Original post
juste une question.est-ce que le port est loin du centre ville, peut t'on y aller facilement a pied?
Escale de croisière à Yalta: distance entre le port et le centre-ville? (Ukraine)
by Lyda
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Yalta est une toue petite ville, genre le Saint Tropez du coin... Le bateau est dans le port (of course 😉 ) qui est en plein centre ville... Mis comme c'est une petite ville, le centre est pas loin du bord... 😎
Sébastopol est par contre à 120 km, et les bus locaux d'excursion doivent dater du siège (de Sébastopol.. 😎 ). Je n'en garde pas un bon souvenir, avec un chauffeur qui n'avait jamais dû apprendre le code de la route... 😠🤪
Sébastopol est par contre à 120 km, et les bus locaux d'excursion doivent dater du siège (de Sébastopol.. 😎 ). Je n'en garde pas un bon souvenir, avec un chauffeur qui n'avait jamais dû apprendre le code de la route... 😠🤪
merci pap pour la réponse
j'ai demandé cela, car l'escale est de 8h 18 h donc le matin nous pensons faire(mon cher et tendre et moi même) le palais livadia, et le nid d'hirondelle aï-todor, et l'aprés midi un petit tour en ville, je pense que c'est faisable.qu'en pensez vous?
😉 Effectivement le port est quasiment au centre ville.
😎 Sortie par ce qui ressemble à une douane, sur la place droit devant la statue de Lénine, légérement à gauche sur cete place le bureau de poste (écrire "France" ou tout autre pays de destination en Cyrilique) à droite un marché couvert où fleurit la contrefaçon.
Faire le front de mer (ressemble à la Croisette de Cannes)
🤪 Par principe, les Français lors du partage du monde n'ayant pas étés conviés au Palais Livadia, je n'y suis pas allé, que veux-tu on se refait pas!!
j'ai demandé cela, car l'escale est de 8h 18 h donc le matin nous pensons faire(mon cher et tendre et moi même) le palais livadia, et le nid d'hirondelle aï-todor, et l'aprés midi un petit tour en ville, je pense que c'est faisable.qu'en pensez vous?
euh.. si c'est 8h - 18h, c'est pas *le matin* c'est *toute la journée* (c'était le cas quand j'ai fait cette escale sur l'Europa en sept 2009, sinon le matin seul genre 8h 13h, y a pas le temps d'aller à Sébastopol)
Juste ça, c'est tout à fait faisable, très largement faisable, même.
Par contre, il faut jouer "large" pour aller "seul" à Sébastopol : 80 km de mauvaise route (il y en a deux, une plus près du bord de mer), il faut presque 1h 1/2 en taxi et le car met encore un peu plus malgré une conduite style "le plus gros a priorité"... 🤪
Mais bon, j'ai adoré le "Panorama", on s'attendait pas du tout à ça quand la guide nous a parlé de "panorama" (en faisant durer le suspense...). C'est vraiment un truc à voir...
http://sevastopol.russian-women.net/Panorama.shtml
Alors si vous voulez aller seuls à Sébastopol, il faut prendre un taxi dès le débarquement, y aller par la route de bord de mer, aller voir le "Panorama", petite balade dans la ville, et retour à Yalta par la route de l'intérieur (pour changer) vers 15h au plus tard (don départ Seb au plus tard vers 13h 30, un peu avant si possible)... Le nid d'hirondelle est sur le chemin du retour, et ne nécessite qu'un court arrêt... Mais faire autant d'arrêts-paysage/photos que l'on veut. Après, vous aurez, si tout s'est bien passé, le temps d'aller voir le palais Livadia, le visiter, et de faire "la Promenade des Français" (c'est moi qui l'ai baptisée comme ça...😇😎 )
et s'il y a eu des contretemps, la marge est quand même grande pour être à l'heure au bateau... et tant pis pour le Palais, et la balade en ville après tout, comme dit TGVLent, on n'a pas été invité...
ON résume :
- la version hard, avec Sebastopol et son "Panorama", puis Yalta (si tout s'est bien passé) - la version cool : Yalta seul, comme tu l'as projeté (et Sebastopol sera pour une autre fois)
Mais pour moi, et sous réserve de l'ordre indiqué, les deux me semblent "raisonnables". (par contre, NE PAS envisager Sébastopol *l'après-midi*, ça c'est des coups à rater le bateau 😕😕😕 ).
