Southendweather

Southendweather have you done a cruise with Thomson to St Thomas or Puerto Rico? cos we were booked on one with Thomson that was going to St Thomas and there was no mention that we had to get any travel card on our confirmation but in the event the port was cancelled and we didn't go

No we haven't been to those USA islands, but Thomson's have said we need the ESTA done. Interesting that there are still no trip available from Thomsons for the two Islands ports?

Keith (Southend)

I have attached a drinks menu for discovery 1 which I was sent for a cruise sailing Feb 2018

Extremely useful file attached, thank you.

Question, if you want a G&T would that mean you then have to pay extra for the tonic?

Keith (Southend)

Don't know why there are no excursions listed but I can advise that as St Thomas is a US territory you encounter US immigration. At St Thomas US immigration come on board and set up a base in a lounge area. Every passenger on the ship has to have their passport stamped and issued with an immigration card. This is a long process and on our last cruise there the wait was well over an hour. In fact it was taking so long I decided that I did not wish to spend my day in a queue went back to my sunbed and waited to they announced any remaining passengers to attend immigration got seen right away and then went off ship.

Has this changed now as we have been asked to go online to the US web page and fill out and pay for the visa requirements. They say you will need to show a copy of this when you board the ship as everyone requires it regardless of whether you get off at these ports.

Keith (Southend)

After sailing 7 times with P&O I was wondering whether I need to take my tucks and bow tie. We are going to the Caribbean for new year on Discovery. Also luggage allowance is only 20Kg, not 23Kg so somethings going to have to go...

Keith (Southend)

No visas required Thomson sort any that are needed

No departure tax if you are cruising only and not doing a cruise and stay as you are classed as 'passing through' If there is a departure tax to pay it will say it on your booking confirmation and it doesn't say it on mine

Unless you stop at any US Islands, St Thomas, Puerto Rica.

You have to fill out something online line, pay and printout and have with you for when you board the ship.

Keith (Southend)

It say's in the brochure that it's 'All Incusive':

Selected draught beer and cider.

House wine by the glass

House Prosecco

Spirits and Aperitifs (Gordans Gin, Bacard and Malibu)

A range of cocktails

Soft drinks and fruit juice.

This is on TUI Discover, Discover 2 & Explorer.

So if you bring your own it's saving them money :-)

Keith (Southend)

I have been used to the P&O Personaliser so am thining they work the same, however, am I right in saying that your selection of excursions isn't saved (like a wishlist on P&O) as I selected a number of excursions I am thinking about but when I went back in nothing had been saved. It seems to me that you then have to go into the select who and payment phase? Or is it to do with only once you have paid the final balance, which in my case won't be until October.

Keith (Southend)

The steward will provide both decaf and caffeinated coffee refills. Neither my wife or I like decaf so we ask the steward to just provide high-octane :) coffee and that's what we get.

 

The stewards (and indeed, every crew member I've known) will do what they can for us... but they aren't (quite!) mind-readers. So a few polite requests to the steward, wine-waiter, waiter, etc. on the first few days can make all the difference to our cruise.... and also to their tips (y)

 

 

VP

That sounds like the service we normally get. Thanks for the replies, not got a clue where she got that idea from bless her. Oh well will know in just over a couple of weeks when we go on the Oriana upto Iceland.

Thanks

Keith (Southend)

My Mother-in-law said today, she's nearly 80, hence the question, that P&O where going to stop tea and coffee in the cabins. Is there any truth in this or is she in a muddle, which could be a possibilty.

Keith (Southend)

We are going on Thomson Descovery next January the second week being 'Seven Islands', currently there are no excursions listed for both the USA ports of St Thomas (US Virgin Islands) and Puerto Rico. I was just wondering why this maybe the case. Are these new locations for Thomson subsequently excursions haven't been sorted yet, or if someone has been to these ports before what excursions are there?

Keith (Southend)

There is wifi on board but it is quite expensive to use no matter if you use the on board computers which are incredibly slow or set your ipad up to your room account, do what the crew do (and myself) every port terminal building has wifi and it is free, on my cruise in July on The Spirit I was able to access all my usual stuff on my ipad and phone no problem what so ever in each port, the only day you will struggle for free wifi is the day at sea (monday) and I have never been able to get a phone signal in any cabin on any cruise I have been on.

 

See you Sunday, I am on the same cruise ;)

I've always had more problem getting WiFi at the terminal buildings, probably my record is 1 in 7 I've got on.

Keith (Southend)

Can't help with Majesty, but on the Dream last October I am sure it was about £47 for a week (it did have a max usage still)

They don't give anything away on their website:

<snip>

Is Wi-Fi available?

We have internet lounges on all of our ships, as well as designated Wi-Fi zones. Internet access is charged to your cabin account at the rate advertised on board. Mobiles can be used, too, and there are telephones in each cabin, so it’s easy to stay in touch with people back home. If you’re pairing your cruise with a stay in one of our hotels, we’ll let you know which places have free Wi-Fi – just look out for the special logo

<snip>

However, on P&O Azura last winter I paid £130 for 24/7 WiFi (not the streaming option) for 14 days (Whole cruise), so if £47 per week is still current, that is actually cheaper.

