hi everyone
I’ll go ahead and restart the cruise calendar for 2025 for now.
It can give people ideas and might help members meet up!
Two essential rules:
don’t “quote” the calendar when replying—this’ll avoid any confusion
and if you can, list your cruise in this example format:
enter the month first, then
date /username / SHIP / number of days / destination / departure port
FEBRUARY
14/02- poupou10 / CELEBRITY INFINITY /11 days / Greece Turkey Cyprus / Piraeus (Athens)
AUGUST
01/08- poupou10 / REGAL PRINCESS /13 days / British Isles / Southampton
YOUR TURN 😉
NUMBER OF CRUISES 2025: 2
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
14/02- poupou10 / CELEBRITY INFINITY /11 days / Greece Turkey Cyprus / Piraeus (Athens)
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
01/08- poupou10 / REGAL PRINCESS /13 days / British Isles / Southampton
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Hi there,
Has anyone taken a cruise to the Canary Islands and Madeira with Costa?
Thanks for your replies!
Jibé
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.
I’ve just returned from a cruise on the COSTA DELIZIOSA and wanted to share my thoughts for anyone considering this cruise line.
**Boarding in VENICE:** AVOID – it took a total of 3 hours before we could finally board!
**CABINS:** Our group had booked cabins with portholes. These were on the first deck, around cabins 1230 to 1257, and they were fine—no complaints. BUT some of us had cabins in the 13xx range, and that was a completely different story. These were right next to the engines, with an UNBEARABLE noise level!!! Those guests had to fight to get their cabins changed. One couple, after two days of hassle and endless discussions, finally got a balcony cabin. However, another couple was DOWNGRADED to a tiny INTERIOR CABIN—even though they had originally booked a porthole cabin!
COSTA clearly doesn’t care about its customers. Of course, these guests are still pursuing compensation, but their cruise was ruined.
Now, let’s talk about meals, the MY DRINK package, and the shows.
**Self-service meals:** NOT GREAT AT ALL. The buffets were chaotic—no pizza buffets like on MSC (because if you want pizza, you have to pay for it!). No pasta buffets either, unlike MSC.
**Restaurant meals:** Overall, they were okay, but whatever you do, don’t order the "3 Chefs" dishes—you’ll be very disappointed! And if you dine at the 3 Chefs restaurant, the menu costs 59 €!
**MY DRINK package:** In theory, ALL DRINKS ARE INCLUDED except for certain alcohols. They leave a large bottle of mineral water in your cabin, but if you drink it, they charge you for it despite the package. And on top of that, you’re only allowed 7 small bottles of water, while the number of alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails is unlimited?????
**SHOWS:** HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! They only lasted half an hour, with no elaborate costumes, no real choreography—just one or two singers or a juggler on stage performing the entire evening’s show.
And the sound system? UNBEARABLE—so loud!
We had dinner during the second seating—which we really didn’t appreciate—and since meals ended at 10:30 PM, we’d look for a quiet spot afterward, but there wasn’t one! Music was blasting everywhere, and it was WAY too loud!
Another issue: The satisfaction survey. **Would you recommend COSTA to your friends and family?** Then the presenter gives you this whole speech about how the staff works 24/7 and that if you say you’re not satisfied, you’re punishing the hardworking crew. It’s emotional blackmail—unbelievable!!!
The staff, though, was absolutely lovely—housekeeping, waiters, everyone was so kind!
**Final verdict:** NEVER AGAIN with COSTA. For them, it’s all about MAXIMIZING PROFITS. If I ever go on another cruise, it’ll be with MSC or another line.
**Boarding in VENICE:** AVOID – it took a total of 3 hours before we could finally board!
**CABINS:** Our group had booked cabins with portholes. These were on the first deck, around cabins 1230 to 1257, and they were fine—no complaints. BUT some of us had cabins in the 13xx range, and that was a completely different story. These were right next to the engines, with an UNBEARABLE noise level!!! Those guests had to fight to get their cabins changed. One couple, after two days of hassle and endless discussions, finally got a balcony cabin. However, another couple was DOWNGRADED to a tiny INTERIOR CABIN—even though they had originally booked a porthole cabin!
COSTA clearly doesn’t care about its customers. Of course, these guests are still pursuing compensation, but their cruise was ruined.
Now, let’s talk about meals, the MY DRINK package, and the shows.
**Self-service meals:** NOT GREAT AT ALL. The buffets were chaotic—no pizza buffets like on MSC (because if you want pizza, you have to pay for it!). No pasta buffets either, unlike MSC.
**Restaurant meals:** Overall, they were okay, but whatever you do, don’t order the "3 Chefs" dishes—you’ll be very disappointed! And if you dine at the 3 Chefs restaurant, the menu costs 59 €!
**MY DRINK package:** In theory, ALL DRINKS ARE INCLUDED except for certain alcohols. They leave a large bottle of mineral water in your cabin, but if you drink it, they charge you for it despite the package. And on top of that, you’re only allowed 7 small bottles of water, while the number of alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails is unlimited?????
**SHOWS:** HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! They only lasted half an hour, with no elaborate costumes, no real choreography—just one or two singers or a juggler on stage performing the entire evening’s show.
And the sound system? UNBEARABLE—so loud!
We had dinner during the second seating—which we really didn’t appreciate—and since meals ended at 10:30 PM, we’d look for a quiet spot afterward, but there wasn’t one! Music was blasting everywhere, and it was WAY too loud!
Another issue: The satisfaction survey. **Would you recommend COSTA to your friends and family?** Then the presenter gives you this whole speech about how the staff works 24/7 and that if you say you’re not satisfied, you’re punishing the hardworking crew. It’s emotional blackmail—unbelievable!!!
The staff, though, was absolutely lovely—housekeeping, waiters, everyone was so kind!
**Final verdict:** NEVER AGAIN with COSTA. For them, it’s all about MAXIMIZING PROFITS. If I ever go on another cruise, it’ll be with MSC or another line.
