Review of Renaissance Cruise (Iberian Flavors) from October 18 to 29, 2025 (page 2 of 2)

Hello, Thank you for this lovely review. I just want to add a few details about what was the major downside of this cruise: disembarkation. This isn’t the first time cruises have departed from and arrived in Dunkirk. I’ve already embarked and disembarked there with Costa (Baltic Jewels cruise in May 2014). We docked at Quay Freycinet 12—I think that’s the only spot where ships with a significant draft can dock. Costa had set up tents on the quay where we picked up our luggage, and the shuttle buses left from there to go straight to the train station. But I remember there were very, very few taxis. Back to CFC: three days before departure, I called them to ask how disembarkation would work. I didn’t get any information. Rumors mentioned the maritime museum. On board, reception told us six days before arrival that it would be at the “Dunkirk Library,” even though on social media, those boarding the next cruise said they had the “Model Pavilion” as their departure point. In short, it seemed like the disembarkation details were only confirmed at the last minute. And hardly anyone in Dunkirk (taxis, hotels, restaurants, etc.) knew a cruise ship was docking that day. Since we were in a Suite, we were called first to disembark at 8:30 AM. Even though there are only 25 suites, at least 200 of us were stuck at the exit. Many didn’t respect the call time, and what also slowed things down was retrieving items confiscated at departure (electrical devices, knives, power strips, etc.) after the CFC card check—whereas usually, all this is returned to the cabin the day before, according to CFC’s website. I understand why the following groups were delayed. However, I don’t agree with you when you say “the main culprits are the port authorities.” We were moored on time, port exit authorizations were granted quickly, and the port dockers (from Barra SNSM) did a great job delivering the luggage on time (passengers didn’t have to wait to retrieve it). But it was CFC that organized the shuttle rotation and rented the “Model Pavilion” from the city of Dunkirk—a place not at all designed to be a cruise terminal and poorly served by city buses. Plus, there were no taxis. We called, along with other waiting passengers, two taxi companies. They had no idea that over 1,000 passengers were arriving at the Model Pavilion, not to mention all the crew disembarking. Contractually, CFC’s services ended at the Model Pavilion. If you had missed your train, you would have had no recourse. There’s nothing mentioned on CFC’s website or brochure about the “buffer” (which you mentioned) between the ship’s arrival time and the departure time of a transport option—but with Costa, for example, it’s recommended to allow at least 4 hours. Best regards

Thanks, Micax, for the details and your experience with this disembarkation. There was clearly an organizational issue on CFC’s part. It would’ve been better if we’d had all the info about the disembarkation address and, most importantly, where to pick up our luggage before departure. That "last-minute" organization feeling didn’t leave a great impression. I guess picking up our bags at the dock would’ve definitely made things easier and reduced the risk of delays.

Thanks Micax for your details and your experience with this disembarkation. There was clearly an organizational issue on CFC’s part. It would have been preferable if we’d had all the information about the disembarkation address and especially the baggage retrieval before departure. This "last-minute" organization didn’t leave a good impression. I suppose that retrieving baggage at the dock would have certainly simplified things and reduced the risk of delay.

As soon as I booked the cruise with CFC, they could only tell me that disembarkation details would be given on board. It was impossible to know which dock (since apart from Freycinet 12, there’s nowhere else deep enough to accommodate the Renaissance), where to pick up luggage, whether there’d be a shuttle to leave the port or go to the train station, etc. I pointed out, through several channels, that "on board" info wasn’t very practical for planning the return trip, but apparently, no one cared. Expecting the worst, I booked a hotel and the TGV to Paris for the next day. Apart from the lack of a cruise terminal, the other issue CFC will face in Dunkirk is parking. If in 2026 hundreds of passengers arrive by car, where will they be able to leave their vehicles in a secure spot like in Marseille? Here too, they’d better not wait until the last minute to address the question.

Apart from the lack of a cruise terminal, the other issue that will arise for CFC in Dunkirk is parking. If several hundred passengers arrive by car in 2026, where will they be able to leave their vehicles in a secure spot like in Marseille? They really shouldn’t wait until the last minute to address this.

