gillhalfpint

I loved watching the programme, but will stick with the smaller ships I love so much. Nearest I will get is Discovery in October - looking forward to that one.

Do any of you fridge magnet collectors know whether the photo shop sell fridge magnets that show the ports of call on a map visited on the cruise. I have never looked at the magnets on Thomson before, but on our recent Norway Winter cruise on Fred, they had map magnets which I thought were brilliant, and also postcard sized photos of Norway with all the ports marked up.

It is not a map as such, but shows the itinerary from port to port.

Our first cruise was a back to back in the Caribbean in January 2013, and we made the mistake of thinking this was a one off cruising holiday, so booked ship tours on every island which I must admit we really enjoyed. We came home and booked up for January 2014.

Now quite a number of cruises later, we don't book so many ship tours as we like to find a beach and do our own thing a little more, usually leaving in the mornings so we don't get back late for sail away, but believe me, whatever your decision, I am sure like us and many more on here, you will love the islands and have a fantastic cruise.

https://www.worldcruising.com/arc/arcitinerary.aspx

 

we may see them at some point:eek:

 

Stevie

Should be good. Think we get in the day after they sail, but s good chance of seeing some of them I reckon.

Would love both of them myself as there are a lot of new ports for us. Can't do these two on a back to back though, so I might consider A taste of the Adriatic followed by Croatian Classics. If you just have 1 week, don't think you would be disappointed with either of them. Good luck!

Welcome to cruising, and I am sure you are going to have a great time. We are doing Paradise Islands in January.

Food is basically served all day in one form or another and you can go for meals whenever you want to, apart from the Captain's night when you will be given a set time on first or second sitting in the main dining room. The Cruise News you get daily in your cabin gives you the opening times of the various bars and places to eat to choose from.

Half day trips can be morning or afternoon and destination services on board will be able to let you know the times of the trips you have booked. There should be a folder in your cabin when you arrive with the trips detailed, and these will have the times on, and your tickets will be put into your cabin for you.

The various bars have entertainment on, and again you will see details in the daily Cruise News.

Trips are arranged on the last day in Barbados, but it will depend on your return flight time as to what may be available to you.

There is a prepacked type hot meal served on the Dreamliner, and later on there is a sandwich and scone type tea. Drinks come round too. Hot, cold and alcoholic.

When you land you go through to the coaches to take you to the port where you go through a large terminal to be registered. They give you your ships card which is used to purchase anything on board, and is shown when arriving on or leaving the ship at ports, take details of your credit card (fee to pay) or debit card (free) to pay for any purchases on board. A photo is taken and you make your way on board where someone will show you to your cabin.

Have a fantastic time.

Gill

Thank you for the gen. Love chocolate, so that sounds a distinct possibility. Seems a long way away at the moment, but am so looking forward to it. It's funny, but when I know a sea day is coming up I am fine with it, but when a "bonus" sea day is announced for a missed port as was done for San Blas, I feel at a loose end, despite the heroic efforts of the show team to keep us entertained. Just know it will be a fantastic cruise.

We are Paradise Islands the same week as you, then Tropical Delights. I see you have started a roll call for your cruise, I have one for the 22nd but will pop into yours too as you never know if you get good information that will suit us too.

I am not sure what changes might be made when Thomson take the ship over in June. Someone thought the Casino area might be reduced, but we have never been on her, so I will do my usual - go to the top and explore my way down. October seems a long way off at the moment though, but still looking forward to going back over there. Will be our first transatlantic too, another reason for booking as we wanted to try one.

Cheers Gill......we are also on the Discovery, a back to back, starting 15th Jan.

Just to be clear, there are only set dining times ie first and second sittings on the Captains night ?

We are on a back to back starting 22 Jan, and love these islands. Our third time, and don't seem to need to get deeted up on them. Must be lucky! Main Dining Room open from 6.30 to 9.30 at night and you can go down anytime to eat every night apart from Captain's night when you have your chitty with the set dining on.

Of course, I am presuming Discovery is following the same pattern as the other Thomson ships.

Formal night - Captain's night not necessary black tie. My husband wears a green dickie bow, and ties of all colours seen. Men wear DJ's, tux, suits whatever suits them as long as smart. Ladies get dolled up.

Open seating most nights in main dining room any time you like once they are open. You get asked if you mind sharing so can get onto large tables ok.

Captain's night you will be allocated first or second sitting. You can pick your own table then when the doors open. They are roughly 6.15 and 8.15 and the show is geared to each dining time. There will be a note in your cabin to say which sitting you are on.

