Iain1873

I'd suggest Vapperetto (hope spelling is right) which is a water bus , if mobility is more limiting (as it may be standing only on a water bus) then a water taxi but this is more expensive , the water taxi service is just like a regular bus route where you get on and off at various stops (link here http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/vaporetto_routes.htm )

this is probably the cheapest way to get around Venice from the port :o

If you boarded early you could get off but you would have to be back for muster drill. Staggered boarding times operate as well and some cruise lines won't let you on the ship until your assigned boarding time which might be after 3pm. The ships are much larger, over 3000 passengers in many cases, so getting everyone aboard is a challenge, because of this you might not be allowed to leave the ship. Anyway the terminals at southampton are a fair distance form the city centre and there is not much to see.

 

The bay of biscay can be as flat as a millpond or have huge waves. no way of telling which ;)

Have sailed from Southampton a few times on Ventura and as poster above mentions you have staggered baording times (Ventura carries approx 3500 passengers) starting from around 11.30am to 3.00pm , so tough to get on and off in Southampton , i should add i've found boarding to be really well organised and even during the Grand Event which had a huge queue but we were through it in 30 mins or so.

Sailing out of Southampton is usually very enjoyable , its the start of the holiday , the mood in general is very upbeat , there is normally another ship in port as well with everyone waving to each other , lots of folk wave from the shore , it's a nice experience.

The Bay of Biscay is anyones guess , been through it three times and i found it to be calm twice and just a little rocky once , my little rocky was hugely rocky for Mrs S though so again depends on how your sea legs are.

Without doubt , sailing from Southampton gives you the choice of some magnificent ships , the downside is the weather can be a hit or miss , one year i was burned in Southampton the weather was that good , the following year it was grey misty and wet but it was P&O'S Grand Event so thouroughly enjoyed that :)

Yes, we managed about 25 mins too Iain before we got up to leave. Unfortunately Andy Ford was so desperate not to lose any more of his audience he jumped down off the stage and physically tried to stop us leaving (grabbed my hubs by the arm). That didn't go down too well I can tell you!!!

If he'd had done that to me i'd have probably been put off the ship !! :p

We have just done the Transatlantic crossing on Dream with "comedian" Andy Ford. He is the worst we have ever seen - embarrassingly so. I'm not sure if he left the ship before the end of the cruise (nobody else did so odd if he did) or if he just didn't feel he could perform again but he didn't appear in the end of cruise show. I'd never seen an act die on stage until Andy Ford.

Seen this imposter when i was on Ventura quite probably the worst "comedian" it has been my misfortune to ever lay eyes on , dreadfully unfunny , resorting to doing daft faces and funny walks , what worried me more was that there were a handful of people were in stitches watching him , however i couldn't stand to watch him for the full 45 mins he was on stage and left after about 25 mins , as did numerous others - i have since read his website which tells us he is one of the top 10 comedians in the UK - there are 10 better comedians at my local !!!

Defo the worst act it has my been my misfortune to see anywhere !!!

I've paid for this for Jamaica next year due to the lenght of the flight , mainly because coming home from Majorca last year my wife and i were seperated when we arrived at the airport , it was okay for a 2.5 hour flight but for a flight of 10 hours each way it's a small price to pay for peace of mind , but agree that it is a rip-off

20 minute walk will take you into Corfu old town , don't know if it has a Spar etc... as i wasn't looking for one , but am sure it will have some kind of supermarket , its also very charming and worth stopping off for something to eat and a beer or glass of wine :)

6-11 months to ensure i get everything i want rather than whats left....

I'm doing the Pride of Panama cruise and they have a sail thru the panama canal which i imagine would be quite popular , so i think i'll book that and leave the rest until on-board , thanks for the advice :)

Hi all

am i better to book excursions before going or onboard do you think ??

Did they offer a beer package by any chance ??

They don't have beer packages on the Dream, Iain.

:( unfortunate as not everyone is a vinegar......sorry wine connoisseur

I wasn't aware they done a beer package - do they do this on the Dream as well while in the Caribbean ?

Presume winter 2014 includes Jan 2015 flights and cruises ?? , hope so as i do enjoy a wee vodka/lemonade along with a beer to help relax me - am not a bad flyer but i do get very tense sometimes and on a 10 hour flight i hope to relax :)

Finally got it sorted to our satisfaction and i don't need to book a Deluxe Cabin either !!:)

Contacted Thomson re my cruise and stay to Jamaica next January , was looking to change hotel from Grand Bahia to the Sensatori Hotel - thats no problem , i then enquired about booking one of their Deluxe swim-up rooms seeing as its our 25th Wedding Anniversary , however the only way we can upgrade to this room is by upgrading to a deluxe cabin on our cruise (adding another 4 figure amount to the cost of the holiday !!)

When i said this made no sense and what was the reasoning behind it , all they could tell me was it's the way the system is set-up - really sounds like a way for them to fleece more money from me , disappointed :mad:

when we went last summer they defo checked paperwork to see which wing you were in and refused folk entry to the business wing as they had booked the holiday wing - all very confusing :confused:

What site did you go to book it ?

We usually try to book the business wing as it has the runway view , but for some reason it's impossible to do for this year , despite mailing , tweeting and face booking Glasgow Airport on numerous occasions I never get a reply :mad:

Even when you click on "book business wing" on the Glasgow Airport website , it takes you to bookings for the holiday wing

I usually go to Dungeon and Xdressing for my dres.....ooopppsss wrong forum ;)

Changed days indeed since i last crusied with Thomsons , AI included everything bar a couple of cocktails and for some reason bottled water , wouldn't even consider buying it now unless FOC or at considerable reduced rate

Cheers Folks :)

If i purchase another 10kgs of luggage can i spread it over three bags (ie 2 x 16kgs + 1 x 18kgs) ?

Ta muchly peeps :D

I use the gym, usually early morning and I am often the only one in there. I like to think I am burning some excess calories off so don't feel so guilty enjoying my lovely food during the day. Equipment is good. I use the bike, cross trainer, steps and treadmill as a rule, but there are plenty of machines with weights too if they are the ones you use. There are towels for rubbing them down after use, and showers up there too.

Much improved v Destiny then :)

Never been on the Dream but from pics it looks similar to the Destiny gym which was a couple of treadmills , couple of x-trainers , free weights and balance balls

OK I've just read on the FB page that on the Thomson Dream they allowed people into the MDR in football shirts and shorts, please tell me this isn't so?

 

Also on the next night they let people in the MDR in tracksuits. :mad:

 

Is Thomson's turning into McDonald's or are the government paying too much out in benefits?

 

Sorry, but I hope the post was a windup. :eek:

Paying too much in benefits ??? Yeah cos those benefit cheats are the only folk who wear football shirts and track suits , what a dreadful generalisation deary me.