We’ve just returned from a cruise that my wife and I will remember—unfortunately, not in a good way.
There’s so much to say that I’ll proceed chapter by chapter.
Pre-Cruise
On January 24th, 2025, I booked through a supposedly attentive cruise agent the repositioning cruise of the CFC Renaissance to the French West Indies, initially departing from Le Havre, then from Dunkirk, on November 1st, 2025.
The return flight was included in the price of this trip.
From January, right after booking, this adventure got off to a bad start.
Used to major cruise lines, I asked my agent to reserve a table for 4 at the "Vatel" restaurant for the second seating, and to link this reservation to the cabin of friends traveling with us. First brush-off: "Ask the maître d’ at the restaurant entrance on the first night."
"To govern is to foresee, and to foresee nothing is to head for disaster," as Émile de Girardin said.
Following this maxim, in February, I started looking for transportation to Le Havre, which was initially the departure port.
Then, I asked the travel agent which airport the return flight would land at. I knew flights from Pointe-à-Pitre to Paris served both main Parisian airports.
Here, I found myself like a ping-pong ball between the cruise agent and CFC: The cruise agent said, "Ask CFC," and CFC replied, "No, your agent is your intermediary—ask them." It went back and forth like that. Impossible to pre-book the flight that would take us back to our final destination.
During the summer, we learned that the departure port was no longer Le Havre but Dunkirk. We canceled our transfers to Le Havre but, of course, lost the cost of the reservations.
Meanwhile, we purchased our "Beverage" package—we chose the "Fraîcheur" option, which included all non-alcoholic cocktails, canned sodas, fruit juices, bottled water, and regular coffees. This detail is important for the rest of the story.
Every month, I followed up to find out the return airport. Nothing until October 28th (3 days before departure), when CFC finally informed me it was Orly, along with the flight number and time. Of course, on top of booking at full price, I had to arrange my final transfer home. Since I had very little time before the return flight, I had to book an Uber in a rush for the Orly/CDG transfer.
Right after, we were told that our first stop in Lisbon—the most anticipated for many cruisers—had been canceled due to a strike at the port of Lisbon and replaced with Vigo, Spain.
A completely unremarkable stop—nothing outstanding.
As you can see, the prelude was already problematic, yet we’re far from reaching the peak of our disappointments.
.......... to be continued soon.
Not the best start to your cruise.
When you book through an agency, it’s only them who can be in contact with you and pass on your requests to CFC.
We always go through an agency (Croisiland) because we have a dedicated contact for our file who we can reach by email or phone.
Normally, by going to the CFC website with your booking number, you should be able to reserve a table for 4 by entering the names of the other people and their booking numbers. It seems your agent didn’t do their job (hopefully not someone from Croisiland…).😕
As for the flights, that’s really unprofessional on CFC’s part. They know the flight numbers, schedules, and airports well in advance of the departure date.
As for the canceled stop in Lisbon, that’s a shame, but it’s out of CFC’s control—just like any cruise line that might have to change a stop. It’s stated in all the terms and conditions that only the Captain has the final say, and stops can be modified.
Tough luck for you.
Looking forward to the rest of your story.
Have a nice day anyway! Mum49
Not the best start to your cruise.
When you book through an agency, only they can be in contact with you and pass on your requests to CFC.
We always go through an agency (Croisiland) because we have a dedicated contact for our file who we can reach by email or phone.
Normally, by going to CFC’s website with your booking number, you should be able to reserve a table for 4 by providing the names of the other guests and their booking numbers. It seems your agent didn’t do their job—hopefully, they’re not from Croisiland… 😕
As for the flights, that’s really unprofessional on CFC’s part. They know the flight numbers, schedules, and airports well in advance of the departure date.
Regarding the canceled stop in Lisbon, that’s too bad, but it’s beyond CFC’s control, just like any cruise line that might have to change a stop. It’s stated in all the terms and conditions that only the Captain is in charge on board, and stops can be modified.
Tough luck for you.
Looking forward to the rest of your story.
Have a great day anyway! Mum49
Hi Mum49,
Thanks for your input.
I completely agree that the only point of contact between the cruise line and me is my travel agent. But what do I do when that same agent tells me to contact the cruise line directly?
My wife and I have been on over 60 cruises, and until 2019, we were always loyal to Sandra from Azur Croisières. But when Azur Croisières was absorbed first by QCNS Cruises and then by Cruiseline, and the terms of sale changed drastically, we switched to Croisiland, like many of our friends did.
When I contacted Croisiland, I made it clear that I wanted a single, dedicated contact person, and they assigned us Amandine—a charming and competent young woman who organized our cruise perfectly. Unfortunately, when I wanted to book a second cruise with them, Amandine was never available. Every time, I was told, "Amandine will call you back," but it never happened. A little disillusioned, I then started booking directly with the cruise lines (MSC, Explora Journey, NCL). By pointing out that I could book without an agent, I got the exact same prices they offered—sometimes even a little better.
For the cruise in question here, I went back to using an agent on a friend’s recommendation. And that’s where the disaster I described above happened. No, it wasn’t a Croisiland agent but one from an agency that uses a "freelance" agent who spends more time in the cruise ship jacuzzis than satisfying "non-aficionado" clients.
Regarding table reservations, your comment was perfectly valid if you book through Croisiland. But here’s the catch—CFC was recently integrated into the Ambassador group, and all the rules changed. There’s no longer a first or second service; there’s just one service where everyone comes whenever they want. It creates chaos you can’t even imagine if you haven’t experienced it. For example: One night, you’re seated on the upper level of the "Vatel" restaurant, you order a bottle of wine you don’t finish, and they keep it for the next day. But the next day, you’re on the ground floor of "Vatel," and you get the rest of your bottle of wine just as dessert is being served.
Obviously, CFC knew the airlines and airports they’d be using for a while now. But I don’t understand their silence on the matter. You’ll see in the rest of my account that I’m not too upset with CFC for this failed cruise.
Yes, of course, I know the cancellation of the Lisbon stop isn’t CFC’s fault—just bad luck.
