure (electrical devices, knives, power strips, etc.) after the CFC card check—whereas usually, all this is returned to the cabin the day before, according to CFC’s website. I understand why the following groups were delayed.
However, I don’t agree with you when you say “the main culprits are the port authorities.” We were moored on time, port exit authorizations were granted quickly, and the port dockers (from Barra SNSM) did a great job delivering the luggage on time (passengers didn’t have to wait to retrieve it). But it was CFC that organized the shuttle rotation and rented the “Model Pavilion” from the city of Dunkirk—a place not at all designed to be a cruise terminal and poorly served by city buses. Plus, there were no taxis. We called, along with other waiting passengers, two taxi companies. They had no idea that over 1,000 passengers were arriving at the Model Pavilion, not to mention all the crew disembarking.
Contractually, CFC’s services ended at the Model Pavilion. If you had missed your train, you would have had no recourse. There’s nothing mentioned on CFC’s website or brochure about the “buffer” (which you mentioned) between the ship’s arrival time and the departure time of a transport option—but with Costa, for example, it’s recommended to allow at least 4 hours.
Best regards
Thanks, Micax, for the details and your experience with this disembarkation. There was clearly an organizational issue on CFC’s part. It would’ve been better if we’d had all the info about the disembarkation address and, most importantly, where to pick up our luggage before departure.
That "last-minute" organization feeling didn’t leave a great impression.
I guess picking up our bags at the dock would’ve definitely made things easier and reduced the risk of delays.
Thanks Micax for your details and your experience with this disembarkation. There was clearly an organizational issue on CFC’s part. It would have been preferable if we’d had all the information about the disembarkation address and especially the baggage retrieval before departure.
This "last-minute" organization didn’t leave a good impression.
I suppose that retrieving baggage at the dock would have certainly simplified things and reduced the risk of delay.
As soon as I booked the cruise with CFC, they could only tell me that disembarkation details would be given on board. It was impossible to know which dock (since apart from Freycinet 12, there’s nowhere else deep enough to accommodate the Renaissance), where to pick up luggage, whether there’d be a shuttle to leave the port or go to the train station, etc. I pointed out, through several channels, that "on board" info wasn’t very practical for planning the return trip, but apparently, no one cared. Expecting the worst, I booked a hotel and the TGV to Paris for the next day. Apart from the lack of a cruise terminal, the other issue CFC will face in Dunkirk is parking. If in 2026 hundreds of passengers arrive by car, where will they be able to leave their vehicles in a secure spot like in Marseille? Here too, they’d better not wait until the last minute to address the question.
As soon as I booked the cruise with CFC, they could only tell me that disembarkation details would be given on board. It was impossible to know which dock (since apart from Freycinet 12, there’s nowhere else deep enough to accommodate the Renaissance), where to pick up luggage, whether there’d be a shuttle to leave the port or go to the train station, etc. I pointed out, through several channels, that "on board" info wasn’t very practical for planning the return trip, but apparently, no one cared. Expecting the worst, I booked a hotel and the TGV to Paris for the next day. Apart from the lack of a cruise terminal, the other issue CFC will face in Dunkirk is parking. If in 2026 hundreds of passengers arrive by car, where will they be able to leave their vehicles in a secure spot like in Marseille? Here too, they’d better not wait until the last minute to address the question.
Apart from the lack of a cruise terminal, the other issue that will arise for CFC in Dunkirk is parking. If several hundred passengers arrive by car in 2026, where will they be able to leave their vehicles in a secure spot like in Marseille? They really shouldn’t wait until the last minute to address this.
