joeholiday2

I get the funny looks, I just tell them they have their own website and that I am too old to care what people think about me doing this.

Not sure if you have seen this, just giving you something to look forward to:

The back row of the Medusa is Hazel's section in the evenings, she sometimes gets the Mariachi band over and they do a quick song. :)

Thanks everyone, just as I thought about Herculaneum. Now to persuade him because he now has walking difficulties with 2 dicky knees. At least that is what he tells me when he sees shops. Lol.

 

Thanks for the Sorrento information Joe. Have the 2 little ducks been there? :D

They go most places we do ;)

https://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/1995#1995

Good review Julie.

The card colour puzzle has been solved by Margaret on FB, she asked on the official page and they say there is no difference what card you get, despite people being told many different things onboard.

I think it may well be that they are the new batch and it's just pot luck which you get as some of the printing machines are still loaded up with the old stock.... Well that's my theory anyway:)

Jackie, I must admit I didn't take any notice of the brand of house wine this time, we found it OK though and it certainly worked;)

Julie, I think the improvement has a lot to do with you contacting them beforehand.

The week before you arrived there was no GF available on the menu everyone was given in Orion.

The separate GF menu was resting on a shelf by the entrance all week.

It looks like you have got them to improve the service by your actions.:D:D

It is because Linda just gets back from one cruise, does the review, then starts to prepare for the next one ;)

 

Quite right too, Linda :D:D:D

Best way to do it.:D

Done Pompeii, but not Herculaneum.

I have heard the same thing said by work colleagues Linda, and the documentary on Herculaneum shown earlier on the BBC was really good, they were saying it gives a better picture of real life at the time of the eruption than Pompeii.

We found getting the lift up to Sorrento was a great way of doing it, no waiting for the bus to set off, and we never saw any queues at the lift, (we were on the first tender though) just follow the signs, it's past the big motorbike park. Think it was €1.80 return.

Go in the church that's in the first big square you come to, and go through to the back of it down the stairs, there is a view from the windows of the road that snakes down from the Town to the port.

Agree with everyone else, just wander around the lovely town.

Majesty and Spirit are in Mykonos on the same day, and the same happens 2 weeks later when we are on the Spirit, the Majesty is showing up as a tender port for you Linda.

This will probably suit you better as you get tendered straight into town, and will be better for us as well because we should be able to get the shuttle into town with Mum.

BTW, Monemvasia is lovely too, it reminds me Erice wandering through the old streets.

Thanks for the reviews Linda, Holiday Ahoy, and Gill.

We have never been on the Spirit so are getting giddy now with all the good reports coming through.

Jackie, you are right about the shows on Dream this year, (no master of the house or Jai Ho :(:( ) there are some new ones that don't quite come up to the standard we have seen over on the Majesty this year and last.

The Dream shows are still good though and I am sure you will enjoy them, but the team doesn't have the sharpness of performance we encountered on this years and last years Majesty.

In my opinion Brandi and Max are the standout performers.

I hope you get to see the pirate show next week, I really enjoyed that.

This is the beach Geo:

https://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/1153#1153

We enjoyed Tulum, we just got the collectivo from where we were staying, I would imagine Chichen Itza is much more impressive.

Any advice on the excursions?

We didn't do any excursions, just did our own thing in the ports and walked to villa Ephrussi from Villefranche.

Booked the Spirit 22nd Oct to take M&D back on a cruise.

Welcome back Linda.

We have just booked Spirit 22nd Oct for 2 weeks taking M&D again as they loved the Dream.

At least you have a good drying day, yesterday was foul here.:)

I have the same problem with my ears, getting water in them causes me grief for days.

I always use the yellow earplugs that you roll up to squeeze, then pull the upper back part of your ear backwards and insert, (not too far) let go of your ear but hold the plug in place with your finger until it expands.

They work a treat and can be re-used a few times before they lose the elasticity. I wash them, then leave them to dry out overnight, storing them in an old 35mm film canister.

I find the ones that are tin can shaped work better than the shaped ones you can get. The shaped ones are too soft and easily fall out. The ones I use are called E-A-R classic.

Leon de Sainte Croix?

 

he did two lectures and we had a star party above the bridge on Oceana late one night.

 

I demonstrated my knowledge of astronomy by commenting that the exhaust plume from the funnel stretched right across the sky. 'It's the milky way' he replied :o

That's him Dave. Maybe the really good ones end up on cunard, keef did...

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Forums mobile app

Thanks for all the good reports on Spirit.

Sounds like it's just as good as ever.

I think the lack of towel animals is across the fleet, they have so many cabins to tend to now.

It's the only one of the current fleet we have not been on....hmm might have to change that sometime;);)

Thanks Kruzseeka.

It's always good to get opinions on other lines.