I’ll continue my story soon.
Have a great day.
Hi CharlyLima, I’m happy to follow your travel journal on this crossing, which was one of the most disappointing for me.
We ran into the same initial issues you described.
See you soon.
Hi there,
Really tough luck....
We followed almost the same route as some of you—that is, Azur Croisière—and when this agency moved to Monaco, we went to Croisiland.
Pure bliss! And we have Amandine as our contact, and we’re really surprised by your dissatisfaction with her.
We’ve had the chance to go on several cruises with CFC and have always been happy. Since it was taken over by an English group, we’ve stopped. It’s such a shame because the boat was cozy and full of charm.
Best regards
Hello,
Really bad luck....
We followed almost the same route as some of you, meaning Azur Croisière, and when this agency moved to Monaco, we went to Croisiland.
Pure happiness! And we have Amandine as our contact person, and we’re really surprised by your dissatisfaction with her.
We’ve had the chance to go on several cruises with CFC and have always been happy. Since it was taken over by an English group, we’ve stopped. It’s really a shame because the boat was intimate and full of charm.
Best regards
Hello Michel,
Thank you for your contribution.
No, as I mentioned, I was delighted to benefit from Amandine’s valuable advice, her expertise, and her kindness in organizing the cruise she arranged for us. I’m just sad that I couldn’t continue this collaboration because her colleagues at Croisiland clearly didn’t pass on the message that I wanted to contact her again.
Best regards,
Christian
Departure on November 1st for the port of Dunkirk.
We were supposed to meet at the port by the "Pavillon des maquettes," an unlikely, tiny spot to welcome the 190 French speakers boarding in Dunkirk.
The ship, during the mini-cruise before ours, had already taken on 470 English passengers in Tilbury (London) and 300 Dutch passengers in Ijmuiden (Amsterdam).
So we boarded a ship that was already quite full.
We were greeted on board without fanfare or trumpets by a cold staff who clearly wanted to wrap up the boarding process quickly.
It was 1:30 PM when we discovered the ship.
Let’s say it right away—it’s a magnificent ship. Warm, cozy, tastefully decorated, with plenty of lounges and just as many inviting bars. A library divided into two sections: one better suited for reading, with a ton of interesting books in all languages (lots in French, a remnant of the recent past), and another organized around games available for guests.
The "Vatel" restaurant is a marvel in the purest "Art Deco" style that I love (the naysayers will say it’s because of my age…).
The cabins are spacious, extremely comfortable, with countless storage spaces. A large terrace completes the whole. The bathroom is also large, but with a small downside—it has a bathtub, theoretically with bubbles, but since our drain isn’t airtight, the spa system doesn’t work. Maybe over time, they should consider replacing these bathtubs with walk-in showers—there’s plenty of room.
We head to the "Belle Vue," the ship’s buffet restaurant, where we ask for two Heineken 0.0s and two sparkling waters in cans with our friends.
And that’s when the first major hiccup happens. The server tells us that waters are served by the glass and that we have to get them ourselves from the buffet’s drink dispenser. So, like anyone without a drink package. We protest, and he tells us that the drink packages changed after Ambassador took over. The "Fraîcheur" package is now called "Experience," and the new rules are what they are. We all take a Heineken 0.0 and decide to go to reception after dinner to clarify the situation. At reception, same story—the packages changed, and there’s nothing they can do. We protest, showing them the description of the package we chose and paid for long ago, pointing out that it’s fraudulent to change the rules of the game mid-match. After much insistence, they call a "supervisor," and in comes our Carlito. Ah… Carlito, an exceptional guy who solved our problem in no time. He told us to let them charge all our drinks and that he would personally credit them to our bill. And that’s exactly what happened. Upon disembarkation, our bill was perfect to the cent.
It was time to unpack our suitcases.
The ship is centered around two hubs: the front with four elevators and the back with the same. Since we were in the middle, we had a choice. We opted for the front elevators. No luck—out of four elevators, only two were available because the third was reserved for wheelchairs (yes, there were about thirty wheelchairs on this ship and just as many walkers). The last elevator was for the service staff bringing luggage to the cabins. Because yes, there were service elevators on this ship, but the service carts were too wide for the doors, so they used the "public" elevators… And that’s how it was throughout the cruise, and even worse at certain times—I’ll explain later.
At 4:30 PM, it was time for the safety drill. Everyone lined up on Deck 6, life jackets on like in *The Gendarme in New York*, and we listened for a good 15 minutes—only in French, since the English had already done the drill in Tilbury and the Dutch in Ijmuiden—to the evacuation rules. You’ll see later in the report that this almost came in handy.
At 6 PM, the ship set sail, supposedly for Lisbon but heading to Vigo instead due to a strike by Portuguese dockworkers.
The next five days would be "Rock & Roll"—you’ll see…
Apparently, the boarding in Dunkirk wasn’t great... we’ll see what awaits us in April.
Not cool with the change to your drink packages—you should’ve been told beforehand.
We also found the ocean-view cabins in 2025 spacious, but the problem for us was the bathtub... so we opted for an inside cabin (with a shower) for the short cruise in Holland in April 2026. For the June one, we were upgraded to a balcony cabin with a shower for PRM after CFC canceled the cruise planned for June 2026 in western England-Scotland-Ireland. Why?
Since this ship welcomes a lot of "seniors," we’re surprised there are only showers in the inside cabins and just 2 (unless I’m mistaken) balcony cabins for PRM. As you said, there’s space to convert bathtubs to showers, but it’s probably too expensive...
Looking forward to your "rock and roll" story. Have a great day! Mum49
I’m really sorry for you, even though I’m not all that surprised by your misadventures. I visited this ship during its stopover in Le Havre last year, precisely because I didn’t want to risk the price of a cruise without knowing what the company had to offer. And I absolutely don’t regret that decision—with a minimal investment, I got to discover CFC and see the real quality of their services.
I’ll be following your adventures closely for what comes next.
Apparently, boarding in Dunkirk wasn’t great... we’ll see what awaits us in April. Not cool changing the drink packages like that—you should’ve been warned beforehand.