En sachant que s'éloigner seul du bateau vers un point assez lointain pour ne pas, à tout moment, pouvoir rentrer au bateau à pied et dans les temps, présente un risque, même très faible s'il est bien géré, de rater le bateau...
La seule garantie *absolue* de ne pas le rater étant de prendre l'excursion Costa, ou de ne pas déroger à la règle énoncée ci-dessus (que respecte parfaitement la "version cool")
euh.. si c'est 8h - 18h, c'est pas *le matin* c'est *toute la journée* (c'était le cas quand j'ai fait cette escale sur l'Europa en sept 2009, sinon le matin seul genre 8h 13h, y a pas le temps d'aller à Sébastopol)
Juste ça, c'est tout à fait faisable, très largement faisable, même.
Par contre, il faut jouer "large" pour aller "seul" à Sébastopol : 80 km de mauvaise route (il y en a deux, une plus près du bord de mer), il faut presque 1h 1/2 en taxi et le car met encore un peu plus malgré une conduite style "le plus gros a priorité"... 🤪
Mais bon, j'ai adoré le "Panorama", on s'attendait pas du tout à ça quand la guide nous a parlé de "panorama" (en faisant durer le suspense...). C'est vraiment un truc à voir...
http://sevastopol.russian-women.net/Panorama.shtml
Alors si vous voulez aller seuls à Sébastopol, il faut prendre un taxi dès le débarquement, y aller par la route de bord de mer, aller voir le "Panorama", petite balade dans la ville, et retour à Yalta par la route de l'intérieur (pour changer) vers 15h au plus tard (don départ Seb au plus tard vers 13h 30, un peu avant si possible)... Le nid d'hirondelle est sur le chemin du retour, et ne nécessite qu'un court arrêt... Mais faire autant d'arrêts-paysage/photos que l'on veut. Après, vous aurez, si tout s'est bien passé, le temps d'aller voir le palais Livadia, le visiter, et de faire "la Promenade des Français" (c'est moi qui l'ai baptisée comme ça...😇😎 )
et s'il y a eu des contretemps, la marge est quand même grande pour être à l'heure au bateau... et tant pis pour le Palais, et la balade en ville après tout, comme dit TGVLent, on n'a pas été invité...
ON résume :
- la version hard, avec Sebastopol et son "Panorama", puis Yalta (si tout s'est bien passé) - la version cool : Yalta seul, comme tu l'as projeté (et Sebastopol sera pour une autre fois)
Mais pour moi, et sous réserve de l'ordre indiqué, les deux me semblent "raisonnables". (par contre, NE PAS envisager Sébastopol *l'après-midi*, ça c'est des coups à rater le bateau 😕😕😕 ).
En sachant que s'éloigner seul du bateau vers un point assez lointain pour ne pas, à tout moment, pouvoir rentrer au bateau à pied et dans les temps, présente un risque, même très faible s'il est bien géré, de rater le bateau...
La seule garantie *absolue* de ne pas le rater étant de prendre l'excursion Costa, ou de ne pas déroger à la règle énoncée ci-dessus (que respecte parfaitement la "version cool")
l'escale c'est bien 8h 18 h.
ce que je voulais dire c'est que le matin nous ferions, le chateau +le nid d'hirondelle, et l'aprés midi, le centre ville, je vais quant même voir sur costa ce qu'ils proposent pour sébastopol.
😉Bonjour Lyda,
L'escale de Yalta réalisée en taxi ou en bus jusqu'à Sébastopole est un plaisir pour les yeux. Les côtes de la Crimée présente un paysage très diversifié dont l'architecture des maisons, des palais et châteaux sont un vrai régal pour les yeux. Tu n'a pas de souci à te faire car même si tu veux visiter Sébastopole, tu en garderas toujours quelque chose.
Ne t'inquiète pas pour le trajet car le temps passé dans la visite se fait dans de bonnes conditions et cela dit, cela est valable pour toutes les escales. Soyons optimistes car en plus, je serais avec toi sur cette croisière et pour moi, je ne vois pas de problème même avec un ennui mécanique. L'organisation des escales est faite de façon à ramener les passagers vers le bord au risque de voir ton excursion écourtée.
Le seul inconvénient pour moi serait d'avoir du mauvais temps de ce fait, les couleurs seraient tout à fait autres mais on va faire une belle croisière.