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
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.
Bonjour,
Nous voila de retour de cette croisière.
Embarquement à Dunkerque: les portes ouvraient à 12h environ, étant un peu en avance, je suis allée demander pour que mon mari PMR attende à l'intérieur plutôt que s/ son déambulateur dehors. Je l'ai donc laissé avec les 2 valises et nos 2 sacs à dos dans le petit hall pendant que j'allais garer le véhicule s/ le parking réservé avec CFC au tarif de 10 euros/ jour.
La navette qui devait reconduire les gens du parking au pavillon des maquettes devait arriver dans 5 minutes et au bout de 15 minutes toujours rien. Après 15 min d'attente j'ai vu un Mr qui partait à pieds et je lui ai demandé de l'accompagner. En 15 minutes nous étions arrivés et toujours pas vu de navette car elle nous aurait dépassé.Arrivée au pavillon des maquettes .
Mon mari avait déjà enregistré les valises avec l'aide d'1 personne de CFC.Restaient les formalités à remplir ce qui fut fait rapidement.Nous étions à bord à 12h15. Direction le buffet au pont 11 et attente de pouvoir accéder à la cabine dans 1 salon.
A 14h , découverte de la cabine balcon au pont 9 à l'arrière: spacieuse avec un grand balcon comparé à MSC/COSTA.
Etant à l'arrière, cabine 9202 , toujours un problème d'ascenseur le numéro 4: " car préference".
L'ascenseur numéro 2 s'arrête au pont 10...et l'ascenseur numéro 3 souvent en panne, il ne reste que le numéro 1 pour les PMR pour accéder au buffet pour les personnes ayant également du mal à monter les escaliers.A noter 1 seule enfant à bord et beaucoup de "cheveux gris".
JOUR 2: en mer. Beaucoup d'activités de proposées.
Jour 3: GOTEBORG ( Suède).soleil 19 degrés à 11h
Excursion prise avec CFC: Goteborg et Haga pour tous.
Visite interessante avec une guide TB. Le quartier HAGA à notre avis plein de pavés et rien de spécial et pas adapté aux personnes se déplaçant avec une canne ou fauteuil.Ascenseur numéro 3 en panne..
Jour 4: Copenhague15 degrés le matin, averses ap-midi.
Pas pris d'excursion ayant déjà fait escale avec CFC en 2025 et s/ les conseils des personnes de ce forum, nous avions pris le bus op-on/op-off face au bateau. Je suis allée quand même revoir la petite sirène .
Plus de TV, ascenseur réparé.
JOUR 5 : en mer , tj pas de TV
JOUR 6 : GDANSK ( Pologne).15 degrés pluie toute la journée.
Il y a 1 navette pour aller dans le C Ville.
Nous avons pris l'excursion:Panorama de Gdansk.
Le guide nous a laissé dans l'entrée du C Ville pour 45 minutes en nous donnant ce qu'il y avait à visiter.RV pour la suite des visites à 15h. Le bus est parti à 15h15 pour faire 10 km pour aller voir la Cathédrale d'Olivia .Nous y sommes arrivés à 16h16....le guide nous a dit que dans ce sens il y avait souvent des bouchons..Nous avons eu 10 min s/ place pour aller ensuite voir le phare et le monument de Westerplatte où là aussi nous avons eu 10 minutes s/ place.
Nous étions bcp à nous interroger pourquoi nous n'avions pas fait le circuit dans l'autre sens puisqu'il s'avait qu'il y aurait des bouchons...
Je suis allée à la réception me plaindre de cette organisation .La personne m'a lu le programme: nous devions commencer par le phare puis aller à la Cathédrale et y rester 30 min pour rejoindre le centre de Gdansk pour 1 courte promenade guidée avec un peu de temps libre pour acheter des souvenirs etc..
Le guide a fait tout le contraire de ce qui était prévu et pas de visite guidée puisqu'il nous a lâché dans la ville....
JOUR 7 : Ile de Bornholm (Danemark) 14 degrés quelques rayons de soleil
Nous avions vu dans les excursions qu'il y avait découverte de RONNE à pieds. Donc comme beaucoup nous avons visité par nous-mêmes. Il y avait 1 petit orchestre pour nous accueillir s/ le port et 2 personnes avec des plans de la ville. Nous avons pris la navette pour sortir du port, navette toutes les 15 min.Office du tourisme à côté du "shuttel bus". Visite agréable à notre rythme.
JOUR 8: KIEL ( Allemagne) 18-23 degrés, beau temps
Nous avons pris l'excursion KIEL pour tous. Guide TB et visites interessantes.
Le port est en ville et en 10 minutes nous sommes dans le CVille en suivant un trait bleu au sol depuis le port jusqu'au centre.Ascenseur 3 de nouveau bloqué...de nouveau la TV.
JOUR 9 : en mer; l'ascenseur 3 fonctionne
JOUR 10: en mer ; l'ascenseur 3 de nous veau en panne...
JOUR 11: débarquement à Dunkerque.
Les cabines doivent être libérées à 7h30.Buffet ouvert jusqu'à 9h.
Ascenseur numéro 1 "réquisitionné" , reste le 2 qui ne va pas jusqu'au 11... problème pour les PMR qui doivent traverser tout le pont 11 et essayer d'avoir un des 4 ascenseurs en fonction à l'avant avec bcp de monde à les utiliser.
Mon avis; escales interessantes.
Personnels à bord toujours aussi accueillants , souriants et parlant français pour la plupart.
Spectacles le soir de meilleure qualité qu'en Mars/Avril 2025 tant chanteurs-danseurs-animateurs et des costumes mieux..
Moins bien aimé ceux du "magicien".
Il y a eu 3 conférences à bord par une personne très cultivée mais qui débordait du sujet et trop historique à mon goût.Je n'ai pas assisté aux 2 autres, mon mari a suivi la 2ème mais pas la 3ème..
