Over ten years ago, we took a cruise on the Costa ROMANTICA. Since then, we’ve never had the pleasure of finding another company for a cruise in the Indian Ocean with stops in Réunion, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Madagascar. I recently discovered on this site that the German company AIDA offers the exact same cruise in December! But we don’t speak German and don’t know this company at all.
Thanks if you can give us any insights about the ship *Stella* and the quality of their services
Good evening, cruise friends!
I’m planning my Japan cruise with Costa.
Is it more worthwhile to book excursions before departure? With MSC, yes, because you save 15%, but what about with Costa?
For those who’ve already done this cruise, do you have any tips or recommendations, please? We’re staying 1.5 days before and 3 days after in Hong Kong. Thanks in advance! Chantal Ports of call: Hong Kong - Keelung (Taiwan) - Japan (Naha - Kagoshima - Tokyo - Kobe - Nagasaki) - Busan (South Korea) - Hong Kong
Is it more worthwhile to book excursions before departure? With MSC, yes, because you save 15%, but what about with Costa?
For those who’ve already done this cruise, do you have any tips or recommendations, please? We’re staying 1.5 days before and 3 days after in Hong Kong. Thanks in advance! Chantal Ports of call: Hong Kong - Keelung (Taiwan) - Japan (Naha - Kagoshima - Tokyo - Kobe - Nagasaki) - Busan (South Korea) - Hong Kong
Hi, I’m looking at several cruises on this ship.
It’s one of the smallest and oldest.
I’d love to hear your impressions..?
From what I can tell, there’s no indoor pool—is the outdoor pool heated?
Also, as of now, alcoholic drinks aren’t included anymore. I’d like to get an idea of the price if we want to have a glass of wine or something else. Does anyone have the drink menu?
Thanks
Also, as of now, alcoholic drinks aren’t included anymore. I’d like to get an idea of the price if we want to have a glass of wine or something else. Does anyone have the drink menu?
Thanks
contact me to get referred at MSC, for your first cruise or if you haven't traveled with MSC in over 5 years
Hi everyone,
I’m leaving at the end of March 2026 with 8 friends to celebrate an event on the MSC World Europa. I’ve been cruising for over 20 years with all kinds of companies and under many skies, but I’ve never traveled on a ship this size (6,800 people), and some specific info about this ship would be really helpful.
So, to those who’ve been on this boat before—thanks in advance!
SHOWS: Is it true that you have to book the evening show?... Just to secure a spot, or is it an internal rule?
THE SPA: Are the saunas and hammams mixed-gender? Are there several of them? Which pools are available?
SPORTS: Are there any “spaces” where ball sports like volleyball or basketball can be played?
Finally, is the management of passengers flexible and friendly, or quite strict?
Thanks!
Happy cruising.
Francis.
Hi everyone,
Okay, here I go—I haven’t done a cruise review in ages, and even longer since I’ve posted one on this forum. So, this is kinda your fault, Catherine, if I’m getting back into it... I just hope I haven’t lost my touch!
It’s a transatlantic cruise, so there are a lot of sea days. That means this review will mostly focus on the ship, especially the "Haven" section, which doesn’t get much coverage on this forum. There’ll definitely be some comparisons with MSC’s Yacht Club, since they’re direct competitors.
This will be my third cruise with NCL—a company I really love—but my first in The Haven.
My two previous cruises were on smaller ships: the NCL Sun for the Chilean fjords and the NCL Spirit in February 2025 in Asia, departing from Taiwan and arriving in Korea. I *loved* the Spirit.
Alright, let’s get started!
This trip was booked almost last-minute in early October for late November, after I had to cut short my August trip for medical reasons.
At first, when I looked at this cruise, I hadn’t specifically decided to go for The Haven. I wanted a relaxing cruise but still with destinations I hadn’t been to before. I kinda stumbled upon this one, and the itinerary appealed to me. I also found the balcony cabin price pretty good—around 2800 € for a balcony cabin (for two), all-inclusive package included. Not including flights, of course. In the end, we decided to try The Haven (obviously not the same price), but I think we got a great deal for the promised perks.
Itinerary: Departure from Lisbon, arrival in Galveston, Texas. Stops: St. Martin, St. Thomas, La Romana, Cabo Rojo, Falmouth in Jamaica.
It’s a transatlantic cruise, so there are a lot of sea days. That means this review will mostly focus on the ship, especially the "Haven" section, which doesn’t get much coverage on this forum. There’ll definitely be some comparisons with MSC’s Yacht Club, since they’re direct competitors.
This will be my third cruise with NCL—a company I really love—but my first in The Haven.
My two previous cruises were on smaller ships: the NCL Sun for the Chilean fjords and the NCL Spirit in February 2025 in Asia, departing from Taiwan and arriving in Korea. I *loved* the Spirit.
