kate52

My latest visit to Venice this year really saddened me.

Apart from the first couple of hours when we visited a little known museum on the bank of the Grand canal, the rest was just an endurance test. The closer we walked to St Mark's square the more crowded it became, to the extent where you couldn't even pause to look in shop windows because of the crush of people in the narrow streets, and could find nowhere to sit down and relax with a drink.

The square itself was completely packed with people. We were thankful that we didn't want to join one of the endless queues, and quite relieved to get on the vaporetto back to the ship.

It's not just Venice that is suffering. Malta, Dubrovnik and Messina were also seriously overcrowded.

Not had anything by post - just the email confirmation.

 

What date are you travelling in July? We sail from Dublin on the 14th.

Hi, we sail from Liverpool on the 8th July, and call at Dublin on the 14th before returning to Liverpool on the 15th. It's good that they embark at more than one port- much more convenient for passengers. Never been to Dublin before (or any of the other ports on the cruise) so looking forward to it very much.

Is your cruise wholly Scotland (apart from Liverpool!)?

We booked our cruise for July 17 online on 14th May this year. Printed off the invoice, and was looking at it today. I have only just noticed the small print at the bottom

"Please note this is a temporary confirmation and your full confirmation invoice will be sent by post in the next few days"

Haven't had anything in the post at all. Has anyone else booked online and actually received confirmation in the post?

Does anyone have any idea where this cruise is actually going yet?

It is the only itinerary that really appeals to me for next year. Initial search results show the itinerary as

Visiting: Palma, Majorca

Piombino (for Siena and Pisa), Italy

San Remo, Italy

Sete (for Carcassonne), France

Roses, Spain

Ibiza Town, Ibiza

Palma, Majorca

but when you follow the more detail button it changes completely. Only Palma, San Remo and Ibiza the same.

Thanks vitalsign, we don't go to many of the shows so couldn't remember off hand. We only came home in June from a 2 week cruise, but seems so long ago now!

Hello annr,

it is late! We were having an early night for a 5.20 am flight the night before our cruise!

There is open sitting for dinner- you can go to the restaurant any time between 7 and 9.30.

Only exception is formal night when there are two sittings- think it was about 6.30 for first, 8.30 for second. You will get a ticket assigning you to one of the sittings, but can swap it for the other one if it doesn't suit.

Show times are approx. 8pm and 9.30, may vary a bit, and times will be in your daily news sheet which is delivered to your cabin each evening for the next day.

Have a great cruise!

From what I recollect some of the lounges were very good. I remember asking for a scotch and getting a full half pint :)

I remember the captain buying everyone a drink in the restaurant- think it was after we had problems getting into Limnos.

Koper is nice but very small- you've seen the old town in half an hour. The HOHO trip to Piran is lovely and so easy to do- kiosk and coach right at the dockside.

Korcula is beautiful- or it would have been if it hadn't been pouring down and blowing a gale!

A bit hilly but manageable. Very scenic, nice walks, marco polo house/ museum, really nice shops!

Rijeka was a bit disappointing, not a lot to see, and the museum we had planned to visit was closed! We should have made a bit more effort to get up to Trsat where the castle is, but there wasn't a lot of tourist info around.

Durres was just what we expected! Very different to everywhere else, but we enjoyed it. Some begging was a little assertive- felt we needed to keep our wits about us. There is modern/ ancient/ opulent/ poor all within 100 yards of the ship.

Hi, we were on an Adriatic cruise in May/June this year and called at

KOPER- took the local excursion bus from dockside to Piran. Think it was 20 euros. 2 hours free time in Piran which was beautiful, lovely photo stop, and drive through another resort on way back. We had to go in the afternoon as all the morning trips were booked up, so had a look round Koper first.

VENICE- so many ships in port! We've been a couple of times before so had a plan to get to piazza Roma, take the number 1 vaporetto to C'a Rezzonica, a museum in palace on the Grand Canal. After finding ourselves on wrong water bus (!) consulted map, hopped off at Zattere and meandered our way there through quiet streets and canal sides. Found the museum very pleasant- several Canalettos, beautiful sculpture, some period furnishing. Best of all- a quiet little café with Grand Canal terrace! We then walked to St Mark's which was far too crowded to be at all enjoyable. Battled our way to the Christmas shop, had a quick visit to Rick's bar, and took the vaporetto straight back to the ship.

Kruzseeka has given excellent advice for the other ports, more or less what we did. One time we called at Corfu we took the ship's tour to Paleokastritsa, which was really good.

We sailed with CMV in 2010 from Liverpool to Casablanca on Ocean Countess.

Found it a very comfortable ship, not fancy but well maintained. Set dining times as already mentioned. Quality of food and entertainment on a par with Thomson and a very friendly ship. No all inclusive but drinks reasonably priced, as were excursions. Have to add on the gratuities as well.

We felt well looked after in ports- getting on/ off was always well organised, and free shuttle buses provided where necessary. Think this gave us a nicer experience in Casablanca as we didn't have to find our own way out of the port as I have read about with other lines.

We even had a free cabin upgrade !

Anyway, we have booked to sail again with them next year from Liverpool as we liked the itinerary- Honfleur, Rouen, St Mary's, Guernsey, Dublin. So hoping the experience is as good as last time.

And you can order an in flight meal!

I know not everyone likes them, but better than being faced with "no food left" when the trolley finally gets to you.

