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?
Nouveau Costa Club
by Ggclo
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
he non justement, tout ce qui est d'avant est annulé !!!!
alors je vous dis pas, pour y arriver, je crois que ce sont ceux qui font des tours du monde qui vont être concernés !
alors je vous dis pas, pour y arriver, je crois que ce sont ceux qui font des tours du monde qui vont être concernés !
c est vraiment SCANDALEUX !!!
7 croisieres réalisées chez eux ils ne comptent plus que la dernière !!
ben voyons !!! 😕
Bonsoir Isa,
Je suis comme toi, je trouve que sait un manque de respect...
Je suis comme toi, je trouve que sait un manque de respect...
OUI comme vous dites !
Et comme dit mon époux : c'est quand même grâce à des croisiéristes comme nous qui avons commencé sur l'Enrico et l'Eugenio il y a plus de 20 ans que Costa a pu acquérir leurs nouveaux paquebots !
Et comme dit mon époux : c'est quand même grâce à des croisiéristes comme nous qui avons commencé sur l'Enrico et l'Eugenio il y a plus de 20 ans que Costa a pu acquérir leurs nouveaux paquebots !
Il me semble que la situation est quand même assez logique, même si cela va faire pas mal de mécontents..., et vous oubliez souvent de compter les dépenses à bord qui vont êtres multipliées par 2,8 par rapports aux points actuels de dépense.
Une cabine avec balcon premium rapporte 100 points de base (comme toutes les cabines) + 175 points doublés, soit 450 par jour et donc 3150 points par semaine. Si on ajoute 600€ à bord, on arrive à un total de 4350 points en une semaine... Avec deux croisières par année, vous passez les 26'000 points et êtes donc pearl diamant... car vous êtes un très bon client.
Si vous venez à bord une semaine tous les deux ans au tarif le plus bas et sans rien dépenser à bord, vous n'êtes pas vraiment un bon client, et n'atteindrez pas gold pearl ou diamant pearl... ce qui me semble assez normal.
Personnellement, mon calcul me donnera en 2016 près de 40'000 points, avec sept croisières sur 2013-14-15 je trouve que c'est normal, je suis un client fidèle qui dépense beaucoup à bord.
Maintenant, est-on un client fidèle quand on a fait 10 croisières en 15 ans ? Visiblement non selon Costa, et je pense qu'ils font quand même une erreur... mais celui qui part au tarif flash sait qu'il n'aura pas de points, on ne peut pas tout avoir.
Pour terminer, n'oubliez pas que le prix des croisières a été divisé au par 4 en 15 ans, je suis tombé la semaine dernière sur une facture de mon agence de voyage de 2002, ma cabine sur l'European Vision avait coûté 6500€ la semaine ! Costa doit donc adapter son modèle à cette nouvelle clientèle.
Une cabine avec balcon premium rapporte 100 points de base (comme toutes les cabines) + 175 points doublés, soit 450 par jour et donc 3150 points par semaine. Si on ajoute 600€ à bord, on arrive à un total de 4350 points en une semaine... Avec deux croisières par année, vous passez les 26'000 points et êtes donc pearl diamant... car vous êtes un très bon client.
Si vous venez à bord une semaine tous les deux ans au tarif le plus bas et sans rien dépenser à bord, vous n'êtes pas vraiment un bon client, et n'atteindrez pas gold pearl ou diamant pearl... ce qui me semble assez normal.
Personnellement, mon calcul me donnera en 2016 près de 40'000 points, avec sept croisières sur 2013-14-15 je trouve que c'est normal, je suis un client fidèle qui dépense beaucoup à bord.
Maintenant, est-on un client fidèle quand on a fait 10 croisières en 15 ans ? Visiblement non selon Costa, et je pense qu'ils font quand même une erreur... mais celui qui part au tarif flash sait qu'il n'aura pas de points, on ne peut pas tout avoir.
Pour terminer, n'oubliez pas que le prix des croisières a été divisé au par 4 en 15 ans, je suis tombé la semaine dernière sur une facture de mon agence de voyage de 2002, ma cabine sur l'European Vision avait coûté 6500€ la semaine ! Costa doit donc adapter son modèle à cette nouvelle clientèle.
moi je ne trouve pas ça normal !!
moi aussi j'ai fait 7 croisieres COSTA !! et je suis une aussi bonne cliente que toi
sauf qu avec le nouveau systeme qui ne tient compte que des 3 dernieres années
6 sont effacées del historique !!
si tu etais a ma place je doute que tu trouves cela "logique"
quant a la nouvelle clientele COSTA c clair qu elle a changé !!! et pas en bien malheureusement
quant a la nouvelle clientele COSTA c clair qu elle a changé !!! et pas en bien malheureusement
Bonjour Jean-Paul,
Je suis tout à fait d'accord avec vous. Aujourd'hui c'est de la fréquence des croisières et des dépenses à bord qui feront de vous un client fidèle. On ne récompense plus l'ancienneté mais les croisières en cours et les dépenses à bord. Perso cela ne me changera rien compte tenu des grandes croisières que nous faisons ainsi que les dépenses à bord qui chiffrent souvent plus que le prix de la croisière elle même.