Hi there, CFC must have realized the parking issue in Dunkirk because they’ve just sent emails these past few days to future passengers of the first 2026 cruises to ask if they plan to come by car. Best regards
Hi there, CFC must have realized the parking issue in Dunkirk because they’ve just sent emails these past few days to future passengers of the first 2026 cruises to ask if they plan to come by car. Best regards
Hi Micax,
We’re also worried about parking for this departure from Dunkirk. We would’ve preferred if CFC cruises departed from Le Havre, since there was quay work underway to create parking lots, and in March 2025 we’d booked a parking spot near the train station at a great rate, with the taxi from the station to the port costing 10 €. We received an email from CFC about a departure in June 2026, but our kids, who are leaving in April 2026, haven’t received anything about how to get to Dunkirk. We’re counting on this forum to find out about accessible parking for reduced mobility and transportation options to Dunkirk port. Have a great weekend! Mum49
We’re also worried about parking for this departure from Dunkirk. We would’ve preferred if CFC cruises departed from Le Havre, since there was quay work underway to create parking lots, and in March 2025 we’d booked a parking spot near the train station at a great rate, with the taxi from the station to the port costing 10 €. We received an email from CFC about a departure in June 2026, but our kids, who are leaving in April 2026, haven’t received anything about how to get to Dunkirk. We’re counting on this forum to find out about accessible parking for reduced mobility and transportation options to Dunkirk port. Have a great weekend! Mum49
Hi Mum,
The city of Dunkirk has launched a website for parking (https://www.dk-stationnement.fr). But what exactly is meant by "Port of Dunkirk"? There’s no cruise terminal. We still need to know where embarkation/disembarkation procedures will take place. This year, we only got that information a few days beforehand. CFC rented the Model Pavilion, which isn’t equipped at all to be a cruise terminal. Will that still be the case in 2026? Back in 2014 with the Costa Classica, tents were set up right on the quay—everything happened at the foot of the ship. Freycinet Quay 12 is 3 or 4 km from the city center and isn’t served by public transport. Buses are free in Dunkirk (https://www.dkbus.com), but taxis are pretty scarce. In 2014, taxis were waiting on the quay; this year, there weren’t any—not even at the Model Pavilion parking lot. As for accessibility for reduced mobility (PMR), see https://www.dkbus.com/page.php?rubrique=2&id=accessibilite. The buses are electric and mostly very modern, but the Line 16 shuttle (closest stop to the Model Pavilion) is a small 8–9 seater that isn’t particularly PMR-friendly or great for carrying lots of luggage, and it doesn’t run on Sundays.
Best regards.
Hello Micax,
Thanks for the info. I’ve taken good note of it. Let’s hope those leaving from Dunkirk on 03/28/26 get details on the boarding location and how to get there. Leaving from CALAIS would’ve been more convenient, but probably not the same cost? I think the solution would be to drop off my husband and the luggage, along with the walker, as close to the port as possible, then meet up with him later using different modes of transport. Have a great Sunday! mum49
Thanks for the info. I’ve taken good note of it. Let’s hope those leaving from Dunkirk on 03/28/26 get details on the boarding location and how to get there. Leaving from CALAIS would’ve been more convenient, but probably not the same cost? I think the solution would be to drop off my husband and the luggage, along with the walker, as close to the port as possible, then meet up with him later using different modes of transport. Have a great Sunday! mum49
Hi Mum,
CFC officially provides the embarkation location 14 days before departure on the cruise ticket. As for disembarkation, apart from the docking time, we only got the information on the ship 3 days before arrival.
If embarkation always takes place at the Model Pavilion, it’s very easy to get there by car and to park behind the building. However, the port of Dunkirk, just like Calais, doesn’t have a parking lot where you can leave a vehicle for 8 days or more.
I don’t think Calais would be any better than Dunkirk. There’s no cruise terminal there either. *Croisières de France* left from there with the *Horizon* in the summer of 2014—they had set up a big tent on the quay. Currently, no cruise ships dock in Calais anymore.
Best regards.
Good evening Micax,
We just have to wait for the information before the cruise departs. Since we’re driving, we won’t have any issues with disembarkation—we’ll have our own time.
I’ll definitely share updates on this site as soon as I have them, leaving on 04/11/26.