Pour cette croisière il y avait le thème du Bridge mais nous ne sommes pas joueurs ni intéressés.
Nous n'avions pas pris de forfait boissons à bord , il y a l'eau à disposition, café, thé, tisanes.
Nous avons eu un problème d'infiltration d'eau dans la cabine la veille du débarquement.Nous l'avons signalé et une fois le personnel technique passé ( avec traducteur ne parlant pas anglais), on nous a demandé de laisser la cabine pendant quelque temps pour la réparation.Nous sommes allés dans un salon et au bout d'1h30 je suis allée aux nouvelle à la réception. Réparation + longue que prévue...il fallait changer de cabine.....pas évident la veille du débarquement. Plus de cabine balcon disponible, nous avons eu 1 vue mer la 6075 avec baignoire ( impossible de l'utiliser pour nous deux). Nous avons donc fait nos valises , pris 1 douche dans notre cabine et nous sommes descendus dans la nouvelle.Bruits de chaises jusqu'à 0h30 car cabine sous un salon et un bruit continuel de ventilation dans le couloir.....le sommeil a été difficile à trouver. Débarquement: bien organisé. Nous avons été aidés pour le transport des 2 valises + sacs dans la salle d'attente le temps que je prenne la navette pour aller récupérer le véhicule. Guylène
Nous avons eu un problème d'infiltration d'eau dans la cabine la veille du débarquement.Nous l'avons signalé et une fois le personnel technique passé ( avec traducteur ne parlant pas anglais), on nous a demandé de laisser la cabine pendant quelque temps pour la réparation.Nous sommes allés dans un salon et au bout d'1h30 je suis allée aux nouvelle à la réception. Réparation + longue que prévue...il fallait changer de cabine.....pas évident la veille du débarquement. Plus de cabine balcon disponible, nous avons eu 1 vue mer la 6075 avec baignoire ( impossible de l'utiliser pour nous deux). Nous avons donc fait nos valises , pris 1 douche dans notre cabine et nous sommes descendus dans la nouvelle.Bruits de chaises jusqu'à 0h30 car cabine sous un salon et un bruit continuel de ventilation dans le couloir.....le sommeil a été difficile à trouver. Débarquement: bien organisé. Nous avons été aidés pour le transport des 2 valises + sacs dans la salle d'attente le temps que je prenne la navette pour aller récupérer le véhicule. Guylène
😉Hi there,
A few months ago, CFC put the EN VOGUE experience on sale, departing from Dunkirk.
I booked this package to test the boat and onboard services for myself.
I’d read a lot of reviews mentioning numerous issues on board, so I wanted to see for myself what it was really like…
Okay, I’ll stop rambling… The package included boarding at 6 PM on Friday, dinner, a show, an overnight stay, and breakfast. We chose an interior cabin for this experience—since the boat wasn’t leaving the dock, we didn’t see the point in paying more… All in all, it cost 130 € per person. My mom joined us; she got the same cabin for 130 € with no single occupancy supplement.
We’d checked in online to board faster. We took the train to DUNKIRK, then a taxi to the shuttle pavilion—7 € for the ride. When we arrived at the pavilion, we were told to wait because there was a connection issue with check-in. Great start… After about ten minutes, we were finally allowed to proceed. At the counter, they said they didn’t have our cabin cards and no record of our check-in… Very odd. With no solution, they put us on the bus and said we’d sort it out at reception. Perfect. We went through security, and they confiscated our water bottles—never seen that before! Then they said my mom had a corkscrew in her bag, so they searched it… but there was no corkscrew. Total amateur hour… They eventually dropped it.
We got on the bus for a ten-minute ride… We boarded the ship with a crew member and headed to reception. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones in this situation. The nightmare began… Only two staff members were handling all the issues, and everything seemed complicated. They told my mom her cabin had been given to someone else 😲. That was the last straw…
It took forever—they had to redo the entire check-in. Finally, they told my mom her cabin was good to go; they’d mixed her up with someone else… After a solid half-hour, we could finally head to our cabin.
I’m determined to test everything: the pool, jacuzzi, show, restaurant, spa, etc… TO BE CONTINUED
Okay, I’ll stop rambling… The package included boarding at 6 PM on Friday, dinner, a show, an overnight stay, and breakfast. We chose an interior cabin for this experience—since the boat wasn’t leaving the dock, we didn’t see the point in paying more… All in all, it cost 130 € per person. My mom joined us; she got the same cabin for 130 € with no single occupancy supplement.
We’d checked in online to board faster. We took the train to DUNKIRK, then a taxi to the shuttle pavilion—7 € for the ride. When we arrived at the pavilion, we were told to wait because there was a connection issue with check-in. Great start… After about ten minutes, we were finally allowed to proceed. At the counter, they said they didn’t have our cabin cards and no record of our check-in… Very odd. With no solution, they put us on the bus and said we’d sort it out at reception. Perfect. We went through security, and they confiscated our water bottles—never seen that before! Then they said my mom had a corkscrew in her bag, so they searched it… but there was no corkscrew. Total amateur hour… They eventually dropped it.
We got on the bus for a ten-minute ride… We boarded the ship with a crew member and headed to reception. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones in this situation. The nightmare began… Only two staff members were handling all the issues, and everything seemed complicated. They told my mom her cabin had been given to someone else 😲. That was the last straw…
It took forever—they had to redo the entire check-in. Finally, they told my mom her cabin was good to go; they’d mixed her up with someone else… After a solid half-hour, we could finally head to our cabin.
I’m determined to test everything: the pool, jacuzzi, show, restaurant, spa, etc… TO BE CONTINUED
Hi,
We’re planning a Mediterranean cruise with either MSC or Costa—any recommendations on which to choose? Could you share the pros and cons of each?