Hi there, CFC must have realized the parking issue in Dunkirk because they’ve just sent emails these past few days to future passengers of the first 2026 cruises to ask if they plan to come by car. Best regards

Hi Micax,

We’re also worried about parking for this departure from Dunkirk. We would’ve preferred if CFC cruises departed from Le Havre, since there was quay work underway to create parking lots, and in March 2025 we’d booked a parking spot near the train station at a great rate, with the taxi from the station to the port costing 10 €. We received an email from CFC about a departure in June 2026, but our kids, who are leaving in April 2026, haven’t received anything about how to get to Dunkirk. We’re counting on this forum to find out about accessible parking for reduced mobility and transportation options to Dunkirk port. Have a great weekend! Mum49

Hi Mum, The city of Dunkirk has launched a website for parking (https://www.dk-stationnement.fr). But what exactly is meant by "Port of Dunkirk"? There’s no cruise terminal. We still need to know where embarkation/disembarkation procedures will take place. This year, we only got that information a few days beforehand. CFC rented the Model Pavilion, which isn’t equipped at all to be a cruise terminal. Will that still be the case in 2026? Back in 2014 with the Costa Classica, tents were set up right on the quay—everything happened at the foot of the ship. Freycinet Quay 12 is 3 or 4 km from the city center and isn’t served by public transport. Buses are free in Dunkirk (https://www.dkbus.com), but taxis are pretty scarce. In 2014, taxis were waiting on the quay; this year, there weren’t any—not even at the Model Pavilion parking lot. As for accessibility for reduced mobility (PMR), see https://www.dkbus.com/page.php?rubrique=2&id=accessibilite. The buses are electric and mostly very modern, but the Line 16 shuttle (closest stop to the Model Pavilion) is a small 8–9 seater that isn’t particularly PMR-friendly or great for carrying lots of luggage, and it doesn’t run on Sundays. Best regards.

Hello Micax,

Thanks for the info. I’ve taken good note of it. Let’s hope those leaving from Dunkirk on 03/28/26 get details on the boarding location and how to get there. Leaving from CALAIS would’ve been more convenient, but probably not the same cost? I think the solution would be to drop off my husband and the luggage, along with the walker, as close to the port as possible, then meet up with him later using different modes of transport. Have a great Sunday! mum49

Hi Mum, CFC officially provides the embarkation location 14 days before departure on the cruise ticket. As for disembarkation, apart from the docking time, we only got the information on the ship 3 days before arrival. If embarkation always takes place at the Model Pavilion, it’s very easy to get there by car and to park behind the building. However, the port of Dunkirk, just like Calais, doesn’t have a parking lot where you can leave a vehicle for 8 days or more. I don’t think Calais would be any better than Dunkirk. There’s no cruise terminal there either. *Croisières de France* left from there with the *Horizon* in the summer of 2014—they had set up a big tent on the quay. Currently, no cruise ships dock in Calais anymore. Best regards.

Good evening Micax, We just have to wait for the information before the cruise departs. Since we’re driving, we won’t have any issues with disembarkation—we’ll have our own time. I’ll definitely share updates on this site as soon as I have them, leaving on 04/11/26. Have a great evening! Mum49

hi there, I just read your review and it sounds like you were happy with it. When it comes to food, are we way below US cruise lines?

Food is subjective. Especially since quality can vary from ship to ship within the same cruise line.

It’s hard to compare because I think there are pros and cons on both sides.

In the morning at the buffet, there were *very* good eggs Benedict Royale. That’s not always available on American cruise lines. But no fresh fruit juice like I’ve had on HAL. On the other hand, we found the waffles and pancakes not as good as the ones on American lines.

Lots of high-quality specialty breads, smoked salmon, French cheeses at every meal, proper espresso, and pastries that lived up to the name.

On CFC, just like on American cruise lines, the savory dishes were always very good.

But the ingredients/prep on CFC—especially at the buffet—were simpler. For example, with HAL, there were shrimp every lunch; I don’t remember seeing any on CFC.

At the CFC buffet, you could get beef bourguignon. There was made-to-order Caesar salad—simple but delicious. It was good and varied, but in my opinion, the ingredients weren’t as refined.

The buffet starters, though, were pretty much the same crudités every time.

For desserts, they were fairly simple too (panna cotta, fruit cakes, pudding), but better than the ones on American cruise lines, which we find bland and tasteless. Except for the cruise we took on the *Rotterdam*, which was truly excellent in every culinary aspect.

The ice cream selection wasn’t very varied, but it was much better than on RCI.

In the dining room, the dish pairings were really well done. The gala meals were more elaborate—especially a delicious seared foie gras...

Overall, in my opinion, I found my experience better than RCI but not quite up to HAL. For Celebrity, I’m on the fence—my experience is more distant.

Thanks