gillhalfpint

We had cabin 2025 and would happily have it again for our Jan 22 cruise, but we don't pre- book cabins. It was quiet, and not far from the front lifts for Ray, went straight to Broadway show lounge deck 4, Venue deck 5, Islands deck 9, and I went to deck 10 for my early mile walk coming out by the kids clubs, but we were adults only. Very handy cabin.

We had a cabin inside on deck 2, not pre-booked, and were fine with it. We were well looked after and comfy enough in there. Massive double bed that cases went under, double wardrobe, 2 lots of 3 drawers and drawers by the side of the bed which was against the wall on my side. Bathroom clean and tidy, good shower but didn't like the sink which had hairline cracks in it, but it was trying to get my hands under the tap that was the problem as the curve of the sink made it so difficult. Not a great problem though. Got spare coat hangers and had loads of towel animals, and a free large bar of chocolate each week as well as the pillow ones. We were near the front of the ship and slept well, no noises or other disturbances at all.

Gill

Loved it. Will that do - probably not. Excuse typing errors, having to do this on netbook as trouble with laptop and this misses letters out - a lot.

Took a while to find our way around but knowing yellow carpet in lifts and stairs were at the front and red ones at the back helped. Explored from the top down early on, and it really is superb. Sometimes there seemed to be staff shortages, but I never have a problem going to the bar and enjoyed chatting to staff there. Didn't like the abundance of ice they seemed to think everyone wants. Ie gives me migraine for some strange reason, and I had a problem mainly with cocktails, and asked for an empty glass to put excess ice in, and got it!!

We were ok for table for 2 in 47 but did get bleeper thing a lot in first week. Not a problem apart from it bleeping just when we gt a drink, so ended up with a bar rink and wine on the table a lot. Loved the food in there and Islands too. No problem.

Night time entertainment a bit iffy for us. We tended to eat around 7.30 to 8.00 and when we got out, no seats in Atrium which was lovely, and few seats in Live Bar. Think Atrium seating capacity means many cannot see show events put on in there. We ended to go to the Broadway for 9.15 when first show came out, and have a drink in there till second show started, and when that finished we couldn't get into any of the bars, so had a wander round deck 4 and turned in. Didn't really mind, but would have loved to have seen the duo that was performing, heard them a time or two passing through .

Enjoyed our sea days, but I am up early every morning and was able to get a chair for Ray and a bed for me at the front of deck 9 once I had done my mile round dek 10. Loved my erly mornings and had a laugh at some of the antics up there early on with the towels, although I suppose I was one really. Ray cannot have a bed, and I like to be near him, so it suited us, and if we were going off ship, I certainly didn't put them out and reserve them for the morning, only on sea days till we had our breakfast, or up to the time we were going to leave ship to go ashore. Never had a problem any days, and never saw bad issues with anyone. Wondered how they would have coped inside if the weather was bad during the crossing though and everyone was tryng for bar seating.

Will ge this posted as scred of losing it. If I think of anything else I will come bak with it.

Gill.

We are going on this one too, been on a few Thomson cruises but this is our first trans atlantic. I am taking all summer clothes and a fleece for a coat just in case, and a pacamac. No formal night but a dress to impress night when smart casual will do, although from what Linda says in another post some do wear formal attire. We never pre book excursions. I like to go to the excursion showcase, but we often find a hop on hop off bus, a ship's beach tour, or wander round locally ourselves. We allow $50 a day in the Caribbean but just tend to find a bar or two for a local beer. Always get small denomination notes - nothing bigger than a $10 note and sometimes all $5 dollar ones if we can. Means if you get local currency change it is easier to spend it!! We are not getting any this time as we still have enough from our January cruise over there , so we don't spend a lot. Depends really if you want to pay locally for taxi trips.

Most important, just chill out and enjoy.

Gill and Ray.

Thank you for the great review Linda. We are off on Saturday to join her, and really looking forward to exploring the "new" ship. We will take deck plans out of the brochure with us as I tend to get very lost for the first few days.