We also found the sea-view cabins in 2025 spacious, but the issue for us: the bathtub... so we opted for an inside cabin (with a shower) for the short Holland cruise in April 2026, and for the June one, we were upgraded to a balcony cabin with a PMR shower after CFC canceled the cruise planned for June 2026 in western England-Scotland-Ireland. Why?
This ship hosts a lot of "seniors," so we’re surprised there are only showers in the inside cabins and just 2 (unless I’m mistaken) balcony cabins for PMR. As you said, there’s space to convert bathtubs to showers, but it’s probably too expensive...
Looking forward to your "rock and roll" story. Have a great day: Mum49
Hi Guylene,
I’ve honestly never seen so many seniors on a ship, even though I’m one myself.
I felt like Ambassador had emptied the retirement homes in southern England to fill this boat. There were even some health incidents—I’ll explain later.
Thanks for following this trip report.
Good evening Catherine,
Thank you for your message.
I think that between your visit to the ship in Le Havre and today, a world of negative developments has piled up on this poor vessel.
If you do me the honor of continuing to read my account, you’ll see for yourself.
Have a lovely evening
I’m not surprised by your setbacks, since Catherine gave us a "detailed" account of this ship during a quick stopover visit (if my memory serves me right).
Your travel journal reassured me in my choice, as I’m in no hurry to take a cruise with this company.
Regarding your travel agent, I’ll simply say "NO COMMENT."
Looking forward to the rest.
Hello Joseph,
Thanks for following my travel journal.
Yes, I noticed that Catherine had visited the Renaissance when it was still fully under French management.
You’ll see, as you continue reading my account, that what Catherine experienced seems almost paradise-like compared to what’s happening now.
As for the agency and its "freelance" agent, you’ll also notice that I haven’t mentioned either of their names.
See you soon for the next part.
From November 1st to 3rd… At sea
A pleasant departure from the port of Dunkirk at 6 PM. A tricky passage through a multitude of locks, our crew, expertly led by Captain Yan Jouffroy, executed these maneuvers with mastery.
The Vatel restaurant opens its doors in the evening at 6 PM.
Between the CFC organization when the Renaissance sailed in the Mediterranean in summer and the rules that Ambassador has now established, there’s a world of difference.
The new rules are: “Dinner Up to you (whenever you want)” as they say—I’d call it more of a “dinner free-for-all.”
Around 7:30 PM, we head down to the Vatel restaurant for dinner.
There, chaos ensues between those already dining and those who want to. The former linger at their tables, while the others, including us, are left waiting.
Luckily for us, a table for four frees up—let’s say quickly—on the restaurant’s upper level near a window. It’s assigned to us.
We meet Mayur, who’s in charge of a few tables, including ours, and his assistant, Royal. Mayur is Indian, Royal is Indonesian. As always, an immediate "bond" forms with these two friendly and competent crew members.
The meal is quite decent for the first evening, though that will change over time.
With Mayur, we decide to bypass these new “whenever you want” dinner rules and choose to arrive in his section every evening around 7:30 PM. He thinks it’s a great idea and mentions that if the table frees up a little earlier, he’ll save it for us, and if it’s a bit later, he’ll apologize in advance. That’s the game…
During dinner, the Renaissance enters the English Channel. The sea is rough, with waves of 2–3 meters, but that’s normal in this area. Things will get noticeably worse.
It’s now 11:30 PM, time to retreat to the cabin.
As I mentioned earlier in this report, the cabin is extremely comfortable in terms of size and storage space. However, I think the mattresses haven’t been changed since the ship’s launch in 1993. They’re saggy, lumpy, thicker in the middle than on the sides—so much so that you’d almost need seatbelts to stay in place. I had a rough night and ended up sleeping on the couch. On top of that, the cabin’s air conditioning is temperamental: it’s a normal temperature under the vent but freezing just 5 meters away. (That will change too.)
November 2nd, a gloomy day. We’re still in the English Channel, which we’ll leave by the end of the day to enter the Bay of Biscay. The sea is still choppy, but it’s manageable.
After breakfast at the "Belle Vue" buffet, we decide to explore the ship more thoroughly. Our impression remains the same: a magnificent, cozy, and warm ship inside, but very, very worn on the outside. Rust is everywhere, peeking through the paint on the balcony railings and the davits for the lifeboats, etc.
We chose to participate in the first sea-day quiz. To do so, we had to take an elevator to the "Massalia" lounge. We find the forward elevators, where—unlike yesterday—only one out of four is working. The others are labeled: one “reserved for car (wheelchair-accessible carts),” another “service only,” and the third “OFF.”
So, we walk to the Massalia lounge on foot.
They hand out quiz sheets with 15 potential answers and a pencil.
The quiz begins with questions asked first in English—so far, so good—then, from what I was told, in French… oh, really? At that point, I had to ask the host (a female animator) to repeat the question in English because I didn’t understand a thing. She did.
The first question was: “In which English city is the Football Association Cup museum located?” I only know one English football team because two players from my country are on it, so I answered Manchester—and luckily, I was right.
Fourteen more questions followed, 11 of which were about English TV programs, football teams, and rugby teams. The other three were general knowledge questions.
I’ve never seen so many smartphones overheating during a quiz.
I’ll give you a thousand guesses as to the winner’s nationality.
At the end of the quiz, the French and Dutch speakers protested. I don’t know what happened next because I never participated in a quiz again.
The day passes, but as we approach the Bay of Biscay, the sea gets rougher.
That’s when we see little bags containing paper sickness bags appearing every 10 meters along the handrails in the hallways leading to the cabins—and everywhere else on the ship—in case stomachs experience turbulence like the sea.
Around 8 PM, we enter the Bay of Biscay.
It’s really rocking now, but… the rest soon to come…
I don’t understand why the questionnaire asks us what time we prefer for dinner...
From what I’ve read, it doesn’t seem related to the cruise we took this year in March/April departing from Le Havre. There weren’t any English speakers—or at least, I didn’t hear any...
