Cariad21

I boarded Britannia on the 16 April and travelled to Southampton on an Intercruises coach (not booked as part of a Select fare). On arrival at the terminal, a member of the port staff handed each party on the coach a card and instructed us to go straight into the terminal past the sizeable queue outside. I was on board 10 minutes later.

During the cruise I got chatting to a couple who had travelled on an Eavesway coach and it took them nearly 2 hours to get onboard. Apparently (and I accept this is hearsay) two Intercruises coaches were allowed to disembark their passengers ahead of Eavesway despite arriving later. 

It appears there is even a hierarchy to the coaches these days!

If you entered the raffle, everyone in the cabin would "win" a ticket. If you were travelling as a group in different cabins, you entered each name and cabin number on the form and submitted that. I joined up with three other solo passengers so we were able to go together on the last cruise. 

The money went to Child Bereavement UK (Gary's charity) and Teenage Cancer Trust (P&O's chosen charity). 

Yes he is. A friend is on board and is currently queuing to get in.

I've just come back from the Fjords (not with P&O) and called in Flam, Olden and Haugesund. In Olden the Briksdal Glacier is a good 45-minute hike each way along a steep path (not a 'slight incline' as on the information board!). You can book independently and if doing the morning tour, there is enough time to then get a bus over to the Loen Skylift. The views are incredible and there are a number of walks you can do. Honestly, I could have spent the entire day doing that.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can book independently to do the Flam railway, a zipline and then cycle back to the port (walking is also an option as is re-joining the train). I haven't been on a bike in decades, but it is mainly downhill (two steep inclines) and allows you to stop and take in the scenery as much as you like. 

Haugesund - having read there wasn't much to do I booked a ship tour to Langfoss Waterfall. Unfortunately, the weather hadn't been great prior to the trip so the waterfall, while lovely, wasn't in full flow. 90-minute bus journey each way so not something I'd recommend doing independently.

I was in cabin 15458 last week and some afternoons / evenings I could hear music if the balcony door was open but it wasn't loud enough to be annoying. I could also hear chairs being moved from time to time but again it wasn't excessive. Having said that, I spoke to a couple in a cabin further along on the curved section and they said they had a lot of noise. 

The good thing about these cabins is that they're not overlooking the hot tubs which we could hear starting up in my parents' cabin on deck 14. That was far more annoying than anything from the Skydome.

Word of warning you won't be able to get to the cabin from the stairwell with the red discs (think it was Aft) as the cabins between that stairwell and the next are being used for new staff members to quarantine in. Stick to the silver and blue lifts 😉

3 hours ago, Ardennais said:

Does seem strange. Are their cabins possibly just below yours? Sometimes cabins on different decks are closer that ones on the same deck. 

Nope, I'm in 15458 and parents are 14301.

Not too bothered really. It just means extra steps to work off all the cake we'll be sampling 😂

I'm on Iona on September 4th. I'm on deck 15 and have a boarding time of 14:30pm. Parents are on deck 14 and their boarding time is 13:00.

We booked the same cabin grade at the same time via the same phone call and linked our bookings. Foolishly we assumed this would mean our cabins would be close together. 

P&O's logic has left us thoroughly confused.

I did the Rome Express in September and it was good. You have a brief tour on a coach once you get to Rome and then walk from the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Forum etc. We had one guide from the ship to Rome, then another guide who spoke about the different places and really brought them to life.

My only criticism would be the 90 minute plus lunch (included in the price). By the time we left the restaurant and then queued to get inside the Vatican, we only had enough time inside to walk in one door and out the other before we had to run to catch the train! Admittedly we were in Rome on a Wednesday so there were more people at the Vatican for the Pope's address but I would happily have foregone the meal to head straight there given the choice.

I suppose it just means I'll have to go back to Rome one day :D

I admit it, I'm hooked!

This was my first cruise and I've spent the last six months very excited about it but also dreading it due to some of the terrible reviews. Also because I was travelling with my parents and knew my mum was terrified.

The flight from Cardiff was fine but Palma airport was chaotic. Two flights were using the same luggage carousel and it took an age for any of the Cardiff bags to appear by which time all the passengers from the other flight had gone. Between us we had five cases and we had four of them when the carousel stopped. It didn't move again for about 30 minutes when one single bag appeared before it stopped again. In all we waited 2hours for all our bags and there were still people waiting when we left. We were directed to our shuttle bus only to be told no, we needed another bus. In all we were sent to three different buses before we found the right one!

Embarkation was so easy! The only hard part was dodging the photographer By the time we got to the gangway, mum was very upset and dad offered to take her home but she kept walking and after realising the black hole didn't leave her swimming in the Med began to calm down.

