Hi everyone, Little cruise heading north... First stop: Copenhagen. There’s a good chance the boat will dock at OCEAN QUAY, which is over 5 km away from the Little Mermaid! I’m struggling to figure out how to get there by taxi, bus, or shuttle. Thanks for your tips! I can still walk, but 5 km through the port area... Have a great rest of the day!

Hi everyone, From March 31 to April 10, I took the Viking Lands cruise with CFC. Out of curiosity, I checked the Renaissance’s route yesterday and noticed it didn’t make the Sandnes/Stavanger stop that we had. Maybe the itinerary was planned that way? Best regards,

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

Hi there,

We usually travel as "backpackers," but this year we’re making an exception with a CFC cruise to Norway.

We’d like to explore the stops on our own so we can choose what we like at our own pace.

Do you have any experiences or great tips to share with us?

Our destinations: Stavanger, Bergen, Geiranger, Ålesund, Nordfjordeid, Flåm, Lyngdal

Thanks for your help

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!

Hi, we're going on a cruise to Norway departing from Dunkirk and sailing up the coast—can you share some ideas on what to visit? Thanks! Gigi

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!

Hi there, By sheer chance, a family housewarming in Brussels gave us the opportunity to depart from Zeebrugge for our first experience with CFC, allowing us to discover ports we didn’t know (which has become rare). After some questions before departure while browsing the forums, we discovered this company with great pleasure. Of course, luck may have played a particularly favorable part: dream weather, a sea as calm as a lake, and boarding and disembarking almost as if the ship were reserved just for us, since during our departure from Zeebrugge, only a small number of passengers were taking advantage of the unoccupied cabins from the previous cruise ending in Le Havre. As a result, we couldn’t get a suite, but our balcony cabin was very functional, with plenty of storage and a whirlpool bath we thoroughly enjoyed. Admittedly, the carpet was a bit worn, but it wasn’t a big deal. Having a large enough table allowed us to have breakfast in the cabin (our usual habit) in excellent conditions. The ship, a reasonable size, was pleasant, in great condition, and had many comfortable lounges. A large enclosed and heated space with a pool, jacuzzi, and deck chairs offered a calm atmosphere without intrusive activities (which is rare). I won’t mention the entertainment since we barely participated, but I think there was plenty of choice, including a "special bridge" activity. The restaurant had a lovely setting, with quick service and particularly attentive staff, reminding us of cruises from the past. The food was good quality and well-presented, though portions were quite small—something big eaters might regret. We loved the charm of an old-fashioned theater with comfortable seats and a table for drinks. The shows were fairly high quality, though opinions may vary. They catered mainly to a French-speaking audience, which is quite rare, and featured a live orchestra. The excursions seemed reasonably priced for what they offered, but we didn’t participate since we prefer organizing things ourselves. To sum up, we were pleasantly surprised by this "old little ship" with a mostly French-speaking, very attentive staff, all in a great atmosphere.

Hi! On June 10th, we’re heading off on a 10-day Baltic Sea cruise with CFC Cruises’ *Renaissance*. We’ll be stopping in Copenhagen, and we’re planning to take the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses to explore the city with multiple stops. Could anyone tell me which quay cruise ships usually dock at and how to get from the quay to the nearest stop to board the tour bus? Thanks for your tips and suggestions!

Hi everyone, In a month, I’ll be on the *Renaissance* with Compagnie Française de Croisières. I’d just love to hear your thoughts on this ship—what you liked, what you liked less, etc. Thanks to all of you! Have a great day

Hi there, we’re planning a trip to Norway next June. Since my partner gets vertigo, renting a car is out of the question. So, we’re thinking of doing the Bergen to Kirkenes route by cruise—6 nights, 7 days—with either Hurtigruten or Havila. Is this journey as amazing as it sounds? Is one provider better than the other?

Basically, any tips would be super helpful.

Thanks.