Alright, let’s get started!
This trip was booked almost last-minute in early October for late November, after I had to cut short my August trip for medical reasons.
At first, when I looked at this cruise, I hadn’t specifically decided to go for The Haven. I wanted a relaxing cruise but still with destinations I hadn’t been to before. I kinda stumbled upon this one, and the itinerary appealed to me. I also found the balcony cabin price pretty good—around 2800 € for a balcony cabin (for two), all-inclusive package included. Not including flights, of course. In the end, we decided to try The Haven (obviously not the same price), but I think we got a great deal for the promised perks.
Itinerary: Departure from Lisbon, arrival in Galveston, Texas. Stops: St. Martin, St. Thomas, La Romana, Cabo Rojo, Falmouth in Jamaica.
Hi there,
I found a cruise on the Queen Victoria departing from Southampton, but the trickiest part is getting to Southampton.
We’re leaving from Marseille or Paris if that’s easier.
Thanks for your tips, have a great day!
Great to see VF back in action! However, is it normal that we can’t upload more than 10 photos per post? If so, that’s a real shame!
Looks like I’m the first to post a review, but I’m sure others will follow to keep this forum—our forum—alive. Once again, a BIG thank you for bringing it back!
I got home yesterday but still can’t sleep, so I’d rather share this amazing cruise I just took on the Royal Princess.
Last year, I did almost the same itinerary on the Ovation OTS (Royal Caribbean), and it was mixed at best—let’s just say it was disappointing.
The itinerary: - Los Angeles - 5 days at sea - Honolulu - Hilo (replaced by Kona) - 5 days at sea - Papeete - Papeete - Moorea - 3 days at sea - Pago Pago (Samoa Islands) = canceled - 1 day at sea - International Date Line crossing - 1 day at sea - Tauranga - Tauranga - Auckland
I booked this cruise over a year in advance through the Logitravel agency. I chose a Balcony Category D cabin because the Cat B cabins on this ship class don’t have a sofa. I like having a couch in the cabin so I don’t have to sit directly on the bed when I come in.
My last cruise with Princess was years ago, and after last year’s disappointment with Royal Caribbean (Ovation OTS), I decided to give Princess another try. Not only did I love the itinerary, but the cruise was longer, and there was a new port for me—Pago Pago—which unfortunately got canceled.
Honestly, I can tell you I didn’t regret my choice for a second—this cruise will stay with me forever. Everything, or almost everything, was PERFECT!
After Oceania, I’d rank Princess in second place, and I think their service is a notch above Celebrity. You’ll see why as you read this review.
From what I remember, Catherine Isa and others have already tried this ship class and loved it.
Here we go! Day 1: Departure from Roissy to Los Angeles on an Air France flight.
Last year, I flew Air Tahiti Nui (ATN) for the same route, and I can tell you it was WAY better than AF in terms of comfort and service. Unfortunately, ATN now flies very few routes to Los Angeles, preferring to transit through Seattle to get to Papeete. So, I had to go with AF. Back in 2018, I did a Paris/Papeete flight with AF and was a bit disappointed with the 24-hour journey. Anyway!
During this flight, we had one meal and a snack before landing in LA. Drinks were available throughout the flight. We arrived on time in LA.
Before taking off from Roissy, I downloaded the MPC (Mobile Passport Control) app—a mobile app for travelers with an ESTA to save time at customs (only for those returning to the U.S. at least a second time). It lets eligible travelers skip the long lines at customs when arriving in the U.S. After filling out a form and answering a few questions about your trip in advance, you get a ticket that lets you access a special line with shorter wait times. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the ticket, so I had to wait in the regular line. Thirty minutes later, I got the ticket, but it was too late—I was already in the visitor line. It took us 1.5 hours to get through immigration.
Since I’m traveling again in January next year, I’ll try MPC again to see if it works.
After leaving the airport, I took a taxi to my hotel on Hollywood Blvd, but the driver tried to scam me to make more money. Last year, the same ride cost $50, but this time, he took a long detour to run up the meter. When I saw it hit $80, I told him that last year the same trip cost $50, and we weren’t even there yet. He said, “You’re going to a hotel on Hollywood Blvd, and you’re quibbling over a few dollars?” I told him I wouldn’t pay that much because I saw he took a longer route (via Google Maps), and if needed, I’d call the police. Then he said, “Let’s work something out.” I told him I’d pay $50, just like last year—not a cent more. When we arrived, he said, “Give me $60, and we’ll call it even.” So, I gave him $60. If I hadn’t said anything, he would’ve charged me over $100. Oh well!