This info of course to our recent cruises. We are going on Discovery for the first time in October to the Caribbean, then again in Jan 17 for my "big" birthday.

Just wondering what would happen now if they got people over to a port ok, but when it came to the return journey they found it was too dangerous for the tenders. We were on a ship where we got ashore, then tenders were suspended as the weather turned, and the ship even tried to find a safe place on the other side of the island to take tenders out to no avail. It came back to it's anchorage and waited a long time before getting tenders to bring us back to the ship. The bouncy ride back was fun - to me but not for others I admit - but wondered if they ever have to leave folk.

Your Devils Island sounds a bit like Thomson's San Blas Panama. That became an extra sea day they called a "bonus" sea day on our cruise till they replaced it with another port for later sailings.

Hi to you 2 from us 2 too RR. We like Spirit, but then we just like cruising. Have fun.

I'll have to look out for Red Frog Ale, not heard of it before but just looked it up.

As for the bottles on Celebration, I hope they still have them in July but I'll bet they are not included in the A/I menu.

Bottles were £3.90, or £2 of you had the drinks package.

 

I rarely post here anymore as I have to log in every time which is such a bind as I forget the password lol but I do pop in & read lots!

 

I used to have to log in every time I wanted to read posts, and someone said to use boards.cruisecritic.com instead of boards.cruisecritic.co.uk and that works for me.

We are real ale drinkers so find a problem on board, but Celebration had bottles of Fullers London Pride, Greene King / Morland Old Speckled Hen, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Marston's Pedigree in January

When I booked one on line, the TA said they couldn't access the booking number on their computer. The invoice had a normal number on, and it had come from a TA in Sheffield so I rang that number to pay my balance. They were also very helpful in getting the airport assistance for Ray and answering any queries without having any premium phone bills.

There is a board on here for Royal Caribbean, and I am sure someone on there will be able to tell you.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/storm-shortened-cruise-had-damaged-propulsion-system-135610085.html

 

:mad:

I don't very often read other ship forums, but I have been reading these over the last few days, and I was so pleased they came through it, and so many staying loyal to their favourite ships. Much as I like cruising, I can't see me going for one of these massive ships. Saw Oasis of the Seas in the Caribbean, and thought then that I am happy with Thomson and Fred.

No, any passengers missing have to contact the Ships local agent whos number is printed in the 'Cruise News' for each port, then they arrange transport for you to catch the ship at the next possible port, well that's what happened when we witnessed it but the agent was actually waiting on the dock for them. I presume you have to pay for the privilege.:rolleyes:

When doing Discovery in October then, we had better make sure we are on board as there will be 6 sea days to Antigua if we miss it!! Thanks, we usually leave ourselves over an hour to the passenger boarding time when around the port on our own, or about 3 if with a taxi somewhere.

The first time we witnessed it we were on Destiny @ Calvi, Captain waited about thirty mins just has he pulled away they arrived but he could not re dock unfortunately the remainder of the family were on board the second was on Spirit @ Civitavecchia when someone was late back from Rome but he only waited twenty mins I think some first time cruisers just don't realise how busy Rome gets:rolleyes:

Do they pack the cases and emptying the safe etc to leave ashore for passengers being left behind, or presume the passengers will arrange flights to rejoin at the next port. Just curious, as our passports are usually locked in the safe unless we are told we have to take them ashore.

We did not pay for extra legroom and selected 30D and 30E when we chose our seats for January, and as they were behind the centre toilet area we had loads of space. I could not touch the wall in front with mt feet. Only problem was folk using the loos used the space in front of us to get from one aisle to the other and could stand on our toes. Steward said foilk shouldn't cross that way, but they did. Loads of room though, and nobody had the third seat so we sat with an empty seat between us and used the seat and extra table for a more comfortable flight.

Mmm still unsure but will keep checking!!!

 

Ps how do you put the list of cruises you have been on at the bottom of your messages ??:)

Go into countdown clocks at the top of the page to enter any cruises you are waiting to go on, or into user CP to amend your signature to enter any cruises you have been on.

We have just come back from Paradise Islands and had a great time. Everything runs smoothly with Thomson getting on board. We didn't have sea sickness, but I always have pills with me in case, but in 10 cruises now have never needed them - must be getting past their sell by date! They are a bit of a security blanket. Enjoy exploring the ship, and find where you like to drink on her, and have a great time.

The roll calls are where someone enters the ship date and cruise they are going on, and others going on the same cruise can also comment on it and chat about the ship, the itinerary or arrange to meet up. Anything goes to help each other.