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No formal dinner though on 'Dress to Impress' night so we booked one of the speciality restaurants that night.

Dear Campolady

Thanks, that is exactly what we intend to do, if we can get a place.

All the best

Mike

does anyone know if they still hold Captains night on the Discovery, if so, is it still on the sea day.

Thanks

Mike

Couples Swept Away in Negril was superb, very large resort with lovely friendly staff.

The lager is Fosters, Heinekin attracts a charge.

Mike

Glasgow airport serves the whole of Scotland and the north of England. Flights book up quickly and there are very few late deals. Can't understand why Thomson have reduced the number of flights from this very popular airport.

 

Looking at the Transatlantic crossing on the Dream for November and it's almost £200 more to fly from Glasgow than it is from Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick.

 

No flights at all from any Scottish airports for the Transatlantic on Discovery.

 

With only one choice from Glasgow perhaps Thomson think people will pay these ridiculous supplements. I think not.

I totally agree with this thread, we have done a couple of Carribean cruises with Thomson and getting flights has always been limited. We were looking at the Discovery next winter and there are only two flights from Glasgow for the whole winter season. It seems very surprising as the Scottish flights always sell out.

Stick to Cosol, safe and trustworthy, you can always e mail them and ask for a bespoke package.

All the best

Mike

You make some very good points, this is the first improved website I have seen that is worse than the last.

Thankfully, the website does not reflect the wonderful staff when you get on board.

Mike

Dear HB66

We cannot comment on the Dolphin experience, but the Stingray experience in Grand Cayman is totally humane. Basically they are wild and it is up to the Stingrays to join you, they can come and go as they please.

If you go on an organised trip, the Stingrays are attracted by the guides and guests by food (squid)provided by the tour operator.

Enjoy your first cruise.

Mike and Janice

Dear HB66

We were on the Cuban Fusion last January and are returning on the 26th of January.

Currency on board is cashless and all on your card, I think you can lodge money as an alternative.

When you get to Cuba, you can exchange money just after you get off the ship in the terminal, the best exchange rate last year was in English Stirling, the USD attracts another 10 percent charge.

Enjoy your trip.

Mike and Janice

Martyn Bell is the dreams cd til 30th of april

Dear MTT

Thanks for that, not one I have heard of before.

All the best

Mike

We sail on 26th Jan and received e-tickets on 29th Dec. Not that it was worth it, there was only booking number and flight details on.

You check in online for your flight and I have never been asked for paperwork on embarkation, passport, card etc but not etickets

Dear Tina

Like you, we received our e tickets on the 29th of Dec, and we can print the boarding cards two weeks before departure.

Not long now.

All the best

Mike

Hello

Does anyone know who the current Cruise Director is on the Dream.

All the best

Mike

Thanks Tina for the prompt reply. Very disappointed that it's changed as we fancied the Cuban ports of call and that there was only one day at sea. Will have to think again about booking now.:(

Dear Nina 2000

Tina is correct, the Revolution cruise is now all but the same as the Fusion itinery.

We only booked because of the three ports in Cuba, before the changed the itinery, a small argument with Thomson's later, and we decided still to go as Havana is fantastic.

Two days at sea is a bit of a downer, but can't wait to see Havana again.

All the best

Mike and Janice

It may well not be the same person who the people befriended,that is making the request.

This is not a scam. I wish I had kept the messages from last year to show you. We were just talking about general things like his family and I mentioned my holidays. He also HAS got 2 sons at college. Then he said something like "I dont know how I am going to afford to get my medical certificate. I ignored this comment, mentioned something else then in the next exchange he siad that he needed £100. At this I decided to ignore that remark and that was that. So now this happens again but to my husband. Its DEFINITELY from him. This was one who got the day before asking for the money.

 

Hi Sir Bruce and Mam Karen how you doing both.. Im still here in the Philippines my 7 months now.XXXX is joining NCL ship this coming month of December.. for me Im still waiting for principal interview both NCL and Princess Cruises. Hoping you both well. My warm regards to both of you. Take Care. Miss you.. Always,

 

 

Now no one knows thats what he called us. Scammers would not mention both my husband and me by our names. How would anyone know we are together. This is 100% from him . The messages last year would prove it.

Dear Sir or Madam

I can totally understand your concern, but if your friends e mail or Facebook has been hacked, the hacker would know about his children and previous e mails between you.

It is horrible to think that some scum would stoop so low as to do this, but as a Data Controller, sadly it happens.

I would delete and forget the messages, and don't blame the friend you made, as it might have absolutely nothing to do with them if they have been hacked.

You just have to get off any ship, and you will find a crowd of staff taking use of free wifi at the local McDonalds, this could allow an un scrupulous person with even a limited knowledge to easily hack into your friends account.

Regardless of how concerned or convinced your Husband is, do not do any such transaction over the Internet.