We disembarked at 7.30 for the Manchester flight a week last Thursday. Actually we made our way to the quayside about 20 past, and were on the third coach!

And yes, we had breakfast- full service available in the lido from 6 or 6.30.

Good job we did eat- long delay at airport, nowhere to sit, and hardly anything left to eat on plane by the time the trolley got to us .

We thoroughly enjoyed a ship's excursion to Aix-en-Provence some years ago. The walking tour of the town was short and interesting, and we had free time to enjoy the colourful market and cafes.

In Toulon itself there is also a market (think it was a Sunday when we visited) and a little land train that takes you up to the beach area and back.

If you haven't been to the area before, a trip out of Toulon is probably the best option. The excursion team will be able to tell you if free time is included in a tour, and how much walking is involved.

It's worth asking about restricted view. They are pretty good about telling you which ones are best when you ring to select your cabin.

Deck 6 is promenade deck so there will be people outside at times.

Deck 7 some lifeboats/ gantries.

Deck 8 " " "

There is a cabin review thread on here which may help as it mentions view or not. Our favourite cabin (on deck 7) is 151, the view is only slightly restricted by the bottom of a lifeboat in the top of the window.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1803243

(wish it could be made a "sticky")

Exactly the same situation here!

Funny they managed to contact me correctly to remind me to pay the balance!

Hi, on our last (of several) stops at Livorno we took a bus to Montenero. There is a very old solar powered funicular which takes you up from Montenero to Montenero Alto, a little village with great views of surrounding area, a couple of bars/cafes and shops, some grotto caves and the sanctuary.

We didn't go into the sanctuary as there was a wedding taking place, just enjoyed the views and watching the guests and wedding couple!

It's only about 5 miles from Livorno, and was a cheap and restful alternative to the town itself which we have explored before. There are boat rides around the town's canals if you prefer that, and a large street market on some days, but I can't remember which days!

Sorry- just seen campolady's posted already about the boat trips!

Don't really like tribute acts. If it's someone I like then I'd rather buy their music and listen to it. If it's not someone I like then it can be as bad as karaoke!

It looked very pretty sailing in!

We did the emerald coast trip, but although the place we went to was pretty, it was very "manicured". No character at all, and no time to do anything. Couldn't honestly recommend it.

151 on deck 7 for us. (3 times) Going on Celebration this year and have booked same cabin on there!

We like the position, end cabin, only one neighbour, very handy for stairs down to prom deck (or lift of course). Also good access to rear doors and seating space. Slight obstructed view but only bottom of lifeboat in top of window- still get a good view. Nice bath, plenty of space and storage. Had two beds when we were on last 3 years ago.

We called here 2 years ago, but didn't go any further than the town itself. It's a beautiful town with cobbled streets, painted balcony houses, traditional crafts, a naval museum in a building shaped like a ship, and lovely mountain views. I'm sure the interior is beautiful, but we enjoyed our call here more than any of the other islands.

We have cruised mainly with Thomson, but also tried Cruise and Maritime from Liverpool, and Braemar for a cruise around the Canaries.

Agree with all the points above about the differences. The food and the overall organisation on Braemar were better than Thomson. We missed the easy-going atmosphere that Thomson have- on FO it's very much "do it our way". Also the set meal times meant that you could come back aboard having missed the 12.30-2.30 lunch slot and have a bit of a wait before afternoon tea/dinner times.

There was little in the way of entertainment on sea days- we missed the plays, guest speakers, zumba etc.

Liked the ship very much- very well kept, plenty of deck space, nice roomy cabins.

kate

A family we saw most days on the beach a few years ago always had the following kit-

1. 3 sets of swimwear per person

2. towel robes for changing

3. line and pegs for drying

4. elastic bands to hold the towel on the sunbed top and bottom

5. a large paintbrush to brush sand off the sunbeds

6. a crate of beer

guess the nationality?!!!

kate

Just in case not everyone has not noticed it - there is the option to provide feedback on the Thomson Cruise website on the actual website itself at the top of the first page - you can make constructive comments on there whether that regards issues such as those recently raised on here - the inability to book certain back to back cruises, the 7kg hand luggage issue and lack of cruise only or anything else that is relevant and equally areas of praise. It goes without saying that for Thomsons to consider suggestions etc it will not just be the number of people who query the lack of xyz option etc it will be the constructive reasons that will support the case for the website to be amended from a customers point of view that could be influential.

Thank you for that, I hadn't noticed a feedback link.

kate

There appears to be another "glitch" with the new website (unless there's an explanation I haven't thought of)

When pricing up back to back cruise on the Celebration for next summer, the option of 11 August didn't come up, and the date was greyed out on the calendar. However, when I changed the duration to 7 nights, both 11 Aug and 18 Aug itineraries were available. All cabins seemed to be available, too. The same thing happened for Sept 8th, but other dates worked ok for two weeks.

We haven't sorted out when we can go away yet, due to family commitments, but are hoping to book soon. If it turns out August/ Sept are our only options, I might have to try the high street.

In Lisbon we enjoyed the castle, fantastic views and a camera obscura there. Nice area, lots of cobbled streets/ traditional tiled houses etc. The walk down was easy but would recommend a bus or taxi to get up there! Sintra was also lovely, but the trip we did didn't give us enough time to see it properly.

There are half day levada walks in Madeira if you're feeling energetic and a couple of companies (happy tours, madeira seekers) that cater for cruise passengers. We did a half day one when on a land holiday, wasn't too strenuous for a couch potato!