CFC Highland and Scotland on April 16th

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 Nathalie, It's great to travel with an open mind and mix up your experiences. You'll appreciate those luxury categories even more when you go back to them. What do you consider a good price?

Hi Nathalie, It's great to travel with an open mind and mix up your experiences. You'll appreciate the luxury categories even more when you go back to them. What do you consider a good price?

Just for fun, what would you estimate as a good price for this boat and itinerary?

Let's say, less than 1000 €.

Let’s say, less than 1000 €.

Well, in the end I didn’t get a good deal 🤷‍♂️😅

After finding less than 1000 € for 10 days on a balcony, I’m not sure if that still exists?

For the quality this boat offers, 100 € per day per person—plus service fees and drinks—seems pretty reasonable already.

That’s actually why I didn’t go for the upgrade... because there weren’t many extra perks, and I wouldn’t have gotten my money’s worth ;) Maybe on a warm-weather cruise, though—the terrace is gorgeous.

why don’t you want to say how much you paid? Is it that high? 😉

It's 1500 € for 10 days in a balcony cabin anyway—still that price per person—and I got the discount from Planète Croisière 😊. So I'm not really sure it's a great deal

And for 4000 €, I could’ve gotten a Celebrity cruise leaving from Amsterdam in early May by booking on the American market, but the itinerary was way worse with much more industrial ports... But I’ll admit I’m starting to worry the service might really suck 🤔

It's 1500 € for 10 days in a balcony cabin anyway, that's still the price per person, and I got the discount from Planète Croisière 😅 So I'm not really sure it's a deal

Okay, the price is still manageable, but I disagree with your conclusion about PLANETE CROISIERES—since honesty isn’t exactly their strong suit... you might’ve gotten a better discount elsewhere and without the cancellation fees they impose

I booked before the weekend episode 😕

I did warn you before you booked... 😉

Hi Nathalie,

It’s really clear—I’d advise against it 100%. The suites aren’t bad, though a bit outdated since it’s an old HAL ship, but nothing else lives up to expectations. Catherine

Yeah, yeah, I know. But I was actually referring to the travel agency and the censorship that happened this weekend on the groups

Hi there, So, I booked this cruise... I know CFC gets a lot of criticism - And that it’s not really like the boats I usually take... But I was really interested in the destination... So, we’ll give it a try... I’m going in with an open mind, thinking I got a good price, so I’m not expecting the same experience as when I travel with Yacht Club or the Haven. So, we’ll see... soon!

Hi Nathalie, We’re heading to Iceland in July and will stop in Invergordon on the way there and Kirkwall on the way back. We haven’t booked any activities for these two stops yet. Could you suggest some ideas? What are you planning to do? We’ve been to Loch Ness before, but not the rest of our group. There are 8 of us traveling as a family 😉. Thanks in advance, Nadine

Hello! I think we’ll head to Inverness, but I’m not sure about kitkwall yet 😄

Hello! I think you're at sea right now! I’ve booked the same cruise for late May—if you could share your tips on how the excursions were organized when you get back, that’d be a huge help! Have a great time! 😎

I'm not at sea and I'm not very organized, actually. I'll decide on the day, but I think I'll take the train, taxi, or bus and do everything on my own.

Do you speak English?

Have a great cruise, Nathalie! Watch out for the sheep crossing the road in the Shetlands 😏

Just a quick hello to let you know that so far, so good! There are a few little things that aren’t perfect... like the pool is nicely heated, but it’s packed with kids, so swimming is impossible. And the hot tubs are full of kids too... On the plus side, the cabin is great—no particular issues—and the food is really good, at least at the restaurant. The Buffet is more basic, but it’s still okay.

Hi Nathalie, That’s great news—enjoy your cruise!

Hi Nathalie, And I saw on FB that you had a few sunny stopovers, which isn’t that common in Scotland in April.

Hi there! Actually, apart from the pool issue, I’m really happy with this cruise. We’ve just arrived in Lerwick, and the sun is waiting for us! The food is really great. The balcony cabin is really nice too. You never feel crowded or like you’re waiting in line, even at the buffet.

Hi there, If there are no other issues besides the pool and jacuzzis, that’s great. Do you know if the ventilation problems are still ongoing in some cabins?

For the other cabins, I don’t know. Ours had no issues—it’s a balcony cabin, and I really like it (aside from the outdated style). It’s spacious with lots of storage, a large balcony, and a jacuzzi tub.

We’re disembarking tomorrow.

So, to sum up the price I paid—2250 € for two, all discounts included. There was also a bit of cabin juggling because there was a solo offer on top of a free child offer. Basically, a balcony cabin for 1500 € and an inside cabin for 799 € were upgraded to an outside cabin, but honestly, we didn’t even use it since we only used the balcony cabin. I thought the value for money was even exceptional. For 10 days?

We spent about 200 € on drinks—beers and wine with meals—which is still reasonable.

