Flopsy

Yes -I got an email questionnaire last week after returning from the Dream cruise and you do get chance to mention staff by name.

Flopsy

Congratulations!

We did that 38 years ago- the best thing we ever did.

Flopsy

I have never locked our cases.

I'm hoping this will convey the message that there is nothing in them worth taking.

Anyone who has seen how we dress will confirm that, lol.

Flopsy

Sounds horrendous Dave!

Flopsy

Sorry flopsy. We looked for your hat and flower' date=' but didn't catch up with you. We had a great time though...ate in mdr mostly Fernando was our waiter and as always he always looks after us brilliantly. This was the first time we had cruised a 'quickie' and both enjoyed it. :) roll on next April transatlantic dream[/quote']

 

Not to worry- I guess we were both in different parts of the ship all week lol

 

Flopsy

Chocolates will go down well but...

the Cruise Director on the Dream this week told us excitedly that 'there's a Morrison's in Gibraltar'!

He said after 7 months at sea you'd give anything for a steak bake from Morrison's' lol.

Flopsy

Yes Dubrovnik was badly damaged in the war and though rebuilt there are still holes in the walls of the Old Town where the shells landed.

The cable car, bombed in the war, was out of action for many years, but was completely rebuilt two or three years ago and is a great asset to tourism now.

You won't regret booking this itinerary- it's my favourite! Look under my name, and Kruzseeka's, for informative reviews of our experiences.

Flopsy

On the first day they were quite strict about producing one card for each drink, so we had to hand over both our cards to get a drink each.

We were on all inclusive drinks package.We usually ordered a pint and a half. On a number of occasions a refill pint and a half was brought to us by the waiter who took the first order, but without taking our cards- when I said 'we haven't signed?' the waiter said 'I've signed for you'. What's that about lol!

Flopsy

We have been to Dubrovnik on the ship three times- once we anchored in the bay and it was tenders in to the quayside, other times we berthed at the quayside near the 'new bridge' which must be two miles from the Old Town.

Some walked but most got a taxi. We were advised not to get the taxis parked next to the ship- we were told they charge 40euro but I don't know if this is true!The best price taxi is if you go through Customs and then the taxis are lined up and will take you to the Old Town for 10euro- often you could share with another couple.

There is a local bus which stops outside the cruise terminal but you have to have the right change in kuna. We waited for this bus once but every bus was coming through full, so we walked back to the ship and got a taxi.

The taxis return from where they set you down- outside Pile Gate., and you can often see other cruise passengers to share the return taxi with.

A nice alternative is to get the taxi from the ship up to the cable car terminus at the top of the mountain- 10euro still. Then get the cable car down to the Old Town. You need kuna or euro, or pay by card to do this trip. The views are amazing.

Can't help with Corinth sorry.

Wet in Dronny today isn't it lol.

Flopsy

Yes I think the wine waiters are on commission. I think the reason the cushions aren't put out until late afternoon/evening is because of people using the pool sitting on them in wet cossies! :eek:

Nobody was in the pool to my knowledge this week! Cushions would have made all the difference olo!

Flopsy

I know that Thomson advertise their cruises with 'all tips included' but I often wonder how much of the price we pay is allocated to tips?

I asked a waitress on the Dream if they got these tips- she said they do but it is dependent on how many passengers are on board and the total is divided between everybody working on the ship so they 'just get a little amount'.

We gave our cabin boy £20 which he seemed delighted with, and the same to our favourite waitresses. Someome told us the staff earn six times the pay they could earn back home in the Phillipines, I don't know how true it is?

Flopsy

We have just returned from Spanish Escapades 5 night cruise.

I didn't notice any change in staffing ratios- but Maggie who went upstairs in the Broadway show lounge said that there was only one waitress to serve the drinks whereas previously there were two. The one waitress was struggling to get round everybody on her own.

The ice cream machines in the Lido restaurant were covered up all week which was disappointing. But two or three times a day a waiter would fill an ice bucket with Magnums and Cornettos and circulate the outside sunbed area trying to sell them.

There was no sign of a drinks menu on the tables anywhere! I heard someone ask for one and the waitress fetched one from behind the bar- it was then taken away again! But every table did have a hard plastic triangular display sign promoting the snacks and crisps, the premium wines available, and the cocktail of the day. The premium wines were from £12.95(Piesporter) to £16.95 (Pinot Grigio) a bottle with a measly £2 discount per bottle for those on the drinks package, and a glass was £4.20 to £4.90 but a £1 discount per glass if you were on the drinks package, ie, £3.20 to £3.90 a glass.

A wine package was available- if you asked the waiter he would bring you a printed list from behind the bar- I think it was six bottles, once you had got a bottle open you could carry it from bar to bar. I heard tiny Hazel whooping with joy one afternoon on the Lido deck saying she had sold a wine package- she was clearly delighted so they must get a bit of commission?

One poor waiter had been given the job of promoting sizzling steaks! he stood at the entrance to the Lido buffet with a coloured photo of a steak on a plate with half a dozen chips and veg,asking everybody, every night, if they would like to go for the steak option at £9.95 per person. I kept asking him jokingly how many he had sold- one night the answer was none- another night it was 4. It became a bit irritating- I felt sorry for the guy.

The new sunbeds have previously been mentioned I think. The chairs and sofas on the Lido deck are mock rattan effect- curiously they do not put the cushion bases on these till about 4pm in the afternoon!

Otherwise everything was as I remembered- wonderful.

Flopsy

Hi Linda

Yes it was very bumpy in the night and it rocked us in our beds! We were staggering about a little then walking around the ship. like drunks lol. in the day on Tuesday but although it was still force 10 it felt OK when we were sat down .I was a bit nervous about whether I would feel sick so I was very relieved when I felt no adverse effects- and my appetite was just as normal!