We are going to Iceland on P&O this summer and from experience I am expecting to lose coverage in some of the stops surrounded by hills/mountains as in these higher latitudes the satellites are at quite a low angle, this problem I had in Norway when we did the Fjords.

I know WiFi not for everyone, but with my interest in the weather I like to keep an eye on charts and forecasts, not that I can do anything to change it :ship::whiskey-glass:

If anyone has been on Thomson recently and used the WiFi I would be interested to know how much and what the package(s) give you, eg 24/7, limited time per day etc?

Keith (Southend)

My Wife made a valid point after we have only cruised with P&O upto now, that the reason Thomson hardly have any sea days is that the passengers won't then be drinking the ship dry on these days and keeping the bar overheads lower, whereas P&O want you to spend spend spend on the many sea days to ramp up your bill. From some of the comments I have read I think we will like Discovery 1 as we are not so keen on the bigger ships, especially the ones that look like flats, you tend to call them 'A floating Tower Hamlets'

Keith (Southend)

Many thanks Pensioncruiser, we like the sound of Bequia and might book the trip around the island that ends up on the beach for 2 hours.

We picked up the Thomson brochure today as sometimes it's nice to have a book to read rather than using the computer.

Keith (Southend):)

You can also get to Bequia from Kingstown, which we would do very time.

 

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Good thinking :-) Yes Bequia has excursions listed , excellent.

Keith (Southend)

Actually I got that wrong, My Cruise Itinary, which I booked last week and printed off states Bequia Saturday 7th January 2018.

Whereas as the brochure and website seems to indicate Kingstown, St Vincent :loudcry:

Looking at the website it appears there are no calls to Bequia after 27th December, which is a shame because it's a very pretty place.

For the Seven Islands cruise that leaves Barbados on 7th January 2018, the brochure says Roseau, Dominica, yet I thought when I booked it was Bequi (Grenadines), what's correct? I hope Bequi.

Keith (Southend)

On TUI Discovery do they have laundary rooms you can use for free like on P&O?

Keith (Southend)

I'm using same version and used Firefox for years, no problem for me so far.

Keith (Southend)

Hi Kris,

It is quite expensive but far better than the time countdown they used before. You can only have one device connected at one time, but not a problem. I think you maybe ok with the mid range package. I used the mid one which worked with WhatsApp, Twitter etc, although I think I couldn't send photo's, but did that at an internet cafe on shore.

It can be slow at times, I found in the Fjords you lost the signal because the satellite must have been hidden by the mountains. The Med or Caribbean shouldn't have this problem.

If you are like me and like to be connected whenever I want to be, worth going for in my opinion.

Keith (Southend)

I think a good decision made on this one. We have had inside with P&O for the last 4 cruises and will have on our next one in August to Iceland, but I don't imagine the door to the balcony will be open much :-) Whereas, my wife really fancied it again for the caribbean as we likr to sit there with a drink and watch the world go by. The All Inclusive is much better as I am the sort that likes to pay up front and not come home with a dept. We're not big drinkers but, G&T's, Whiskey & Coke and a glass of house red with my evening meal sounds good. ALso like a Pina Colarda when out in the sun.

What sort of extra charge are the speciality restaurants?

I'd like to find out what Thomson charge for WiFi internet and how what the package is. P&O did improve this service last time we went as I paid £130 for 24/7 WiFi internet which I could use with my Netbook and phone.

Keith (Southend)

Excellent, I would have taken ages findingout how to get to the excursions.

Thanks

Keith (Southend)

One of the differences between p&o and Thomson is more port days and longer in port. You are given the info on arrival time so it's easier to sort out private trips etc

 

 

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Yes the times are shown on the booking documentation.

Regarding booking excursions with Thomson, I've not seen anything yet, but do you get the full list that can pre-book prior to departure?

Keith (Southend)

Sorry about some of the typo's, it's been a long day ;)

I never thought I would stray from P&O, I went on Thomson Dream last Christmas, ship was a bit old and frayed. No Wow factors. Pool was sea water, and you had to pay to use the Safe. When I got on the ship I wanted to head back to the airport and go home !!!

 

By the end of the holiday I had totally changed and will always book with Thomson (Maybe not the Dream). Staff and people are just brilliant. The All Inclusive is excellent (bill on P&O was around £800.00 and Thomson £0.0). I'm booked on Discovery for this coming Christmas. only around 170 days. :-)

Interesting post, thankyou Longislandtea.

What was it that mase you change from P&O?

We have only sailed with P&O about 6 times now, very happy with them. A couple of things tipped my this time.

1. We had a cruise in mind that went just before the New Year, the reason being is I need to use some of the Christmas leave to be able to get a two week holiday. The price when I first look on-line for a balcony was £2200pp, I hadn't got the leave approved at the time, when I did the price had gone to £2400pp, I help back and it's currently £2900pp. When you add all the extras I really couldn't justify the cost.

2. We have been to all but 1 Island before, and I like to see something new everytime. Thomson seem to have a wider list of locations. The one we have choses, and I think we get on as you get off, is the Paradise Islands followed by Seven Islands and we haven't been to Bequia, one I particularily want to go to, Guadeloupe (Death In Paradise Island), Puerto Rico and St Thomas. The other we have been know well and like.

So in the end P&O probably have done me a favour by pricing me out the market.

Looking forward to it already.

Keith (Southend)

:)