We were *so* lucky with the weather: sunshine almost the whole time, no rain, and temperatures between 5 and 10°C.

Our balcony cabin was perfect—spacious, with a bathtub, lots of storage, and a big balcony. Our cabin steward was also great: slippers, bathrobes, body lotion. None of that was originally included, but all we had to do was ask, and he sorted it out for us. Of course, he was tipped for it.

As for the food, we really can’t complain either. The buffet is a bit basic, but there’s always something to put together—lots of raw veggies, which we love for building our own salads, hot dishes, multiple desserts, and fruit. In the evening at Vatel, it’s really very good too.

We didn’t have any issues with bad smells, leaks, or anything like that. Yesterday, there was a light problem, but it was fixed in 15 minutes.

The only downside—and for me, it *is* a downside— is the indoor pool temperatures at departure. They warmed up later but never reached 28°C. But it was packed with kids all the time, and there was no supervision—same with the jacuzzis. On the last day, the daily newsletter even had a little note asking parents to manage their kids better to preserve some peace and quiet.

The aft pool was closed for almost the entire cruise. It opened two days ago, but it’s only 14°C...

Anyway, that’s really the only downside. Otherwise, we had a great cruise with some really beautiful and long stops.

Of course, you can’t compare the service level to YC or anything like that... But we were really pleasantly surprised by how there were almost no lines—whether for boarding, disembarking, or at the buffet. Never had trouble finding a seat, and no lines at the buffet either.

That’s all! Disembarking tomorrow.

Thanks Nathalie for this trip report on an airline that’s pretty divisive...

Your experience was positive—that’ll reassure some folks.

You had amazing weather for Scotland, and your stopovers were really varied.

All in all, great memories you were kind enough to share! 😎

Hi Nathalie,

Your cruise followed ours. Were 2 out of the 4 elevators at the back of the ship still "out of service"? Last year in March/April, the outdoor pool was freezing cold. During our cruise from 04/11/26 to 04/16/26, it was empty. We also noticed that the drink prices in the bars were reasonable. Glad you had nice weather heading north. Have a great weekend! Mum49

Hi Nathalie, I'm so happy for you that your cruise was such a success and in the sunshine! 😎 It happens sometimes—when you expect the worst, it turns out to be much better. 😉

Absolutely! I really feel like I got my money's worth with services that were even better than I expected. The disembarkation was also perfect with the bus to Dunkerque train station.

And without hesitation for an interesting itinerary, we’ll travel with them again.

The main thing is that you feel you got your money’s worth. For the kids’ pools and jacuzzis, I can’t even imagine what it’s like in the middle of summer 😕

I think you should only book this company if the price is good, outside of school holidays, and if you don’t plan on swimming.

Yes, that sums it up pretty well. From my perspective and based on my various experiences: You should prioritize CFC for the itinerary. If it's on promotion, even better. Indeed, if possible and if you don’t want too many kids around, avoid school holiday periods.

For me, the positives: 1) The itinerary first and foremost. 2) I really loved my cabin—no issues at all. It was a balcony cabin on Pont Neuf, right in the middle. The cabin was spacious with lots of storage, a large sofa, a coffee table, a desk, and a bathroom with a bathtub and jacuzzi. 3) The dining was excellent, especially in the evening at Vatel. The buffet is a bit basic but still very good with plenty of choices. I appreciated that there was always space, no matter the time—even at sea—without having to search, no queues, and it was pretty calm. 4) The entertainment—there’s something for everyone, all in French. I also enjoyed the shows, which I thought were better than NCL’s. 5) The drink prices were reasonable. We didn’t go for the all-inclusive package, but we had a beer with lunch every day for less than 6 € for 50 centiliters. We also bought a bottle of wine—a really good Chardonnay for 24 €. (We got 4 bottles.) So, it’s very reasonable. 6) In the evening, water is served for free at the table, and all day, you can help yourself to water, coffee, teas, or herbal infusions at the self-service.

In terms of organization, there were a few hiccups, but honestly, it was perfectly manageable during this cruise. The disembarkation went smoothly—no issues getting on or off the ship, and no waiting.

So, overall, I found it to be a great value for the price I paid. The only real downside was the pool. On a cruise with so many days ashore and very few at sea, it wasn’t too much of a problem, but I still would’ve liked the pool to be heated and with fewer kids—or at least some regulation. If the outdoor pool had been filled and heated, that would’ve solved the issue. Originally, when it was Hal, the pool on Deck 11 was for families, and the one on Deck 10 outside was adults-only. Both were well-heated, and it was perfect. So, CFC isn’t far off from fixing this issue…

Thanks Nathalie for this clear and very rational feedback.

Hello, I'm glad this cruise met your expectations. Clearly, the disembarkation organization has improved a lot. The sense of calm is really nice on this ship, including at the buffet. I should mention that the Vatel is open every day, at every meal, if that hasn’t changed. I think that’s great, and it affects how crowded the buffet gets. And you had exceptional weather for the season.