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Norwegian Fjords Cruise: What to see during the stops?
by Cachou83400 · 2026-02-28 · 16 replies
hi there, a group of friends and I are going on a cruise at the end of June with CFC in Norway. I’d love to get some info on the different stops we’ll be making. Most of them are one-day stops (from around 10 AM to 8 PM on average). Here are the stops: Andalsnes, Trondheim, Honningsvåg, Alta, Hellesylt, Sandane, Austefjorden.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what there is to see or do in these places.

When I get back, I’ll post what we did—it might help others who come after us.

Also, does anyone know if the boat sticks to the arrival time in Dunkirk for catching tickets to head back south? We’ll plan a buffer just in case.

Thanks everyone!
Paul Gauguin Cruise to the Marquesas and Society Islands: How to Organize Excursions?
by Catgne · 2026-01-31 · 2 replies
We’ve booked a 15-day cruise to the Marquesas and Society Islands on the PAUL GAUGUIN. Is it possible to get information about the excursions organized by Ponant? Can we do them ourselves or through a local agency? How do we organize these excursions from France?

Thanks so much!
Cruise around the islands of Komodo
by Galcargil38 · 2026-01-19 · 4 replies
5-day cruise around Komodo Not usually a fan of organized trips, during my stay in Labuan Bajo on Flores in May 2024, I started looking for a fisherman who could show me the islands around Komodo. At the port, I met Ari, a former freediver who knows the islands well, especially the best spots for fish and coral. At the Bohême guest house, I proposed this outing, and one of the activity leaders was happy to join. We headed to Angel Island, where Ari took us snorkeling around the island. During this beautiful day, we appreciated his professionalism, and I suggested coming back the following year for a 5-day cruise. We had to agree on a budget and the period to consider. Over the next year, we kept in touch via WhatsApp. However, a month before departure, Ari told me he had lent his boat to a friend, who ran it aground on a rock, causing it to sink. No boat, no cruise! Since we had an agreement, I asked him to find another solution. His searches in the port, where everyone knows each other, turned out to be fruitful. A certain "Captain" Kambar agreed to take us. He sometimes charters his boat for local travel agencies and could free up the requested period.

There will be six of us on board, as in the meantime, my daughter’s friend, Amandine, could join us for the cruise. Ari will act as a guide, and a mechanic will also be present. To reserve the boat for September 4th, Ari asked me to transfer a deposit of 5 million IDR to his account. After some hesitation, I decided to trust him and made the transfer. A few days later, he confirmed receipt of the amount.

In early September, we arrived in Labuan Bajo. Our first mission was to check the boat’s condition, the presence of life jackets, what we would eat, and if there were any restrictions on drinks. Everything was in order and met our expectations.

The day before departure, we met a 26-year-old Czech woman traveling alone after a stay in New Zealand. The description of our cruise excited her, and she got Ari’s number. That evening, at the restaurant, while we discussed the final preparations, Thérèsa joined us and asked if she could come along for the five-day cruise. Since she seemed like good company, I gladly accepted. However, following Indonesian custom, I negotiated firmly with Ari for a discount, and he agreed to lower the price by 2 million.

On September 4th, we set sail to explore the islands of Komodo and, above all, the seabeds, equipped with fins, masks, and snorkels. We had brought a board game for the trips between islands or for the evenings. In the end, it wasn’t used: the crossings rarely lasted more than an hour, except for two two-hour trips, and the conditions on board weren’t suitable for playing.



The first island we visited is north of Labuan Bajo: Seraya Small. We didn’t disembark but anchored a short distance away. The coral reef, between 5 and 10 meters deep, offered visibility of 8 to 10 meters. We started with a few dives from the boat, as the water was so inviting. As with most of the upcoming sites, we were the only ones enjoying this little paradise. Over about a kilometer along the drop-off, colorful corals and fish abound. As long as you don’t go past the rocky point on the right, the currents remain very weak, and the spot is accessible to beginners. After enjoying the sea enough, we returned to the boat, where Ari had prepared a good meal of rice, chicken, and vegetables. It was simple but excellent after all that effort.

In the afternoon, we discovered Bero Island, where it was very hot. There were fewer fish and corals than at Seraya, but the corals were on white sand, allowing for beautiful, bright photos.

In the evening, we visited Hatamin, a fishing village. The population is very young and curious about our visit. At our request, we could have watched a local dance, but it would have taken some time to organize, and we didn’t plan to return. Ari asked if we wanted to take a shower, as on the boat, we could only rinse off with a little water from a basin.

