Jakanne1

I was born in 1971 & I'm booking on ... with 3 friends of a similar age. It's a great idea, a few days away at the end of the school holidays, with good music & good fun.

I have also been to a silent disco. ;p

What is a silent disco?

Young? More like born in the 80s

Silent disco I don't know anyone born before 1995 who's been to one of those or is into Ministry of Sound but being a baby boomer what do I know?

My children were born in the 80s and they would not appreciate an 80s cruise.

We are on this cruise too, booked last September. There are lots of people on f.b. going. We haven't booked any trips yet and will diy Bruges, Cobh, Dublin, Lisbon, Gib, Portimao. That just leaves Cherbourg, Ferrol and Vigo to decide on.

I would like to visit the U.K. Normandy landing beach area of Arromanches and Courseulles from Cherbourg, but haven't worked out how to do that yet. An excursion to Santiago de Compestela looks good for Ferrol. I haven't checked out Vigo yet.

Looking forward to this cruise and hopefully some good weather. Have stocked up on Stugeron, just in case. :cool:

My suitcase was damaged between ship and dockside. I told the Thomson Rep on duty and took photos as evidence. The damage was to the integrated lock. When I got home I phoned Thomson and was told to buy a similar replacement case or they would reimburse me £50. I bought another case and sent the receipt to the address I was given and received a cheque to the full amount within about 4 weeks.

Thank you Gillhalfpint for the timings update, more irritation. I'm the original poster and it was only yesterday that I was given the official timings change which arrived via my TA. I've been wondering if We are entitled to compensation for the change of a stop in Brest, which I was looking forward to, to another sea day. I totally accept this can happen unexpectedly as a result of bad weather but this change was made before the ship had sailed. Does anyone have an email address for Thomsons where I can raise this.

It would be interesting to know when these changes of ports and timings were actually made. This is not the only itinerary that has had massive changes with no or very last minute notification.

Yes, we booked about two weeks ago on the early flight back to Newcastle, at a good price. To book now, would be a later flight, drinks package double the price. Even without the drinks package, the price has risen a lot. So pleased we booked when we did.

We "re-booked" on 1st April so it looks like we got the same bargain price. I wonder as that flight is no longer on-line, if it is now full.

We are on that one too. I am so pleased we booked it when we did. If we were booking it now, for exactly the same, (cabin, drinks package, extra luggage), it would now be £1200 more. The only difference would be a later flight. We had only booked ours a week before I noticed the price change.

The prices for this cruise have varied do much over the months. We booked at the TA when it first came out and the price dropped quite a bit when it went on-line. A couple of weeks ago the price for our flight (the early one) dropped dramatically, so we booked again at the reduced price, and will cancel the first one and transfer our deposits to another cruise when the new brochure comes out. Surprisingly, our flight is no longer available on-line.

I sometimes wonder if they are operating a social control program. Some years ago you could not get normal cabins with flights from Newcastle but suites were still available. Obviously they had reached the quota of ordinary geordies and only wanted Darras Hall types. (Darras Hall = posh housing estate) ;)

Haha, Dave. Wonder what quota I come in. :'):o

I could only get Cardiff, no alternatives.

Maybe it was late, I can't remember but sometimes the site doesn't work very well after 12am. Or it could be what my son always says to me "user error":D.

This isn't the one you are on, is it?

Are you replying to me V? I'm on the return repos from Newcastle to Malaga in September. Hubbies choice. The site is difficult to navigate but there are still Newcastle flights.

Newcastle was available last night, Happy.

That is us. E-mail today says instead of 13.55 from Birmingham, we are now 07.00 from Doncaster due to plane change that has resulted in a reduction in capacity. We can get full refund and book another cruise and they won't charge us a change of booking fee. We have spotted this Cardiff one (train takes us to nearby station and price includes bus to airport) and have to check what will happen with our intercruise booking but will be at TA in the morning.

Does that mean that you have been 'bumped off' the original plane from Birmingham because they have put a smaller plane on? Or, that the flight has been cancelled?

Fingers crossed for tomorrow, Gill. Could work out favourably for you in the end.

I have heard that today the Birmingham flight to Malaga has been cancelled and passengers are having to travel from another airport.....Doncaster/Sheffield!!!! Astonishing.

Does Thomson move you when you have paid & booked a certain cabin?

If you have pre-booked a cabin for 4 and there are only 2 of you, they can change your cabin to a 2 bed to give your 4 bed to a family of 4. This usually only happens during school holidays.