Have a great evening! Mum49
hi there, I just read your review and it sounds like you were happy with it.
When it comes to food, are we way below US cruise lines?
Food is subjective. Especially since quality can vary from ship to ship within the same cruise line.
It’s hard to compare because I think there are pros and cons on both sides.
In the morning at the buffet, there were *very* good eggs Benedict Royale. That’s not always available on American cruise lines. But no fresh fruit juice like I’ve had on HAL. On the other hand, we found the waffles and pancakes not as good as the ones on American lines.
Lots of high-quality specialty breads, smoked salmon, French cheeses at every meal, proper espresso, and pastries that lived up to the name.
On CFC, just like on American cruise lines, the savory dishes were always very good.
But the ingredients/prep on CFC—especially at the buffet—were simpler. For example, with HAL, there were shrimp every lunch; I don’t remember seeing any on CFC.
At the CFC buffet, you could get beef bourguignon. There was made-to-order Caesar salad—simple but delicious. It was good and varied, but in my opinion, the ingredients weren’t as refined.
The buffet starters, though, were pretty much the same crudités every time.
For desserts, they were fairly simple too (panna cotta, fruit cakes, pudding), but better than the ones on American cruise lines, which we find bland and tasteless. Except for the cruise we took on the *Rotterdam*, which was truly excellent in every culinary aspect.
The ice cream selection wasn’t very varied, but it was much better than on RCI.
In the dining room, the dish pairings were really well done. The gala meals were more elaborate—especially a delicious seared foie gras...
Overall, in my opinion, I found my experience better than RCI but not quite up to HAL. For Celebrity, I’m on the fence—my experience is more distant.
It’s hard to compare because I think there are pros and cons on both sides.
In the morning at the buffet, there were *very* good eggs Benedict Royale. That’s not always available on American cruise lines. But no fresh fruit juice like I’ve had on HAL. On the other hand, we found the waffles and pancakes not as good as the ones on American lines.
Lots of high-quality specialty breads, smoked salmon, French cheeses at every meal, proper espresso, and pastries that lived up to the name.
On CFC, just like on American cruise lines, the savory dishes were always very good.
But the ingredients/prep on CFC—especially at the buffet—were simpler. For example, with HAL, there were shrimp every lunch; I don’t remember seeing any on CFC.
At the CFC buffet, you could get beef bourguignon. There was made-to-order Caesar salad—simple but delicious. It was good and varied, but in my opinion, the ingredients weren’t as refined.
The buffet starters, though, were pretty much the same crudités every time.
For desserts, they were fairly simple too (panna cotta, fruit cakes, pudding), but better than the ones on American cruise lines, which we find bland and tasteless. Except for the cruise we took on the *Rotterdam*, which was truly excellent in every culinary aspect.
The ice cream selection wasn’t very varied, but it was much better than on RCI.
In the dining room, the dish pairings were really well done. The gala meals were more elaborate—especially a delicious seared foie gras...
Overall, in my opinion, I found my experience better than RCI but not quite up to HAL. For Celebrity, I’m on the fence—my experience is more distant.
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More discussions
Hello everyone!
Just a little backstory—my username comes from the year I took my first cruise.
Sixteen years and nine cruises later, I’m currently on my 10th, this time in the Yacht Club interior.
I’m taking you along with me!
Left Marseille on Wednesday, October 21st. After train troubles (issues on the Paris-Marseille line), then getting lost at La Joliette—years ago, I’d taken the metro and the port bus, thinking I had to go left once near the port, but no, the little gate is on the right after the shopping center.
Wait, she took the metro and bus to the Yacht Club? Yep! After waiting 15 minutes for the shuttle, once the bus dropped us off, it was a 15-20 minute walk to the ship. Finally, we made it to the boarding dock. Headed toward the little Yacht Club flag, where a nice young woman checked our IDs and gave us luggage tags. She walked us through security (we got to skip the line). After that, we went to the Yacht Club lounge, where two butlers were waiting. They offered us drinks, and a third person arrived to check passports and handle registration. Then, they gave us a form to pick a complimentary bottle—I didn’t do it right away. I felt a little rushed by everyone. I’ll explain more later in my story. Today, we’re in Barcelona. A few photos to come in the meantime.
