French company CFC

Hi Has anyone sailed with the French company CFC? What do you think? Haven’t seen many reviews about this company.

Hi Michel, In September I took the Le Havre–Marseille cruise, the very first one according to the captain himself, and the ship (Renaissance) was fully booked (1,089 passengers). Was that why there were major organizational issues due to understaffing (restaurant, disembarking/boarding at stops, etc.) and lack of experience? The cruise claims to be "premium"—far from it. Cabins had air conditioning problems, toilet flush issues, water leaks… typical for older ships (the Renaissance was built in 1993). The food wasn’t as gourmet as the brochure promised, and portions in the restaurant were often tiny. The buffet was decent for a self-service setup. Drink packages were very expensive. The ship markets itself as 100% French-speaking. Even the customer-facing staff fell short—no surprise, as the crew’s origins are the same as Costa or MSC, and they hadn’t learned French in just six months. What surprised me most was that even some of the staff didn’t speak French. I took this cruise to test out CFC, especially since the prices were "slashed." Currently, the 2025 prices seem high for what you get (though some cruises already have a 40% discount). If you’d like more details, feel free to ask. Best regards

Thanks for the feedback! Too bad about all this, especially since it’s rare we get a French airline... From the start, the founders were let go—that wasn’t a great sign. We’ll wait for things to improve before giving it a try 😉 mich74

Too bad all this for a rare French company... From the start, the founders were let go—wasn’t a great sign. We’ll wait for things to improve before giving it a try ;) mich74

A "French" company was the main reason we bought this cruise—to support the initiative, even though we knew full well the shareholders are British, the flag is Bermudan, we’re still waiting for the promised pétanque court, etc... Despite the passengers—who are almost all French-speaking—you don’t feel a French vibe at all (on Costa, you *know* you’re on an Italian ship). For example, under "always available dishes" at the restaurant, there’s hamburgers and hot dogs, and not once during the cruise was steak-frites on the menu! In the bread basket on the table, there are 2 tiny slices of baguette—the rest is some nameless awful bread. The specialty restaurant is Asian. The coffee at the bars is made Italian-style. It feels like the staff was poached from Costa or MSC and nobody bothered to teach them "France"—let alone French. Best regards

Hi, A few reviews to read about CFC

Hi Michel, I’m part of a Facebook group "CFC FANS," and I learn quite a bit there. I can confirm the recurring plumbing and ventilation issues (etc.) that you find on ships from this generation. What’s really disappointing is that they’ve abandoned their commitments—it’s no longer ADULTS ONLY, and it doesn’t seem as high-quality as it used to. They’re having a lot of trouble filling their ship; it often sails half-empty, which can be a plus if you want peace and quiet, but I wouldn’t bet on this company’s future—it’s looking pretty complicated...

Hi Catherine, Thanks for the link to the CFC reviews. This isn’t quite up to scratch—total amateurs 😕

Hi Isabelle, I didn’t know about the adults-only policy..... They made a lot of promises, maybe even too many, for such a disappointing result. Virgin Cruises is now adults-only too 🙁

YES, VIRGIN is still ADULTS ONLY I was tempted to try it but I admit some of the reviews made me hesitate. Apparently, there are quite a few wild parties going on

LOL😉

Thanks Isa, I didn’t know that 😉

I took a 14-day cruise in November 2023. I loved the size of the ship, the spacious areas in the many lounges, and the eclectic library filled with new books. There was a decent gym, proportionally larger than on the newer MSC ships. The cabins were roomy with a small sofa. No loud entertainment on the deck, but musicians in the various bars. There was also a lecturer, though his only topic was Napoleon... The ship's size allows it to visit ports where the bigger ships can't go. The ship feels a bit old, but that wasn’t an issue. I’m going back soon and have already booked for next year. I’ve also sailed on the Renaissance’s sister ship, the Vasco da Gama, where the clientele was almost exclusively German—so it has the same pros and cons.