On the second day, snorkeling near Hatamin, a small paradise island with white sand like in a travel brochure. A small temple is located in the middle of the island. In the water, we saw our first small reef sharks, some clownfish, and a sergeant major fish that followed us throughout our swim. The most beautiful part to explore is opposite the beach. Many corals and fish of all colors. A sailboat was anchored a short distance away, but we didn’t see anyone except an old man who apparently lived in the temple above.





In the afternoon, we headed to the nearby island of Sabolong Besar. It’s a pretty little island with a harmonious resort made up of luxury huts that don’t spoil the landscape. In some places, the water is very clear with good visibility, and some schools of very young blacktip reef sharks swirl near the boat. There are beautiful corals on the left side of the resort and a bit of current when you approach the drop-off. Since the area to explore wasn’t very large, we had time to head to Sabolong Kecil. Then we went to the fishing village of Messah, where a Muslim celebration was taking place. There were people everywhere with many food offerings—what activity! It was like an anthill.



And at the end of the day, we anchored near Kanawa with a beautiful sunset.

On the third day, we discovered Kanawa and some hawksbill turtles. There were many colorful corals, but we didn’t stay long. During this day, the stops were close together, making it intense with four visits. Then we arrived at Sebayur Besar with a different snorkeling approach: Ari dropped us in the current, and we drifted for over a kilometer before he came to pick us up. At first, it seemed a bit worrying to see the boat move away while we were offshore, but we were quickly carried by the current and passed almost too quickly by so many corals and fish to see. What a pleasure to drift and freedive with little effort.

The drift lasted a good hour, and we reached Siaba Island, where the water was colder. There were many boats, and we had quickly lost the habit of seeing other tourists. Visibility was average—it was a nice spot, but after the drift at Sebayur, we liked it less. Around 1 p.m., we anchored with other boats because Ari met up with some friends, and we ate heartily since the cool water had whetted our appetites.



In the afternoon, we were at Manta Point. The water was cool, and there was a lot of excitement trying to follow the giant manta rays. We managed to dive down and get close to them, but it took a lot of effort and breath because, despite their leisurely appearance, they move quite fast for us little swimmers. Here, they come to feed and then return to the depths, and it’s not always certain you’ll encounter them. We ended the day at Makassar with a two-hour sail. There was a lot of wind and swell, the boat rocked, and we hoped there wouldn’t be an engine breakdown. We had to take down the tent on the boat’s roof, which had also been used for sleeping. Makassar’s beach is pink, caused by microorganisms called foraminifera. There are many beach huts along the shore, and we were alone, though it must get busy here during the day. On the fourth day, we visited Padar Island for its viewpoint amid hordes of tourists, then headed to Rinca and its Komodo dragons. Rinca is much less crowded than Komodo, which is why we chose this visit. We saw a few and took the usual photos. In the late afternoon, we snorkeled at Pempend Island, where the sea was choppy and the water a bit murky. And on the last day, we visited Strawberry Rock, named after the reddish rock overlooking the sea. There were many corals, but the water was rough with reduced visibility, and then we went to Kelor with its tourist "bars" and the pretty viewpoint.

In conclusion, we shared amazing moments and managed to complete our program. Luckily, the weather was very kind, and not a drop of rain fell in early September, except just upon returning to the port. It’s worth noting that after five intense days in the water from morning to night, we were glad to return to dry land because we were exhausted.

My daughter and her friend were so thrilled that, in return, they developed a website for Ari to help him get known, and I can share the link if you’d like. I visit Voyage Forum from time to time, so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate—I’ll answer them.
Fjord cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes
by Jgallaire · 2025-12-15 · 5 replies
Hi there, we’re planning a trip to Norway next June. Since my partner gets vertigo, renting a car is out of the question. So, we’re thinking of doing the Bergen to Kirkenes route by cruise—6 nights, 7 days—with either Hurtigruten or Havila. Is this journey as amazing as it sounds? Is one provider better than the other?

Basically, any tips would be super helpful.

