At Filovent, expertise, good spirits, and love of travel have a name: Marina, our cruise advisor specializing in river destinations, who embodies them best. Fascinating and passionate, Marina has acquired over the 3 years she has spent at Filovent an important collection of clever tips and tailored advice that will be useful for your next cruise.
It is therefore with the aim of sharing these secrets with you that I went to interview Marina, and asked her 15 questions about herself, her experience during cruises from our catalog that she tested, and her personal recommendations.
The portrait
Filovent: Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
Marina: Of course! My name is Marina, I'm a sales representative at Filovent, cruise specialist. I specialize in river cruises, all the rivers of Europe. I also handle Egypt, […] the Mediterranean, particularly the "Corsica" part, because I come from there [laughter], and Croatia. And then, I also occasionally manage everything related to exotic cruises, on catamarans, in the Caribbean, the Seychelles, Polynesia…
Filovent: What was your professional background before joining Filovent?
Marina: So, I started my studies with a BTS "Tourism", after which I did a degree in "Spanish". Then, […] I turned to a "Tourism" degree, as a work-study program, in a travel agency that offered stays in Corsica, and that also offered vehicle rentals. I have always been driven by tourism, from having lived in Corsica and having grown up in that very particular environment. But I was searching for myself a bit at the time, so I hesitated between becoming a Spanish teacher or becoming a tourism professional. That's why I did a Spanish degree, but I quickly changed my mind by reorienting towards tourism which offered more opportunities… And also, I admit, which interested me much more.
Filovent: How and when did you join Filovent?
Marina: I had done an ERASMUS in Spain, in Granada, in 2019, which was interrupted because of COVID. And actually, I returned to Corsica in a rush, where I finished my studies. And I was left with a feeling of unfinished business with Spain. I absolutely wanted to come work in Spain, without necessarily having a specific job title in mind. And I came across the VIE (Editor's note: International Business Volunteer) offer from Filovent that I didn't know, and which appealed to me. I absolutely don't regret it, I really like the city of Barcelona, and I also really like the work I do.
Filovent: Is traveling a passion for you?
Marina: Yes, really. Really, really [laughter]. Whenever I can, I try to travel as much as possible, without necessarily going very far, but to always be on the move, even for just a small weekend. It represents true freedom for me, an open-mindedness. It's a personality trait that I find very important, which allows you to learn about new cultures, to meet people who come from all walks of life. This mentality is omnipresent at Filovent. It's what makes us all get along well in the company, and for some, we're more friends than colleagues. It's this passion we have for travel.
Filovent: What is the thing you like most about your job?
Marina: What I like most is the relationship I have with my clients. It's the advice we provide to clients who have a project, a small seed that needs to mature, and that's where I find our work has a lot of meaning. The advice and specialization we bring is what makes our mission so important. Not to mention the recognition, in the end, of having managed to find the trip that perfectly suited the clients, based on their needs. It's the help we provide them that I enjoy in the work I do. […] I love receiving little messages from my clients. I always tell them, "Call me as soon as you return from the cruise. Whether it went well or not, call me". All feedback is valuable and constructive, it's what allows us to improve. Even negative ones, which allow us to pass on information to partners about certain ways of doing things that could be improved on their side as well as ours. After all, it's certain that when it went well, it's better. [laughter] We sometimes receive cute little thank you messages that go straight to the heart. Recognition is always appreciated.
Marina's opinion on Filovent cruises
Filovent: Have you already tested cruises from our catalog?
Marina: I tested 4 Filovent cruises. I went on a cruise in Croatia the first time, in May 2023. Then I went to Italy, around Naples. Then I went to Egypt, in January 2025. And I went to the Seychelles, in October 2025. So I really tested all types of boats, dahabiehs, catamarans... I think these tests are really essential in the job we do. The sales pitch is completely different once the cruise has been tested. We have little anecdotes or tips to tell clients that they won't find on ChatGPT or on the internet. It's really the account of a lived experience. It's particularly useful for practical advice. For example, for cruises in Egypt, it was really common that when we offered clients to pick up their visas on site, they couldn't find the guides at the airport. Now, having tested the cruise, I know exactly where they should wait. So we end up being able to satisfy our clients much better, thanks to these experiences.
Filovent: What was your favorite cruise?
Marina: They were so different. Egypt is the most beautiful cultural trip I've ever taken in my life. I loved discovering the temples, the pyramids of Giza, et cetera. But at the same time, the Seychelles was a paradise destination, the kind of scenery you see on postcards… If I had to make a choice, I would still give top honors to Egypt, for that beautiful cultural trip, and those must-see excursions that can't be found anywhere else. The only thing to say about the Seychelles is that if you go to the Bahamas, or the Grenadines, you have equally paradise destinations, different from each other of course, but with similar activities. Egypt is by far the most authentic and unique trip I've been fortunate enough to take.