Mike

This sounds like a scam, I would delete it and dump the link to FB, it may well not even come from the waiter you met.

All the best

thanks mike-any photos? tim

Dear Tim

Sorry we don't take photos of the cabin, but if you are next door to the one we were in it is quite spacious.

Have a great time.

Hi

We are embarking on our first cruise on the Thomson Celebration at the end of the month. Do you have any tips for us 'first timers'?

 

Do we need to pack formal clothes for dinner? Is there a gala dinner? etc.

 

Thanks in advance :)

Dear nettybobs

We were on the Celebration in July, it can be as formal or as informal as you like, the one thing I would suggest, is that you meet and chat with the staff, they are brilliant.

Have a great time

Dear Tim

We were in Cabin 001 earlier this year and it was great.

Mike

I have just come back from a week on the Dream with my 80 year old mum, who is not very mobile. I have been absolutely overwhelmed by all the help and thoughtfulness by fellow passengers during this last week on the Dream. A big thank you to everyone.

Just to give a few examples the gentleman who walked slowly with us to keep an eye out for us on the Exploring Barcelona trip; the passengers who helped us off and on coaches, and especially the Noddy train in Pisa, where a lady actually lifted mum down as she struggled to find her footing as she got off,; the many people who took the time to chat to both of us; people who got out of a lift to let us in as mum had a walker; people who helped when I was coming down with mum to get a tender, one gentleman came up to take a bag off me so I could help mum down. There were so many acts of kindness, I wish I could thank everyone personally. YOU All MADE THIS A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY FOR BOTH OF US. THANKYOU.

Sweby

A lovely post, but I am not really that surprised.

We have been with a few cruise lines but we have always found the Thomson staff and the vast majority of their passengers to be the best.

Really happy that your mum and you had such a lovely time.

Mike

Geomagot has answered your questions, you can also change the Cuban currency back in the terminal, you get a far better exchange rate in Sterling than Dollars.

Cuba is amazing and the people are very friendly, but they can spot a tourist a mile away.

It's not a con as such, but you may be stopped and asked if you wants cigars, apparently, everyone has a relative who works in the best factory.

Cheers

Mike

Hello

It depends on if you want a surprise at the end of the cruise.

Personally, if the all inclusive is set at a reasonable price, I will go for it.

As weecountryman says, it does sound a bit high and the price may come down.

Check on the Thomson pre book section.

Cheers

agree len.... yes their customer services could do with some 'sorting' cuban revolution turning into cuban fusion is not a small change imo they should at least allow people to rebook something else without having to pay any extra fees

 

but what i am saying really is..... the dreams ex Jamaica itineraries are fraught with difficulties (they were last year)

 

they do try to get into ports and stick to the schedule but sometimes its out of their control

 

some ports are known to be tricky to get into especially in western caribbean

 

costa maya (nearby huge sandbank) ditto roatan

 

playa del carmen (weather can change very quickly within minutes)

 

grand cayman (needs dredging but that will destroy the swimming with stingrays cash bonanza)

 

san blas (notorious for ferocious trade winds and unpredictable currents)

 

we had an overnight in cozumel (missed pdc) then we were back in cozumel again the following week

 

we had an unscheduled sea day (missed costa maya) (as well as the 2 scheduled ones per week)

 

roatan was a late arrival but we made it into port (phew)

 

we arrived in havana about 1.30pm but by the time they had done the: ebola check/passport check/baggage screening/security screening and queued for local currency it was 5pm before we stepped into havana old town

 

san blas was substituted long before we embarked for the cruise (they didnt let us know formally) santa marta is a disappointing substitute for san blas imo (others may disagree)

 

other cruises had overnights in colon! (not the prettiest of ports for an overnight) and missed out the beautiful costa rica

 

all this is what has put us off booking ex jamaica this year… we’ve booked celebration

Dear Geo

My opinion is that this does constitute a major change to what was advertised and people have booked.

No one can predict months in advance what the weather will be in the region, as you correctly state, in that region it can change within an hour, at which point it is the Captains decision, it is not for HQ to dictate what the Captain may decide in 4 months time.

A lot of people's anxiety over this could have been avoided by Thomson's with a swift notification and explanation to those who had already booked.

Cheers

Mike

tbh? this could be down to the cubans? its not impossible (imo) for cuban officialdom to beleive/hope that they would have enough security/port services etc (& they would have been keen to bank the port taxes) and to then leave it for thoms to find out later weather it would be adequate/acceptable for their pax? (just a thought)

Dear Geomagot

We were in Cuba (Havana) in January and the locals are desperate for tourists.

If the infrastructure or security was that bad, why was the Pope in Holguin today and Havana yesterday.

Cheers

Dear Shot2bits

It is not a stupid question.

Thomson's are taking over the Splendor of the Seas from RCI, we have been on her twice before, lovely ship.

Mike