Gill

Have done. 12 days to go, and we will try our first transatlantic, and looking forward to exploring the new one. Glad to hear you are pleased with her.

Gill.

Did a mock booking on our May cruise and it is £364 cheaper on line now to what I booked it with the TA on 27th September. We have won a few with price matching, but lost with this one as we were told it wasn't going on line.

Will enjoy it though, and the all in will help!!

Gill

We are booked in. TA rang when they came on sale Tuesday, and we went and booked. Sailing date from Malaga is now 7th May 17, and itinerary is:

7.Malaga. 8.Cadiz. 9.Portimao. 10.Lisbon. 11.Sea. 12.La Coruna.

13.Bilbao. 14.La Rochelle. 15.Brest. 16.Cherbourg. 17.Zeebrugge.

18.Amsterdam. 19.Bremerhaven. 20.Sea. 21.Newcastle.

Brilliant.

Gill

Interested in this cruise.

Gill were you able to book on line?

TA said it is not going on line and won't be in a brochure till January. They book it by telephone.

And our 7 May 17 Malaga to Newcastle in booked.

Gill

May 7th Malaga to Newcastle still not bookable!!

Well we went to our appointment for the Thomson Cruise Event hoping to get some information on the cruise we really fancy on Celebration, the repositioning cruise from Malaga to Newcastle on 7th May 17. There were no cruise brochures to look at while we waited, We found a 12 page discover cruise holidays brochure though with a page devoted to 8 different cruise companies, and Celebration had a cruise from Newcastle on 21 May 17. The only 2 in there we fancied were both Norwegian ones, a 7 night on PandO and a 14 night on Fred Braemar which was similar to the Norway Winter we did this year in March. When we got to see someone we started with the Celebration cruise which I had tried to find on line before going, and she failed to find it too, so rang to enquire to be told the welcome news that it was not available yet. Ho Hum!!! Her advice was to keep checking for it. We got details of the 2 Norwegian cruises, but will have to wait to see what we want to do when Celebration cruise finally becomes bookable.

Gill

Have a lovely time Linda, and look forward to your report. We have a while to go before we try Discovery at the end of next month.

Gill

We have been in various Thomson's TA shops in various towns around the country between York and Truro, and have been asking about this cruise, with varying responses, but the only thing we have established at this moment in time is that it should be 7 May 17, and it should be on sale at the end of this month. None have given any inclination that there have been any sales yet. Our local TA is having a cruise event on 24 September and we have an invite. I wonder what they will be flogging?

Gill

We have had the fizzy wine which I am sorry to say we don't like. Tried it with orange juice in but still couldn't drink it. Shame really, but it was good to be acknowledged. We had a thank you note once to say we could go to a restaurant and only pay for one meal which I thought was a strange thank you for returning when it involved us paying for 1 meal, and we are happy with the included meals. We have had a £25 off OBC bill which was good, and an ironing service for 6 items free which gave my husbands shirts a good crease free look. It is usually the wine we don't like though. Anyone know if stewards would change this for a bottle of red or white?

Gill

Thanks WCM. Great news. I don't have a problem booking with TA so happy to do that. Will start checking with them around 18th Sept when we get back from York. Will keep checking Whats in Port though to see when the rest of the ports get booked up as only 3 so far showing Celebration docking with them after leaving Malaga on 7 May.

Gill

Cheers girls.

 

Having compared the brochure with the website.

 

It appears that "Spirit of Iberia" on 7th May has been dropped from the schedule and switched to 21st May on TUI Discovery 2 (maiden voyage under Thomson ?) which will also do "Continental Coasts" sailing on its originally planned date of 14th May, both are roundtrips from Malaga.

 

That would allow Celebration to be detached for "Hidden Treasures of Europe" on 7th May, sailing from Malaga.

 

If any of that is wrong - I plead a defence of insanity caused by overexposure to Thomsons brochure and website !!! :D

I know what you mean as I got myself all wrapped up in sleuthing yesterday. Roll on the day when they get them ALL on sale in the right order in the right ships to the right places!!

Gill

Thanks Ladies, that's very useful stuff.