Left Marseille on Wednesday, October 21st. After train troubles (issues on the Paris-Marseille line), then getting lost at La Joliette—years ago, I’d taken the metro and the port bus, thinking I had to go left once near the port, but no, the little gate is on the right after the shopping center.
Wait, she took the metro and bus to the Yacht Club? Yep! After waiting 15 minutes for the shuttle, once the bus dropped us off, it was a 15-20 minute walk to the ship. Finally, we made it to the boarding dock. Headed toward the little Yacht Club flag, where a nice young woman checked our IDs and gave us luggage tags. She walked us through security (we got to skip the line). After that, we went to the Yacht Club lounge, where two butlers were waiting. They offered us drinks, and a third person arrived to check passports and handle registration. Then, they gave us a form to pick a complimentary bottle—I didn’t do it right away. I felt a little rushed by everyone. I’ll explain more later in my story. Today, we’re in Barcelona. A few photos to come in the meantime.
Hi everyone, I’m going on a cruise at the end of January with MSC and I’m looking into the excursions I could do. I’d like to know if I can do the excursions on my own or if I absolutely have to go through MSC based on safety levels.
We’ll be stopping in Montego Bay in Jamaica, Cartagena in Colombia, Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, Belize City, and Colón in Panama.
Thanks!
Emeline
Hi there,
Has anyone here tried GigSky’s “Cruise + Land” eSIM during your cruise?
I’ve seen on various forums that they offer some great deals. For my part, I found a one-month plan (5 GB) for 78 €, whereas MSC charges 290 € on board.
Since we can’t afford to go completely offline (especially my wife—we need to stay in touch for several reasons), we absolutely need an internet plan.
Thanks in advance
Has anyone here tried GigSky’s “Cruise + Land” eSIM during your cruise?
I’ve seen on various forums that they offer some great deals. For my part, I found a one-month plan (5 GB) for 78 €, whereas MSC charges 290 € on board.
Since we can’t afford to go completely offline (especially my wife—we need to stay in touch for several reasons), we absolutely need an internet plan.
Thanks in advance
Hi there,
I’m looking into a Mediterranean cruise on the Splendida in YC.
I’d love to know if it’s a ship with a lot of triple and quadruple cabins in the Yacht Club. The thing is, I’m planning to depart from Malta, and either the cruise ends during the French school holidays in October with a departure from Marseille—which means there’s a risk of lots of kids on board—or the other option is a departure on October 30th, which might also have some French kids during the first part of the cruise.
I read that some ships in the Fantasia class have more triple or quadruple cabins than others, but I’m not sure if the Splendida is one of them.
If anyone has that info… PS: This isn’t about starting a debate on traveling with or without kids… I’d just like a quiet week, and that’s not always easy in a small space with lots of children around.
I’d love to know if it’s a ship with a lot of triple and quadruple cabins in the Yacht Club. The thing is, I’m planning to depart from Malta, and either the cruise ends during the French school holidays in October with a departure from Marseille—which means there’s a risk of lots of kids on board—or the other option is a departure on October 30th, which might also have some French kids during the first part of the cruise.
I read that some ships in the Fantasia class have more triple or quadruple cabins than others, but I’m not sure if the Splendida is one of them.
If anyone has that info… PS: This isn’t about starting a debate on traveling with or without kids… I’d just like a quiet week, and that’s not always easy in a small space with lots of children around.