Hi there, If you're heading back soon, it'd be great if you could drop by and give us a quick update. You can also let us know if the boat was half-full or not 😉😉

Hi there, It just goes to show that everyone finds their own happiness with different companies—there’s plenty of choice depending on what we’re looking for. I see you’ve got great experience with cruises!

Totally agree, Michel! After all, we know no airline is perfect, so we can appreciate different ones for the unique perks they offer that others don’t... 😉

Hello, it’s exactly well summarized. I have 3 that satisfy me, and I’m really happy with them.... 😉

Could you share your top 3? 😉

Oceania Celebrity Royal Caribbean 3 American companies, what a coincidence 😉

I approve this excellent choice 😉 I also like Azamara and Princess. Hope to have the pleasure of sailing with you again 😉

Haven't heard of these two companies yet, but they're probably really good. Definitely a small one in the big Oceania lounge ;)

Hi there, we’ve done about forty cruises with Costa, MSC, Croisières de France (which no longer exists), 1 with Ponant, and 1 with CFC in October 2023. Last year, we discovered CFC’s renaissance and really enjoyed it. There were 480 passengers, so it was nothing like Costa or MSC. We’ve fallen out with Costa—they have no respect for their customers. It’s chaotic, noisy everywhere, not to mention the behavior of thousands of passengers. With MSC, we’re treated better, we keep our loyalty points, and we’re often upgraded. The food is much better on CFC: at the buffet, there was always a cheese buffet and an ice cream station. The meat was always well-cooked, unlike on Costa or MSC. That said, things may have changed at CFC since then. There are also self-service laundry machines available... We’ve booked the cruise from December 22 to January 5 on the *Renaissance*. We’re boarding the *Renaissance* this Sunday, November 3, until November 11 for a Mediterranean cruise. We’ll see if the standards have improved since last year...

Hi Alain, During my cruise in September, passengers who had already traveled last year with the Renaissance said it was nothing like before. Since CFC couldn’t fill the ship, they had to lower the prices, but the "standard" has dropped a lot according to them. I think you’ll be lucky if the ship isn’t full in November. Either way, have a great upcoming cruise. Best regards.

Hello, October 2023, 15-day Greek Islands cruise Inside cabin 5035 solo, spacious and comfortable, complimentary amenities. The ship was cozy and welcoming, with lovely staff. Deck chairs with towels provided, plus a small table for our drinks. Library with a great selection, and a game room with plenty of options too. For meals, I rank this at the top of all my cruises (54), whether in the buffet or the restaurant. The downsides: Only every other hot tub was working, and the temperature wasn’t well regulated. The party vibe was a bit light for my taste. I tried and loved this cruise—it’s a bit pricier, but the positives far outweigh the negatives!

Hello, I’m planning to do the British Isles cruise from April 30 to May 11 with CFC (I live north of Strasbourg). The somewhat negative reviews are making me hesitate a bit. Do you think it’s worth getting the drinks package? So far, I’ve done most of my cruises with MSC or Costa. Thanks, and have a good evening! Josiane

Hello, I’m planning to do the cruise from April 30 to May 11 around the British Isles with CFC (I live north of Strasbourg). The somewhat negative reviews are making me hesitate a bit. Do you think it’s worth getting the drink package? So far, I’ve done most of my cruises with MSC or Costa. Thanks, and have a good evening, Josiane

Hello, I find the drink package (CFC Forfait Plus: 35 € at booking, 40 € on board) quite expensive. Since you’re familiar with MSC or Costa, the drink prices are pretty much the same. So, you know what you consume—it’s easy to calculate whether 35 € is worth it for you or not. Best regards