Anachronistic seems a very good description of the dress code, it sounds like they are half-heartedly trying to keep traditions up whilst being all things to all men. Formal nights are nice when people make the effort and everyone looks special, but jackets for informal night is as you say just plain silly. Especially when they end up on the back of a chair. :rolleyes:

Was the CD a Bald Man from the Channel Islands? If so I think we had him on P&O once. He did a Planetarium lecture one rainy sea day.

We keep saying we will try another line again, but usually end up back on Thomson as we know what we are getting and it suits us.

Thanks again.

Joe.

We were underwhelmed with the blue mosque too. Thought suleymaniye mosque was much nicer and a lot quieter, no queues.

The Asian side sounds good, an ex student of mine who is Turkish kept telling me that as well.

Kruzseeka, have you just been on a different line than Thomson? I think I remember you saying you were...

If so would love to know your comparisons.

Cabin Review Format

Cabin Number: 6107 inside

Cruise Ship: Thomson Dream

Date of Cruise: 2/8/14

Bed Formation: twin beds made into a double

Bath/Shower?: Shower

Adjoining Cabin?: No

Balcony?: No

Comment on the Size of the Cabin: good for an inside, much larger than standard Majesty cabin

Comment on any Noise Issues: Very quiet cabin, deck 6 midships is always quieter than 7 due to no entertainment areas above

Comment on Storage Space: Good wardrobe had plenty of hangers but not a lot of drawer space for 2 weeks

Comment on the Bathroom: was fine, no problems

Any Other Comments?: There was sometimes a slight sewage smell on the corridor but not in the cabin

Would You Recommend this Cabin?: Yes

Link to any Images:

Score out of 10: 9

Cabin Review Format

Cabin Number: 1002 adapted cabin

Cruise Ship: Thomson Dream

Date of Cruise: 2/8/14

Bed Formation: twin beds made into a double

Bath/Shower?: Shower with fold down seat and handles around toilet

Adjoining Cabin?: No

Balcony?: No

Comment on the Size of the Cabin: good, as large as a suite

Comment on any Noise Issues: fairly quiet, the odd clunk from time to time.

Comment on Storage Space: Good wardrobe

Comment on the Bathroom: the toilet over flowed 4 times in two weeks

Any Other Comments?: good cabin, but feel that those on deck 9 would be better for accessing the rest of the ship due to the way the lifts work.

Would You Recommend this Cabin?: Yes

Link to any Images:

Score out of 10: 9

Just my findings on some of the ports we visited:

Palma - MAJORCA

Good access, there is a lift that takes you to the first floor and along covered walkways that enter the Ship on deck 6. The port area is very flat and it’s easy going all along the front into Palma City.

Trapani - SICILY

Access from deck 3 so it’s an easy gangway with no steps just a small hump to go over. The port building requires that you go up 4 or 5 steps, so as soon as the port officials see you approaching with a wheelchair they open the side gates so you can get to the town without having to go through the building. The same on return. The immediate area of the old town is not the best place for a wheelchair, the pavements are mostly narrow and you end up in the road most of the time. Turning left and walking along the promenade is a better, more pleasant option.

Civitavecchia - ITALY

Access from deck 6 so the gangway is the one with small but quite tricky steps. The housekeepers onboard will bring the Roby Stairclimber which is fine for a non-motorised wheelchair. It takes a while to get up and down but is an excellent piece of equipment for use on this gangway. The port authority coach driver will radio though for a mobility friendly coach if it is not already there. This summer (2014) the drop off point is close to the fire station in town, it should have changed by next year back to by the Castle. Civitavecchia can be a little tricky to negotiate due to the common practice that Italian drivers have of parking across the dropped kerbs, but it’s good along the promenade. It is possible to walk to and from the ship so you don’t have to use the shuttle bus, it takes around 25 minutes from the middle docking area, we walked back rather than go out of our way back to the fire station and wait for the bus. It’s easy walking. Disabled toilet at Hotel Miramare on the front opposite the train station.

Palamos - SPAIN

Access from deck 6, easy 10 minute walk into town. There is a shuttle bus, but we walked in rather than queue for the bus and have the hassle of setting the ramp up. Town is very accessible, it’s a nice walk along the promenade too. Disabled toilet at Hotel Trias on the front.

Genoa - ITALY

Access from deck 6, the wheelchair user did not get off here but we did. It would have been very difficult around town, busy wide roads to cross and the pavements were very busy too. As you leave the port there is a long set of steps up to get to the level of town, but a lift is available. It’s quite a hilly place and to see many of the main sights means you have to come away from the front and up some steep roads with narrow pavements. Not the best place for a wheelchair user.

Toulon - FRANCE

Access from deck 3, an easy 5 minute walk and you are in the market square, a very accessible town and easy to get around.

Barcelona - SPAIN .