Our hotel (Lowes Hotel) is on Hollywood Blvd. It’s a really nice hotel with a rooftop pool. That said, it’s not worth 330 € per night plus 30 € per person for breakfast. But since we’re on Hollywood Blvd, everything’s overpriced.
We checked into our room with a view of the Hollywood Sign (as requested). We dropped off our things, then relaxed by the pool with a drink before taking a stroll down Hollywood Blvd.
That evening, we went to dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel, just 100 meters from our hotel—a legendary Hollywood hotel where Marilyn Monroe used to stay regularly. In fact, her suite still bears her name. Honestly, the hotel is really old, and I didn’t think much of it—or the dinner. We headed back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep because tomorrow we had a tour booked to see the stars’ houses and Beverly Hills.
To be continued: Beverly Hills/Hollywood tour and embarkation.
Looks like I’m the first to post a review, but I’m sure others will follow to keep this forum—our forum—alive. Once again, a BIG thank you for bringing it back!
I got home yesterday but still can’t sleep, so I’d rather share this amazing cruise I just took on the Royal Princess.
Last year, I did almost the same itinerary on the Ovation OTS (Royal Caribbean), and it was mixed at best—let’s just say it was disappointing.
The itinerary: - Los Angeles - 5 days at sea - Honolulu - Hilo (replaced by Kona) - 5 days at sea - Papeete - Papeete - Moorea - 3 days at sea - Pago Pago (Samoa Islands) = canceled - 1 day at sea - International Date Line crossing - 1 day at sea - Tauranga - Tauranga - Auckland
I booked this cruise over a year in advance through the Logitravel agency. I chose a Balcony Category D cabin because the Cat B cabins on this ship class don’t have a sofa. I like having a couch in the cabin so I don’t have to sit directly on the bed when I come in.
My last cruise with Princess was years ago, and after last year’s disappointment with Royal Caribbean (Ovation OTS), I decided to give Princess another try. Not only did I love the itinerary, but the cruise was longer, and there was a new port for me—Pago Pago—which unfortunately got canceled.
Honestly, I can tell you I didn’t regret my choice for a second—this cruise will stay with me forever. Everything, or almost everything, was PERFECT!
After Oceania, I’d rank Princess in second place, and I think their service is a notch above Celebrity. You’ll see why as you read this review.
From what I remember, Catherine Isa and others have already tried this ship class and loved it.
Here we go! Day 1: Departure from Roissy to Los Angeles on an Air France flight.
Last year, I flew Air Tahiti Nui (ATN) for the same route, and I can tell you it was WAY better than AF in terms of comfort and service. Unfortunately, ATN now flies very few routes to Los Angeles, preferring to transit through Seattle to get to Papeete. So, I had to go with AF. Back in 2018, I did a Paris/Papeete flight with AF and was a bit disappointed with the 24-hour journey. Anyway!
During this flight, we had one meal and a snack before landing in LA. Drinks were available throughout the flight. We arrived on time in LA.
Before taking off from Roissy, I downloaded the MPC (Mobile Passport Control) app—a mobile app for travelers with an ESTA to save time at customs (only for those returning to the U.S. at least a second time). It lets eligible travelers skip the long lines at customs when arriving in the U.S. After filling out a form and answering a few questions about your trip in advance, you get a ticket that lets you access a special line with shorter wait times. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the ticket, so I had to wait in the regular line. Thirty minutes later, I got the ticket, but it was too late—I was already in the visitor line. It took us 1.5 hours to get through immigration.
Since I’m traveling again in January next year, I’ll try MPC again to see if it works.
After leaving the airport, I took a taxi to my hotel on Hollywood Blvd, but the driver tried to scam me to make more money. Last year, the same ride cost $50, but this time, he took a long detour to run up the meter. When I saw it hit $80, I told him that last year the same trip cost $50, and we weren’t even there yet. He said, “You’re going to a hotel on Hollywood Blvd, and you’re quibbling over a few dollars?” I told him I wouldn’t pay that much because I saw he took a longer route (via Google Maps), and if needed, I’d call the police. Then he said, “Let’s work something out.” I told him I’d pay $50, just like last year—not a cent more. When we arrived, he said, “Give me $60, and we’ll call it even.” So, I gave him $60. If I hadn’t said anything, he would’ve charged me over $100. Oh well!
Our hotel (Lowes Hotel) is on Hollywood Blvd. It’s a really nice hotel with a rooftop pool. That said, it’s not worth 330 € per night plus 30 € per person for breakfast. But since we’re on Hollywood Blvd, everything’s overpriced.
We checked into our room with a view of the Hollywood Sign (as requested). We dropped off our things, then relaxed by the pool with a drink before taking a stroll down Hollywood Blvd.