Hi everyone, here’s my review after our Iberian cruise: We got back today and weren’t disappointed. I was worried after reading some comments, but we found everything we loved—the calm atmosphere (only 650 of us), impeccable service, and the great lunch buffet with the cheese platter and ice cream station. The only changes: the ice cream was lower quality than last year (strawberry, chocolate, lemon vanilla, raspberry, mango, and pistachio yesterday), but still good. The coffee from the automatic machines also wasn’t as good—tasted like Nescafé powder—but that’s a minor detail. For dinner at Vatel, portions were indeed smaller than last year, but more than enough for one evening, especially since you can have two starters or two mains, plus extra sides (mashed potatoes, spinach, veggies). The cheese selection is still more varied than on Costa or MSC. Some sauces weren’t homemade (sometimes gelatinous, like industrial sauces), but nothing major. Overall, we ate very well—varied and tasty dishes, elaborate desserts, definitely better than MSC or Costa. No lobster or Black Angus beef this year, but the meat was still excellent. We had a small issue with the AC in our cabin, but reception fixed it quickly and upgraded us to another cabin. Note: no wait at reception. For drinks, I think they’re overpriced: aperitifs at 9 €, cocktails at 11–12 €. The drink package pays for itself fast if you want two aperitifs and two cocktails per day each, but it’s a big budget hit. Good to know: still or sparkling water is unlimited at the dispensers on Deck 11, and carafes of water are served at Vatel restaurant. The cherry on top? This cruise had a comedy theme, with Titoff, Sandrine Alexi, Élie Seimoun, Maxime, Denise, Bernard Mabille, and the *Journal des Agités* team on board. High-quality shows every day—amazing!

We had an excellent cruise. CFC still delivers on its promises, and the value for money is great.

Small downside: the jacuzzis were poorly adjusted—the bubbles only lasted 40 seconds, then you had to wait 2 minutes for them to restart.

In short, CFC remains our favorite cruise line. We’re thrilled to spend the holidays on board and will definitely be back...

Hi Alain, Thanks for the feedback. Were there one or two dinner services in the evening? Was there an assigned table for the whole cruise? Which cabin did you have? In September, we had a terrace cabin with air conditioning issues. In December, we’re going back with a balcony cabin. Best regards

Good evening, There were two sittings at 6:30 PM and 8:45 PM (and thus two shows at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM). We had chosen the first sitting and requested a table for six. When we arrived on the boat, we went to check in at the Vatel, and they assigned us a table for six at the first sitting for the week. Our cabin (inside) was number 1037 (Deck 10). The air conditioning was very noisy, as were the neighboring cabins.

Good evening, There were two sittings at 6:30 PM and 8:45 PM (and thus two shows at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM). We had chosen the first sitting and requested a table for six. When we arrived on the boat, we went to check in at the Vatel desk, and they assigned us a table for six at the first sitting for the week. Our cabin (inside) was 1037 (Deck 10). The AC was very noisy, same for the neighboring cabins.

Thanks so much for this quick reply. Sittings, table assignments, shows, Vatel check-in, etc.—it was the same for us this summer, but the ship was full (1,089 passengers). With half as many passengers, I thought there might only be one sitting, or even open seating like at lunch. As for the AC, it wasn’t working at all. The temperature was just ambient throughout the cruise (and no option to change cabins). In late August/early September, the outside temperature was bearable, but in December, I hope we’ll have heating on Deck 9. Have a good evening!

Hello. My husband and I are leaving from Friday, November 22 to the 29th, 2024, on the Renaissance for the "Kings and Emperors" cruise. We’ve also sponsored some friends from Sète who will be joining us. We can’t wait to be back on this ship because our first experience last year was magical. I have wonderful memories of the ship—admittedly not brand new but tastefully decorated—the attentive staff, the peaceful and relaxed atmosphere throughout the trip, the buffet and restaurant menus worthy of top-rated restaurants, and the interesting lectures. The only downsides: the jacuzzi wasn’t working, and on the dance floor, there weren’t many fellow dancers like us who enjoy a festive evening. This will be our 38th cruise, and I hope to experience the same magic as last year. We’ve traveled a lot with Costa, but this cruise line no longer meets our expectations. The noise and game announcements in every language have become unbearable, as well as the lack of consideration and carefree attitude of some passengers. The buffet lines where everyone crowds in, sometimes waiting up to 2 hours for dinner in a chaotic and uncomfortable atmosphere, make these moments too stressful—not to mention the poorly behaved kids jumping in jacuzzis that are clearly off-limits to them. We’ll share our thoughts when we return to let you know how it went.