I was at the front of the ship on Deck 5 while they were upstairs in an outside plus on 7 at the back of the ship. After a change of clothes we headed off in search of some lunch and somehow found the Lido. The food wasn't very hot but there was a good selection.

Mum and I left the ship to go on the HOHO bus round Palma. We returned after a few hours and spent some time wandering around trying to get our bearings (and find my father!) Reunited we returned to our cabins to see if our cases had been delivered; mine hadn't, my parents' had. We then went back into Palma to find a supermarket and get some bits and pieces.

On returning to my cabin, I found my case waiting and also a bottle of prosecco and a plate of chocolate strawberries. At first I thought my parents had treated me then I saw a letter on the bed. Apparently the carpet was wet and the goodies were a goodwill gesture. I hadn't noticed a thing but the letter was definitely addressed to me.

We ate again in the Lido that night (not having found anything else) and I was pleased to find a good selection (we're all fussy eaters). We were all served by the crew and I found the portion sizes good. Again the food wasn't as hot as I'd like and I found the desserts poor.

The show that night was Killer Queen. I'm not a Queen fan but as an introduction to what the show team can do it was good. Unfortunately watching the show did mean I missed the sailaway which I'd been looking forward to having watched it on webcam for the last few weeks. Ah well, reason number 1 for another cruise!

Sunday and despite the late night, I was up early and headed to the Lido for breakfast. We ended up having breakfast there every day. Sun loungers were quite empty by the time we found the main pool having got lost many, many times. The entertainment team were great but there didn’t seem to be many waiters about so I went to the bar to order instead which in a way I preferred otherwise I wouldn’t have moved at all!

From the time we booked, I insisted we make the most of every opportunity the cruise could offer as it could be our first and last time. Mum was easier to persuade but dad was more reluctant. I persevered and we had a wonderful time. Walking into the Orion, we were half way down the room when a waiter came running over thinking he recognised my mother. We explained no this was our first cruise but Dennis insisted we sit in his section and I’m so glad he did! He and his assistant Mulyono were so attentive and they really looked after us. Our wine waiter was Ferdinand and our glasses were never empty! We had so much fun with them all although Mulyono was very shy.

Monday I went on the Emerald Coast tour and returned feeling I’d wasted my money. We were taken to two villages/towns. The first we arrived at quite early but there were only a few shops and cafes open. There was certainly not enough to do to fill the 30 minutes free time. The second consisted of a very expensive shopping centre filled with designer stores and a marina. A cup of coffee and gelato didn’t take up much of the 90 minutes free time. I’d been expecting fabulous scenery, beaches etc. but it was more like a shopping trip.

My parents went on the train to Gallura and were also very disappointed in the trip. We all regretted leaving the ship that day.

Tuesday and Sorrento. I’d spent a week there in 2013 and so knew what to expect. I made sure I was up and dressed to see the sunrise as we sailed into the bay. The parents went off on the Amalfi/Pompeii trip and while they enjoyed it, they felt it was far too much to be done in one day. I went on the excursion to Herculaneum as I hadn’t made it there previously. The guide was great and Herculaneum is fascinating but I can’t help wishing I’d gone there before Pompeii. It may be better preserved but Pompeii is so much bigger with more variety of buildings.

Following a tip from a colleague, we’d booked the Room Express excursion and for the most part it was excellent. The train is lovely, quite old fashioned. The morning was busy and covered most of the main sites. Unfortunately the Trevi fountain is being restored but parts can be seen behind the perspex screens.

After the Parthenon we were taken for a three course lunch which was included in the price. For me the meal dragged on for far too long. We’d been told that if we got separated from the group during the day, the train would be leaving at 4:30pm and wouldn’t wait so when we were still in the restaurant at 2pm, I was beginning to doubt whether we’d have enough time for the Vatican. When we did finally get there, the queue was huge. The guide explained the Pope greets the crowds every Wednesday and this was why the crowds were so big. We’d stay in the queue as long as we could and see how far we got. Given the information I couldn’t help but wonder why we’d taken so long over lunch. Surely it would have been better to cut lunch much shorter and spend more time at the Vatican?

At 3:50pm we were still only about half way along the queue and the guide was (supposedly) calling the agency for advice on whether we should stay or head back to the train. We stayed and did make it in but we literally walked in one door and out the other. When outside I wasn’t too bothered about seeing it however, I found myself quite choked up on seeing the exquisite interior. Several of the group were quite upset at being unable to have more than a quick glance inside before having to run for the train. Once at the station, the guide led us up and down the platform trying to work out where our assigned carriage would be. The group from the Celebrity ship in dock were getting quite fed up as he pushed his way in and out of their group.