That evening, we went to dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel, just 100 meters from our hotel—a legendary Hollywood hotel where Marilyn Monroe used to stay regularly. In fact, her suite still bears her name. Honestly, the hotel is really old, and I didn’t think much of it—or the dinner. We headed back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep because tomorrow we had a tour booked to see the stars’ houses and Beverly Hills.
To be continued: Beverly Hills/Hollywood tour and embarkation.
Hi there,
I'm looking at a cruise in the north.Which one do you think is more interesting? Thanks
Hi there,
We’re boarding a Costa cruise on the Deliziosa next weekend at 11:30 AM. Our flight lands at 10 AM at Trieste Airport. Unfortunately, there’s no train before 11 AM, so we’ll arrive around noon, later than the time indicated on the boarding pass. Could you confirm that we can easily arrive 30 minutes later? I imagine there must be quite a wait to board.
Thanks so much!
We’re boarding a Costa cruise on the Deliziosa next weekend at 11:30 AM. Our flight lands at 10 AM at Trieste Airport. Unfortunately, there’s no train before 11 AM, so we’ll arrive around noon, later than the time indicated on the boarding pass. Could you confirm that we can easily arrive 30 minutes later? I imagine there must be quite a wait to board.
Thanks so much!
After a perfect first experience as a couple with Memphis Tour in 2020—where we left an outstanding review—we’ve just returned from Egypt with our family of six plus a baby, and we have numerous complaints:
On the day our cruise was supposed to depart, the boat stayed docked in Aswan for over 24 hours without starting the Nile navigation as scheduled. We only left the next day at 3:30 PM for a quick stop/visit to Kom Ombo at 6:00 PM, followed by nighttime navigation until arriving in Esna at 2:00 AM!
The next day, we departed at 9:30 AM and arrived around noon in Luxor, where the boat docked in the middle of nowhere, 12 km from the city center!
In the end, we were charged for 4 days on the magnificent Nile but only got a maximum of 5 hours and 45 minutes of daytime navigation!
And, to top it off, there was no stop in Edfu—meaning no carriage ride to the Temple of Edfu, which was advertised as one of Egypt’s largest and best-preserved temples. Instead, without informing us, they replaced it with a visit to Esna.
During a West Bank visit in Luxor, we had to wait for our kids, who were with another guide for a longer tour. When our guide contacted Memphis Tour, they refused to let us visit the Temple of Medinet Habu (just 5 € away) on our own! We were forced to go through them and pay 25 € per person.
Instead of letting us wait in front of the temple for our kids and the other guide, they dropped us off alone for a full hour in what they called an "alabaster factory"—which was just the usual overpriced tourist shop where all guides take you.
I’ll skip the overly simplistic meal at Philae: grilled chicken and rice with no dessert or coffee. And the amateurish organization where the guide on the boat wasn’t even informed about the next day’s exact program.
Finally, despite our repeated priority requests and Memphis Tour’s promises during booking, there was no baby car seat provided for several long trips—even though the traffic is certainly colorful but not always reassuring.
Nor was the promised baby bed available on the boat—only a third adult bed. We had to insist strongly to get one.
Even though the complimentary carriage and felucca rides in Luxor were nice, they don’t make up for everything else.
This is despite the skills and kindness of the guides and boat staff.
Since 2020, we’ve sent several groups of friends to Memphis Tour for their Egyptian trips, but that definitely won’t happen again in the future.
Too bad
On the day our cruise was supposed to depart, the boat stayed docked in Aswan for over 24 hours without starting the Nile navigation as scheduled. We only left the next day at 3:30 PM for a quick stop/visit to Kom Ombo at 6:00 PM, followed by nighttime navigation until arriving in Esna at 2:00 AM!
The next day, we departed at 9:30 AM and arrived around noon in Luxor, where the boat docked in the middle of nowhere, 12 km from the city center!
In the end, we were charged for 4 days on the magnificent Nile but only got a maximum of 5 hours and 45 minutes of daytime navigation!
And, to top it off, there was no stop in Edfu—meaning no carriage ride to the Temple of Edfu, which was advertised as one of Egypt’s largest and best-preserved temples. Instead, without informing us, they replaced it with a visit to Esna.
During a West Bank visit in Luxor, we had to wait for our kids, who were with another guide for a longer tour. When our guide contacted Memphis Tour, they refused to let us visit the Temple of Medinet Habu (just 5 € away) on our own! We were forced to go through them and pay 25 € per person.
Instead of letting us wait in front of the temple for our kids and the other guide, they dropped us off alone for a full hour in what they called an "alabaster factory"—which was just the usual overpriced tourist shop where all guides take you.
I’ll skip the overly simplistic meal at Philae: grilled chicken and rice with no dessert or coffee. And the amateurish organization where the guide on the boat wasn’t even informed about the next day’s exact program.