Hi Bergamote! I’m in the middle of packing my suitcase since I might have to take the train to Marseille on the 20th—one day earlier—because the 21st is a strike day. Still, I’m hoping my trip will go ahead as planned. This will be my second cruise with CFC. See you soon on the boat, and at the panoramic view on the deck! Laurence

We took a cruise on this ship in July, and it was almost perfect for us. Very quiet with few announcements on board—very rare and only in French. The cabins are in great condition and resemble those on Costa ships. The ship itself is old but well-maintained and very stable; we have no complaints. For dining, the food is good, and we can honestly say it’s among the best we’ve had on all the cruises we’ve taken. Life on board is nice, and many of the crew members speak French. The shows are high-quality, and the lounges are lively with music and Francophone singers. We really enjoyed this ship and are boarding it again in early December for a music-themed cruise. I can only recommend it. Michel.

Hi Michel Which cabin did you have? Many passengers are reporting issues with faulty air conditioning and water (toilets, showers, etc.) on social media. Best regards

Just so you know, the Renaissance will be in dry dock in January to fix these issues...

For your info, the Renaissance will be in dry dock in January to address these issues...

Good evening, The Renaissance will indeed be in dry dock in January-February for renovation work. However, this is to equip the ship with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, which will significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. This upgrade will allow the Renaissance to sail in areas with very strict environmental regulations, such as certain Norwegian fjords. In addition to the SCR installation, the Renaissance will also install a shore power connection system to reduce polluting emissions during port stops. As for the renovation of public spaces and/or cabins, CFC hasn’t provided any details. Unfortunately, I haven’t read anything concrete on that subject. Best regards.

We had an air conditioning issue in our cabin, and at reception they told us that these problems would be fixed during the dry-dock period...

We had an air conditioning problem in our cabin, and at reception they told us that these issues would be resolved during the dry-dock period...

Hopefully that’s the case. On the other hand, I get why CFC says in the press that they’re going to become a truly eco-friendly ship, etc., etc.… and that it’s less exciting to say they’re going to fix the AC, repair water leaks, replace faulty toilets, and so on.

Hello Michel, What cabin did you have? Many passengers report issues on social media with faulty air conditioning and water problems (toilets, showers, etc.). Best regards

Good evening, we had a balcony cabin, number 9121, and honestly, no problems at all—nothing to report. It can happen, and it’s unpleasant. My daughter had the same issue with a clogged toilet on the Costa Diadema last week, but it was resolved quickly, of course.

Thanks for the reply.

Hi there,

We got some Black Friday deals with the CFC cruise line. We booked an option for the "Vikings" cruise from March 31, 2025, to April 11, 2025. We’re waiting to hear about your cruise experience and impressions since we don’t know this company—we’ve sailed with "Croisières de France" (which no longer exists), MSC, and Costa before. Is there still self-service water available, and is the afternoon snack only served on sea days (as mentioned in the CFC brochure)? Are the onboard laundromats convenient, or is it better to use dry cleaning? Thanks for your feedback! Mum49

Hi there, still and sparkling water is available all day at the buffet, and coffee from the machines during meal times. I’ve never seen an afternoon snack, but there’s a snack corner in the afternoon with salad, fries, hot dogs, and burgers near the pool. The laundromat is really handy—washing and drying—with several machines. It works well, so remember to bring some detergent. The library is great, well-stocked, and there are also games and puzzles. And what’s really nice is how quiet it is... It feels a bit like the *Horizon* or *Zenith* from Croisières de France in terms of ship size, the calm atmosphere, and the quality of the food. It’s not the "circus" you get with Costa or MSC, and on the *Renaissance*, you can always find free sun loungers...

