cruise departing from Kiel in 2027

Reviews: Queen Victoria

Guest user2026-10-10

Last year I took the MSC Europa on the Western Mediterranean route, and this year during the National Day holiday I wanted to travel to the Eastern Mediterranean, so I chose this ship. Itinerary: The cruise day was 3 days, but one port was cancelled. The weather was bad on Crete, so the ship didn't stop, making it a missed day. The Olympia shuttle was also cancelled due to weather, and instead stopped at Caffaronia. Fortunately, Caffaronia was absolutely stunning, far exceeding my expectations. After crossing the Strait of Messina, we even detoured past the Stromboli volcano, and we were pleasantly surprised to see it erupting from the ship. Environment: Absolutely gorgeous, it felt like something out of the movie Titanic. Everywhere was decorated with classic solid wood, beautiful sofas, a traditional-style theater box in the theater, and even a library with a spiral staircase—very, very retro. Activities: I chose this ship based on the itinerary and time constraints, but I didn't expect the average age of the passengers to be so high (I felt it was at least 60-70). I think my 30-year-old couple were probably the youngest couple on board. Overall, the activities were more suitable for seniors. Two days of the theater performances were British stand-up comedy, which I didn't quite understand – the humor of older British men was a bit hard to grasp. One day featured an American patriotic opera about a post-9/11 Canadian story; the plot was rather cliché, but the singing was excellent. The other days consisted of regular song and dance performances and instrumental music, all of which were of high quality. Important: Luckily, I brought a suit and tie, as there were two gala nights during the seven-day trip! Formal attire is required! You can't enter the dinner restaurant without it (it doesn't matter at the buffet)! There are even dress style and color requirements for ladies. You also need to wear collared clothing for everyday meals. Fortunately, this is my usual style, but those who prefer casual/sporty styles might find it a bit unusual. The food on board was above average for a cruise ship. The service was good, but there was an additional $8 per person service charge per day after boarding, which was just average considering the price. A bottle of champagne was provided in the room upon check-in, but since we don't drink alcohol, we gave it to the staff. The elderly people on the boat were indeed very friendly, but the biggest drawback for young people might be the lack of opportunities to make friends of their own age. Surprisingly, there were so few Chinese people on our trip during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, and no couples of our age, which was a bit of a disappointment. However, it's still worth a try for those who like retro style.

From Ctrip.com

Reviews: MSC Euribia

Anonymous user2026-08-30

Overall, the cruise experience was great 👍 The facilities were new, the food was plentiful, the rooms were spacious and comfortable, and there were plenty of activities. The only problem was the language barrier, which made it a little difficult for us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience. However, I still think that cruise travel is the best choice in expensive countries like Northern Europe, where you don't have to change rooms and the food is plentiful.

From Ctrip.com

Reviews: Costa Diadema

Guest user2019-11-25

A long-haul cruise from Italy to Dubai, passing through the famous Suez Canal, was a truly unique journey. The majority of passengers were elderly, and perhaps due to the long duration, the food was predominantly Western. The cruise route included stops in Rome, Athens, Haifa, Jordan, Oman, and Abu Dhabi before arriving in Dubai. A visa is required to disembark in Israel; previously, it could be obtained on board, but this is no longer possible. Disembarkation was possible in other cities, and hiring a private car to visit attractions was much cheaper and more convenient than the ship's bus.

From Ctrip.com