Au palais Livadia, enfin un français s'est assis à coté des 3 protagonistes ..... MOI...... et cela s'est fait dans le jardin là ou il y a un joli bronze des 3 chefs d'État. L'histoire est remise en cause tous les jours..... la preuve, alors maintenant vous pouvez visiter YALTA.
JC
L'escale de Yalta réalisée en taxi ou en bus jusqu'à Sébastopole est un plaisir pour les yeux. Les côtes de la Crimée présente un paysage très diversifié dont l'architecture des maisons, des palais et châteaux sont un vrai régal pour les yeux. Tu n'a pas de souci à te faire car même si tu veux visiter Sébastopole, tu en garderas toujours quelque chose.
Ne t'inquiète pas pour le trajet car le temps passé dans la visite se fait dans de bonnes conditions et cela dit, cela est valable pour toutes les escales. Soyons optimistes car en plus, je serais avec toi sur cette croisière et pour moi, je ne vois pas de problème même avec un ennui mécanique. L'organisation des escales est faite de façon à ramener les passagers vers le bord au risque de voir ton excursion écourtée.
Le seul inconvénient pour moi serait d'avoir du mauvais temps de ce fait, les couleurs seraient tout à fait autres mais on va faire une belle croisière.
Au palais Livadia, enfin un français s'est assis à coté des 3 protagonistes ..... MOI...... et cela s'est fait dans le jardin là ou il y a un joli bronze des 3 chefs d'État. L'histoire est remise en cause tous les jours..... la preuve, alors maintenant vous pouvez visiter YALTA.
JC
Cap Saint-Jacques, Foucault, Leclerc, Brazza, Mangin, Mermoz, Romanza, Massalia, Mélody, Club Med 2, Concordia, Magica, Victoria, Mediterranea, Atlantica, Epic, Deliziosa, Favolosa, Divina, Fantasia, Serena, Deliziosa, Pacifica, Magica, Preziosa, Meraviglia, Magnifica, Poesia, Splendida, Orchestra.
Hello Alcati !
je ne vois pas de problème même avec un ennui mécanique. L'organisation des escales est faite de façon à ramener les passagers vers le bord au risque de voir ton excursion écourtée.
Oui, mais Lyda émettait l'idée de faire une excursion "seule" et non pas avec Costa. Et l'ennui mécanique du taxi qui tombe en panne à 20 km de Sebastopol (donc à 60 de Yalta et du bateau), en pleine nature, faut quand même avoir le temps de téléphoner pour avoir un autre taxi, qui ne sera pas là instantanément... D'où la marge énorme que je prévoyais (mais qui ne sera sans doute suffisante que dans 99, ...% des cas... 🤪
Par contre, on est bien d'accord, quels que soient les pépins, si on est "pris en charge par Costa" (excursion Costa), là, y a aucun problème, puisque même des heures, le bateau attendra... 😎
je ne vois pas de problème même avec un ennui mécanique. L'organisation des escales est faite de façon à ramener les passagers vers le bord au risque de voir ton excursion écourtée.
Oui, mais Lyda émettait l'idée de faire une excursion "seule" et non pas avec Costa. Et l'ennui mécanique du taxi qui tombe en panne à 20 km de Sebastopol (donc à 60 de Yalta et du bateau), en pleine nature, faut quand même avoir le temps de téléphoner pour avoir un autre taxi, qui ne sera pas là instantanément... D'où la marge énorme que je prévoyais (mais qui ne sera sans doute suffisante que dans 99, ...% des cas... 🤪
Par contre, on est bien d'accord, quels que soient les pépins, si on est "pris en charge par Costa" (excursion Costa), là, y a aucun problème, puisque même des heures, le bateau attendra... 😎
l'escale c'est bien 8h 18 h.
ce que je voulais dire c'est que le matin nous ferions, le chateau +le nid d'hirondelle, et l'aprés midi, le centre ville, je vais quant même voir sur costa ce qu'ils proposent pour sébastopol.