We chose this ship because of the French-speaking environment on board, which doesn’t seem to be the case anymore...
As for the elevators, there’s always at least one out of order. We were at the back of the ship, and there was always one broken and another out of service from time to time out of the four elevators.
Looking forward to the rest of your story—it might be as eventful as the sea in the Bay of Biscay!
Have a great weekend! Guylène
November 3rd
The sea was very rough at night, with waves of 4/5 meters and wind force 7 to 8 Beaufort.
It’s shaking quite a bit, but we’re still nowhere in this chaos.
We zigzag our way to the Belle Vue buffet to settle our stomachs—though for some, that wasn’t the best idea.
Through the portholes, we see the ocean rebelling, flooding the promenade deck (deck 6) and putting the cabins on decks 4 and 5 below the new waterline unilaterally set by Poseidon (or Neptune for Roman mythology fans).
The ship bends but doesn’t break, I’d say, paraphrasing Jean de la Fontaine. Well… not yet, anyway…
I think if, like in the past, there had been a chapel and a chaplain on board, it would have been packed. Everyone praying to their "god": Dutch Protestants to Calvin, Anglicans to Henry VIII, Jews to Yahweh, and Catholics to the Holy Spirit.
Somehow, we decide to face these turbulent elements up close and head down to the 8th floor, the bar level.
The "Les Explorateurs" bar is very quiet. We sit by a window and wait for the server. He arrives with a firm, confident step—he must have seen worse.
My wife and friends order coffees, and I ask for a non-alcoholic cocktail, a "Proof colada with banana," which I’d tried the day before. He leaves and returns a few minutes later with the three coffees but without my "Proof Colada banana." He tells me that, unfortunately, there’s no more banana syrup on the ship and asks if I’d like another flavor (strawberry, mango, or kiwi). I point out that we’ve only been sailing for 24 hours and that running out of certain ingredients so soon is proof of terrible logistics. Of course, the poor guy can’t do anything about it, so I ask for a fourth coffee.
There was never any banana syrup on the ship again (though I found a workaround) until the end of the cruise, even though we made 9 stops, including 3 in Bridgetown, Barbados; Willemstad, Curaçao; and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. These three stops serve as "hubs" for both restocking and passenger changes—English in Barbados, Dutch in Curaçao, and French in Pointe-à-Pitre. Nothing worked—still no banana syrup.
Meanwhile, the ship keeps feeling like a rollercoaster car.
At the end of the day, the captain announces over the internal radio about the storm we’re about to face and asks us to be extremely careful when moving around.
Sure enough, we’ve entered a terrible depression. The waves are now 10 meters high, and the wind is force 11/12.
The ship creaks with every metal plate. At any moment, you think it’s going to break. It rocks horrifically from port to starboard and bow to stern.
At times, deafening noises come from the ship’s depths, as if a shipping container had broken its restraints and was roaming freely in the hold of the Renaissance.
Fortunately, on November 4th, we dock in Vigo, and we’ll have a few hours to regain our balance.
But this is only temporary…
Hi there,
I just came across your travel journal, and I can’t wait for the next installment! You’ve got a real talent for storytelling.
I booked a Caribbean cruise from February 24th to March 7th when these new cruises first went on sale. At the time, no transfers were offered.
After that, my agency and CFC kept passing the buck, and I never managed to get any info about schedules, the departure airport, etc.
So I ended up booking Air France flights from Lyon, leaving the day before just to be safe. For now, I have no idea what time boarding starts.
Looking forward to reading more of your adventures.
Your story makes it sound like you were in a washing machine... with all the rolling from port to starboard and bow to stern. The boat held up, and that’s what matters most.
I’m looking forward to the rest of your story.
Guylène
Good evening Bernadette,
Thank you for your kind words.
Regarding the Renaissance cruises in the Caribbean, after our repositioning cruise in the area for the winter, I can tell you that on November 22nd, the date of our return flight to Europe, the Air France and Corsair flights that brought French-speaking passengers back to Paris Orly had also carried the passengers who were about to start the first rotation in the area. So they sell packages that include flights.
If you book the flight separately, without going through the cruise line, it's best to leave the day before because if, for any reason beyond your control, that plane is delayed, the ship will have left without you. However, if the cruise line is responsible for your flight, then the ship will wait for you to board.
Have a lovely evening.
Christian
Good evening Guylène,
Yes, the ship held up.
But honestly, this ship is too old for transatlantic crossings. It should stay in the Antilles—absolutely—but crossings with passengers? It’s past its prime.
Have a lovely evening,
Christian.
If you book the flight yourself, without going through the cruise line, you’d better leave the day before because if, for any reason beyond your control, that plane is delayed, the ship will have sailed without you. If, on the other hand, the cruise line is in charge of your flight, then the ship will wait for you to board.
Hello,
In no case is CFC—or any cruise company—"responsible" for the flight. It’s clearly stated in their terms and conditions. While they often do wait in case of delays, that’s much less likely with cancellations or major delays. For example, in April 2010, many ships left Miami without the Europeans whose flights had been canceled due to the Icelandic volcano eruption.
Best regards
hi
I can confirm this happens from time to time—the ship sometimes leaves without passengers who had flight issues.
The only silver lining is that they’ll reroute late-arriving passengers to the next ports if they booked their flight with the cruise line.
So it’s best to book airfare separately and always leave yourself a buffer!
Isabelle, amoureuse des croisières:
COSTA, MSC, ROYAL CARIBBEAN, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, NCL, HAL, PONANT, OCEANIA, AZAMARA
A VENIR
CELEBRITY EQUINOX 09/11/2026 Grèce Italie Malte
November 4th
Stopover in Vigo, Galicia, Spain
"Filler" excursions offered by Ambassador, all in English except one, which was less boring than the others: Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. This excursion offered a French-speaking option.
Luckily, the port is in the city center, so it was extremely easy to access—what a relief for once.
The weather was gloomy, with intermittent rain and chilly (13/14°C).
Thinking that Santiago de Compostela was meant to be reached on foot and with the famous scallop shell in hand, we—and quite a few other cruisers—decided to skip the excursion, opting instead for a pilgrimage to the famous Galeria Gran Via.
