Concerned first time cruisers Thomson Dream

[Cornetto]

Hello we have just booked a highlights of the med cruise on 28th June 2014 as part of my husbands 50th birthday celebration.Got home and read some reviews and are worried that we have made a bad choice. Was seriously thinking of cancelling last night but think we might be overreacting as some of the reviews were very good particularly relating to the crew and their attentiveness towards the passengers.The main problems seem to be related to the food quality. We so want to keep an open mind and realise opinions will be different. However I don't want to have a holiday we paid a lot for ruined. Any feedback would be appreciated cheers

[campolady]

Hello we have just booked a highlights of the med cruise on 28th June 2014 as part of my husbands 50th birthday celebration.Got home and read some reviews and are worried that we have made a bad choice. Was seriously thinking of cancelling last night but think we might be overreacting as some of the reviews were very good particularly relating to the crew and their attentiveness towards the passengers.The main problems seem to be related to the food quality. We so want to keep an open mind and realise opinions will be different. However I don't want to have a holiday we paid a lot for ruined. Any feedback would be appreciated cheers

 

Click on this similar thread from earlier today. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1991586

 

Relax - you will enjoy it; great itinerary too.

Edited February 17, 2014 by campolady

[Cornetto]

Thanks campolady

[all-afloaty]

Hello we have just booked a highlights of the med cruise on 28th June 2014 as part of my husbands 50th birthday celebration.Got home and read some reviews and are worried that we have made a bad choice. Was seriously thinking of cancelling last night but think we might be overreacting as some of the reviews were very good particularly relating to the crew and their attentiveness towards the passengers.The main problems seem to be related to the food quality. We so want to keep an open mind and realise opinions will be different. However I don't want to have a holiday we paid a lot for ruined. Any feedback would be appreciated cheers

 

 

Please stop worrying, we were the same when we first booked 4 years ago! Have been on Dream 3 times now and we love it! You have picked a lovely cruise and a lovely time to go and I'm sure you'll love it.......and relax!

 

 

 

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[Cappers]

It's the Dream..it will be lovely. I too was panic stricken a couple of years ago after booking our first cruise and reading bad reviews,,it's just bitterness and pettiness a lot of the time. It will be fabulous.

[Cornetto]

Thank you x

[paulaud]

Just read your post about your concerns.

 

We have just returned this morning from a week on the Dream in the Caribbean. Yes there have been some minor changes but I can assure you that you will have a great time. If there were problems at the latter end of last year I think Thomsons have ironed them out as we did not experience anything where I can be seriously negative. We sailed last Feb on the Dream so we do have a comparison. I came across no complaints from any other Dreamers!

 

I hope to post a full review later this week when I have recovered from the flight and my first day back at work.

[Cornetto]

Just read your post about your concerns.

 

We have just returned this morning from a week on the Dream in the Caribbean. Yes there have been some minor changes but I can assure you that you will have a great time. If there were problems at the latter end of last year I think Thomsons have ironed them out as we did not experience anything where I can be seriously negative. We sailed last Feb on the Dream so we do have a comparison. I came across no complaints from any other Dreamers!

 

I hope to post a full review later this week when I have recovered from the flight and my first day back at work.

 

Thank you feeling less anxious with all the positive feedback

[lovecruise22]

We had an amazing honeymoon on the dream and cannot wait to go back in a few weeks! I'm a firm believer that your holiday is what you make it, yes there are little things that you could moan about - if that is what makes you happy then fair enough. Just go with an open mind and I'm sure you will have an amazing holiday :)

 

 

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[Cornetto]

Thankyou:)

[Tony1878]

I promise you will have a fantastic time, i am a similar age and we booked our first cruise 2 years ago, i am now looking forward to my 2nd Dream cruise in September.

We jumped ship and tried Majesty last year (purely for the itinerary)

Everyone talks about the staff and how good they are, we don't do them justice they are brilliant.

You mention the food, i found the main restaurants to be really good with plenty of choice and i mean a good choice.

I think some of the people complaining about the food are experienced cruisers who have noticed that the cruise lines are tightening their belts in the recession and don't have the number of choices that they may have had in the past, nothing wrong with that, but it's not like you are having to eat in a greasy spoon or anything, don't worry, i bet you still come back heavier than when you left :)

[Cornetto]

Thank you Tony1878

All of of you have helped to put my mind at rest.so much that I have now booked a few shore excursions for the trip. Many thanks to you all for your prompt replies really looking forward to it now, if any other questions pop. Into me head I know I can find the answers here :)

[norfolklad]

I have been on Six Thomson cruises have have posted my first critical review and will not be cruising with them again. I am sure you will still have a great time and make the best of any short comings, I have read the recent critical reviews and they all make fair comments read them and learn from them.

[Julessmiles]

I have been on Six Thomson cruises have have posted my first critical review and will not be cruising with them again. I am sure you will still have a great time and make the best of any short comings, I have read the recent critical reviews and they all make fair comments read them and learn from them.

 

Can you copy us in on your review please?

[geomagot]

I have been on Six Thomson cruises have have posted my first critical review and will not be cruising with them again. I am sure you will still have a great time and make the best of any short comings, I have read the recent critical reviews and they all make fair comments read them and learn from them.