We’re 2 adults and 1 young adult (18). Thanks for your feedback! Val
We’re planning a Mediterranean cruise with either MSC or Costa—any recommendations on which to choose? Could you share the pros and cons of each?
We’re 2 adults and 1 young adult (18). Thanks for your feedback! Val
Hi,
I’m going on a solo cruise from Marseille to Hamburg—13 nights, 4 days at sea on the Costa Favalosa.
The stops are Genoa, Barcelona, Málaga, Cádiz, Porto, A Coruña, Le Havre, and Hamburg.
I’ve booked a Costa excursion for Porto and Hamburg that ends at the airport.
I plan to explore the other stops on my own (I’ve already visited Barcelona and Málaga).
The stops should be pretty easy to do solo, but I’d love any tips on A Coruña.
I’d also like to know if there’s a shuttle to get out of the port in Le Havre or go into the city center.
Looking forward to exchanging ideas with others who might be doing this route!
Best,
Varoise
Hi there. Who’s setting off on a 36-day cruise on the Costa Smeralda from Marseille on November 16, 2024?
Destinations: Spain, the Canary Islands, then Namibia, South Africa, Mauritius, and Oman before finishing in Dubai (return flight).
I’d love to get some tips for DIY excursions during our cruise. The scheduled stops are Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Palermo, Rome, and Savona.
Thanks in advance!
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.
Hello everyone,
If you'd like, I invite you to join me for a week-long cruise to northern Greece, visiting ports that are often less crowded with cruise ships.
Itinerary: Athens, Skiathos, Volos, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Limnos, Hydra, Athens
If you'd like, I invite you to join me for a week-long cruise to northern Greece, visiting ports that are often less crowded with cruise ships.
Itinerary: Athens, Skiathos, Volos, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Limnos, Hydra, Athens
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
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
Hello,
We (a family of two adults and two kids) are going on our first cruise this August on the Costa Esmeralda. To make sure everything goes smoothly, I booked a suite. I have a few questions to prepare well and I’m definitely open to any tips.
I read that a restaurant is reserved, specifically the Bellavista. What confused me a bit is that I saw others mention the Panama. I’m pretty sure it’s the Bellavista, especially after checking the ship’s layout.
About this restaurant: - Is it accessible on embarkation day, say around 1:30 PM? - Same question for when we return from excursions around 1:30 PM
I’ve done my research otherwise, but I’m still open to any advice.
Thanks in advance to all cruisers who take the time to reply.
We (a family of two adults and two kids) are going on our first cruise this August on the Costa Esmeralda. To make sure everything goes smoothly, I booked a suite. I have a few questions to prepare well and I’m definitely open to any tips.
I read that a restaurant is reserved, specifically the Bellavista. What confused me a bit is that I saw others mention the Panama. I’m pretty sure it’s the Bellavista, especially after checking the ship’s layout.
About this restaurant: - Is it accessible on embarkation day, say around 1:30 PM? - Same question for when we return from excursions around 1:30 PM
I’ve done my research otherwise, but I’m still open to any advice.
Thanks in advance to all cruisers who take the time to reply.
Hi everyone,
I’m back from this “mixed” two-week cruise in the Indian Ocean on the Norwegian Sky.
Originally, I had booked a cruise with AIDA (also in the Indian Ocean), but unfortunately, the company decided to cancel it and offered us other options, which we declined because the dates didn’t work for us.
Since my wife really wants to do a cruise in the Indian Ocean, but very few companies offer this destination, it’s a bit complicated—especially when the dates don’t line up. Finding a good compromise between companies and timing is tough. Retirement can’t come soon enough!!!
After some research, I found a really great itinerary with Silversea (a luxury cruise line) for a 19-day cruise from Cape Town to Victoria, stopping in Madagascar (2 days), Praslin, La Digue... But my wife couldn’t get the time off. Not only was the itinerary amazing, but the price was unbeatable (5,200 € per person for a balcony suite, all-inclusive). What a shame—I would’ve loved to try this company, but maybe next time (if we’re lucky enough to have the chance).
My wife tried to take unpaid leave but wasn’t successful... Oh well!
On my end, I have more flexibility with vacation time since I travel a lot for work, so I can accumulate my days off and take them when it suits me.
So, we settled for this cruise (the only one that matched my wife’s vacation dates). Sure, we weren’t thrilled about the ship, but the itinerary wasn’t bad. We figured, why not?
I requested a quote from Logitravel, and after a discount, we paid 2,600 € per person for a balcony cabin (category BA) with the More At Sea package, which includes: 300 minutes of internet, premium drinks, 5 restaurants, and discounts on excursions...
The itinerary:
Day 1 Dubai (UAE) Boarding 11:59 PM Day 2 Abu Dhabi (UAE) 7:00 AM Day 3 Abu Dhabi (UAE) 2:00 PM Day 4 Sea day Day 5 Sea day Day 6 Sea day Day 7 Sea day Day 8 La Digue (Seychelles) 10:00 AM 8:00 PM Day 9 Mahé (Seychelles) 7:00 AM 8:00 PM Day 10 Sea day Day 11 Antsiranana (Madagascar) 7:00 AM 6:00 PM Day 12 Sea day Day 13 Pointe des Galets (Réunion) 8:00 AM 9:00 PM Day 14 Port Louis (Mauritius) 7:00 AM Day 15 Port Louis (Mauritius) 8:00 AM
After booking the cruise, I started looking for flights (Paris/Dubai and Mauritius/Paris). It’s peak Easter vacation time, so tickets are crazy expensive... I ran several simulations on Skyscanner and was shocked by the prices.
A direct flight from Paris to Dubai with Emirates is 1,400 € per person (one way), and the return from Mauritius to Paris (also with Emirates via Dubai) is 1,350 € per person.
Given these outrageous prices, I decided to book a flight with a layover. The best value I found was with Qatar (via Doha) for 650 € per person, with a 2.5-hour layover in Doha, and a direct flight from Mauritius to Paris with Corsair for 750 € per person.