Finally, despite our repeated priority requests and Memphis Tour’s promises during booking, there was no baby car seat provided for several long trips—even though the traffic is certainly colorful but not always reassuring.
Nor was the promised baby bed available on the boat—only a third adult bed. We had to insist strongly to get one.
Even though the complimentary carriage and felucca rides in Luxor were nice, they don’t make up for everything else.
This is despite the skills and kindness of the guides and boat staff.
Since 2020, we’ve sent several groups of friends to Memphis Tour for their Egyptian trips, but that definitely won’t happen again in the future.
Too bad
Hi
Has anyone taken the CFC recently?
Thoughts?
Thanks
Thoughts?
Thanks
Hi everyone,
It was totally by chance that I found this cruise while chatting with Alfred in November 2024. It wasn’t planned, but the price was attractive—one of those "great deals" from Ponant that I love and that don’t exist anymore. Since everyone’s wondering, here’s the answer without waiting for the end of the story: after my various loyalty discounts, I paid **3,250 € per person** for 8 nights/9 days on the expedition cruise *The Essentials of the Seychelles*.
Expedition cruises are by far our favorites. The outings are done by Zodiac with the ship’s naturalist guides, everything’s included, and there’s no need to add any excursions or prepare anything.
We’re liking long flights less and less, so to break up the trip, we decided to stop over in Doha for four days on the way there and one day on the way back.
I’m happy to share the good and not-so-good moments, the great surprises, and the disappointments of this trip with you.
It was totally by chance that I found this cruise while chatting with Alfred in November 2024. It wasn’t planned, but the price was attractive—one of those "great deals" from Ponant that I love and that don’t exist anymore. Since everyone’s wondering, here’s the answer without waiting for the end of the story: after my various loyalty discounts, I paid **3,250 € per person** for 8 nights/9 days on the expedition cruise *The Essentials of the Seychelles*.
Expedition cruises are by far our favorites. The outings are done by Zodiac with the ship’s naturalist guides, everything’s included, and there’s no need to add any excursions or prepare anything.
We’re liking long flights less and less, so to break up the trip, we decided to stop over in Doha for four days on the way there and one day on the way back.
I’m happy to share the good and not-so-good moments, the great surprises, and the disappointments of this trip with you.
Hi everyone,
how do I get from TENERIFE SOUTH Airport to the port of TENERIFE???
Thanks for your reply
Hi, I have a stopover in Messina—is it possible to get to Taormina without booking the ship’s excursions?
Hi everyone.
There are quite a few posts about these excursions, but they’re pretty old.
Do you have any (more recent) info on excursions or other experiences in these Icelandic ports: Reykjavik, Isafjordur, and Akureyri? We’re traveling at the end of August 2026 with MSC, and their prices are really high. Thanks so much
Do you have any (more recent) info on excursions or other experiences in these Icelandic ports: Reykjavik, Isafjordur, and Akureyri? We’re traveling at the end of August 2026 with MSC, and their prices are really high. Thanks so much
Hi everyone,
I’d like to know if the distance between Miami Airport and the Miami cruise embarkation port is far, and what transfer options are available.
If I need to arrive a day early, are there any budget-friendly hotels near the port or the airport?
Thanks in advance for all your tips!
Cloclo
Hello,
We’re heading to Vietnam next March and would love to do a cruise in Lan Ha Bay, which seems like a more preserved and less touristy alternative to Halong Bay. However, there are so many different companies out there, and we’d really appreciate your advice and firsthand experiences to help us make the right choice.
We’re looking for a 3-day, 2-night cruise on a small-capacity boat to avoid overly large groups.
A big thank you to anyone who takes the time to share their recommendations to help us with our search!
Have a great day! 🙂
We’re heading to Vietnam next March and would love to do a cruise in Lan Ha Bay, which seems like a more preserved and less touristy alternative to Halong Bay. However, there are so many different companies out there, and we’d really appreciate your advice and firsthand experiences to help us make the right choice.
We’re looking for a 3-day, 2-night cruise on a small-capacity boat to avoid overly large groups.
A big thank you to anyone who takes the time to share their recommendations to help us with our search!
Have a great day! 🙂
A scam from A to Z.
A scam from A to Z.
I just got off a 15-day cruise around Japan on the Norwegian Spirit. Never again!
Drink prices are exorbitant ($12 before tax for a beer, a 500ml bottle of water for $6.50 before tax!!!)
That’s $13 per liter of water before tax!!!!!
No entertainment at all.
Shows were really mediocre.
No dedicated space for kids.
Food was repetitive, way too salty, and just not good.
Port stops were too short, and some days at sea were way too long!