Hello,
I'm considering a cruise on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen over 11 days in mid-March 2027. Has anyone already done this trip? I think it’s a great way to discover the Norwegian coast with the chance to see magnificent northern lights, but isn’t the trip a bit *too* long? There are about thirty stops, but most last only a few minutes, with just one daily stop of over 2 hours, which gives a quick glimpse of a few towns but doesn’t allow for a full excursion. Is the supplement for an outside cabin with a porthole (800 € for 2!) really worth it? It’s more pleasant than an inside cabin, but do you spend enough time in your cabin to make the most of it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this journey. Best regards.
I'm considering a cruise on the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen over 11 days in mid-March 2027. Has anyone already done this trip? I think it’s a great way to discover the Norwegian coast with the chance to see magnificent northern lights, but isn’t the trip a bit *too* long? There are about thirty stops, but most last only a few minutes, with just one daily stop of over 2 hours, which gives a quick glimpse of a few towns but doesn’t allow for a full excursion. Is the supplement for an outside cabin with a porthole (800 € for 2!) really worth it? It’s more pleasant than an inside cabin, but do you spend enough time in your cabin to make the most of it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this journey. Best regards.
Hello, I’ll be on the Costa Serena from April 27 to May 4, 2027. Given that the excursions offered by Costa can sometimes be pricey, what would you recommend for the following stopovers?
Cagliari.
Tunis.
Palermo.
Marseille.
Thanks for keeping in mind that we’re in our sixties and one member of our small group can’t handle very long walks (so no more than 6 km in a day).
Thank you for your help.
Hi,
QWhen a cruise ship stays overnight at port, can we spend the night off the ship?
Thanks!
hi there
Here’s the cruise schedule for 2026.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members.
2 essential rules:
1) never "quote" the calendar when replying—this’ll avoid any confusion 2) follow the format below DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry!PLEASE respect the templates! COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / / It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF CRUISES 2026: JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
1) never "quote" the calendar when replying—this’ll avoid any confusion 2) follow the format below DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry!PLEASE respect the templates! COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / / It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF CRUISES 2026: JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Hi, I’m about to go on a cruise on the Costa Smeralda but I’ve never been on a cruise before. Could anyone share the à-la-carte drink menu? I’d like to know if the prices are excessive, since the MyDrinks drink packages, for example, cost 266 € per adult.
Have a great day! 😉
We're leaving on August 25th for a Danube cruise from Vienna to Bucharest. The travel agency refuses to postpone this cruise despite navigation changes due to the exceptional drought, which include bus transfers that don’t interest us.
Have you had any experiences with this that you’d like to share?
Just back from our first cruise on the Renaissance, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about life on board. Our feelings are mixed—we wanted a change after several MSC cruises, but the value for money on this repositioning cruise left us torn.
After taking advantage of successive promotions, we finally secured a well-located balcony cabin for 2600 € (almost 50% off the brochure rate). Given the amenities and the ship’s age, this now feels like the absolute maximum we’d pay for that period.
Overall, we were happy with our vacation on board, but a few details—when added up—left us with a somewhat mixed impression.
The pros: - Ship size - Reasonable noise levels, except in the restaurants (aside from the covered pool area) - Spacious balcony cabin (20 + 5 m²) with plenty of storage and a bathtub with jets - Understated, tasteful decor - French language spoken on board - Friendly staff for the most part - 100% French-speaking clientele - Decent food with French dishes (even with an Indian chef) - Tables for two available (though the ship was full, so no changes possible) - Some high-quality shows, thanks to an excellent English-speaking troupe - Interesting lectures (especially on history and cetaceans)
The cons: - Unreliable air conditioning in common areas (you’d go from a freezing lounge to a hot one, as if the system only worked in certain spaces at certain times) - Aging ship with a few glitches (noises, AC, toilet flushes, lights) reported at reception (luckily, our only issue was the bathroom door not closing...) - Industrial, thawed-out bread and pastries (a letdown for a ship with a French image) - Limited fruit selection (often just apples and watermelon/melon) and not much variety in vegetables - Worn, sometimes stained restaurant towels
We’re not ruling out another cruise on the Renaissance—their itineraries are unique—but only at a very competitive price.