Thanks.
Patagonia cruise: what equipment to bring?
by Xabi32 · 2025-11-09 · 2 replies
Hi, I’ve booked a cruise on the Stella Australis for early February 2026. Departure from Punta Arenas, arrival in Ushuaia in 5 days with 4 nights on board, and stops (zodiac landings). Has anyone already done this cruise or hung out… way down there? What I’m wondering is what kind of clothes to bring, since I’ll need to gear up. Thanks in advance for your tips. Xabi.
Transatlantic Cruise on Norwegian Viva
by Nidal · 2025-11-02 · 11 replies
Hello, We’re sailing on the Norwegian Viva from Lisbon to Galveston. From what I’ve read on the NCL site, there’s no formal night; is that correct? If so, that’ll lighten the suitcase! 😊 The ship stops in Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic, and I haven’t found much info on this stop—it seems to be recent. I’m thinking of just heading to the seaside near the ship, but if you’ve got another **bon plan**, I’m all ears. Same for La Romana: last time we went to Bayahibe Beach, so if you’ve got another idea... Thanks in advance!
Lan Ha Bay Cruise (Vietnam)
by Mae317 · 2025-10-13 · 2 replies
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! 🙂
Costa Japan Cruise
by Chanpy · 2025-09-20 · 3 replies
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
Norway Cruise: Sightseeing Ideas
by Moongigi · 2025-09-09 · 22 replies
Hi, we're going on a cruise to Norway departing from Dunkirk and sailing up the coast—can you share some ideas on what to visit? Thanks! Gigi
Mediterranean Cruise Solo
by Nore83 · 2025-08-22 · 4 replies
Hi there, I’d love to go on a Mediterranean cruise, but I’m a bit nervous about doing it solo. Thanks for your advice!
Cruise from 09/24 to 10/04 2025 on MSC Preziosa
by Jourde · 2025-07-28 · 3 replies
Hello, I’m going on this cruise and have a few questions: 1° Should we exchange euros for kroner before leaving, or can we exchange on the spot—or even withdraw with a Visa Premier card? 2° Has anyone already done this cruise and could tell us about it? 3° Is there a must-do MSC excursion, or do you have any backup plans?

Our itinerary is Hamburg, Bergen, Molde, Trondheim, Ålesund, Vik i Sogn, Stavanger, Oslo, Hamburg.

Thanks to anyone who can guide us!
Cruise to the Marquesas Islands with Aranui
by Garipon · 2025-07-18 · 4 replies
Hi there,

Has anyone here taken the cruise to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia with the cruise line Aranui?
Mykonos-Santorini cruise: what to see?
by Sables67 · 2025-06-15 · 2 replies
Hello! I’m going on my very first cruise in September 2025.

Departure from Civitavecchia—

Mykonos - Santorini - Kusadasi...

A few questions: Apart from Ephesus, Naples, and Pompeii, I’m pretty much heading into the unknown for Santorini and Mykonos. I’ve been following some of your posts about Santorini—thank you for those! What do you recommend for Mykonos? I’ll be spending 3 days in Rome before the cruise. At the end of the cruise, I don’t plan to return to Rome. Could you tell me what transport to take from Civitavecchia to Fiumicino Airport? Thanks so much! 🙂 Françoise
Cruises: Key Innovations for an Exemplary Recovery
by VoyageForum · 2025-06-05 · 0 replies
The cruise sector has seen a remarkable rebound since the pandemic, with 2024 attendance 20% higher than in 2019—outpacing air traffic growth, which was limited to 10%.

This performance is driven by an early recovery in the U.S. starting in 2021, competitive pricing, and enhanced onboard offerings. Cruise companies have invested in innovation, with a notable increase in patents related to passenger health (14%) and onboard services (50%).

These efforts have attracted a younger clientele, with millennials now making up 34% of passengers. This recovery model could inspire the airline industry to accelerate its own rebound.

Read the article
Cruise on the Pangalanes Canal
by Cammich · 2025-05-22 · 6 replies
Hi, For my upcoming trip to Madagascar in November, I’d like to take a cruise on the Pangalanes Canal. We’ve been offered a 3-day, 2-night trip between Mananjary and Mahanoro. Has anyone done this? Are there too many hours on the boat? Is it worth it? They’re offering either a bivouac or a hotel—what do you think? Thanks for your feedback.
"Felucca cruise" between Aswan and Luxor
by GueuxGueuse · 2025-05-22 · 6 replies
Hi there,

I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.

I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?

Thanks in advance!