With the More At Sea package, we had a 300 € credit per person for flight tickets (as long as we booked through NCL).
I requested a quote, and they offered: OUTBOUND: April 18, 2025 – Egyptair CDG-CAIRO 10:05 PM-2:30 AM February 19, 2025 – CAIRO-DUBAI 5:30 AM-10:55 AM RETURN: May 3, 2025 – Kenya Airways Port Louis-Nairobi 6:50 PM-10:10 PM, Nairobi-CDG 11:50 PM(+1)-7:30 AM (price: 950 € per person).
Sure, the price was good, but we didn’t want to fly with those airlines, and NCL didn’t have any other options. So, we booked our flights ourselves.
D-Day: Departure from Paris on April 18 with Qatar via Doha:
Two days before leaving, I checked in online and took the opportunity to buy seats near the emergency exits since my wife tends to get swollen legs on long flights. So, she prefers having extra legroom (cost: 132 € per person). It’s a bit pricey, but peace of mind is priceless.
Usually, when I have an early flight from Roissy, I always book a hotel the night before (near the airport) to avoid stress and not miss my flight. But since it was school vacation time and Good Friday, we decided to leave very early from home...
The flight was scheduled for 9:05 AM. We live 70 km from the airport and had to be there by 7:05 AM.
We barely slept... Up at 4:30 AM, and by 5:45 AM, our Uber was outside. We arrived at the airport (Roissy Terminal 1) by 6:50 AM.
Check-in was smooth—less than 10 minutes, and our bags were dropped off with boarding passes in hand.
This was my first time flying out of Roissy Terminal 1 since it was renovated for the Olympics. Wow, it’s a huge improvement—nothing like the old “camembert box” we used to know!
A few photos:
Coming up: Layover in Doha
I’m back from this “mixed” two-week cruise in the Indian Ocean on the Norwegian Sky.
Originally, I had booked a cruise with AIDA (also in the Indian Ocean), but unfortunately, the company decided to cancel it and offered us other options, which we declined because the dates didn’t work for us.
Since my wife really wants to do a cruise in the Indian Ocean, but very few companies offer this destination, it’s a bit complicated—especially when the dates don’t line up. Finding a good compromise between companies and timing is tough. Retirement can’t come soon enough!!!
After some research, I found a really great itinerary with Silversea (a luxury cruise line) for a 19-day cruise from Cape Town to Victoria, stopping in Madagascar (2 days), Praslin, La Digue... But my wife couldn’t get the time off. Not only was the itinerary amazing, but the price was unbeatable (5,200 € per person for a balcony suite, all-inclusive). What a shame—I would’ve loved to try this company, but maybe next time (if we’re lucky enough to have the chance).
My wife tried to take unpaid leave but wasn’t successful... Oh well!
On my end, I have more flexibility with vacation time since I travel a lot for work, so I can accumulate my days off and take them when it suits me.
So, we settled for this cruise (the only one that matched my wife’s vacation dates). Sure, we weren’t thrilled about the ship, but the itinerary wasn’t bad. We figured, why not?
I requested a quote from Logitravel, and after a discount, we paid 2,600 € per person for a balcony cabin (category BA) with the More At Sea package, which includes: 300 minutes of internet, premium drinks, 5 restaurants, and discounts on excursions...
The itinerary:
Day 1 Dubai (UAE) Boarding 11:59 PM Day 2 Abu Dhabi (UAE) 7:00 AM Day 3 Abu Dhabi (UAE) 2:00 PM Day 4 Sea day Day 5 Sea day Day 6 Sea day Day 7 Sea day Day 8 La Digue (Seychelles) 10:00 AM 8:00 PM Day 9 Mahé (Seychelles) 7:00 AM 8:00 PM Day 10 Sea day Day 11 Antsiranana (Madagascar) 7:00 AM 6:00 PM Day 12 Sea day Day 13 Pointe des Galets (Réunion) 8:00 AM 9:00 PM Day 14 Port Louis (Mauritius) 7:00 AM Day 15 Port Louis (Mauritius) 8:00 AM
After booking the cruise, I started looking for flights (Paris/Dubai and Mauritius/Paris). It’s peak Easter vacation time, so tickets are crazy expensive... I ran several simulations on Skyscanner and was shocked by the prices.
A direct flight from Paris to Dubai with Emirates is 1,400 € per person (one way), and the return from Mauritius to Paris (also with Emirates via Dubai) is 1,350 € per person.
Given these outrageous prices, I decided to book a flight with a layover. The best value I found was with Qatar (via Doha) for 650 € per person, with a 2.5-hour layover in Doha, and a direct flight from Mauritius to Paris with Corsair for 750 € per person.
With the More At Sea package, we had a 300 € credit per person for flight tickets (as long as we booked through NCL).
I requested a quote, and they offered: OUTBOUND: April 18, 2025 – Egyptair CDG-CAIRO 10:05 PM-2:30 AM February 19, 2025 – CAIRO-DUBAI 5:30 AM-10:55 AM RETURN: May 3, 2025 – Kenya Airways Port Louis-Nairobi 6:50 PM-10:10 PM, Nairobi-CDG 11:50 PM(+1)-7:30 AM (price: 950 € per person).
Sure, the price was good, but we didn’t want to fly with those airlines, and NCL didn’t have any other options. So, we booked our flights ourselves.
D-Day: Departure from Paris on April 18 with Qatar via Doha:
Two days before leaving, I checked in online and took the opportunity to buy seats near the emergency exits since my wife tends to get swollen legs on long flights. So, she prefers having extra legroom (cost: 132 € per person). It’s a bit pricey, but peace of mind is priceless.
Usually, when I have an early flight from Roissy, I always book a hotel the night before (near the airport) to avoid stress and not miss my flight. But since it was school vacation time and Good Friday, we decided to leave very early from home...