After grabbing the mall’s free Wi-Fi and calling our loved ones, we set off back to the ship with a firm and determined step.
There, maintenance crews were bailing out water, cleaning up the aftermath of some passengers’ rejected dinners from the night before, and wiping off the salt left by the sea spray during the first part of the storm. The ship had taken on water from all sides. There were buckets everywhere in the lounges, along with hot-air blowers drying the carpets. In short, it looked like the Champs-Élysées after an "Antifa" protest.
Back on board by 5:30 PM, departure at 6:00 PM.
By 5:30 PM, everyone had long since returned.
We then had two more days at sea to reach Ponta Delgada in the Azores.
The captain immediately warned us that our spin in the washing machine was far from over and urged us to be careful with our movements—and how we closed the bathroom door, as it could slam shut unexpectedly during a sudden lurch, trapping our fingers.
The forces of nature hadn’t let up. Waves were still at least 10 meters high, with winds of 11/12 on the Beaufort scale, and this would continue until we reached Ponta Delgada on November 7th.
hi
I can confirm this does happen from time to time—the ship leaving without passengers who had flight issues.
The only silver lining is that they’ll reroute late-arriving passengers to the next ports if they booked their flight with the cruise line.
So it’s best to book flights separately and always leave some wiggle room.
Hi Isa,
Personally, I’ve never experienced a ship leaving on time at departure if cruisers who booked their transfer to the ship through the cruise line arrived late due to their flight. In fact, I’ve even left once at 10 PM and another time after midnight when the official departure was set for 6 PM.
However, what I *have* seen often is the ship leaving without passengers who were late returning from excursions. In one case, I even saw our ship leave Recife (Brazil) for Tenerife—6 days at sea—without 4 cruisers during its repositioning to Europe for the summer.
Hi there,
Unfortunately, several people have shared their misadventures on this forum 😕
We should find those posts—the last one was about an MSC cruise ship in the Caribbean.
The ship left without them, but MSC arranged to get them on board two stops later, I think.
If there’s only a 2/3-hour delay, they’ll wait… but not for a major delay 😕
Looking forward to the rest of this super interesting report! 😊
Isabelle, amoureuse des croisières:
COSTA, MSC, ROYAL CARIBBEAN, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, NCL, HAL, PONANT, OCEANIA, AZAMARA
A VENIR
CELEBRITY EQUINOX 09/11/2026 Grèce Italie Malte
Hi there,
I think you're referring to the 50 French passengers flown to Miami on an American Airlines flight in February 2016. There was only a 2.5-hour delay, yet the MSC Divina didn’t wait. The passengers caught up with the cruise the next day via a flight to Jamaica.
Best regards
I’ll be picking up my travel journal again very soon—an unexpected event forced me to pause it against my will.
To tide you over, I’m sharing a few photos of the Renaissance in the meantime.
Ponta Delgada (Azores) November 7th
Departing from Vigo, the Atlantic hadn’t finished testing our patience.
Still with terrifying swells and winds strong enough to knock the horns off every cow on Earth.
But as we crossed toward the Azores, Aeolus grew tired, and halfway through, that famous anticyclone our esteemed meteorologists never stop talking about finally smiled on us, letting us finish the crossing in peace.
We arrived in Ponta Delgada at dawn on November 7th. The weather was mild, so I watched the Renaissance dock from my balcony in light clothes.
The ship was moored in the "industrial" part of Ponta Delgada’s port. I’m not even sure if there’s a cruise terminal here. A free shuttle bus was offered for those who wanted to explore the city on their own, running every 15 minutes from 9 AM to 5 PM (all aboard by 5:30 PM).
We chose to explore on our own.
We took the shuttle around 9:15 AM and were surprised to find a "Hop On Hop Off" bus running this time of year, letting us visit all the major sites in and around Ponta Delgada. There were two lines: the green line, focused on the city, and the blue line, which we picked, taking us outside the city to admire the Azores’ natural wonders. Like all "Hop On Hop Off" buses worldwide, we could get off, explore, and catch the next one. At some stops, the lines crossed, so we could switch between them. The cost of this alternative to the ship’s excursion: 24 € per person. The only difference was that since it was late autumn, the buses weren’t double-deckers like in summer, so there were no audio guides. But a friendly English-speaking guide more than made up for that.
We left from the "Sao Pedro Largo de Palmeira" bus stop, right in front of our ship.
Our first stop was "Vista do Rei," the Azores’ ultimate viewpoint. A 180° panorama of the stunning "Sete Cidades" (an Azorean volcano). I say 180° because if you turn around, you’ll see a gigantic abandoned hotel—the "Monte Palace Hotel," left to rot in 1991 after just 18 months of operation. The weather got the better of this monster; the hotel was in the clouds over 250 days a year. But we had perfect weather to appreciate the breathtaking view in front of us: a jaw-dropping caldera with two lakes—one deep blue, the other emerald green. And in the distance, the ocean we’ll face again tomorrow, this time for six days.
The main lakes of Sete Cidades (Green Lake and Blue Lake) are unique because they’re completely enclosed, with no drainage system. This natural phenomenon was problematic since there was no way to regulate the water levels based on rainfall. So, they dug a tunnel to help with drainage, extended it with an aqueduct that supplies water for local crops, and channels the excess into the ocean. We also discovered the "Aqueduto Lagoa das Empadadas." After visiting the beautiful "Botanical Garden," we decided to spend the afternoon exploring the city.
We wandered through the charming pedestrian streets of the city center, hunting for a "typical" restaurant.
And then we stumbled upon a place that, in hindsight, must’ve had a predestined name: "Pitèu."
Free from the ship’s disappointing cuisine, I just wanted a grilled steak with sides. I saw "Traditional Rump steak from Terceira Island" on the menu. Worried, I asked the waiter—in Portuguese, assuming it was his native language—what "from Terceira Island" meant. After much back-and-forth, he came back and told me it was the beef’s region of origin. Naively, I thought they must be as proud of their Terceira beef as the Japanese are of their Wagyu. Realizing he spoke Portuguese about as well as I spoke Inuktitut, I ordered their Traditional Rump steak... but told him in what I thought was the universal language: "rare."