Anyone know what's happening between 18th August when it returns to Newcastle and 4th September when it leaves Southampton? I'm wondering what the repositioning cruise itinerary will be from Newcastle to Southampton.

In 2017 Thomson Celebration will be sailing from the Tyne but in 2018 it will be (Thomson) TUI Discovery with AI drinks for everyone. Some competition for Fred.

I was recently in the very unfortunate position of my cabin buddy having to do a "No Show" due to her mother dying days before. Thomson were fine about it and I had the same pre-booked cabin next door to my other friends. My friend is now in the process of claiming the cost of the cruise through her insurance company. Thomson have sent an e-Mail confirming she did not travel.

Lifeboats are on Deck 10. There are no obstructions on deck 5 and 6.

Just back from 14 days in Carribean on Discovery.

Back to Thomson after 6 years. Cruised in Carribean before with Fred Olsen, P and O and HAL.

Also cruised on this ship when it was with RCI.

We cruise with friends and have had a great time.

 

our opinion the Pros.......

Clean and tidy ship.

Fantastic AI Package

Entertainment Acts very good.

Guest comediennes were ok.

Superb atrium bar with dancing in the evening.

Service in that bar very good.

All Staff very helpful.

Inside cabin on deck 7. All good.

 

our opinion the cons...........

Terrible evening dining experience in MDR. Most cruise lines with fixed times give you 5 to 6 courses in a couple of hours. Thomson struggle to get you three courses in under 2 hours. One night on a table for 10 the 3 courses took 2 1/2 hours.

Food was so so.

The ship is very noisy with music on deck and often in the evening nowhere to just have a chat.

Service in bars very so so as there are not enough waiters.

No loungers on sea days due to people putting towels on and hardley using them.

Compared to P&O the sailway and deck parties were low key.

 

All in all enjoyed the cruise, are on the Dream in March, but will not cruise with Thomson again in Caribbean on Discovery. Mainly because of the very poor dining experience.

I've cruised with both Thomson and Fred Olsen and found the main differences are that the Entertainment is much better on Thomson (but not sure if there will be Ballroom on Dream) but that the food and dining experience is far better on Fred.

Hope you enjoy Dream in March, we are on the first two weeks.

Room safe is £15 a week, £25 for two weeks.

Going on a Thomson cruise pride of panama then the Cuban fusion.

We have just booked a tour to Touruguero Canals and tour of coast directly with a local company Syl Travel. Pleased with price and quick reply via email. Look at the website and book your trips direct with the company.

Any tips for other trips on this cruise please.

I have had a look at Syl Travel, thank you for the information. I've already booked a trip with Thomson to the Jaguar Rescue Centre and a river cruise, for a price not dissimilar to the US$79 that Syl Travel are charging. I was wondering if there are taxis at the port to take people on trips as my 3 friends have not booked anything yet.

I am not recommending any particular grade of seats but just in case you are unaware, you can now book your pre-paid seats when you book your cruise. That is for premium, extra legroom or extra space. If you have pre-paid to book standard seats you still have to wait until 90 days before the return flight to book them.

It probably means that early cruise bookers get first choice of seats.

I was going to book a P&O cruise to Greenland for 2018. If I can maybe go from Newcastle I'll hang on.

 

That will be the May brochure, won't it?

That will be interesting, Happy. More choices from Newcastle port will be good as they appear to be reducing flights from Newcastle.

The cost of the return flight from Malaga to Newcastle on the Celebration repos cruise is huge compared to all the other airports.

Long dresses hide my legs until they get a tan, so I take a few maxi dresses which I can bling up for formal night.

Maybe i should clarify for a passenger 'couple'.

 

A small travel alarm means you do not have to rely on others or mess about with ships time. For us it was a relief to turn off the phone for 2 weeks even finding wi-fi a challenge to get in ports. Phone off no charging...The clock helped the mad rush timing for dinner as watches were constantly going awol lol.

 

I took 2 digi cameras and extra memory cards yet the lack of time for photo opportunities due to weather and changes meant only 1 was used and didnt need charging. Maybe at an age when my memories stay in my head lol.

 

We did need a socket for OH electronic cigarette habit lol.

 

The evil in me does think less charging less gadget use and more observing the world but it can keep kids quiet....

I actually use the same packing list when cruising with my husband. I don't like using a hairdryer in the bathroom. And my husband does take his small alarm clock because he leaves his phone at home..