Does anyone know about cruises with the MS Rotterdam? Northern Europe cruise

Hello, I’m going on an MSC Norway cruise in May, and I’m a bit lost when it comes to choosing excursions 😅 Here’s my itinerary: Hamburg, Ålesund, Honningsvåg, Tromsø, Trondheim, Molde Fjord, Bergen, Hamburg. I’m looking for advice and opinions: must-see places, and is it possible to organize excursions independently from the cruise line (there are 4 of us)? All your experiences would be super helpful 😊 Thanks in advance

bonjour, je suis très tentée par une croisière Hurtigruten 13 j en février 2021 intitulée " la magie des aurores boréales" sur le MS Trollfjord Bergen-Cap Nord-Bergen. j'hésite avec une autre de 13j également qui s'appelle : "à la recherche des aurores boréales" Bergen-Kirkernes-Bergen. Quelqu'un peut -il m'aider a faire mon choix. Au niveau des cabines comment choisir pas trop cher mais avec une vue dégagée ? Merci pour vos conseils.

Bonjour, Nous partons le 9 août 2020 de Copenhague et j'aimerais poser quelques questions pour les aventuriers croisièristes qui sont venus en voitures. Je recherche un parking proche ou dans le port pour partir en croisière. Je recherche un parking bien sécurisé puisque mon véhicule est une location. De plus, durant nos escales, je pêche un peu pour Helsinki, Tallin et Kiel, si vous avez des tuyaux, je suis preneuse🙂🙂. Pour finir, nous effectuons cette croisière à 3 avec notre fille de 16 ans et souhaiterions savoir si d'autres français effectuaient la même croisière. à bientôt et encore merci de vos réponses

Nous envisageons fin juin unecroisière Hurtigruten de Bergen à Kirkenes. Les excursions proposées aux différentsarrêts sont très chères. Est-il possible de trouver sur place des propositions locales? taxis ou autres? Merci pour l'info!

Nous désirons faire une croisière dans les fjords en août prochain. Quel itinéraire est le meilleur. Sommes sur Marseille donc avion depuis marseille puis croisiere ? Merci pour vos lumieres

S'il y a des intéressés, je viens de voir passer ceci en italien...

En revanche, apparemment très peu de places disponibles par bateau...

https://dreamblog.it/2019/12/02/swoop-a-settembre-2020-due-speciali-crociere-fotografiche-alle-isole-svalbard/

Bonjour à tous,

Je me permet de vous solliciter, en effet nous allons effectuer une croisière au départ de Copenhague en juillet 2020 à bord du MSC Poésia. Nous allons pouvoir visiter Warnemûnde, Stockholm, Tallinn et Saint-Pétersbourg. Nous avons pris le vol par nous même pour arriver sur Copenhague une journée avant, afin de pouvoir visiter un peu. Est ce que quelqu'un aurait déjà procédé ainsi??? Avez vous un hôtel à me conseiller et comment avez vous rejoint le centre de Copenhague depuis l’aéroport??? (Taxi, train...). Dernières questions, est-ce que le port d'embarquement est loin du centre ville, le trouve t'on facilement???🤪

Je vous remercie par avance de partager avec moi vos diverses expériences 😉 et vous souhaite à tous une belle journée

Cathy

Bonjour, nous partons en croisière avec Hurtigruten, sur le Nordkapp le 22 Décembre 2019 pour 13 jours, quelqu'un a-t-il des conseils à nous donner pour profiter au mieux de ce voyage? Vie sur le bateau, équipements vestimentaires, tarifs des " extras " , excursions... Merci!

Nous visiterons les fjords en debut juin, départ de warnemunde en Allemagne Avez-vous déjà participé à cette croisière ?

Bonsoir tout le monde!