He returned with a bathtub of oil holding what looked like a 1 cm-thick slice of something *very* well-done, floating like a sock. Inedible. I only ate the fries (a miracle—they were decent).
After that letdown, I headed back to the ship and grabbed a burger by the pool.
The ship left Ponta Delgada after a beautiful day, heading for Antigua and the Antilles in six days.
............... see you there .............
November 8th to 13th, at sea…
At Ponta Delgada, the bridge informed us it was a good time to set our watches back an hour. Yep, we were starting our time change.
This happened four more times during our crossing.
The ocean was completely calm, just as we’ve always known it. The days passed quietly for us, with no activities since they were all in English or aimed at English speakers. I read in the panoramic lounge on the 12th floor, accessible only by a bank of elevators—two of them, since the other two were reserved for wheelchairs, staff, or were simply out of order. The lounge was very peaceful, sometimes lively in the morning with a fun dance class. Otherwise, it was perfect for reading, meditating, or reflecting.
The nights were mild, between 20°C and 22°C. Since the cabin’s air conditioning was temperamental, I often spent a big part of the night on the terrace. It was super comfortable—large and equipped with two adjustable lounge chairs and ottomans. The trade winds kept the terrace pleasantly breezy.
Dawn of the 14th day, land in sight… Saint John’s (Antigua and Barbuda)
This is our 7th cruise in the Caribbean (twice, like this one, as a repositioning cruise for the ship’s winter season in the area, and five times in the opposite direction, repositioning the ship back to Europe for summer), so we’d already explored every corner of Antigua. Still, for those who’ve never visited the island, I *highly* recommend the excursion to English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard. From the island’s highest point—I think it’s Mount Obama—you’ll get a view of the "Crossroads Center," a great name for the addiction rehab center Eric Clapton built at the end of the last century and still funds today.
When you get back to the ship after the excursion, make sure to pay your respects to the "Kitch" statue of V.C. Bird, Antigua’s former prime minister.
We spent the morning catching up with loved ones and strolling around Saint John’s city center, since the ship was docked right at the end of the main street.
The afternoon was worthy of a 4th *7th Company* movie—it could’ve been called *The 7th Company to the Rescue*.
Since we’d had a rough first part of the crossing, the crew decided to test the lifeboats. After lunch, they started lowering them into the basin where the ship was docked.
The first one went down smoothly, but when they launched the second one, things got interesting. It floated fine at first, but when it came time to unhook it from its support, we nearly died laughing. The front unhooked no problem, but the back? That was a whole other story. They grabbed hammers, then sledgehammers, trying to free the stubborn pin—it wasn’t budging. They decided to hoist it back up but forgot it was already unhooked at the front, so the bow dipped into the water while the stern was 2 meters above it. They lowered it in a panic and went back to hammering—like the spankings we got in an era those under 60 can’t remember. After tons of attempts and liberal applications of penetrating oil, the pin finally gave up, and the crew’s dignity was saved… for the moment. Even though the other lifeboats were eventually launched (with a few extra hammer whacks), the comedy was far from over. The basin turned into an indescribable ballet of lifeboats. It was like a mashup of the police car chases from every *Taxi* movie and the ship battles in *Pirates of the Caribbean*—and hey, we *were* in the Caribbean.
They kept bumping into each other, trying to pull alongside to transfer crew, but a third lifeboat was drifting around, its wake throwing off the other two. Total chaos—but since it was just an exercise, we could laugh. Though it would’ve been way more worrying if it were real. And we’d *almost* been in a real emergency during the first part of the cruise.
After one lifeboat’s engine failed, a towline search, and hauling everyone back up, the ship set off for:
… Roseau (Dominica) on November 15th.
What an adventure during this cruise...
Luckily, we didn’t need to use some of those lifeboats...
During the cruise we took in April this year, we also loved the panoramic lounge, especially in the mornings before the activities started.
The elevators were the same old issue—we were at the back of the ship, and one was always "out of service," with another one breaking down from time to time. At the front, only one was "broken."
Looks like nothing’s been fixed.
We’ll see how it goes during our mini-cruise from 04/11/26 to 04/16/26.
Guylène
hi there
this story about the faulty tender boat is really worrying 🙁 especially since there have already been several incidents and injuries in the past because of the tender boats on this cruise line..
let's hope they never have to use them in an emergency! 😕
I took advantage of a discovery offer on this ship—just dinner, an evening, a night, and breakfast—the ship stays docked, phew... lol I hope I can test everything from the theater to the pool... 😉
Isabelle, amoureuse des croisières:
COSTA, MSC, ROYAL CARIBBEAN, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, NCL, HAL, PONANT, OCEANIA, AZAMARA
A VENIR
CELEBRITY EQUINOX 09/11/2026 Grèce Italie Malte
Je recherche toute information pour organiser les excursoins...les compte-rendus de voyages sont les bienvenues...amitiés... me suis inscrit sur le calendrier…
Première croisière et un peu inquiète d'avoir vu une vidéo sur le drame qu'a connu le louis majesty le 3 mars dernier assez impressionnant...j... n'en avais…
Nous avons choisi cette croisière pour notre voyage de noces et on part de Marseille dimanche 7 septembre. Qui fait le même voyage que nous? Ca serait sympa de…
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
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 there
Here’s the cruise schedule for 2026.
It’s a great way to get ideas and maybe even meet up with other members.
2 essential rules:
1) never "quote" the calendar when replying—this’ll avoid any confusion
2) follow the format below
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
REMINDER Despite my requests, few people follow the requested format. Cruises that stray too far from it won’t be listed anymore—sorry!PLEASE respect the templates!
COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT BELOW AND REPLACE WITH YOUR DETAILS IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING
DD/MM - username / SHIP IN CAPS / number of days / cruise title / departure port
DON’T FORGET THE SPACES between the / /
It takes time to fix mistakes, so THANKS TO EVERYONE for your help!