The flight was scheduled for 9:05 AM. We live 70 km from the airport and had to be there by 7:05 AM.
We barely slept... Up at 4:30 AM, and by 5:45 AM, our Uber was outside. We arrived at the airport (Roissy Terminal 1) by 6:50 AM.
Check-in was smooth—less than 10 minutes, and our bags were dropped off with boarding passes in hand.
This was my first time flying out of Roissy Terminal 1 since it was renovated for the Olympics. Wow, it’s a huge improvement—nothing like the old “camembert box” we used to know!
A few photos:
Coming up: Layover in Doha
Hi everyone,
What a joy to be back here and pick up where we left off after all these months of hiatus.
I hope you’ll enjoy the story of this little trip around the Eastern Mediterranean. This cruise was the perfect way to satisfy our longing to return to Greece and Istanbul. The end of the season, until late November, is the best time to visit the Mediterranean in my opinion—when climate disruptions don’t get in the way.
Departing from Trieste, our stops were Katakolon, Piraeus, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Corfu, and Bari, before returning to Trieste and then Venice, where we planned a very short 24-hour stay.
We left home at 6:15 AM—our first cruise departure since moving to Normandy. What I miss most about living in the Gard is how close we were to Marseille Airport. No more hopping over to Marignane in an hour; now we have to plan for a three-hour trip to CDG, even under the best conditions on an early Sunday morning.
It was impossible to book a hotel night before our flight because, starting in April, the Ibis was priced at 450 € per night, and the Mercure was flirting with 800 €—breakfast not included, of course. 😏
I had a feeling there must’ve been a conference or something going on… Turns out, it was just the auto show. They simply adjusted the room prices to match the cost of the cars. 😛
Our flight took us to Venice, where we caught a FlixBus to Trieste. We arrived at Trieste’s train station in the afternoon and walked to our hotel in the city center.
After treating ourselves to an amazing pizza at a restaurant (Di Napoli Maestri Pizzaioli, Via Armando Diaz 10) for a very reasonable price, we enjoyed the mild evening temperature while exploring the stunning buildings of this charming city by night. These magnificent structures are a testament to the city’s past. Trieste became Austrian in 1382 due to its complicated relationship with Venice, and it wasn’t until 1918, at the end of World War I, that it became Italian again. The city’s lighting beautifully highlights the architecture of the buildings.
The terraces were lively, and the atmosphere was so warm and inviting that we wanted to stay out even longer.
But we’d been up since 4 AM, so we were happy to retreat to the quiet of our hotel, located in the pedestrian center just a few steps from the port (Urban Hotel Design—highly recommended).
More to come soon.
What a joy to be back here and pick up where we left off after all these months of hiatus.
I hope you’ll enjoy the story of this little trip around the Eastern Mediterranean. This cruise was the perfect way to satisfy our longing to return to Greece and Istanbul. The end of the season, until late November, is the best time to visit the Mediterranean in my opinion—when climate disruptions don’t get in the way.
Departing from Trieste, our stops were Katakolon, Piraeus, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Corfu, and Bari, before returning to Trieste and then Venice, where we planned a very short 24-hour stay.
We left home at 6:15 AM—our first cruise departure since moving to Normandy. What I miss most about living in the Gard is how close we were to Marseille Airport. No more hopping over to Marignane in an hour; now we have to plan for a three-hour trip to CDG, even under the best conditions on an early Sunday morning.
It was impossible to book a hotel night before our flight because, starting in April, the Ibis was priced at 450 € per night, and the Mercure was flirting with 800 €—breakfast not included, of course. 😏
I had a feeling there must’ve been a conference or something going on… Turns out, it was just the auto show. They simply adjusted the room prices to match the cost of the cars. 😛
Our flight took us to Venice, where we caught a FlixBus to Trieste. We arrived at Trieste’s train station in the afternoon and walked to our hotel in the city center.
After treating ourselves to an amazing pizza at a restaurant (Di Napoli Maestri Pizzaioli, Via Armando Diaz 10) for a very reasonable price, we enjoyed the mild evening temperature while exploring the stunning buildings of this charming city by night. These magnificent structures are a testament to the city’s past. Trieste became Austrian in 1382 due to its complicated relationship with Venice, and it wasn’t until 1918, at the end of World War I, that it became Italian again. The city’s lighting beautifully highlights the architecture of the buildings.
The terraces were lively, and the atmosphere was so warm and inviting that we wanted to stay out even longer.
But we’d been up since 4 AM, so we were happy to retreat to the quiet of our hotel, located in the pedestrian center just a few steps from the port (Urban Hotel Design—highly recommended).
More to come soon.
Hi there,
I hit my photo limit on the other post, so I’m forced to start a new one to continue this travel journal.
Victoria / Mahé continued:
After Anse Intendance, we head to Police Bay, located at the very southern tip of Mahé. Swimming and snorkeling aren’t ideal there (lots of waves)—just for the view!
On the way back, we stopped to visit some "typical" Seychellois houses, including one of the oldest.
We got back to the port around 6:30 PM, with memories filling our heads.
We were really happy with this day, and our guide/driver was exceptional! We even gave him a nice tip.
Dinner at the restaurant:
To be continued: Day at sea and Nosy Be
I hit my photo limit on the other post, so I’m forced to start a new one to continue this travel journal.
Victoria / Mahé continued:
After Anse Intendance, we head to Police Bay, located at the very southern tip of Mahé. Swimming and snorkeling aren’t ideal there (lots of waves)—just for the view!
On the way back, we stopped to visit some "typical" Seychellois houses, including one of the oldest.
We got back to the port around 6:30 PM, with memories filling our heads.
We were really happy with this day, and our guide/driver was exceptional! We even gave him a nice tip.
Dinner at the restaurant:
To be continued: Day at sea and Nosy Be
Hi, I’ll be going on a cruise with Costa Toscana soon. During the stopover in Barcelona, is it possible to walk to La Rambla from where the ship docks, or is it better to take a bus or taxi? Also, any ideas for the Ibiza stopover?
