Name: 13 Night France Sailing including Saint John's, Fort-de-France and Ponta Delgada, Azores
Brand: MSC Cruises
Rating: 2.3 (3 reviews)

Overview

Cruise through Barbados and Mediterranean for 13 nights with MSC Cruises, departing Le Havre aboard MSC Meraviglia. Along the way, you'll visit Ponta Delgada, Azores, Kingstown, and Bridgetown, exploring a new destination almost every day. There's a pleasing rhythm to this cruise - days spent exploring ashore, and time on board to relax and recharge between ports. With fares from £704 per person, this is a wonderful way to experience Barbados and Mediterranean by sea.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises may be headquartered in Switzerland, but the ambience onboard its 23 ships is very much Italian owing to its owners, the Aponte family.

Ships feature a two-storey Mediterranean-style promenade and Instagram-worthy glass staircases filled with Swarovski crystals.

The line’s flagship is the 6,327 passenger MSC Euribia, which is MSC's second ship to run on liquefied natural gas.

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

Le Havre

At first glance, Le Havre looks strikingly different from other stops along the Seine. Much of the city was destroyed during World War II, and its post-war reconstruction was led by the architect Auguste Perret, whose bold use of concrete and symmetry has since earned Le Havre UNESCO World Heritage status.What makes Le Havre interesting is precisely this contrast: the clean lines of its modernist layout set against the windswept Normandy coast. Perret’s legacy is seen in landmarks like the Church of St Joseph with its lantern tower.Le Havre is also a gateway to Normandy’s beaches and countryside. Some cruises include excursions from here to Étretat’s chalk cliffs, the D-Day Landing sites or inland to Rouen or Honfleur.

Days 2-4

At sea

Day 5

Ponta Delgada, Azores

Welcome to Ponta Delgada, where the echoes of its maritime past whisper tales of exploration and discovery. Here, amidst the gentle waves of the Atlantic Ocean, cruise lines anchor to unveil the hidden gems of Portugal's Azores archipelago. Set against a backdrop of lush greenery and volcanic landscapes, Ponta Delgada offers a climate that dances between subtropical and temperate, creating an ideal setting for leisurely exploration. Cruise-goers seeking an authentic escape from the ordinary will find themselves immersed in the vibrant local culture, where quaint cobblestone streets lead to bustling markets and charming cafes. As the gateway to S Miguel Island, Ponta Delgada boasts a unique blend of Old World charm and modern allure. A testament to its volcanic origins, visitors can bathe in the natural hot springs of Ferraria, a rejuvenating experience unlike any other.

Days 6-10

At sea

Day 11

Saint John's

Day 12

Kingstown

Day 13

Bridgetown

It's time to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Bridgetown's historic center, where local points of interest are peppered between national wonders. Wander along Broad Street, the bustling main thoroughfare lined with shops, cafes, and colonial-era architecture. For authentic Caribbean cuisine, head to Baxter's Road, renowned for its street food stalls serving up savory delights like flying fish and cou-cou. Experience the true essence of the Caribbean mantra as you mingle with friendly locals and savor the flavors of Barbadian cuisine.

Day 14

Fort-de-France

Day 1

Le Havre

Days 2-4

At sea

Day 5

Ponta Delgada, Azores

Days 6-10

At sea

Day 11

Saint John's

Day 12

Kingstown

Day 13

Bridgetown

Day 14

Fort-de-France

6762

Passengers

2138

Crew

2017

Launched

215863t

Tonnage

316m

Length

43m

Width

22kts

Speed

Decks

USD

Currency

MSC Meraviglia

The ship for all seasons

All Prices

Customer reviews

Reviews

Great for the price paid

The cruise was wonderful. Not the most luxurious but we still had great time and the food was great.

MSC Cruises MSC Preziosa

Reviews

Carnary island's.

Our cruse ship virtuosa left Southampton to Lisbon then to carnary island's on a fantastic ship something to do everyday the staff are amazing the shows are great the restaurant are good and you can make some great friends in the champagne bar . Why smc its a great company to sail with .

MSC Cruises MSC Virtuosa

Reviews

MSC - not for me

Our first impressions were good! The ship was well laid out , the bar areas had plenty of seating! The cabin was fairly small. The buffet was extremely busy and as the week went on we realised there was very little variety on offer. My partner and I both caught norovirus whilst on the ship, when checking on various forums, there had been reports of it being on the ship two weeks prior to our sailing but there had been no warning! The only thing that made us aware something wasn’t right was the buffet was not self service! This seemed a bit pointless when ten feet around the corner at the bar, the guys serving were handling every different persons cruise cards and handing them back, no handwashing was taking place. In seven days I did not once see any cleaning of high touch points - lift buttons or stair rails! We had a booked a day trip through MSc to Paris on our last day, we couldn’t go as we’ were too unwell and they refused to refund us. My reason for leaving two stars is because the staff were lovely. Personally, I will never cruise MSC again, whilst I appreciate any cruise line can get viruses on board, it was the lack of communication and acknowledgment and the refusal to refund £280 for a trip I could not take. We will be going back to Princess!

MSC Cruises MSC Poesia

Reviews

Had a good holiday round the med

Restaurant and bars very good,itinerary good

MSC Cruises MSC World Europa

Reviews

Brilliant fun

All the staff were phenomenally helpful and friendly, food was good, buffet selection was incredible, generally all round joyful and fun atmosphere. Only down side was how hard it was to find a seat in any of the bar areas, I guess that's one way to encourage people to upgrade to Yacht Club.

MSC Cruises MSC Virtuosa

Reviews

Making memories

Took my wonderful elderly parents on this 5 night cruise , knowing this would probably be our last holiday together. Having to use wheelchairs/ walking aids and managing the effects of memory loss meant that a cruise on board a beautiful ship was the best choice to make some lovely memories. Watching my dad's face during the theatre shows and watching him tuck into what seemed like a mountain of his favourite food in the buffets made us all smile. The practicality of always having bathrooms at hand and having designated areas in theatres for those with mobility difficulties made it all very easy. We all loved the opulence of the ship, and enjoyed sitting at different bars listening to music. We also watched a stunning sunset from the sky bar one evening as we left Rotterdam. Wonderful memories which I will always treasure x

MSC Cruises MSC Virtuosa

Reviews

Fantastic ship

Fabulous service, fantastic food and amenities. Great destinations and an unbelievable experience.

MSC Cruises MSC World America

Reviews

Not my cup of tea !

I’m sure loads of people love this ship , I went with 5 girlfriends for our yearly short break ! It’s glitzy It’s big , very big! and was also very busy. The various standard entertainment areas not very big and not enough seating anywhere. Cabins were fine Staff were kept constantly busy . Food was not great - not enough menus to go around Veggie options in main dining room were poor. Buffet was total mayhem . The cleaning staff tried their best. We used the spa facilities, they were fine . The last night we were at the very small disco . Full glasses were taken on the dance floor. Spills and the inevitable broken glass! The DJ simply said if you are dancing bare foot be careful as there is broken glass on the floor.! No please clear the floor as we need to clean . Seemingly no health and safety. We left ! On the plus side disembarkation the following morning was really easy and speedy. Hooray! We had fun, we are not old stuffy grannies but all agreed not to use such a big ship for what appeared to be a short booze cruise again!

MSC Cruises MSC Virtuosa