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF CRUISES 2026:
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
We’re taking an MSC cruise in May, and after the Cinque Terre, we’ll be stopping in Naples. We’d like to know if it’s possible to walk out of the port quickly and reach a nice area of Naples on foot (we’re two older people). While we’re at it, I’ll ask the same question for Palermo, since we’ll be there the next day. Thanks for your replies.
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!
hi,
I’m leaving Hamburg for Iceland at the end of July. The boat arrives in Reykjavik on Tuesday, August 4th at 8 AM, and I’d like to book a day trip like the Golden Circle or Secret Lagoon… The sites like GetYourGuide and others list departures at 8 AM. If you’ve used these sites with the MSC Preziosa, could you let me know how to go about it?
Thanks! 😉
allyMB007
Hello everyone,
It’s with immense sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of our friend Nathalie (nadu). Many of us knew her through this forum, which she loved so much. She enjoyed reading your travel stories, joining discussions, sharing her cruise reviews, and offering valuable advice—always with kindness, gentleness, and discretion.
For me, Nathalie was so much more than just a cruise enthusiast. She was a friend, a deeply kind person who was always there to listen, despite the many health challenges she faced with tremendous courage. We corresponded regularly, and sometimes we had the chance to visit each other’s homes or attend the cruise show together with our respective husbands.
We shared a common dream: when we both retired, we had planned to finally go on a cruise together. Life had other plans, and that trip will forever remain a journey we never had the chance to take. That thought weighs heavily on my heart today.
I’ll remember her as a gentle, generous woman who was always ready to help others. Her presence on this forum will leave a huge void, just as her friendship has in my life.
I send my sincerest thoughts to her husband, her family, and all those who had the chance to know her.
Fair winds, Nathalie. I like to think you’re now sailing on an infinitely calm sea, under an eternally blue sky. You’ll remain in our thoughts and hearts every time we talk about cruises or set off on a new journey.
Rest in peace, Nathalie.
For those who’d like to send a message of comfort and sympathy to her husband, you can send me a PM, and I’ll pass it along.
THANK YOU
Hello everyone,
So happy to be back on this Forum!
We’re heading off on another cruise—our 7th—after a 5-year break...
We’ll be leaving from Venice on April 26th with stops in Kotor, Mykonos, Santorini, and Ancona.
Could you help me plan the stops by sharing tips, tricks, and advice?
For those who already know me, you know we prefer not to take the cruise line’s excursions but instead organize everything ourselves.
Thanks in advance to everyone, and looking forward to chatting with you all!
Hello,
We’re taking a cruise to Northern Europe with a stop in SOUTHAMPTON.
We’d like to visit the Stonehenge site.
Is it possible to get there on our own (my husband is a wheelchair user), since the MSC excursion to Salisbury is priced at 127 € per person?
There’s also a stop in Rotterdam, and it seems there’s a "miniature village to visit" nearby. Has anyone here been there, and if so, how did you get there?
Thanks so much for your tips. Mum49
If you're traveling on the Costa Diadema from October 17th to 28th, 2026 to Lisbon, we can meet up for a drink. Share our cruising experiences, an excursion, a table...
hi there, a group of friends and I are going on a cruise at the end of June with CFC in Norway. I’d love to get some info on the different stops we’ll be making. Most of them are one-day stops (from around 10 AM to 8 PM on average). Here are the stops: Andalsnes, Trondheim, Honningsvåg, Alta, Hellesylt, Sandane, Austefjorden.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what there is to see or do in these places.
When I get back, I’ll post what we did—it might help others who come after us.
Also, does anyone know if the boat sticks to the arrival time in Dunkirk for catching tickets to head back south? We’ll plan a buffer just in case.
Hi there, The day before boarding the Costa Favolosa for the Norwegian Fjords cruise departing from Hamburg, I'd like to book a hotel. Which one would be the most convenient location-wise relative to the port?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hello,
We’ll be sailing on the Renaissance with CFC to southern Norway from July 4 to 11, 2026, departing from Dunkirk (the cruise was booked through "Planète Croisière").
When entering some personal details or pre-selecting options on the CFC website, I’m wondering about the "optional" categories for drinks and WiFi.
I’m actually a bit surprised by these extra charges, as we weren’t used to them on other cruises (Australis in Patagonia; Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express in Norway and Alaska; Rivages du Monde in the Arctic or on the Douro River; a Nile river cruise in Egypt), where we sometimes had access to basic drinks at meals and free WiFi when near land.
Anyway, for those who’ve already taken a CFC cruise on the Renaissance, could you share some advice? Specifically about the most basic drink package, called "Fraîcheur" (238 € for two), which doesn’t seem to be described anywhere. The "Premium" package seems excessive (490 € for two for the week) for light drinkers.
As for WiFi, it’s 10 € per day per person. While I find that price acceptable for parking our car in Dunkirk, it feels overpriced here (especially since it was free on the Nordlys "Coastal Express" just 3 or 4 years ago).
So, I’d love to hear from experienced cruisers who’ve been on this ship!
Looking forward to seeing the excursion prices, which should be available soon! 😐
Hi there,
I’m considering a cruise on this ship in the recently introduced Yacht Club category.
Have any forum members tried it?
What are your thoughts? Positive or negative? Which cabins should we go for—or avoid?
We’re already familiar with the Yacht Clubs on the Splendida, Fantasia, Preziosa, and Divina series.
We weren’t as keen on the one on the Seashore—we found it too big.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Claudine
We're considering a new cruise soon and would like to try the Renaissance.
The uniqueness of the promenade cabins appeals to us, but could anyone give us some insights on the following points:
- Is the glass door sufficiently tinted to prevent outsiders from seeing into the cabin?
- Is the soundproofing good enough to block out conversations on the promenade deck?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!
My husband, our two teens, and I are going on a cruise on the COSTA Esmeralda at the beginning of July. We’re thinking of exploring the ports on our own. Do any of you have recent experiences or tips to share? Are there shuttles between the port and the city center? Are they free? Looking forward to hearing from you.