Thanks,
Diane
Hello,
We had booked a sea-view cabin through a Costa advisor in October 2023 for a departure on 13/10/24 on the Costa Favolosa, with a cruise lasting until 22/10/24. When we saw the cabin, what a disappointment: only one stool, no armchair or sofa like we were used to with Costa. The sea view wasn’t great because of a film on the porthole, and the cabin faced the crew promenade. The space between the wall and the edge of the bed was about 30 cm... not easy for getting into bed. We immediately asked to change cabins. After two days, the answer was that no cabins were available. We spent our days in the lounges because there wasn’t enough room for two people to sit—one had to sit on the stool and the other on the bed... Two days before disembarking in Marseille, reception offered us a sea-view cabin on deck 2. We asked to see it: what a difference—space, a sofa, an armchair, a stool, and a real sea view. Unfortunately, with only two days left before disembarking, it was difficult for us "seniors (85 and 73 years old)" to pack our suitcases and bags, unpack them in the new cabin, deal with the walker, and then repack two days later for disembarkation. We filed a complaint with Costa’s customer service, which responded quickly: "You found the cabin small. Please note that our cabins meet standards and are allocated accordingly. It is indeed possible to change cabins if the ship’s occupancy allows it. We offered you this change, which you later declined." In the end, they offered a "commercial discount as an exceptional gesture for booking a future cruise." This cabin 9201 is for one person, not two. The onboard staff were always as friendly and smiling as ever. There were long lines to access the buffets, so it was better to go to the restaurant at lunchtime when we didn’t have excursions. The shows were varied, and the indoor pool was very chilly. We won’t be sailing with Costa again. We’ve booked with MSC for 2025, but after reading some reviews... Mum49
We had booked a sea-view cabin through a Costa advisor in October 2023 for a departure on 13/10/24 on the Costa Favolosa, with a cruise lasting until 22/10/24. When we saw the cabin, what a disappointment: only one stool, no armchair or sofa like we were used to with Costa. The sea view wasn’t great because of a film on the porthole, and the cabin faced the crew promenade. The space between the wall and the edge of the bed was about 30 cm... not easy for getting into bed. We immediately asked to change cabins. After two days, the answer was that no cabins were available. We spent our days in the lounges because there wasn’t enough room for two people to sit—one had to sit on the stool and the other on the bed... Two days before disembarking in Marseille, reception offered us a sea-view cabin on deck 2. We asked to see it: what a difference—space, a sofa, an armchair, a stool, and a real sea view. Unfortunately, with only two days left before disembarking, it was difficult for us "seniors (85 and 73 years old)" to pack our suitcases and bags, unpack them in the new cabin, deal with the walker, and then repack two days later for disembarkation. We filed a complaint with Costa’s customer service, which responded quickly: "You found the cabin small. Please note that our cabins meet standards and are allocated accordingly. It is indeed possible to change cabins if the ship’s occupancy allows it. We offered you this change, which you later declined." In the end, they offered a "commercial discount as an exceptional gesture for booking a future cruise." This cabin 9201 is for one person, not two. The onboard staff were always as friendly and smiling as ever. There were long lines to access the buffets, so it was better to go to the restaurant at lunchtime when we didn’t have excursions. The shows were varied, and the indoor pool was very chilly. We won’t be sailing with Costa again. We’ve booked with MSC for 2025, but after reading some reviews... Mum49
Hi everyone,
I’m so glad VOYAGE FORUM is back up—it’s such a lifesaver for us travelers!!
Next May, I’ll be going on a cruise on the COSTA DELIZIOSA with stopovers in SPLIT, DUBROVNIK, KOTOR, CORFU, KATAKOLON, and BARI.
Since the forum closed during COVID, all the discussions stopped at the same time. So, I’d love to hear from anyone who’s done this cruise to share some tips about the stopovers.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone! We’ve booked a cruise on the Costa Smeralda for early November 2025 (ports of call: Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples, Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa). This is our first cruise, so I need your help for some sightseeing tips. I checked Costa’s website for excursions, but the prices are pretty steep! I saw that it’s possible to get a Costa Go Round ticket with multiple stops—this seems really practical for some destinations. Has anyone tried it? How does it work? Is it useful for seeing several sites in the city? If you have any tips for sightseeing without blowing our budget for 3 people, I’d love to hear them. Thanks so much! :)
Hi...back on VF since 2020..
From 2020 to 2022 in hibernation due to the Covid years...and 2023-2024 only local trips...I'm getting back into international travel this year, 2025, and after a trip to Nice and Monaco in January, I signed up with some friends for a Costa Smeralda cruise...but I realize I've lost my motivation for cruising...I can't stand the idea of being on a boat anymore, with all the things I worry about...getting sick, the crowds, boarding and disembarking at ports, mass-produced food...my three friends insist on having me with them, especially since we booked two balconies for the four of us :) ...
What are cruises like these days?
...I'd love to know if the atmosphere and buffets are still great?
Hi there, The day before boarding the Costa Favolosa for the Norwegian Fjords cruise departing from Hamburg, I'd like to book a hotel. Which one would be the most convenient location-wise relative to the port?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi everyone (and yes, ladies first 😎)
I was wondering, besides MSC and Costa, which cruise lines are your favorites? Which ones would you like to try?
For my part, I’ve tried Virgin… and how can I put it… it was one of the best cruises of my life! There are a lot of preconceptions about the company that honestly aren’t entirely justified (even if I’ll admit I’m their target audience!).
Anyway, if you’re interested, I’ll give you a little rundown 🙂
I was wondering, besides MSC and Costa, which cruise lines are your favorites? Which ones would you like to try?
For my part, I’ve tried Virgin… and how can I put it… it was one of the best cruises of my life! There are a lot of preconceptions about the company that honestly aren’t entirely justified (even if I’ll admit I’m their target audience!).