The pros: - Ship size - Reasonable noise levels, except in the restaurants (aside from the covered pool area) - Spacious balcony cabin (20 + 5 m²) with plenty of storage and a bathtub with jets - Understated, tasteful decor - French language spoken on board - Friendly staff for the most part - 100% French-speaking clientele - Decent food with French dishes (even with an Indian chef) - Tables for two available (though the ship was full, so no changes possible) - Some high-quality shows, thanks to an excellent English-speaking troupe - Interesting lectures (especially on history and cetaceans)
The cons: - Unreliable air conditioning in common areas (you’d go from a freezing lounge to a hot one, as if the system only worked in certain spaces at certain times) - Aging ship with a few glitches (noises, AC, toilet flushes, lights) reported at reception (luckily, our only issue was the bathroom door not closing...) - Industrial, thawed-out bread and pastries (a letdown for a ship with a French image) - Limited fruit selection (often just apples and watermelon/melon) and not much variety in vegetables - Worn, sometimes stained restaurant towels
We’re not ruling out another cruise on the Renaissance—their itineraries are unique—but only at a very competitive price.
Hi everyone,
I’m going on a Mediterranean cruise in November and I’m looking for some "tips" to visit the cities of Naples, Messina, and Valletta in Malta without booking the ship’s excursions, which are really expensive.
Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions. We’re a group of 6 people.
Looking forward to hearing from you...
Best,
M
PS: We’re also stopping in Genoa and Barcelona—even though we know these two cities, we’d still love any tips for visiting them! Thanks
PS: We’re also stopping in Genoa and Barcelona—even though we know these two cities, we’d still love any tips for visiting them! Thanks
Hello everyone,
We’re a senior couple signed up for a 13-day cruise in Japan on the Princess Sapphire, departing from Yokohama on April 8, 2027.
Are there any other French speakers on this forum who’ll be on this trip?
Hoping for a reply...
Hi, we're heading to Venice soon. We have a hotel in Mestre and we'd like to know which bus can take us from the Mestre hotel to Marghera Port. Thanks.
Hi everyone ...
We’re planning to do the 83-day Cunard cruise ...
departing from Southampton on January 10, 2027 aboard the Queen Anne ...
has anyone done it ... or have any info ... or tips ...
for example ... deck and cabin choices ... drink packages ... excursions ... etc.
... anything good to know about this ship???
Thanks everyone ...
Hi there,
Here’s the 2027 cruise schedule.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members!
2 essential rules:
1) Never "quote" the schedule when replying—this avoids any confusion. 2) Follow this format: DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry about that. IMPORTANT Please respect the templates! PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / / It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF 2027 CRUISES: 1 JANUARY 14/01 - poupou10 / AZAMARA JOURNEY / 74 days / South America Tour / Miami FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
1) Never "quote" the schedule when replying—this avoids any confusion. 2) Follow this format: DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry about that. IMPORTANT Please respect the templates! PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / / It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF 2027 CRUISES: 1 JANUARY 14/01 - poupou10 / AZAMARA JOURNEY / 74 days / South America Tour / Miami FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Hi,
We’ll be visiting Barcelona for the first time on our upcoming cruise.
I was wondering if it’s better to book a taxi in advance to get from the train station to the cruise terminal, since there’ll be four of us. Are there enough taxis around that we won’t have to wait too long?
For the return trip, same question—are there enough taxis, since we have a flight to catch? Though I doubt we’ll know in advance which terminal we’ll dock at.
I came across this site below—has anyone heard of it?
https://taxibarcelona.taxi/fr/
Thanks! !
Thanks! !
Hi everyone, we're going on a week-long cruise and I have a question: can we travel by train and on a cruise with small refrigerated injectable syringes?
Do we need to complete any formalities?
And how should we store them?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the sites to discover.
