whistlerbc

I have suffered the symptoms you describe. Its like the worst sunburn and worst itch imaginable from head to toe!! I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! However just as a thought it could be possible that it isn't the photo sensitivity side effect you have suffered but an allergic reaction. One teaspoon of Benylin cough mixture done this to me and I was never allergic to it before. I have suffered this twice as I happened to be on antibiotics the first time so it was assumed that was what caused it. On the second occasion no antibiotic was in the equation and a teaspoon of Benylin almost put me in hospital and certainly resulted in hydrocortosone injections with the emergency GP. It is assumed I am allergic to the decongestant but could be another ingredient so much so I cannot get a drop of cough medicine on my skin.

I took anti histamine and lots of cool baths but I'm afraid I just had to wait it out which did take about 3 weeks. You really have my sympathy, its absolutely horrible. I have also never heard of anyone else until now having suffered similar to me.

Get Well Soon

We took the A.I. option on our cruise on the ´Dream´ in May (99 Pounds for 2 people / 7 nights). Hubby only drinks Wine with meals then soft drinks/Coffee for the rest of the day; I have Wine with meals and the occasional Cocktail as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

 

As, due to Hubbys health isues, we are back aboard by lunchtime most days, we reckoned that we had got our moneys worth by bedtime of day 2 of the cruise - everything after that was a bonus.

 

We next sail on the Dream on 26 October and have again booked the A.I. package. Even though we have paid 138 Pounds for 2 people / 7 nights this time, allowing for the increase in drinks prices, we still reckon this is a very good deal.

 

Any A.I. package is going to have its problems (this years seems to be the lack of canned drinks) but the Thomsons package is still far superior than you would get in most European 4 star hotels.

At that price I would have no hesitation or complaints paying the 95p supplement per can of mixer/soft drink. The problem I have is paying the full price for AI and then being asked to pay a supplement on top for soft drinks. Unfortunately Thomson claim caribbean cruisers prefer non existant onboard credit for early bookers so its not even an option to book at a more advantageous time

I had decided not to take the AI option at £199 pp per week, it will add almost another £800 to our up front costs.

 

Having looked at the above prices I am now undecided. With a pint of draught Heineken at £3.70 it would only be about 7 drinks per day for the OH. If it's true you now are paying for a mixer to go with gin, vodka etc. I may consider the AI.

 

With a few soft drinks and cappuchino's during the day, I guess we might just get even??

 

I think AI is briliant for those who tend to stay aboard, a lot but we are land based for most days.

 

So a can of coke would be 95p if you already have the AI option.....oh why can't I just decide? We are going on 27th January, when is the latest I could add this option onto my booking?

 

Thanks

 

Lorraine

3 weeks before travel according to a friend that is also a Thomson TA

Totally get you Jim the Scot, just didn't want someone else to get the blame for my mistake. I would say next time try the Kahula but that won't be happening now unless you ditch the pints and become a supplement connisseur! :D

Dreamgirl

 

Found that Tia Maria was not used in the making of a Black Russians but cheapo Kuala a poor subsitute.

 

Previous cruises when ordering a drink have always asked for a tin of juice/coke for our mixer without a problem now its supplemented. Draught juice for a mixer is a poor quality and actually adds a different taste and not a nice one altogether to your spirit.I`ll buy at port now.

Just a wee correction here - It was actually me that initially said Tia Maria in the black russians however the point is the same. Tia maria and kahlu (which I also like and wouldn't say was cheap) carry supplements on their own but not in cocktails, same as cranberry juice.

Agree about the soft drinks! We haven't paid our AI supplement yet, as we held off to see if the new drinks list would be value for us or not at a charge of £995!!

We were on the Dream this Summer - returning again October next year. All our Soft Drinks were from pumps (not bottles) rather than cans apart from Tonic to go with Gin. All Soft Drinks purchased this way were very fizzy/never flat; Diet Cola was Pepsi Light which we prefer to Cocal Cola Light anyway.

 

My only slight grouse with the ´new´ A.I. menu is that my favourite Dry Marini seems to have disappeared. As we have only paid 138 Pounds for 2 people/7 nights in 2013 - and we each have 3 glasses of Wine with lunch that more than covers this on its own - we are still very glad to have again booked the A.I. package.