 

Except -

 

That doesn't appear correct, based on a 14 night cruise starting 7th May 2017.

 

Going by the brochure Celebration is on "Spirit of Iberia" from 7th May, followed by "Continental Coasts" from 14th May, both 7 night roundtrips from Malaga.

 

So, if she's been rescheduled for "Hidden Treasures of Europe" commencing 7th May - which ship is taking over these two itineraries - the new acquisition ?

Sorry it should be 21 May. 4 June was the original date.

Discovery 2 has taken on a lot of Med trips.

Gill

Having cruised with Thomsons at least 15 times. Have never had a bad cruise. Perhaps we have been lucky. We have found cleanliness better than on other cruise lines we have cruised with. Have yet to sail on Discovery, but do feel August is quite chaotic wherever you holiday. People are always ready to complain and you really do need to see for yourself Linda. Do really hope you have a great time.

Well said. Can't wait to explore her myself in October................ mind you, ours is an adult only one!! You get on there and have a great time. xx

I have been searching What's in port site, and found her booked into Portimao on 9.5.17, and it says on there she has come from Cadiz. As these are 2nd and 3rd day of the itinerary as per page 34, I presume she leaves Malaga on 7.5.17. I also found she is booked into Amsterdam on 18.5.17 which is the correct day she was due there, but having checked all the other ports, no trace.....yet. Will keep looking though as we want this one, and presume it won't go on sale until they manage to rearrange all the booked ports to the new dates. Just hope they manage them as it is a lovely port intensive cruise with only 1 sea day. Due into Newcastle 7.6.17.

Gill

Finished checking every port listed on the itinerary, and the only other one I have found her booked into was Amsterdam on 18.5.17. Maybe she is not being listed for sale yet because they are at a rather late stage trying to get her booked into the ports now they have changed her sailing date from 21.5.17 to 7.5.17. Will keep watching though as we really fancy this one. Due into Newcastle 21.5.17.

I have been looking at What's in port website, and Celebration is down for Portimao Portugal for 8am on 9.5.17. Says arrived from Cadiz. If she leaves Malaga on 7.5.17, she would be in Cadiz on 8.5.17 and Portimao on 9.5.17 according to the itinerary on page 34 of the brochure, so looks as though the sailing date will be 7.5.17 from Malaga. Couldn't find info at a lot of the ports as they don't go past Dec 16. We can go on it, so chuffed with that. Just need to wait now till booking opens.

Gill

Just booked a 3 night Magellan cruise to Amsterdam and Antwerp for December. Really enjoyed the ship last December, so looking forward to another cruise on her, even though a mini one.

Just found that 21 May one, then 4 June for the 1 week one, then another 14 night one 11 June. So she must leave Malaga around 7 May, which would be ok for us, better than the end of May. If it ever comes up for sale so we can check it out.

Gill.

Michael, just go with the flow, but your best bet is to have a look through the excursions which have a variety of choices. It very much depends on what kind of things interest you. I love getting out in caramarans rather than coaches, going for a swim or a snorkel somewhere. We did an old school bus tour of 3 different beaches on one island which was hilarious. The rail trip in St Kitts was brilliant with rum punches and pina coladas flowing freely when we went in 2013, but not so good this year with 1 drink when we went although others in different carriages had more than 1 drink given to them which helps. Taxi drivers ply for hire and some do tours which include food if yoiu want to do island exploring with a local firm rather than Thomson. A lot on here do that sort of thing, but you must get back to the ship in plenty of time if doing one of these as it can go without you if you are not on one of Thomson excursions which they will wait for if running late.

Plenty of wonderful things to do, don't worry, just be sure you will enjoy yourselves.

Gill.

She must be going somewhere. I have been in a TA today again trying to find out about the Malaga to Newcastle cruise with no luck. Nothing on the screens for her at all for May 2017. The best they could do was find the last one in Malage 30 April, and the first cruise from Newcastle 4 June. We were thinking Discovery has taken over the May cruises advertised in the brochure, but Celebration seems to have gone off the radar.

Gill.