Best,
Hi everyone! I’m used to sailing on a sailboat with two or three people—it’s amazing. But I’d love to try the experience of a cruise. Just to clarify, I’ll be going alone. My first question: are there other solo travelers on these cruises, or is it mostly couples and families?
For a first cruise, I’d prefer a short one (maximum 8 days). Do those exist? And on the smallest boat possible. I live in Marseille, so a departure from Marseille would work, but I’m open to other ports too. If you have a cruise line to recommend and a destination you’ve enjoyed, or if you’ve had a great experience on a more intimate-sized ship, I’d love to hear about it!
Thanks a million for your replies! Marie
For a first cruise, I’d prefer a short one (maximum 8 days). Do those exist? And on the smallest boat possible. I live in Marseille, so a departure from Marseille would work, but I’m open to other ports too. If you have a cruise line to recommend and a destination you’ve enjoyed, or if you’ve had a great experience on a more intimate-sized ship, I’d love to hear about it!
Thanks a million for your replies! Marie
Hello,
We just returned from a cruise from 08/13/26 to 08/20/26 on the MSC ORCHESTRA with stops in Tarragona, Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa, and back to Marseille. The ship was fully booked. Deck chairs were already occupied by beach towels early in the morning, and there were only 1 or 2 people in the pools... However, on the day the Italians disembarked, there were very few towels on the deck chairs. We found the Italians less talkative.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 9, starboard side. The cabin was spacious, but the sofa was facing the desk, making it a pain to watch TV (neck strain guaranteed). So, we changed the sofa’s orientation to face the TV (we put it back in place on disembarkation day). There were 325 French speakers on board, and a lot of staff from Mauritius, which made communication easier.
No annoying announcements about bingo, etc.—a nice change from COSTA.
For dinner, we were at the first sitting at 7:45 PM, at a table for 6. On the first night, we were two "gray-haired" couples at the table. The second night, two young women joined us but asked to change tables after seeing us... The show for our dinner time was at 10:15 PM and ended around 11:00 PM. We found that a bit late for us. The shows were varied and of good quality. The restaurant menus offered plenty of choices, but at the buffet at lunchtime, there were a lot of dishes with quite a few carbs. Afternoon tea from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM included some great pastries, among other things.
We had an issue with the air conditioning and bad odors in the cabin one afternoon. I reported the problem to the reception, and staff along with our cabin steward came to check the cabin. The issue was resolved that same afternoon. Two days later, we were surprised to find a bag with items inside: 2 MSC mugs and 2 MSC thermos flasks that keep drinks hot or cold for 10 hours. It was a gift from customer service following the bad odors in our cabin. We weren’t expecting this at all and thanked MSC’s customer service.
For excursions, MSC always offers port-to-city-center transfers for 14 € per adult in Valencia and Tarragona, and 12 € per child. In Livorno, it was 10 € per adult and 7 € per child. In Civitavecchia, there was a shuttle to the train station for 6 €. On the MSC for Me app, there were "promotions" on certain excursions. We really enjoyed this cruise, but we couldn’t revisit some stops (Tarragona and Valencia) on our own because it was too hot. Great evening: Mum49
We just returned from a cruise from 08/13/26 to 08/20/26 on the MSC ORCHESTRA with stops in Tarragona, Valencia, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa, and back to Marseille. The ship was fully booked. Deck chairs were already occupied by beach towels early in the morning, and there were only 1 or 2 people in the pools... However, on the day the Italians disembarked, there were very few towels on the deck chairs. We found the Italians less talkative.
We had a balcony cabin on deck 9, starboard side. The cabin was spacious, but the sofa was facing the desk, making it a pain to watch TV (neck strain guaranteed). So, we changed the sofa’s orientation to face the TV (we put it back in place on disembarkation day). There were 325 French speakers on board, and a lot of staff from Mauritius, which made communication easier.
No annoying announcements about bingo, etc.—a nice change from COSTA.