 

yes, I have read your review, thank you for that and yes some valid points there

 

I agree, the sunbed problem on dream is a problem especially on sea days and it pains me also to to be sitting armpit to armpit on the sunbeds while watching a lonesome football rolling about in the that cavernous (empty) sports net...thoms should at least make it smaller? a badminton court would suffice

 

and i agree, steaks in mdr used to be free on the menu and now there is a charge

 

my thoughts on thoms (v expensive) drinks package plus supplements (especially on dream in caribbean) have been well documented on here...I'm with you on this also

 

but, you get all of this happening on other lines too

 

I don’t think thoms shorex are any more expensive than any other line imo and they all mostly use the same tour opperators

 

some other lines charge a daily service charge...that can add up quite quickly

 

on cunard you can only use 'certain' restaurants if you have booked a 'certain' grade of cabin

 

on ventura there are pay per sunbed areas...basically reserve your sunbed all day for a fee

 

its not just thomsons that are going down this 'little extra fees for this and that' route

 

each line has its strengths and weaknesses, thoms included

 

for me personally, thoms do have some redeeming features:

 

less sea days on most itineraries, service charges included, reasonably priced drinks at the bar (compared to p&o & cunard) it is these redeeming features that keep me coming back to thoms

 

yes there are newer bigger ships out there but personally I dont need an atrium and some chandeliers to enjoy my holidays, it really is about individual choice, what works (or doesnt work) for you

 

its here jules

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=250072

[Jakanne1]

Just read Norfolklad's review on CC review section, Julie. Was worried as we are going in 4 days time. However, it mainly referred to the costs of the AI which we have not taken; the ship's wifi and I am going to use the port free wifi; and the costs of the Thomson excursions. We intend to only use one...the St Kitts Railway....which is rather expensive. :(

 

The MDR food and the sunbed situation are still a concern though. Someone on the TA said that they had to leave new sunbeds in Lisbon due to the strike there when they left. If that is so, surely they could arrange for some to be bought in the Caribbean!

 

I am going to "spy" each night and see if the "pay for" seats in the show lounge are taken each night. ;) For anyone not on AI and having to pay for their drinks, £9.99 each might not be too much to pay for guaranteed good seats and drinks included. :rolleyes:

[geomagot]

£9.99 each might not be too much to pay for guaranteed good seats and drinks included. :rolleyes:

 

tbh jaks...I wouldnt take it up on principal....I dont know what the take up rate is like?...but I would hate to be having to stand at the back while there are empty (unsold) seats available!

 

our freinds said (when they cam back after new year) that you can now pay to reserve a table at the deck parties too....it'll be sunbeds next:(

[Jakanne1]

I'm with you Geo. Norfolklad has made valid points but as you say, if you look at other cruise lines, the cost cutting and money making factors are there too.

 

It really matters what kind of cruise experience you want. When I look and book my next cruise, I do want to try a different cruise experience with an atrium, balcony, etc., just so I have had that experience, but I will also have to balance that with much higher costs, further to travel to airport or Southampton, more sea days, less time in ports, perhaps paying for the privilege of using the extras on board, not forgetting the tax on drinks and the tips. The excursions are more expensive too.

 

Gosh, what will I be writing in my review in 3 weeks time? I hope it is a good one, for everyone who is going on Dream's sake. :)

[Jakanne1]

tbh jaks...I wouldnt take it up on principal....I dont know what the take up rate is like?...but I would hate to be having to stand at the back while there are empty (unsold) seats available!

 

our freinds said (when they cam back after new year) that you can now pay to reserve a table at the deck parties too....it'll be sunbeds next:(

 

That's a point too, but there will always be people who are prepared to pay and you have to make the choice. On the beach....do you pay for a sunbed or put your towel on the sand?

 

As to the reserving a table at the deck parties.....I did mine for free last April in the Canaries, by getting there very early and freezing to death until I could go and get some warm clothes from my cabin. Lol.

[geomagot]

jaks...it'll be fab...the weather is hot & sunny, the jungle is waiting, the glorious beaches are waiting, a beach chair (with your name on it) is ready....rum punches are in the cooler;)

 

youve put in the legwork, done the research…. time to relax and enjoy...it'll be fab:cool:

[geomagot]

On the beach....do you pay for a sunbed or put your towel on the sand?

 

you can do either....2 beach chairs and an umbrella comes out at about $20/$25 for 2 on most islands

 

or you can put your towel on the sand....watch out tho some beaches are not overly clean (dogs about) others are pristine

[Jakanne1]

you can do either....2 beach chairs and an umbrella comes out at about $20/$25 for 2 on most islands

 

or you can put your towel on the sand....watch out tho some beaches are not overly clean (dogs about) others are pristine

 

It will be beach chairs for me, after talking to a friend who is a skin specialist. She warned me to wear shoes on the sand as there are lots of different tiny creatures who like to bite or bury their way into the skin on your feet, especially the soft skin between your toes. She has had a lot of patients with these problems and most of them had been to the Caribbean. She said to wear shoes at all times, not just on the sand. The term Sand Flies covers a multitude of tiny creatures lurking there!

[Jakanne1]

jaks...it'll be fab...the weather is hot & sunny, the jungle is waiting, the glorious beaches are waiting, a beach chair (with your name on it) is ready....rum punches are in the cooler;)

 

youve put in the legwork, done the research…. time to relax and enjoy...it'll be fab:cool:

 

Cannot believe it is nearly here, Geo. Going to switch off here and get the suitcases from the loft. :):):D

[Jim The Scot]

"on ventura there are pay per sunbed areas...basically reserve your sunbed all day for a fee"

 

Oh no geo you`ll be giving Thomsons ideas ;)

[Willow Trees]

Hi Paulaud - looking forward to reading your review - we are going on the dream in April for the first time. Did you do any of the Thomson excursions ?