Time to disembark: over an hour, like in Korea (Icheon). On a 5-hour stop, that’s wasted time!!
Excursion prices ranged from $199 to $350 per person (for less than 6 hours on land!!!)
And to top it all off: after a case of food poisoning on board and a visit to the ship’s doctor (in the middle of the night due to feeling unwell and vomiting), we were charged $4,800 for medical exams!!
Yes, you read that right: $4,800!!!!!!
Just to clarify, the person was in consultation for about 2.5 hours... These fees were directly charged to our account since they force you to register a credit card at the start of the cruise!!
On top of that: service charges on board: $20 per person per day! That’s $1,680 before tax, of course!! We contested them, but they were still charged!!
Other unknown fees charged by mistake!! I had to open a dispute with my bank.
So go with MSC or Costa instead...
but avoid Norwegian—an unscrupulous company that takes advantage of vulnerable people.
Date of experience: August 10, 2025
A scam from A to Z.
I just got off a 15-day cruise around Japan on the Norwegian Spirit. Never again!
Drink prices are exorbitant ($12 before tax for a beer, a 500ml bottle of water for $6.50 before tax!!!)
That’s $13 per liter of water before tax!!!!!
No entertainment at all.
Shows were really mediocre.
No dedicated space for kids.
Food was repetitive, way too salty, and just not good.
Port stops were too short, and some days at sea were way too long!
Time to disembark: over an hour, like in Korea (Icheon). On a 5-hour stop, that’s wasted time!!
Excursion prices ranged from $199 to $350 per person (for less than 6 hours on land!!!)
And to top it all off: after a case of food poisoning on board and a visit to the ship’s doctor (in the middle of the night due to feeling unwell and vomiting), we were charged $4,800 for medical exams!!
Yes, you read that right: $4,800!!!!!!
Just to clarify, the person was in consultation for about 2.5 hours... These fees were directly charged to our account since they force you to register a credit card at the start of the cruise!!
On top of that: service charges on board: $20 per person per day! That’s $1,680 before tax, of course!! We contested them, but they were still charged!!
Other unknown fees charged by mistake!! I had to open a dispute with my bank.
So go with MSC or Costa instead...
but avoid Norwegian—an unscrupulous company that takes advantage of vulnerable people.
Date of experience: August 10, 2025
Hi there,
I need to take the Explora I ship for a cruise departing from Venice (Fusina port) in mid-October.
We’re spending two days in Venice beforehand. How do we get to the ship? Is it easier to take the train back to Mestre and then a taxi? Are there taxis at Mestre station? Do we need to book in advance? Do you know of a reliable company?
Explora doesn’t offer a bus transfer and mentions a water taxi for 360 €!!!!
Thanks in advance for your help. Best regards, Claudine
I need to take the Explora I ship for a cruise departing from Venice (Fusina port) in mid-October.
We’re spending two days in Venice beforehand. How do we get to the ship? Is it easier to take the train back to Mestre and then a taxi? Are there taxis at Mestre station? Do we need to book in advance? Do you know of a reliable company?
Explora doesn’t offer a bus transfer and mentions a water taxi for 360 €!!!!
Thanks in advance for your help. Best regards, Claudine
Hi,
We need to cancel a cruise we had planned for June 2026.
We were surprised by the amount of the cancellation fees, which until now were 50 € per person more than 60 days before departure.
The agency we asked to handle the cancellation informed us that, since 17/05/25 and the new general terms and conditions of sale, the cancellation fees more than 60 days before departure amount to 100 € per person.
Mum49
Hi there,
I’m about to book a cruise on Explora 2 in May 2026... (option)
I’ve never used this company before (did AZAMARA in 2024 and September 2025). The ship is more luxurious—really tempting, plus the amenities! Have any of you taken a cruise with them on one of their ships? Thanks for your feedback, good or bad... 😊😬
Hi, can you eat in the evening at the Costa Smeralda’s cafeteria, or do you have to dine at the restaurant? Thanks for your reply.
Hi,
We’d love to do a river cruise in Italy. We’ve never been on a cruise before and we’d like to combine a river cruise with excursions. Has anyone done this before? If so, any info or suggestions would be really helpful. Which ship and itinerary would be best?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Ginout
Ginout
Hello, we’re taking the Celestyal Journey in August. We’re used to cruises, but we don’t know this company or this ship. I know it’s not very big, but that fits our expectations better these days. If anyone has already been on this ship, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for your feedback!