Filovent: What did you like most during these cruises?
Marina: First of all, I would say the atmosphere on the boats. I was lucky to always end up with groups that were super nice. Everyone wanted to enjoy their vacation, there was a lot of lightness, it was great. I would also say that one of the best memories was waking up in the morning, opening the shutters and having a direct view of the Mediterranean Sea, or of the banks of the Nile… It's really magical, and quite indescribable actually. At a hotel, I wouldn't have had the same view, nor the same feeling. It's really the idea of freedom from the moment you wake up, every morning in a different place. And thirdly… I have to talk about the food. You always eat well on boats, regardless of the destination. The dishes are really prepared so that everyone finds something they enjoy, and it's super pleasant.
Filovent: Which cruise did you eat best on?
Marina: It was in Egypt. The meals often consisted of legumes… There's a lot of choice, it's in buffet form on the dahabieh, everyone is free to choose what they want. You could always have meat, several starches, several vegetables… And on top of that, it was always very generous! Personally, I had a weakness for hummus. [laughter]. I haven't found any store-bought hummus capable of rivaling Egyptian hummus, and I've looked hard.
Filovent: What destination do you want to go on a cruise to at least once in your life?
Marina: There are many. But I think it would be a cruise on the Mekong, between Cambodia and Vietnam. That would be really great. Both for the cultural aspect and for discovering the landscapes… These are extremely rich cultures, quite distant from European or Mediterranean cultures, so the change of scenery is total. And then, going to discover Angkor, or the grandiose landscapes of Vietnam, frankly, I think it's the trip of a lifetime.
Some cruise tips
Filovent: What destination would you recommend to a client who wants to swim and spend their days on beautiful beaches?
Marina: It would definitely be an exotic destination. I would recommend a cruise in the Grenadines, in the Caribbean. We have great feedback, it's the "star" destination of the Caribbean, with very beautiful turquoise blue lagoons, particularly with the Tobago Cays. Otherwise, I would suggest a cruise in the Seychelles, I just came back from there, I can only recommend it [laughter]. And Polynesia is obviously also one of our most frequent recommendations. There are still big differences between the 3 destinations. A cruise in the Grenadines includes much more sailing than other destinations. Polynesia requires a higher budget, it's one of the most expensive destinations we offer. Despite this, I find that Polynesia has much more of a "cultural cruise" status than the Seychelles, where the culture is more discreet. And last point of difference, the season. For the Caribbean, departures are from January to the beginning of our summer, while the Seychelles are visited more during the end of our autumn season.
Filovent: And for a client who wants to discover a completely different culture?
Marina: There would be 3. I would definitely talk about Egypt, I mentioned it, it's really unique. I would also mention our cruises on the Mekong. And finally, another must-see destination is Norway. Here again, the experience is completely different from one country to another. In Egypt we'll have temples, pyramids, which are quite incredible monumental structures. On the Mekong, we'll have many religious buildings, Buddhist temples… But not only that, there's also Ha Long Bay for example, in Vietnam, which is a true natural paradise… For Norway, it's in the destination itself that we find the interest of the cruise. We discover small fishing villages, at the heart of the population. We don't really have temples, like the temple of Angkor in Cambodia. Three completely different cultural offerings then.
Filovent: And for a client who wants to be as immersed in a different world as possible?
Marina: Well, if instinctively we'd want to say Egypt, that's without counting the fact that there are many French people there. On the Mekong, that's not really the case. So I would recommend going to Asia instead, for a more complete change of scenery. I think the change of scenery plays out at the level of culture, locals, and landscapes. For Egypt, the scenery is mainly deserts, while Asia is much richer in terms of landscape diversity. When you do a cruise on the Mekong, you pass through 3 countries, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Vietnam is the liveliest part of the trip, it's much more urban and festive. While Cambodia is much more rural, and there the change of scenery is at its maximum.
Filovent: What destination would you recommend to a client who has health problems?
Marina: I would suggest a river cruise. They are all adapted for people with reduced mobility, thanks to the elevators on the boats, and also because excursions are optional, which allows the client to decide whether to disembark or not, to stay on the boat during port times, and to organize their visiting time by themselves. All boats are air-conditioned, the cabins too. So it's really an experience that adapts perfectly to all profiles and all disabilities.
Filovent: How do you reassure an anxious client for whom it's their first cruise?
Marina: Well, I will mainly emphasize the staff on board who are always very attentive, regardless of the destination. On the fact that a cruise always means good meals, very nourishing… Excursions remain optional in each of the trips. Even if they're included in the price, if a client doesn't want to do the excursions and stay on the boat, they can absolutely do so. So I will reassure the client about the freedom they have during this trip, about the choice they have to do or not do these activities. Always freedom, it's really the motto of our trips.
Acknowledgments
I would like to sincerely thank Marina for the time she gave me to answer my questions and send me her magnificent photographs.