Thank you that helps a lot. Draft Pepsi is fine but cheap, undrinkable and flat out of a bottle isn't, didn't think it was too difficult a question for Thomson but there you go!!

The mixer question remains unanswered as does can you ask for a glass of something that is only available canned? I reckon fellow cruisers will answer these long before Thomson HQ knows the answer.

£138 for 2 people, wish I got that deal then I would have no complaints either :cool:

OK so on the other thread Dan from Thomson has listed what is included however still no further forward on the soft drinks by the glass! :rolleyes:

Jules, I'm thinking that its not draught mixers that you will be getting, rather whichever half flat bottle or can they have open at the time. However, despite repeated requests on this board, Thomson have failed to answer one way or the other about drinks by the glass.

I don't know anyone that would hand over £100s of hard earned cash without knowing exactly what they were getting for their money! Thomson should and I am certain will be required by some law, rule or regulation somewhere to clearly state the AI product that is on sale. Apart from people posting on this forum Thomson customers have no way of really knowing what they will or won't be getting with their purchase of the AI package.

Thomson can you please just be honest and clarify the soft drinks questions?

Yes I agree ordinary diluting juice would be brilliant many adults would love this too.

Thomson missed out on this profit maximising tactic!! Grrrr....

another 'that airline' moment for Thomson then :(

 

i suggest you try to get your kids to drink Mocktails. There are 8 available and they are free.

 

I presume a kids drink package includes all non alcholic drinks otherwise just what are they expected to drink. IRRC they are Very particular about brands.

 

Another doubtfull observation. Those menu pics don't show a statement about the spirit measure size or free mixers.

 

if the robbing b******s have reverted to standard pub measure that will be the equivalent of a 60% price hike :eek::eek:

Good point on the measures, wouldn't be surprised! Also noted there are supplements on Tia Maria as an after dinner drink yet you can order a black russian with no supplement. Cranberry in some cocktails is also included but carries a supplement as a juice as before.

or as we call them.....run amocktails!:eek:....... they are so full of sugar syrup! :(

 

I find whiskey works better....the kids fall over and sleep it off the rest of the day:cool::D

ha ha love it :D

Problem with the mocktails is there is only so much fruit juice someone can drink in any given day......we would quite like to be able to leave the ship in port! :eek:

If you have younger kids have you seen the price of a fruit shoot!!??

Its called greed :mad:

Oops thats not directed at you Jim the Scot!! I mean Thomson!!

Why do you get charged the full AI rate for a child? It's usually cheaper.

The price we are being asked to pay is half the adult price but it is still the full child price. Works out at £200 per adult per week and £100 per child per week. Our total for a 2 week cruise is £995. If you account for the additional cost of alcohol then the price for adults could arguably be reasonable in comparison to £100 per week for under 18s who have a limited choice and are now being pawned off with cheap soft drinks by the glass, that is unreasonable and absolutely anything but value in my opinion.

Problem I have is a 14 year old for which we are also going to be charged the full AI rate! At a charge of £995 for AI on my booking I do not accept it as fair for under 18s to be denied a can of coke :mad:

I am by no means a brand shopper but there are some non brand colas and fizzy drinks are just vile. I know from experience that the bottled colas used behind the bar are more often than not non brand but if your really lucky you might get Pepsi. Not good enough for that sort of money!

Like I said earlier if I had free or cheap AI I would have a cheek to complain but at 95p on top of AI price for a can of juice that is daylight robbery :eek:

I don't expect things like Malt Whiskys, Fine Cognacs etc to be included in an AI package, but the amount of supplements on bog standard drinks is frankly insulting to anyone who has paid for it.

Exactly Grez I agree!

To be fair I think if people have scored free AI then they have little right to complain but I'm now left quite angry and feeling ripped off!!

I have a real grievance over the AI price for the caribbean as there are never offers of £69 or £99 available for early bookers and now to rub salt in the wound not only do we have to pay full price for AI but also need to take out a small mortgage for a can of real coca cola on top!!!

OK if I had scored cheap AI I wouldn't mind the supplement but come on! Disgrace!!!! :mad:

Definately out of order on the canned soft drinks!!