Tu as largement le temps, centre ville > bateau 5 mn, on l'a fait il y a 2 mois, des taxis à la sortie te proposent les sorties que tu veux. @+
Tu as largement le temps, centre ville > bateau 5 mn, on l'a fait il y a 2 mois, des taxis à la sortie te proposent les sorties que tu veux. @+
merci a tous titi, alcati et pap, pour vos réponses du coup maintenant je ne sais plus?costa pas costa yalta, sébastopol.on va en discuter avec le mari, je vous tiendrez au courant.
bonne soirée a vous tous😉😉😉
bonne soirée a vous tous😉😉😉
ça y est, nous avons choisi, nous prenons, yalta et sebastopol, avec costa, je viens de réserver sur le site.🙂🙂
Mais dans ton excursion il n'y a pas le Palais Livadia et le nid d'hirondelle🙁🙁🙁
pense à faire la cathedrale Alexander Nevsky on y est allé à pied non loin du centre, on la voit bien depuis le bateau à l'arrivée avec ses dômes brillants @+
pense à faire la cathedrale Alexander Nevsky on y est allé à pied non loin du centre, on la voit bien depuis le bateau à l'arrivée avec ses dômes brillants @+
bonjour titi c'est encore moi, c'est pour dire finalement , mon mari ne tient pas , enfin cela ne l'enchante pas d'aller a sébastopol, donc rechangement, nous avons pris l'excursion pour livadia, c'est celle que tu a faite je crois, c'est le matin ou l'aprés midi?comme cela nous pourrons aller faire un tour a pied en ville, et voir la cathédrale.voila je crois que cela seras plus cool etmoins fatiguant.
bonne journée, et meilleurs voeux pour la nouvelle année😉😉😉
bonne journée, et meilleurs voeux pour la nouvelle année😉😉😉
Oui je l'ai faite avec MSC il y a deux mois.
comme cela dure 4h, c'est matin ou après midi, je ne sais pas chez Costa
mais de toute façon peu importe, il te restera une demi journée pour faire la ville
chez MSC c'était l'apm, donc le matin on a fait la cathédrale et le marché (très prêt du port)
prends contact avec ALCATI qui sera sur la même croisière, il a déjà fait Yalta
bonne croisière
chez MSC c'était l'apm, donc le matin on a fait la cathédrale et le marché (très prêt du port)
prends contact avec ALCATI qui sera sur la même croisière, il a déjà fait Yalta
bonne croisière
Salut si tu visite Yalta si c'est possible va visiter la petite église Arménienne qui est a quinze minutes à pied du port. C'est la reproduction d'une des premières église Arménienne elle est sur une petite montagne entourée d'un beau jardin tu peux prendre les escalier ou le sentier.😉
merci superfab, pour le renseignement, nous irons voir.
et bonne année a vous.
et bonne année a vous.
j'habite sur place en crimée !
effectivement le port de yalta c'est en plein centre, livadia pas très loin (il faut prendre un taxi) balade sympa ai pietri la montagne qui domine yalta accès en téléphérique et vue splendide sur yalta. Maintenant si il faut faire un choix mieux vaut passer la journée à sebastopol, beaucoup plus intéressante dque Yalta
bon voyage
david
merci eurocrimea.
mais je pense rester a yalta pour visiter la ville.quelle température fait-il en septembre la bas?et que peut-on ramener comme souvenirs?, j'en profite pour une fois que c'est quelqu'un qui habite la-bas. salutations et bonne journée.
mais je pense rester a yalta pour visiter la ville.quelle température fait-il en septembre la bas?et que peut-on ramener comme souvenirs?, j'en profite pour une fois que c'est quelqu'un qui habite la-bas. salutations et bonne journée.
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More discussions
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,
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
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 there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? 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
Hello
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.
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
Hi
Has anyone taken the CFC recently?
Thoughts?
Thanks
Thoughts?
Thanks
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
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.
Thanks everyone!
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.
Thanks everyone!
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! 😐
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’d love to hear from travelers who’ve done this cruise with Rivages du Monde or CroisiEurope.
Thanks!
Elettra69
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!
Hi there,
Do you have a hotel near the cruise port (or easy to reach by metro with luggage) to recommend? I’m planning to spend two days there before boarding.
Thanks in advance! Claudine
Do you have a hotel near the cruise port (or easy to reach by metro with luggage) to recommend? I’m planning to spend two days there before boarding.
Thanks in advance! Claudine
Hello,
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.
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.
Hi, can you eat in the evening at the Costa Smeralda’s cafeteria, or do you have to dine at the restaurant? Thanks for your reply.
contact me to get referred at MSC, for your first cruise or if you haven't traveled with MSC in over 5 years
Hi everyone,
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.
Departure and boarding details to come
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.
Departure and boarding details to come
Hi there
Is the water from the cabin sinks drinkable?
Is the water from the cabin sinks drinkable?
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?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
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
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