hi everyone!
are there other cruise formats besides the coastal express to see the northern lights in Norway in winter?
"Tropical Odyssey" CFC Renaissance – November 1st to 22nd, 2025
by CharlyLima
Translated into English.
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
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!
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.
... See you in Ponta Delgada.
... See you in Ponta Delgada.
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 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! 😊
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! 😊
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.
See you soon for the rest...
See you soon for the rest...
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 .............
This lake is absolutely stunning! And with the sun shining, it makes up a bit for all the setbacks you've had.
What a stunning lake! And with the sun shining, it makes up a bit for all the setbacks.
Absolutely, it was a gorgeous trip, and the weather was perfect too. Thanks for keeping up with this travel journal, Catherine.
Absolutely, it was a gorgeous trip, and the weather was perfect too. Thanks for keeping up with this travel journal, Catherine.
Amazing stopover, the photos are gorgeous!
Thanks for this sunny break
Amazing stopover—the photos are gorgeous!
Thanks for this sunny break
Thanks Isa
Thanks Isa
Hi Christian,
Great photos, and it looks like the burger on the boat hit the spot after the letdown at the local restaurant ;) Have a wonderful day! Guylène
Great photos, and it looks like the burger on the boat hit the spot after the letdown at the local restaurant ;) Have a wonderful day! Guylène
Hi Christian,
Great photos, and it looks like the burger on the boat was a hit after the letdown at the local restaurant ;) Have a nice day: Guylène
Thanks, Guylène, for your kind words. True enough, a burger is a dish that’s pretty hard to mess up. See you soon for the next update.............
Great photos, and it looks like the burger on the boat was a hit after the letdown at the local restaurant ;) Have a nice day: Guylène
Thanks, Guylène, for your kind words. True enough, a burger is a dish that’s pretty hard to mess up. See you soon for the next update.............
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.
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.
Hi Christian,
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
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... 😉
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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