C'est vrai que le prix a énormément chuté, aujourd'hui le prix d'une suite chez Costa ou MSC en YC est inférieur à ce que nous avions payé en 1987 date de notre première croisière ! Avec de tels prix il me semble logique que MSC ou Costa ne puissent plus en faire d'avantage.
Même si nos 89 000 points Gold Pearl risquent de fondre, nous resterons facilement en Carte Perla Diamente. Leur calcul n'est pas forcément injuste, car cumuler ainsi indéfiniment sur des dizaines d'années était un concept d'une autre époque, qui laissait la possibilité de naviguer sur d'autres compagnies. Mais qu'est-ce qui est le plus important ?: Le plaisir du voyage et de la découverte, ou le calcul de points donnant droit finalement ... à des broutilles ...
Christian
Je suis tout à fait d'accord avec vous. Aujourd'hui c'est de la fréquence des croisières et des dépenses à bord qui feront de vous un client fidèle. On ne récompense plus l'ancienneté mais les croisières en cours et les dépenses à bord. Perso cela ne me changera rien compte tenu des grandes croisières que nous faisons ainsi que les dépenses à bord qui chiffrent souvent plus que le prix de la croisière elle même.
C'est vrai que le prix a énormément chuté, aujourd'hui le prix d'une suite chez Costa ou MSC en YC est inférieur à ce que nous avions payé en 1987 date de notre première croisière ! Avec de tels prix il me semble logique que MSC ou Costa ne puissent plus en faire d'avantage.
Même si nos 89 000 points Gold Pearl risquent de fondre, nous resterons facilement en Carte Perla Diamente. Leur calcul n'est pas forcément injuste, car cumuler ainsi indéfiniment sur des dizaines d'années était un concept d'une autre époque, qui laissait la possibilité de naviguer sur d'autres compagnies. Mais qu'est-ce qui est le plus important ?: Le plaisir du voyage et de la découverte, ou le calcul de points donnant droit finalement ... à des broutilles ...
Christian
Absolument d'accord...
Mais le but de Costa est de faire la différence entre les clients qui font chaque année deux ou trois croisières avec comme nous 1000€ de dépenses à bord et ceux qui ont fait 10 croisières en 15 ans.
De mon côté, ce sont les points de 17 croisières qui s'envolent, mais c'est moins ennuyeux que pour vous.
Une question reste : doit on avoir vous et moi la même carte CostaClub ?
Pour Costa la réponse est non, personnellement cela m'est égal...
Bonjour Christian,
Nous avons visiblement le même avis... même si je comprends que certains soient fâchés. Pour moi c'est une bonne solution, qui récompense une vraie fidélité.
Nous avons visiblement le même avis... même si je comprends que certains soient fâchés. Pour moi c'est une bonne solution, qui récompense une vraie fidélité.
Bonjour,
Bien d'accord avec vous mais je trouve que là, Costa à trouver une arme fatale pour que ses clients soient accros et ne soient pas tentés d'aller voir ailleurs. Une fois que l'on est ferré dans ce système de fidélité c'est pour de bon. Il faut dire que les avantages ne sont quand même pas négligeables pour ceux qui atteindront le sommet.🙂
Cdlt
Mais qu'est-ce qui est le plus important ?:
Le plaisir du voyage et de la découverte, ou le calcul de points donnant droit finalement ... à des broutilles ...