Anyway, if you’re interested, I’ll give you a little rundown 🙂
I just got a mind-blowing response. I wanted to book 2 back-to-back cruises in the French West Indies on the Renaissance—arriving in Guadeloupe on December 23, 2025, and returning from Martinique (the end-of-cruise city) on January 13, 2026.
And guess what? It’s impossible because they’re pre-packaged deals. The only solution is to book just one cruise—not two in a row. It’s UNBELIEVABLE.
CFC, the French cruise company—well, no. It’s actually CAC, an English cruise company with "civil servants" wearing blinders.
I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve often combined two back-to-back cruises without any issues, but those were on "bare" ships. All they had to do was get me to Guadeloupe with the first cruise and have me depart with the second cruise’s start. It’s easy to book plane seats!
For the record, last year I did two back-to-back cruises in the Mediterranean, spending Christmas and New Year’s on the same ship.
Handing control over to the English wasn’t a good solution.
Oh well, I’ll find somewhere else with more open-minded people.
And guess what? It’s impossible because they’re pre-packaged deals. The only solution is to book just one cruise—not two in a row. It’s UNBELIEVABLE.
CFC, the French cruise company—well, no. It’s actually CAC, an English cruise company with "civil servants" wearing blinders.
I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve often combined two back-to-back cruises without any issues, but those were on "bare" ships. All they had to do was get me to Guadeloupe with the first cruise and have me depart with the second cruise’s start. It’s easy to book plane seats!
For the record, last year I did two back-to-back cruises in the Mediterranean, spending Christmas and New Year’s on the same ship.
Handing control over to the English wasn’t a good solution.
Oh well, I’ll find somewhere else with more open-minded people.
Total of 16 days on the ship with the advantage of one day at sea and one day in port, so time to rest in between.
NORWEGIAN JOY:
1-Food not as good as on Costa and MSC (fewer dish choices or repetitive meals, no region-specific meals, meats are good but desserts are really not good at all, no real exotic fruits despite the regions you visit, and even the other fruits like melon and pineapple aren’t ripe). No need to dress up for evening meals: freestyle, so don’t bring too many evening outfits.
2-No fixed time or place for meals: queues every time in the restaurants, tables assigned based on your group size, so it’s hard to interact with other passengers.
3-Passengers mostly American: shows cater to their taste, fewer musical-style performances in the theater compared to Costa and MSC.
4-Excursions are very expensive and always in English. Americans still leave huge tips for the guides.
ITINERARY:
1-Miami departure port (airport: 3-hour queue for passport control!)
2-2 days at sea, then Cartagena in Colombia: definitely don’t take the Pirates excursion (it’s terrible, even for kids—they make you run all over the city for their lame "show"!). You can even stay at the port where there’s a beautiful park called "Oasis" with lovely birds... and a café. Otherwise, while visiting the city, buy t-shirts ($10 USD—the best quality and markets of all the regions visited) or taste ripe exotic fruits you’ll never find on the ship ($3).
3-Colon/Panama: several interesting excursions to the locks (old and new). They use highways, so you don’t see much of the country. Crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the canal and the lake: not much view of cities during the passage, just a few islands and greenery on the lake.
4-Puntarenas/Costa Rica: We took the coffee plantation tour, which lets you drive through villages and see more of the country.
5-Guatemala: Highly recommended excursion to Antigua: a very pretty old town with a human scale, lots of women trying to sell you all sorts of things but always with a smile and full of color. Enjoy bargaining—it’s a real connection with the locals.
6-Acapulco/Mexico: a big city that reminds you a bit of Rio/Brazil. Beaches right near the port if you want to swim, as well as little shops selling everything. The famous cliff divers: it’s crowded, so it’s hard to find a good spot to really see them jump. Lots of police and heavily armed military, so probably best not to take risks venturing alone into the poorer neighborhoods like favelas in the hills.
7-Vallarta/Mexico: a gem, a small and very pleasant seaside resort with a lovely promenade, lots of colors, statues, souvenirs, and cafés....
8-Cabo San Lucas/Mexico: The ship stays at sea; you go ashore by small boats from the port. Lots of shops, restaurants, etc., right at the port if you don’t want to take an excursion. It’s quite chilly early in the morning on these small boats, so bring a jacket.
9-Los Angeles: disembarkation—another 3-hour queue for passport control. If you have a flight right after, be careful: either ask for disabled assistance on the ship (they have a fast exit) or hire paid porters who also get you out quickly.
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 there,
We’ve booked the CFC Viking Legends cruise (departing on 03/31/25), and the excursions have just been posted on the CFC website. What a disappointment... Stop in Copenhagen: 2 excursions offered, one of which includes +1.5 hours of walking Stop in Oslo: 2 excursions, one of which is a hike Stop in Sandnes (Stavanger): 2 excursions, one of which is a hike Lysekil (Sweden): 1 excursion, same as in Kristiansand and Zeebrugge.
We hesitated to book without knowing the excursions in advance, but the itinerary interested us. We were expecting more options for excursions... Since the ship leaves the day before from Zeebrugge, let’s hope there’s still space for the excursions. I’ll share our experience after we return from this first CFC discovery. MUM49
We’ve booked the CFC Viking Legends cruise (departing on 03/31/25), and the excursions have just been posted on the CFC website. What a disappointment... Stop in Copenhagen: 2 excursions offered, one of which includes +1.5 hours of walking Stop in Oslo: 2 excursions, one of which is a hike Stop in Sandnes (Stavanger): 2 excursions, one of which is a hike Lysekil (Sweden): 1 excursion, same as in Kristiansand and Zeebrugge.
We hesitated to book without knowing the excursions in advance, but the itinerary interested us. We were expecting more options for excursions... Since the ship leaves the day before from Zeebrugge, let’s hope there’s still space for the excursions. I’ll share our experience after we return from this first CFC discovery. MUM49