I enjoyed the trip but there were little issues which could be improved.

Calvi is absolutely lovely! I did the walking tour which I thoroughly enjoyed before pottering around the shops and harbour. Back on board there were plenty of sun beds available but once we set sail, it became very windy so I headed inside for afternoon tea.

We were late heading to the Orion that night but Dennis had kept a table for us despite the restaurant being busy for the baked Alaska parade. Our main course was brought from the kitchen and not served straight away. By the time we sat down to eat, the food was luke warm and I did think the kitchen could have kept the food back for a few minutes given the chefs were involved in the festivities.

Friday was another busy day. I decided not to go to Barcelona as I didn’t fancy spending so much time on a bus. Instead I left my parents with instructions to take lots of photos and headed off on a mini train to medieval villages. Our guide was brilliant, if slightly obsessed with food! I think we were all hungry by the time we got to the first village Peratallada. A gorgeous little place in the countryside. We then headed to another village before heading to Pals through the rice fields. At Pals we had free time but with no maps provided, I’m not sure I managed to see all the village had to offer. The fact I seemed to end up in the same square no matter which way I went didn’t help.

In the afternoon I treated myself to a full body massage in the spa. I can honestly say it was worth every penny and was better than some I’ve had in spas at home. The consultation before was also more thorough than at the spa I went to last and as a result more time was spent on my problematic left shoulder. At the end, although I was advised on different products that could be beneficial, there was no hard sell.

While we waited some nights for a drink in the Broadway lounge or one of the bars, the wait wasn’t excessive and the banter with the crew was great. We were all very impressed by the crew and were amazed at their ability to remember who had ordered what drink and where that person was sitting. Equally impressive were the staff in the photography booth. I’d been wandering round the ship as they were putting out the photos of the Gala Night and bought a couple of myself and my parents. A few hours later, my parents went looking not knowing I’d been already. They couldn’t find our photos but one of the team overheard them talking and took them straight to my picture. My parents were amazed!

We certainly wouldn’t pay for the drinks package again...at least not at £199 each. My father did try keeping track of how many drinks he was having but the itemised bill didn’t include everything he ordered. I had a bottle of water every day before going on an excursion and as far as I can see, I haven’t paid for any of them.

We also won’t be doing an excursion in every port next time either. We missed out on a lot of things onboard and I only found the Sirens buffet on the last afternoon and then it was only because I’d taken the wrong staircase and got lost!

While there were some issues, the cruise was wonderful and my mum is now definitely over her fear. In fact we enjoyed it so much, we’ve already booked another cruise for next September.

I've been lurking on here since we first booked and every time I started to ask a question, I found a thread with all the answers so if you've made it to the end of this, I want to say a great big THANK YOU for all the help and advice you've posted. Hopefully one day I can return the favour.

Hi

I did this tour last week and by the time we got through the queues at the Vatican we literally walked in one door and out the next. We barely had time to look around before having to race back to the train station. It was so disappointing particularly having spent 90 minutes at lunch! :mad::mad: Personally I'd have been much happier getting a slice of pizza in a cafe and having more time at the Vatican. Coming back on the train there were quite a few unhappy people.

Wednesdays, the Pope speaks to the crowds so it is very busy and the guides have no way of knowing beforehand how many people will be there. You may be lucky or you may not.

Other than that, the train is a lovely way to get to Rome and I thoroughly enjoyed the walking tour in the morning. The other thing to keep in mind is that the Trevi fountain is being renovated. It is behind perspex with a walkway going across the front but the queues were so long there was no time to go across.

Cabin Review Format

Cabin Number: 5012

Cruise Ship: Thomson Dream

Date of Cruise: 13th September 2014

Bed Formation: Single

Bath/Shower?: Shower

Adjoining Cabin?: No

Balcony?: No

Comment on the Size of the Cabin: Bigger than I was expecting. One chair in corner of the cabin but more than enough room for another between the bed and the bathroom wall

Comment on any Noise Issues: Quite noisy when docking but not too bad. Slight noise from the air con unit

Comment on Storage Space: Excellent. Two wardrobe spaces, 3 drawers, bedside table with shelf & drawer, desk and a wide shelf in front of the porthole

Comment on the Bathroom: In need of refurbishment but good, powerful shower. Little bit cramped but no major issues

Any Other Comments?: Excellent hairdryer in the bathroom. American plug socket tight to the wall which could be an issue with larger plugs

Would You Recommend this Cabin?: Yes

Link to any Images:

Score out of 10: 9.5