J'envisage de faire une croisière avec un départ de Copenhague avec comme escales la Norvège, la Suède et l'Allemagne. Pour ceux qui l'ont déjà faite ou une similaire, peuvent il me dire si ils en sont revenus enchanté ? Au niveau des températures, est ce qu'il ne fait pas trop froid? En fait au vu des photos cela me parait vraiment magnifique mais de savoir qu'il peut faire froid , cela me tracasse un peu.. j'ai plus l'habitude de voyager vers des destinations plus chaudes.. Merci à tous d'avance de vos réponses. Bonne soirée. Sandy

Nous allons faire une croisière sur les fjords en Août 2020 au départ de Kiel.😉 Pourriez-vous me donner des conseils pour les escales (Copenhague, Hellesylt/Geiranger, Alesun, Flaam). Nous souhaiterions les faire par nous même !!! Merci à tous

Bonjour,

Après avoir écumé le web à la recherche d'infos, je me tourne vers vous pour obtenir des réponses à mes questions! Je me trouve bien bête de ne pas l'avoir fait avant !

Je prépare notre roadtrip ( couple) d'une semaine en Norvège, Lofoten, fin février.

Première question : est-ce réalisable de faire le trajet Tromso-svolvaer à bord de l'Hurtigruten sans cabine ? Question de budget... mais 17h de traversée tout de même !!!

Je profite de l'occasion pour vous faire part de mon idée d'itinéraire, sentez vous libres de me faire des remarques, commentaires, suggestions !

Arrivée en avion à tromsø, récupération de la voiture de loc, embarquement à bord de l'Hurtigruten ( escale au supermarché avant, j'ai cru comprendre que nourriture et boissons étaient hors de prix et pas super bonnes à bord !) Puis, a partir de Svolvaer, direction le bout de l'île en s'arrêtant dans tous les endroits possibles 😁 Au retour, grimper vers Andenes, passer à Narvik, retour vers Tromsø. Dans les grandes lignes qu'en pensez vous ?

Ah, et est ce que cela vaut la peine en si peu de temps de monter au Cap Nord ?

J'espère que quelqu'un pourra répondre à mes questions !!

Merci d'avance 😁

Quelqu’un a-t-il déjà expérimenté un croisière sur le queen Mary 2 Départ Hambourg pour les fjords norvégiens , Bateau, excursions’, à voir absolument’, météo en juillet Merci pour vos conseils Dolly

Hello, Voila bien longtemps que nous avions le projet d'allez sur les fjords. Nous partons au mois de juillet., Notre parcours est le suivant :

Stavanger Flaam Andalsnes Molde Haugesund Bergen Bremerhaven Ljmuiden

Si vous pouvez m'aider a trouver les bons plans et les visites sympa. je vous en remercie beaucoup.

nous allons faire une croisière en Norvège. Je voulais savoir quoi visiter

Hello everyone,

I’ve wanted to take this Norway cruise for a very long time. The first time I booked it was in July 2020 with Azamara. Unfortunately, it was canceled, as everyone remembers. When I tried to book it again, the prices (already a bit high with Azamara) had simply doubled. So, since then, I’ve been keeping an eye out every year for any opportunities...

The last time we sailed with Princess was eleven years ago, and things didn’t go very well. I came back pretty unhappy with their service and quite disappointed. Despite the $600 they gave me as credit for a future cruise, I’d never set foot on one of their ships again.

But this time, the opportunity arose—a fantastic itinerary with lots of stops, a reasonable price for 16 nights (I’ll share the details in the conclusion), and a ship that’s not too big, so to speak, with only 3,000 passengers. I’m not expecting much from the cruise line this time and am boarding the ship with low expectations beyond the itinerary.

Princess has introduced an app to download before the cruise. It’s essential because online check-in is no longer available, and the agency doesn’t send a travel journal. Everything is done through the app. After completing the check-in on the app, we only know that we’ll need to pick up our key, the Medallion, at embarkation by following the blue line in the terminal and presenting our passport.



Up until our departure, the weather forecast for the coming week in Norway is disastrous—rain, rain, and more rain. It was pretty much the same two years ago before our Iceland cruise, and in the end, the weather turned out fine.

If you’re ready to embark on the Emerald Princess to discover this beautiful cruise and the stunning landscapes of Norway, let’s go!

Southampton - Sea day - Bergen - Olden - Åndalsnes - Sea day - Tromsø - Honningsvåg (North Cape) - Alta - Sea day - Molde - Trondheim - Two sea days - Edinburgh - Sea day - Southampton

Which cruise... and what to visit for 10 days