Mathieu
Cruise on the MS Rotterdam - Northern Europe in October
by Fernandez · 2025-05-11 · 1 reply
Does anyone know about cruises with the MS Rotterdam? Northern Europe cruise
River cruise in Italy
by Ginout · 2025-05-07 · 2 replies
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
CFC Cruise: Is the Sandnes/Stavanger stop still planned?
by Evajules · 2025-04-29 · 9 replies
Hi everyone, From March 31 to April 10, I took the Viking Lands cruise with CFC. Out of curiosity, I checked the Renaissance’s route yesterday and noticed it didn’t make the Sandnes/Stavanger stop that we had. Maybe the itinerary was planned that way? Best regards,
Mediterranean Cruise Kotor-Dubrovnik-Korčula
by Clown83 · 2025-04-28 · 4 replies
Hi Poupou, if you could add us to your awesome calendar: from September 10th to 20th, 2025 clown 83: CFC Renaissance/Kotor-Dubrovnik/departure and return port Marseille
Costa Serena Cruise from January 2 to January 16, 2026
by Patoou · 2025-04-08 · 1 reply
Looking for reviews and suggestions for this Costa Serena cruise with the flight from Paris CDG to Hong Kong. Thanks!
Viking Legend Cruise - Exploring on Our Own
by Nellara · 2025-04-07 · 4 replies
Hi! I’m doing the Viking Legend cruise, and if you have any great tips, I’d love to hear them. We’re not big on excursions—we prefer to explore on our own. So if you can help us out, that’d be amazing. Thanks in advance!
Mediterranean Costa Cruise - Great Tips for Excursions
by Titi17870 · 2025-03-27 · 4 replies
Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum and I’m going on a Costa cruise in three weeks with my family (there’ll be 14 of us in total). The planned stops are: Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Palermo, Rome, and Savona. Given the high cost of the excursions offered by Costa, I’m looking for tips and great deals. In your opinion, what are the best excursions to do at these stops? Which sites shouldn’t be missed? Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

SANDRINE🙂
Norwegian Spirit Cruise from June 4 to June 14, 2025
by Cerousien · 2025-03-01 · 2 replies
Hello,

We’ll be on the Norwegian Spirit departing from Seoul on Wednesday, June 4. We’re looking for other French-speaking travelers on the ship.

Thanks
Lombok - Komodo Cruise
by Mercedez1964 · 2025-02-28 · 1 reply
Hi there! We’re a group of 4 and we’d love to do a 4-day, 3-night cruise from Lombok to Komodo with a private cabin. Any suggestions for affordable companies? We’ve already looked into Travel Wise, Captain Komodo, and Wanua. Wondering if there are others we should check out. Thanks a bunch! 🙂
Cruise stop in La Spezia: Cinque Terre on May 11, 2025
by Pétanquette · 2025-02-26 · 1 reply
Hello! We’d like to know if we’ll have time to visit a few villages by taking a small boat from La Spezia, given that our cruise ship arrives at 9 AM and leaves again at 5 PM in the afternoon. Thanks for your replies!
MSC Preziosa Cruise: Your Thoughts on the Ship
by Di555 · 2025-02-08 · 2 replies
Hi, I'm looking into a cruise for May 2026. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the MSC Preziosa ship. Thanks, Diane
2- or 3-night Nile cruise
by Romanetag · 2025-02-04 · 2 replies
Hi there,

We’re heading to Egypt from April 19 to 28 and would love to do a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, but on a small boat—like a felucca or dahabiya—to avoid the big touristy cruises. Ideally, we’d like a 2- to 3-night cruise between April 20 and 25, since we arrive in Cairo on the 20th and need to be back there by the 25th for an event.

Our budget is around 500 € per person, and we’ve already contacted Terre d’Égypte, but they’re fully booked for those dates. Does anyone have recommendations for reliable agencies or companies that offer this kind of cruise? And if, unfortunately, we can’t find something that fits, do you have any recommendations for French-speaking guides on the ground who could take us on tours between Aswan and Luxor from land?

Thanks so much for your help! !
MSC Norway Cruise: Choosing Excursions
by Tartopom · 2025-02-03 · 2 replies
Hello, I’m going on an MSC Norway cruise in May, and I’m a bit lost when it comes to choosing excursions 😅 Here’s my itinerary: Hamburg, Ålesund, Honningsvåg, Tromsø, Trondheim, Molde Fjord, Bergen, Hamburg. I’m looking for advice and opinions: must-see places, and is it possible to organize excursions independently from the cruise line (there are 4 of us)? All your experiences would be super helpful 😊 Thanks in advance
CFC Viking Legends Cruise
by Mum49 · 2025-01-30 · 24 replies
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

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