Christian
Tout à fait d'accord avec se raisonnement, je ne pense pas que l'on choisisse un croisiériste par rapport à une carte de fidélité mais bien plus aux services qu'on attend de cette compagnie. Cdlt
Christian
Tout à fait d'accord avec se raisonnement, je ne pense pas que l'on choisisse un croisiériste par rapport à une carte de fidélité mais bien plus aux services qu'on attend de cette compagnie. Cdlt
ben moi je vous conseille d aller voir ailleurs
COSTA a beaucoup baissé en qualité et prestations
apres tout depend de ce que l on recherche.. maintenant que nos enfants sont grands et que nous voyageons dep lus en plus en couple, nous apprecions le calme, les piscines adultes et la bonne gastronomie et un meilleur service a bord que nous offrent les compagnies americaines
apres tout depend de ce que l on recherche.. maintenant que nos enfants sont grands et que nous voyageons dep lus en plus en couple, nous apprecions le calme, les piscines adultes et la bonne gastronomie et un meilleur service a bord que nous offrent les compagnies americaines
ben moi je vous conseille d aller voir ailleurs
COSTA a beaucoup baissé en qualité et prestations
apres tout depend de ce que l on recherche.. maintenant que nos enfants sont grands et que nous voyageons dep lus en plus en couple, nous apprecions le calme, les piscines adultes et la bonne gastronomie et un meilleur service a bord que nous offrent les compagnies americaines
Mais bien entendu que la qualité et les prestations ne sont plus comme avant... vu que le prix non plus ! Le rapport qualité prix reste quand même excellent et c'est ça qui compte. Quant aux compagnies Américaines plus haut de gamme que Costa, comme Oceania par exemple... on y retrouve ce que l'on avait il y a 15 ans, et même mieux, mais pour un prix souvent ahurissant au regard des prestations. Une suite chez Oceania c'est 10'000€, chez Costa 3000. Le rapport qualité prix est selon moi moins bon, sauf si l'on ne compte absolument pas. Il faut vraiment arrêter de dire uniquement que "c'est moins bien qu'avant" en faisant abstraction du prix, ce n'est pas juste.
apres tout depend de ce que l on recherche.. maintenant que nos enfants sont grands et que nous voyageons dep lus en plus en couple, nous apprecions le calme, les piscines adultes et la bonne gastronomie et un meilleur service a bord que nous offrent les compagnies americaines
Mais bien entendu que la qualité et les prestations ne sont plus comme avant... vu que le prix non plus ! Le rapport qualité prix reste quand même excellent et c'est ça qui compte. Quant aux compagnies Américaines plus haut de gamme que Costa, comme Oceania par exemple... on y retrouve ce que l'on avait il y a 15 ans, et même mieux, mais pour un prix souvent ahurissant au regard des prestations. Une suite chez Oceania c'est 10'000€, chez Costa 3000. Le rapport qualité prix est selon moi moins bon, sauf si l'on ne compte absolument pas. Il faut vraiment arrêter de dire uniquement que "c'est moins bien qu'avant" en faisant abstraction du prix, ce n'est pas juste.
JE NE PARLAIS PAS D OCEANIA mais tout simplement de ROYAL CARIBBEAN ou CELEBRITY qui ont parfois des prix comparables a COSTA POUR DES PRESTATIONS NETTEMENT MEILLEURES !!!
et bonus ! la frequezntation à bord !!! pas de gamins qui hurlent ni qui envahissent piscines et jaccuzis pas d italiens qui ne font que G...... que c appreciable !! pas besoin de se ruiner pour retrouver de la qualité en croisiere
et bonus ! la frequezntation à bord !!! pas de gamins qui hurlent ni qui envahissent piscines et jaccuzis pas d italiens qui ne font que G...... que c appreciable !! pas besoin de se ruiner pour retrouver de la qualité en croisiere
JE NE PARLAIS PAS D OCEANIA mais tout simplement de ROYAL CARIBBEAN ou CELEBRITY qui ont parfois des prix comparables a COSTA POUR DES PRESTATIONS NETTEMENT MEILLEURES !!!
et bonus ! la frequezntation à bord !!! pas de gamins qui hurlent ni qui envahissent piscines et jaccuzis pas d italiens qui ne font que G...... que c appreciable !! pas besoin de se ruiner pour retrouver de la qualité en croisiere
C'est votre avis... personnellement je trouve que Royal Caribbean a un rapport qualité prix catastrophique, on ne mange pas bien sauf dans les restaurants payants, et le prix est la plupart du temps pratiquement le double des prix de Costa. CELEBRITY je ne connais pas, à tester... mais un rapide coup d'oeil sur leur site montre des prix assez éloignés de Costa.
Et concernant les Italiens... si vous ne les supportez pas, il vous faut effectivement mieux éviter les compagnies Italiennes (même si Costa est Americain par Carnival).
et bonus ! la frequezntation à bord !!! pas de gamins qui hurlent ni qui envahissent piscines et jaccuzis pas d italiens qui ne font que G...... que c appreciable !! pas besoin de se ruiner pour retrouver de la qualité en croisiere
C'est votre avis... personnellement je trouve que Royal Caribbean a un rapport qualité prix catastrophique, on ne mange pas bien sauf dans les restaurants payants, et le prix est la plupart du temps pratiquement le double des prix de Costa. CELEBRITY je ne connais pas, à tester... mais un rapide coup d'oeil sur leur site montre des prix assez éloignés de Costa.