As promised, here’s my review of the cruise I took from the 5th to the 19th on the MSC Virtuosa.
As you know, I had initially booked a cruise with Mein Schiff departing from Dubai (from Dubai to Cape Town). It was a 22-day cruise. Due to the issues in the Persian Gulf, my cruise was canceled by Mein Schiff.
So, we started looking for a Plan B because we really wanted to go. Especially my wife, who had just had a minor procedure and needed some rest. Since she had already taken time off, she was determined to travel. However, we were looking for an affordable Plan B since we weren’t sure when Mein Schiff or the airline would reimburse us.
While browsing online, I found a 15-day cruise departing from Pointe-à-Pitre (including flights, transfers, the cruise, and drinks) for a price of 1,200 € in a Fantastica balcony cabin. We thought, *Why not?*
I should mention that I’m not usually a big fan of MSC. My last experience with them was post-Covid (I took two cruises, one in 2021 and another in 2022), and it was honestly a disaster. We didn’t want to repeat that, but after talking to Catherine, who told me she was very happy with a short Christmas cruise, we decided to give it a try.
I have to say, I was left speechless. Honestly, the cruise was absolutely perfect. There’s nothing to complain about (or just a few minor details). In terms of service and food, I felt like I was on a premium cruise line. I’d even say MSC has nothing to envy from some of those companies. While premium lines like Holland, Celebrity, and Royal are cutting back on services, I think MSC has made huge improvements. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting this at all. You’ll see what I mean as we chat more.
I won’t do a full review like I usually do because there weren’t many stops:
1. We boarded in Pointe-à-Pitre
2. We stopped in Saint-Martin
3. Then it was a direct crossing to the Azores...
This cruise was really about relaxing, even if it’s not the kind of trip we usually take.
First off, I’m not a big fan of "flight and cruise" packages. I asked if we could leave two days early, but they said it wasn’t possible. We had to take the flight, then the bus, and board the ship directly.
It’s not really my thing, but given the price we paid and since we really wanted to relax, we thought, *Why not?*
Here’s the itinerary:
Boarding in Pointe-à-Pitre
Saint-Martin
Five days at sea
The Azores
Four days at sea
Hamburg
One day at sea
Le Havre
But as I mentioned, it wasn’t about the itinerary. It was really about taking a break and unwinding. Honestly, I came back thrilled.
We’re stopping over in Rovinj this coming May, and since we’ve already visited the main sights (port, church, etc.), is there a walk we can do on our own—no boat needed—that would fill a morning?
Thanks to anyone who knows the area…
My wife and I are going on a cruise on the MS Vesteralen on August 4th. The ship stays close to the coast to deliver mail and packages. My wife is a musician and is sensitive to the movement of the boat. Which deck and cabin should we choose?
Hi there,
So, I booked this cruise...
I know CFC gets a lot of criticism—
- And that it’s not really like the ships I usually take.
But the destination really interested me...
So, I’m giving it a try...
I’m going in with an open mind, thinking I got a good deal, so I’m not expecting the same experience as when I travel with Yacht Club or The Haven.
We’ll see... soon!
hi, we’re going on a cruise with MSC Virtuosa in the Caribbean. Has anyone done this cruise before and could give us some tips for excursions on the different islands? Thanks for your help
😉Hi there,
A few months ago, CFC put the EN VOGUE experience on sale, departing from Dunkirk.
I booked this package to test the boat and onboard services for myself.
I’d read a lot of reviews mentioning numerous issues on board, so I wanted to see for myself what it was really like…
Okay, I’ll stop rambling…
The package included boarding at 6 PM on Friday, dinner, a show, an overnight stay, and breakfast.
We chose an interior cabin for this experience—since the boat wasn’t leaving the dock, we didn’t see the point in paying more… All in all, it cost 130 € per person.
My mom joined us; she got the same cabin for 130 € with no single occupancy supplement.
We’d checked in online to board faster.
We took the train to DUNKIRK, then a taxi to the shuttle pavilion—7 € for the ride.
When we arrived at the pavilion, we were told to wait because there was a connection issue with check-in. Great start…
After about ten minutes, we were finally allowed to proceed.
At the counter, they said they didn’t have our cabin cards and no record of our check-in… Very odd.
With no solution, they put us on the bus and said we’d sort it out at reception. Perfect.
We went through security, and they confiscated our water bottles—never seen that before! Then they said my mom had a corkscrew in her bag, so they searched it… but there was no corkscrew. Total amateur hour… They eventually dropped it.
We got on the bus for a ten-minute ride…
We boarded the ship with a crew member and headed to reception.
Turns out, we weren’t the only ones in this situation.
The nightmare began… Only two staff members were handling all the issues, and everything seemed complicated.
They told my mom her cabin had been given to someone else 😲.
That was the last straw…
It took forever—they had to redo the entire check-in.
Finally, they told my mom her cabin was good to go; they’d mixed her up with someone else… After a solid half-hour, we could finally head to our cabin.
I’m determined to test everything: the pool, jacuzzi, show, restaurant, spa, etc…
TO BE CONTINUED
Hi,
We received a promotion from our CFC agency offering cruises at up to 40-100% off, and among other details: CFC organizes parking for departures from Dunkirk.
"Unattended parking located about 12 minutes away, fenced off with barriers, at a rate of 10 € per day. Drop off passengers and luggage at the Model Pavilion, and a CFC shuttle will take you from the parking lot to the Model Pavilion every 15-20 minutes. Same for disembarkation. You can book through your agency or on their website. No refunds if the booking is canceled; payment is due at reservation."
Have a great day,
Guylène
PS: Personally, we’d rather keep our vehicle in a free, supervised parking lot and take a taxi to the Model Pavilion.
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.
Hi there,
So, I booked this cruise...
I know CFC gets a lot of criticism—
- And that it’s not really like the ships I usually take.
But the destination really interested me...
So, I’m giving it a try...
I’m going in with an open mind, thinking I got a good deal, so I’m not expecting the same experience as when I travel with Yacht Club or The Haven.
We’ll see... soon!