Access from deck 6, straight out and into the terminal building where there are lifts to take you to ground level. Again the wheelchair user did not get off here but aside from the fact that Barcelona is always busy the access is good along mostly wide pavements.

Just my findings on some of the ports we visited

Palma - MAJORCA

Good access, there is a lift that takes you to the first floor and along covered walkways that enter the Ship on deck 6. The port area is very flat and it’s easy going all along the front into Palma City.

Trapani - SICILY

Access from deck 3 so it’s an easy gangway with no steps just a small hump to go over. The port building requires that you go up 4 or 5 steps, so as soon as the port officials see you approaching with a wheelchair they open the side gates so you can get to the town without having to go through the building. The same on return. The immediate area of the old town is not the best place for a wheelchair, the pavements are mostly narrow and you end up in the road most of the time. Turning left and walking along the promenade is a better, more pleasant option.

Civitavecchia - ITALY

Access from deck 6 so the gangway is the one with small but quite tricky steps. The housekeepers onboard will bring the Roby Stairclimber which is fine for a non-motorised wheelchair. It takes a while to get up and down but is an excellent piece of equipment for use on this gangway. The port authority coach driver will radio though for a mobility friendly coach if it is not already there. This summer (2014) the drop off point is close to the fire station in town, it should have changed by next year back to by the Castle. Civitavecchia can be a little tricky to negotiate due to the common practice that Italian drivers have of parking across the dropped kerbs, but it’s good along the promenade. It is possible to walk to and from the ship so you don’t have to use the shuttle bus, it takes around 25 minutes from the middle docking area, we walked back rather than go out of our way back to the fire station and wait for the bus. It’s easy walking. Disabled toilet at Hotel Miramare on the front opposite the train station.

Palamos - SPAIN

Access from deck 6, easy 10 minute walk into town. There is a shuttle bus, but we walked in rather than queue for the bus and have the hassle of setting the ramp up. Town is very accessible, it’s a nice walk along the promenade too. Disabled toilet at Hotel Trias on the front.

Genoa - ITALY

Access from deck 6, the wheelchair user did not get off here but we did. It would have been very difficult around town, busy wide roads to cross and the pavements were very busy too. As you leave the port there is a long set of steps up to get to the level of town, but a lift is available. It’s quite a hilly place and to see many of the main sights means you have to come away from the front and up some steep roads with narrow pavements. Not the best place for a wheelchair user.

Toulon - FRANCE

Access from deck 3, an easy 5 minute walk and you are in the market square, a very accessible town and easy to get around.

Barcelona - SPAIN .

Access from deck 6, straight out and into the terminal building where there are lifts to take you to ground level. Again the wheelchair user did not get off here but aside from the fact that Barcelona is always busy the access is good along mostly wide pavements.

And Gill and Holiday Ahoy and anyone else going this weekend.

Have a great time.:D:D:D

Just put some pictures up:

https://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/1954

A big thank you to Kruzeeka for telling me about Villa Ephussi in Villefranche.

We loved it.:D:D

Bought the combined ticket and went to Villa Kerylos as well.

We took our ID's from work and got the reduced rate as we work in education.

Cabin 1002

Joe interesting to read your post. My disabled DH and I were on the Dream this February and are going again next February. Our cabin 9037 had bathroom issues too. It has a wet room supposedly, but the shower has a lip around it that allows water to flood over it as the drain keeps blocking up and then of course because of the lip it can't go back .The bathroom was always 2 inches deep in water I had to put towels across the doorway to prevent it draining into the cabin down the sloped doorway. Our steward must have got through a ton of towels trying to mop it up everyday. We have booked a different cabin for next year 9020 I hope we don't have the toilet issue not sure which is the lesser of two evils.

 

I was also interested that you were allocated front row seats on the flight we travelled in the front row of economy on the Dreamliner and have been allocated these again for next year but both of us had to pay an extra legroom charge each time :( The staff were lovely to my DH carrying his mobility scooter down to the dock a tracked system sounds excellent. Does that mean he can stay on his mobility scooter as the steps were very hard for him.

I know what you mean about the water drainage, it never drained into the cabin but there was always some water around until the cabin steward came in to clear it. That meant that if you wanted to use the toilet after a shower and getting dressed then your shoes would get wet. Dad went and got a squeegee from reception so he could clear it straight away, they didn't want to let him have one as they said it was the stewards job. When he explained the issue they let him have one.

The stair-climber was this one:

http://www.savaria.com/products/other-products/roby-mobile

It will only take a wheelchair by the looks of it, not a scooter.

There is a small town beach at Koper, probably better ones just down the coast, Kruzeeka has done a bus trip down the coast so she will know more.

There looks like there is a beach at Kotor not too far away, we did a trip there so didn't explore the town ourselves.