Short version: I booked through Croisières.fr, and everything went smoothly until my order was confirmed. When I requested a date change—due to administrative reasons—the sales rep initially assured me the fee would be 50 € per person, but then demanded 600 € (negotiated down to 338 €), even though the price remained unchanged. On top of that, Paul, the sales rep, was dishonest, claiming that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages, which is completely false. All drinks—even water—are charged onboard. I had also requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother, a request that wasn’t honored, forcing me to sleep on a small couch. To make matters worse, all my emails and calls to customer service were ignored or handled carelessly. While the cruise itself was satisfactory—thanks to Costa for the onboard organization—I recommend booking directly with Costa to avoid these bad surprises with Croisières.fr.
Long version: I booked a cruise for two through Croisières.fr, and the process went perfectly until the final confirmation of my order, which initially reinforced my trust. However, as soon as I requested a change in departure dates—due to a delay in obtaining my mother’s ID card—the situation quickly deteriorated. During this process, Paul, the Croisières.fr sales rep, initially told me that the date-change fee would be only 50 € per person. To my surprise, I was then hit with an exorbitant processing fee of 600 €, which was eventually negotiated down to 338 €. This turnaround was all the more baffling because the new cruise offered was priced exactly the same as the original booking on the website.
The situation worsened when the cruise line later changed the dates for internal reasons at Costa. The new dates didn’t work for us at all, especially because of my mother’s non-reschedulable medical appointment. Despite my flexibility and numerous phone calls and emails, we were forced to accept these new dates against our will. It took a lot of effort to secure another slot, even though we had been accommodating on almost all other dates.
I also noticed other serious shortcomings in Croisières.fr’s sales service. Paul, the sales rep, turned out to be dishonest: he claimed that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included in the ticket price and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages. That’s absolutely not true! Without a package, all drinks—even water—are charged onboard. Additionally, I had specifically requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother. This request wasn’t honored, and I had to make do with a small couch because there was no way to set up two separate beds.
I’m willing to accept rules and constraints if they’re communicated upfront, but these crucial details were never shared with me. What disappoints me the most is how my requests were handled by customer service. None of the emails I sent received a response, and my numerous phone calls were dealt with carelessly and without any consideration. Everything was fine until the order was confirmed, and then suddenly, there was a complete lack of attention and follow-up, leaving a bitter taste.
That said, despite these issues, I was very satisfied with the cruise itself, and I’d like to sincerely thank Costa for their excellent onboard organization. Based on this experience, I strongly advise travelers to book directly with Costa to avoid the bad surprises and lack of follow-up that seem characteristic of Croisières.fr.
Long version: I booked a cruise for two through Croisières.fr, and the process went perfectly until the final confirmation of my order, which initially reinforced my trust. However, as soon as I requested a change in departure dates—due to a delay in obtaining my mother’s ID card—the situation quickly deteriorated. During this process, Paul, the Croisières.fr sales rep, initially told me that the date-change fee would be only 50 € per person. To my surprise, I was then hit with an exorbitant processing fee of 600 €, which was eventually negotiated down to 338 €. This turnaround was all the more baffling because the new cruise offered was priced exactly the same as the original booking on the website.
The situation worsened when the cruise line later changed the dates for internal reasons at Costa. The new dates didn’t work for us at all, especially because of my mother’s non-reschedulable medical appointment. Despite my flexibility and numerous phone calls and emails, we were forced to accept these new dates against our will. It took a lot of effort to secure another slot, even though we had been accommodating on almost all other dates.
I also noticed other serious shortcomings in Croisières.fr’s sales service. Paul, the sales rep, turned out to be dishonest: he claimed that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included in the ticket price and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages. That’s absolutely not true! Without a package, all drinks—even water—are charged onboard. Additionally, I had specifically requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother. This request wasn’t honored, and I had to make do with a small couch because there was no way to set up two separate beds.
I’m willing to accept rules and constraints if they’re communicated upfront, but these crucial details were never shared with me. What disappoints me the most is how my requests were handled by customer service. None of the emails I sent received a response, and my numerous phone calls were dealt with carelessly and without any consideration. Everything was fine until the order was confirmed, and then suddenly, there was a complete lack of attention and follow-up, leaving a bitter taste.
That said, despite these issues, I was very satisfied with the cruise itself, and I’d like to sincerely thank Costa for their excellent onboard organization. Based on this experience, I strongly advise travelers to book directly with Costa to avoid the bad surprises and lack of follow-up that seem characteristic of Croisières.fr.
Hi there,
I’ve put a deposit down for the Norwegian fjords cruise on the Preziosa in August 2025. I didn’t go for the drinks package at 1300 € for two for fifteen days—it seems a bit steep, especially since I don’t drink wine, just a few cocktails, and no fizzy drinks like Coke or Fanta.
Could anyone share the drink price list on the ship, please?
Also, I couldn’t find the prices for the excursions on this cruise, just the descriptions.
Would anyone have the prices they could share with me?