Is there still self-service water available, and is the snack served only on days at sea (as stated in the CFC brochure)?

Hello, In September, there was a "Tea time" (very filling) at the Grand Bar Panoramique, but indeed only on days at sea. Water was self-service at the buffet (sometimes the fountains were empty by late afternoon). Best regards

Hi there, Thanks so much for your feedback and details. We also sailed with "Croisières de France" and really enjoyed it. For laundry, we bought "paper" laundry detergent for our last cruise with COSTA, and it was super handy for small items (we brought a collapsible bucket). We have the option until Monday, and I think we’re going to book given the "Black Friday" price. MUM49

Hello,

Thanks for your feedback. We’ll do a bit of "topping up" the water bottle like on MSC-COSTA by transferring water. Happy to see you again on this site and for all the others. Mum49

Hi Laurence, I’ve just returned from the "Kings and Emperors" cruise, and I really enjoyed the trip as well as the friends we decided to travel with. I didn’t see you on the panoramic dance floor, but I have to say my husband and I hardly danced this time. Only the first two days from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM since we were eating at the first sitting. I think we’ll travel with this company again because it’s peaceful and the food is excellent. Best regards, Bergamote

Hi there, I’ve just returned from the "Kings and Emperors" cruise, and I see that Tonyma has answered your questions. I completely agree with what they said. I wasn’t disappointed at all by this second cruise with this company. The meals were excellent, the staff always friendly, and above all, the calm atmosphere on the boat really contributes to the deep relaxation you feel during the trip. What a contrast with Costa! No aggressive music, no constant intrusive announcements, no silly games with hosts shouting into a microphone. Everything is soft and soothing. We’ll definitely sail with them again. The only downside for us is that we’re already familiar with many of the stops, so we don’t get that thrill of discovery anymore.

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. We’ve booked the "Legend of the Vikings" cruise from March 31, 2025, to April 11, 2025. It’ll probably be cold, but there’ll be fewer crowds during the visits or excursions. The annoying thing with CFC is that you only find out about the excursions 8 weeks before departure. Our advisor sent us the ones they did in 2024, but Copenhagen wasn’t included. I saw that it’s possible to book them before the cruise and pay on board—that’s how COSTA does it. Best regards, Mum49

I really enjoyed this cruise. Even though there were about 800 passengers, it didn’t feel crowded—there was plenty of space. Your review, as well as Tonyma’s, really matches my own experience. I’ll add that I loved not being harassed by photographers. They only came by once at the Vatel. I also appreciate their policy for solo travelers: a certain number of cabins are reserved for them without any extra charge. Like on MSC, there’s a cocktail and meet-up for solo travelers. Pauline had mentioned a cocktail for passengers who had already sailed on the Renaissance, but I didn’t see anything about it. I also really enjoyed Sabry’s piano-vocal performances in the evenings. Unfortunately, she got sick, and in the bars, only the classical duo was left. On the downside, two elevators were out of order, and there wasn’t much entertainment at the nightclub. Thankfully, there was a group of dedicated dancers!

You can book the excursions on their website before the cruise, and they’re cheaper than when bought on board. They’re charged to your onboard account.

Hello to all CFC cruisers! Lately, all the reviews about CFC have been positive, whereas before there were many reported issues: - Sanitary conditions - Air conditioning/heating - Organization of shore excursions - Excursion planning - Cabin flooding ...... I even read somewhere that a seasoned cruiser "didn’t give much for the company’s survival." I have to say that the itineraries on offer are tempting, and the positive reviews too, but is that enough to have a good time if the problems take over? One little extra question: We usually drive to the port of Marseille by car, as the parking is very convenient, but on our last cruise we saw the *Renaissance* docked right at the far end (at the entrance to the port). Is there parking nearby, or should we expect to do some walking with our suitcases in tow? The MSC/COSTA maritime station and their parking are right at the back, next to the embarkation area. Thanks in advance for your answers. Best regards.