They put on a few extra activities indoors- a big screen was set up to show Mama Mia and then Les Miserables, in Waters Edge. An extra quiz was arranged in Medusa bar and the fashion show with afternoon tea was packed out. The sun came out after lunch and a few brave souls went out onto the rear Lido deck to watch the huge waves rolling past.

Did anyone spot me you ask! Well I recognised Maggie57 in the queue to check in and had a few chats with her during the cruise.

I had packed my red flower in my case so I couldn't wear it on the first afternoon as we went on deck to enjoy the sun as there was a delay before the cases reached the cabin-so it was a missed opportunity!

I did locate Davecttr sitting in the casino waiting for the big win!

I wore the red flower a few times but no-one saw it! But on sea day and a lady approached me to ask if I was Flopsy- turned out to be Kim250864's mum-in-law and she was so pleased to have found me- I later met Kim in the Lido restaurant which was nice. As I walked away from that chat a guy who had overheard our conversation approached me and said he read Cruise Critic, but doesn't post, but had read my first post saying I had booked the 5 night cruise- he hadn't realised such short cruises existed. He had told his friends and so as a result of my post a group of 16 of them had booked. I was really pleased about that.

So I didn't meet Cam's gran, Annzkat and Justkeepsmiling.

Flopsy

Weather absolutely foul here today - hopefully it will blow itself out in the next few hours before the Dream passes by here on her way to Gibraltar.

Well I have today just returned from th 5 night cruise on the Dream.

Saturday was glorious weather, also the same for Barcelona on Sunday, and Valencia on Monday.

But what a shock lay in store for us on Tuesday morning when we awoke, after a very rocky night, to hear the captain announce that we had encountered force 11 gales as we had headed for Cartegena and as a result of the huge waves the harbour master had closed the port so we must 'stay safely at sea'. Groans all round and many wished that they had stayed in bed instead of an early rise in readiness for the trips from Cartegena! So we got a day at sea as the ship ploughed on to reach Gibraltar- 2 hours earlier than had been scheduled. And what a miserable, wet, blustery and cold day it was- with no outside activities!

Fortunately our arrival on Gibraltar was met with bright sunshine. but a cold wind, but it warmed up as the day progressed.

Malaga was bathed in sunshine, 23c forecast, as we left the ship this morning.

Flopsy

Ah, I haven't been on the Majesty, but it's definitely free on the Dream.

 

Might be like the DP, different on the Majesty and Spirit as they're operated by Louis.

We have today just returned from the 5 night cruise on The Dream. The ice-cream machines were covered up ALL WEEK- much to my annoyance as a lot of the sweets would have been enhanced by a little dollop of ice-cream. FREE ICECREAM is no more! Is this because Apollo has taken over?

Flopsy

Looks like this group (flopsy, Maggie, dave, newone, cam's gran, Annzkat, Kim & JustKeepSmiling) on the cruise on the Dream starting on Saturday 1 November 2014 will have to keep our eyes and ears open in order to report back!

Flopsy

I am the short fat bald hairy one with a beard and glasses. When not asleep in a chair on deck I can usually be found in the casino ;)

 

BTW I just noticed Barcelona will be closed, it is a Sunday!. I lined up several Tapas bars only to discover they do not open on Sundays. :(

 

Only a ramble along ramblas then

Not open on Sundays! I would have thought weekends would have been the busiest time for tourists!

Flopsy

have a good one guys:cool:

 

I think the new hotel agency will be swapping over this week? (did someone say that the new agency takes over on the 4th november?)

 

I'm relying on you guys to keep your ears to the ground....and let us know how dream is doing:cool:

 

happy cruising:cool:

Whoops I've missed the post highlighting this change- please tell me more.

Flopsy

Roll call:-

Flopsy from Derbyshire flying from East Mid (black top with big red flower pinned on)

Maggie 57 from Derby flying from East Mid (look for her Crocs)

cam's gran from Lancashire flying from Manchester

Annzkat from North Wales flying from ?

davecttr from Kent flying from Gatwick (often seen asleep in a chair on deck)

kim250864 flying from Gatwick with their mums

Justkeepsmiling:-) flying from ?

Anyone want to reveal their names and any identifying features lol!

Flopsy

Down to £285 from Luton now- unbelievable!

Looking forward to saying hello to you fellow cruisers. Look for the big red flower pinned to my black top!

Flopsy

Down to £315 now- what a bargain. 5 nights will feel like a week!

 

 

Just looked- back up to £390 today!!!!!

 

Flopsy

Lol, Flopsy. Didn't they have the "Race for the Lifts" at the half time break in the entertainment when you were there? The entertainment was very good but Dream was excellent.

I didn't notice the 'race for the lifts'- many had sticks when I was there lol!

Flopsy

You won't be disappointed with Son Matias.The rooms are great- all overlooking the sea.The food is excellent.The entertainment was the best I have experienced in a hotel- mind you once the act has finished the oldies are straight off to bed!But the best part is- no kids!

Flopsy

Down to £315 now- what a bargain. 5 nights will feel like a week!

The weather will be good- Campolady has promised tee hee

Flopsy

Hi there and welcome to the Thomson forum.

No they don't kick you off the ship! You will have to vacate the cabin by 10am but if you fly after lunch you can book a slot in a courtesy cabin to freshen up before you leave the ship.You leave in time to be taken to the airport- say about three hours before your flight.In the meantime you can enjoy all the facilities on the ship.

Yes there is a TV in your cabin with a few channels on.

Sorry don't know the answers to the casino question but Dave will be along soon to answer that query!

Flopsy