Et concernant les Italiens... si vous ne les supportez pas, il vous faut effectivement mieux éviter les compagnies Italiennes (même si Costa est Americain par Carnival).
je n ai que 2 croisieres ROYAL CARIBBEAN a mon actif mais on a franchement bien mangé et leurs bateaux c autre chose que COSTA !!!
je vais sur lALLURE FO THE SEAS dans 4 semaines .... on verra
on a payé 2500 euros pour 4 en cabine balcon pourboires inclus
non les prix de CELEBRITY ne sont pas forcement elevés l'an passé la croisiere CELEBRITY coutait moins cher que la crosieire COSTA pour un départ le même jour en terre sainte avec un bien meilleur itineraire pour CELEBRITY cette crosiiere coutait 1000 euros par personne pour 2 semaines en cabine balcon
donc il y a de bonnes affaires a faire pour faire une belle crosiiere qualitative !!!
non les prix de CELEBRITY ne sont pas forcement elevés l'an passé la croisiere CELEBRITY coutait moins cher que la crosieire COSTA pour un départ le même jour en terre sainte avec un bien meilleur itineraire pour CELEBRITY cette crosiiere coutait 1000 euros par personne pour 2 semaines en cabine balcon
donc il y a de bonnes affaires a faire pour faire une belle crosiiere qualitative !!!
Bonjour Isabelle,
Je suis bien d'accord avec toi, Costa n'est plus se que s'était est à tout point de vue.
Je trouve que chez Costa il y a trop d'extrait à payé en plus, en particulier lorsque tu es en suite, mais je sais que Costa a de la peine à remplir cette catégorie de cabine.
Je suis intéressé à connaître ton avis sur l'Allure, on l'au à Naples et ma femme a envie qu'on le test.
Pour moi voyageurs en suite, je trouve que Costa peut les supprimer car cette catégorie a juste le nom de la catégorie, cela s'arrête là.
Alexandre
Je suis bien d'accord avec toi, Costa n'est plus se que s'était est à tout point de vue.
Je trouve que chez Costa il y a trop d'extrait à payé en plus, en particulier lorsque tu es en suite, mais je sais que Costa a de la peine à remplir cette catégorie de cabine.
Je suis intéressé à connaître ton avis sur l'Allure, on l'au à Naples et ma femme a envie qu'on le test.
Pour moi voyageurs en suite, je trouve que Costa peut les supprimer car cette catégorie a juste le nom de la catégorie, cela s'arrête là.
Alexandre
Bonjour,
Il faut corriger vos écris sur le fais que Costa a pu grandir grâce aux croisièriste de l'Eugenio que mes parents ont pu faire, j'ai commencé des le Costa Rivieira (rien à voir avec l'actuelle).
Dès le Costa Victoria (j'y travaillais, bateau sans les balcons actuels), Costa a eu de grave problème financiers, le bateau a plombé les comptes de la compagnies qui a créé le rachat en partie de Carnival, si Carnival n'était pas là à ce moment, Costa n'existerait plus.
Pour la suite, je veux bien croire que sait grâce aux croisiéristes que Carnival a pu grandir.
Alexandre
Il faut corriger vos écris sur le fais que Costa a pu grandir grâce aux croisièriste de l'Eugenio que mes parents ont pu faire, j'ai commencé des le Costa Rivieira (rien à voir avec l'actuelle).
Dès le Costa Victoria (j'y travaillais, bateau sans les balcons actuels), Costa a eu de grave problème financiers, le bateau a plombé les comptes de la compagnies qui a créé le rachat en partie de Carnival, si Carnival n'était pas là à ce moment, Costa n'existerait plus.
Pour la suite, je veux bien croire que sait grâce aux croisiéristes que Carnival a pu grandir.
Alexandre
Bonjour,
Jusqu'à preuve du contraire ce ne sont pas les clients qui font le succès d'une entreprise... la réussite provient du chef d'entreprise qui sait développer sa clientèle et améliorer ses marges...
Log in first, then come back to this page.
You might also like
More discussions
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.
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, 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! 😉
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,
The MSC Magnifica has been refurbished and a Yacht Club class has been added. Could anyone share their impressions of cabin 14001, as the view is slightly obstructed? Is it really a "disadvantage" in terms of brightness? Thanks in advance
Hi everyone!
We’re boarding the Celestyal Journey in Athens on October 3rd—are there any other French speakers on the same cruise?
If you'd like to join us for some excursions, we have suggestions for these 3 stopovers!
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!
are there other cruise formats besides the coastal express to see the northern lights in Norway in winter?
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 there,
I’m looking for an all-inclusive Nile cruise on a comfortable boat with as few passengers as possible.
Which tour operator can you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
I’m about to book the panoramic suite, and I’m not sure whether I should go for the one at the front of the ship or the one at the back. I’d really appreciate any feedback—anyone who’s already booked this kind of suite and can share the pros and cons?
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 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 there,
We’re taking a cruise in February departing from Miami with stops in Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize.
I’m looking for advice on which excursions to pick for this cruise. Thanks!
I’m looking for advice on which excursions to pick for this cruise. 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,
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.
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