For dinner, we were at the first sitting at 7:45 PM, at a table for 6. On the first night, we were two "gray-haired" couples at the table. The second night, two young women joined us but asked to change tables after seeing us... The show for our dinner time was at 10:15 PM and ended around 11:00 PM. We found that a bit late for us. The shows were varied and of good quality. The restaurant menus offered plenty of choices, but at the buffet at lunchtime, there were a lot of dishes with quite a few carbs. Afternoon tea from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM included some great pastries, among other things.
We had an issue with the air conditioning and bad odors in the cabin one afternoon. I reported the problem to the reception, and staff along with our cabin steward came to check the cabin. The issue was resolved that same afternoon. Two days later, we were surprised to find a bag with items inside: 2 MSC mugs and 2 MSC thermos flasks that keep drinks hot or cold for 10 hours. It was a gift from customer service following the bad odors in our cabin. We weren’t expecting this at all and thanked MSC’s customer service.
For excursions, MSC always offers port-to-city-center transfers for 14 € per adult in Valencia and Tarragona, and 12 € per child. In Livorno, it was 10 € per adult and 7 € per child. In Civitavecchia, there was a shuttle to the train station for 6 €. On the MSC for Me app, there were "promotions" on certain excursions. We really enjoyed this cruise, but we couldn’t revisit some stops (Tarragona and Valencia) on our own because it was too hot. Great evening: Mum49
Hi there!
I’m going on a cruise with MSC on the World Europa this coming October.
Stops: Genoa, Naples, Messina, Malta.
Has anyone visited Mount Etna and Pompeii?
Could you share some tips for each of these stops?
I’d like to explore on my own without booking the ship’s excursions.
Thanks for your advice!
We're considering a Danube cruise that stops in Bucharest.
Are there any travelers currently on the river, which is at its lowest level?
Hi there,
I’m taking a cruise on the Costa Pacifica in December—what should I expect in terms of rough seas?
contact me to get referred at MSC, for your first cruise or if you haven't traveled with MSC in over 5 years
Hello!
After a lot of hesitation between different cruise lines (Explora, Oceania, YC, HAL, NCL) and several destinations like Norway, Ireland, and Iceland,
I finally chose NCL’s Star for Iceland. I had already looked at this itinerary when I went to Scotland in April with CFC, but it was really expensive. You should know that CFC often offers last-minute deals 45 days before departure (the point when you can no longer cancel or modify). So, I got a great opportunity and grabbed it. Departure is on August 23rd.
I finally chose NCL’s Star for Iceland. I had already looked at this itinerary when I went to Scotland in April with CFC, but it was really expensive. You should know that CFC often offers last-minute deals 45 days before departure (the point when you can no longer cancel or modify). So, I got a great opportunity and grabbed it. Departure is on August 23rd.
Hi everyone,
I’m staying in a suite on the Pacifica in October and I can’t find any details about the suite benefits beyond the elite restaurant, the butler, and the espresso machine.
What about breakfast and meals served free in the cabin, and the spa?
Costa’s been cutting back on perks for Gold members, and it seems like suites are next.
Thanks for your replies!
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
We had a water leak in our cabin the night before disembarkation. We reported it, and after the technical staff came (with a translator who didn’t speak English), we were asked to leave the cabin for a while for repairs. We went to a lounge, and after 1.5 hours, I checked in at reception. The repair took longer than expected... we had to change cabins... not ideal the night before disembarkation. No balcony cabins were available, so we got an ocean-view cabin, 6075, with a bathtub (impossible for both of us to use). We packed our suitcases, took a shower in our cabin, and moved to the new one. Noise from chairs until 12:30 AM because the cabin was under a lounge, and constant ventilation noise in the hallway... sleep was hard to come by. Disembarkation: Well organized. We were helped with transporting the two suitcases and bags to the waiting room while I took the shuttle to get the car. Guylène
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? Thanks