Thanks so much!
Have a great day.
Cathy
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!
This isn’t a full review but a quick summary, since I’m short on time and won’t be able to do a proper one.
Our cruise started in Port Canaveral (Orlando), and there are no longer direct flights from Paris. So, we had to take a connecting flight with British Airways (code-share with American Airlines):
Paris / Miami / Orlando and the return Orlando / Philadelphia / Paris.
Three days before departure, I went on British Airways’ website to check in and buy exit-row seats so my wife could stretch her legs. That’s when I saw that one leg of the return flight (Philadelphia / Paris) had been canceled.
I called the airline, and they confirmed the flight was indeed canceled, and the agency I bought the ticket from had been informed back in September. But the agency never told me—or just forgot. So, I called GO Voyages, and it was the same old story: blah, blah, blah...
They offered me a flight with two connections, the last one in London (with an airport change at my expense—about 80 €). I refused because I’d bought a ticket with only one connection, and on top of that, there were taxi costs for the airport change.
After some back-and-forth, GO offered to refund the ticket—but in a month. So, I ended up buying two last-minute tickets at my own expense while waiting for the refund.
Never again with GO for flights—their customer service is terrible, and everything is outsourced....
The cruise I was disappointed with this cruise.
Isa was right—the service at Celebrity has really gone downhill.
The buffet was fine—everything was fresh and varied. But in the restaurants (especially the main one), the dishes were really basic (as the Canadians say) and simple (nothing like Princess).
The ship showed signs of wear and was even dirty in some places. I had to ask for our cabin to be redone when we arrived because the bathroom didn’t seem very clean.
The "Elite Club" perks are fading fast—so much so that you don’t even feel like going (just a glass of sparkling wine and some mediocre appetizers). You have to fight to get another drink if you don’t like that sparkling wine...
Before, in Concierge Class, the bottle of sparkling wine was in a champagne bucket on the coffee table with ice. Now it’s just in the fridge.
The appetizers served in the cabin around 5 PM weren’t appetizing at all. The list goes on...
Luckily, I didn’t pay much for this cruise, or I would’ve really regretted it.
The ports of call (Key West, Nassau, Puerto Plata)
I’ve already stopped at these places before, so it was just beach time and sightseeing...
Still, I had a great week under the Caribbean sun, and it was a nice break.
I’d only cruise with Celebrity again if the price was right or there was a big promo.
See you soon for more adventures! Alfred
Our cruise started in Port Canaveral (Orlando), and there are no longer direct flights from Paris. So, we had to take a connecting flight with British Airways (code-share with American Airlines):
Paris / Miami / Orlando and the return Orlando / Philadelphia / Paris.
Three days before departure, I went on British Airways’ website to check in and buy exit-row seats so my wife could stretch her legs. That’s when I saw that one leg of the return flight (Philadelphia / Paris) had been canceled.
I called the airline, and they confirmed the flight was indeed canceled, and the agency I bought the ticket from had been informed back in September. But the agency never told me—or just forgot. So, I called GO Voyages, and it was the same old story: blah, blah, blah...
They offered me a flight with two connections, the last one in London (with an airport change at my expense—about 80 €). I refused because I’d bought a ticket with only one connection, and on top of that, there were taxi costs for the airport change.
After some back-and-forth, GO offered to refund the ticket—but in a month. So, I ended up buying two last-minute tickets at my own expense while waiting for the refund.
Never again with GO for flights—their customer service is terrible, and everything is outsourced....
The cruise I was disappointed with this cruise.
Isa was right—the service at Celebrity has really gone downhill.
The buffet was fine—everything was fresh and varied. But in the restaurants (especially the main one), the dishes were really basic (as the Canadians say) and simple (nothing like Princess).
The ship showed signs of wear and was even dirty in some places. I had to ask for our cabin to be redone when we arrived because the bathroom didn’t seem very clean.
The "Elite Club" perks are fading fast—so much so that you don’t even feel like going (just a glass of sparkling wine and some mediocre appetizers). You have to fight to get another drink if you don’t like that sparkling wine...
Before, in Concierge Class, the bottle of sparkling wine was in a champagne bucket on the coffee table with ice. Now it’s just in the fridge.
The appetizers served in the cabin around 5 PM weren’t appetizing at all. The list goes on...
Luckily, I didn’t pay much for this cruise, or I would’ve really regretted it.
The ports of call (Key West, Nassau, Puerto Plata)
I’ve already stopped at these places before, so it was just beach time and sightseeing...
Still, I had a great week under the Caribbean sun, and it was a nice break.
I’d only cruise with Celebrity again if the price was right or there was a big promo.
See you soon for more adventures! Alfred
Which cruise... and what to visit for 10 days
