Thomson Dream

[Jim The Scot]

Anyone know,(Berwyn)Costa Europas last sailing before it becomes part of the Thomson fleet?Be interesting to know how long they have allowed for its refurbishment before it sails as the Dream

[eightofninekev]

Anyone know,(Berwyn)Costa Europas last sailing before it becomes part of the Thomson fleet?Be interesting to know how long they have allowed for its refurbishment before it sails as the Dream

 

I've checked the costa website there is a cruise leaving Dubai on the 22nd of march for 19 days ending in Savona Italy which would be the 9th of April .I can't see anything after that,the first Thomson cruise is the 22nd of April so it looks like they have about 2 weeks.

[Jim The Scot]

I've checked the costa website there is a cruise leaving Dubai on the 22nd of march for 19 days ending in Savona Italy which would be the 9th of April .I can't see anything after that,the first Thomson cruise is the 22nd of April so it looks like they have about 2 weeks.

 

Thanks for that but

 

2 weeks :eek:

 

That doesn`t seem to be a great deal of time to refurb the ship up to the standard of their Brochure photos

[Cymro1953]

Thanks for that but

 

2 weeks :eek:

 

That doesn`t seem to be a great deal of time to refurb the ship up to the standard of their Brochure photos

 

Hi Jim,

 

I see Kev beat ,me to it with the answer. From what I've read I think they are going to wait until later to do a proper refurb going on our feedback.

They'll just about have time to repaint the funnel and name on her.

I see they won't be changing the names of restaurants and lounges either.

But looking on youtube I managed to find a few videos of her from Costa Cruisers and she doesn't look bad at all. There aren't many though.

 

Berwyn

[davecttr]

Thomsons Cruises magazine says they have 10 days to make changes before cruising begins and then a 6 week drydock in November during which they will use the summer experience to identify and make any changes required.

[Jim The Scot]

Hi Jim,

 

I see Kev beat ,me to it with the answer. From what I've read I think they are going to wait until later to do a proper refurb going on our feedback.

They'll just about have time to repaint the funnel and name on her.

I see they won't be changing the names of restaurants and lounges either.

But looking on youtube I managed to find a few videos of her from Costa Cruisers and she doesn't look bad at all. There aren't many though.

 

Berwyn

 

Thanks Berwyn so what they show in the brochure photo wise ie cabins etc won`t be anything like them?....Mmm,i f thats the case the brochure should say "this is what it will look like eventually"

 

Thomsons Cruises magazine says they have 10 days to make changes before cruising begins and then a 6 week drydock in November during which they will use the summer experience to identify and make any changes required.

 

Thanks for that Dave

 

I must get hold of one of these magazines.It`ll be interesting to see what changes they can accomplish in 10 days..In effect those that booked pre November cruises are guinea pigs?;)

[its,only,me]

So if that really is the case they should tell people :( no wonder people get angry when all is not what it should be :rolleyes:

 

mrs.c

[davecttr]

I can imagine the shakedown cruises can be 'interesting' experiences as the crew and the ship get to know each other. According to the magazine the entertainment team is already formed and rehearsing so they should be OK apart from using the rotating stage. Thinks, does the stage rotate during the performance? that could be interesting, dancers flying everywhere. :D

 

Apparently Captain Dereham? and some of the Celebration crew are moving to the Dream so there will be some who know all about what the 'Thomson experience' entails.

[Cymro1953]

I saw a Costa promo video of her yesterday on youtube but I can't find it now,only the Thomson's video.(The one off the website). There wasn't much difference between them.

 

If we get rough weather like April 2008 that revolving stage will be interesting with the ship going up and down and sideways and the stage going round :D

 

Berwyn

[Jim The Scot]

So if that really is the case they should tell people :( no wonder people get angry when all is not what it should be :rolleyes:

 

mrs.c

 

Thats what I was getting at mrs c in a roundabout way, instead of saying false advertising.Customers are attracted by the the brochure,pictures and the word NEW.If what berwyn and dave are saying is correct, Thomson are not providing what they are advertising/promoting :mad:

 

 

 

 

I can imagine the shakedown cruises can be 'interesting' experiences as the crew and the ship get to know each other. According to the magazine the entertainment team is already formed and rehearsing so they should be OK apart from using the rotating stage. Thinks, does the stage rotate during the performance? that could be interesting, dancers flying everywhere. :D

 

Apparently Captain Dereham? and some of the Celebration crew are moving to the Dream so there will be some who know all about what the 'Thomson experience' entails.

 

Dave,when you say Thomson magazine do you mean the brochure picked up at the local TA or a specific magazine?If so,where can I get a hold of one?

[Cymro1953]

Dave,when you say Thomson magazine do you mean the brochure picked up at the local TA or a specific magazine?If so,where can I get a hold of one?

 

Hi Jim,

we had one through the post last month. It just appeared.

email is cruisesletters@cedarcom.co.uk

 

Berwyn

[sunbather11]

Try looking at the pictures of the costa europa on zoover there are loads. Just google costa europa pictures. my wife and i are going on the dream in july and i have searched the web for everything to do with this ship.:cool:

[Jim The Scot]

Hi Jim,

we had one through the post last month. It just appeared.

email is cruisesletters@cedarcom.co.uk

 

Berwyn

 

Thanks Berwyn

 

Try looking at the pictures of the costa europa on zoover there are loads. Just google costa europa pictures. my wife and i are going on the dream in july and i have searched the web for everything to do with this ship.:cool:

 

Thanks sunbather,had a wee look on youtube after Berwyn`s heads up and had a look on another site.Will have a more in depth look later

 

With respect though,when someone books the Dream they are not to know to know that the ship is still cruising as Costa Europa and are booking the Dream on what Thomsons tell them,the brochure and pictures

[davecttr]

Well it will be the Thomsons Dream when they sail on it and if my TA is anything to go by as soon as I mentioned Thomson they dived in extolling the 'new' ship. The initial cruises will not be a disaster but some interesting stuff could happen which is always the case when a new ship debuts or there is a change of owner.

[Jim The Scot]

Well it will be the Thomsons Dream when they sail on it

 

Yes in name but by all accounts the interior won`t be as potrayed by Thomsons brochure thats all I`m saying.Its misleading to say the least.If they can make people aware of a 10 day going over refub before a major refub in November in their magazine the same information should be in their brochure thats available from local TA`s

 

and if my TA is anything to go by as soon as I mentioned Thomson they dived in extolling the 'new' ship.

 

I was in my local Thomson TA and they also were extolling the New ship,how lovely it looked,the cabins etc but only by showing me the pictures in the ordinary brochure,the same one as I had as they had no other information to give me...I also had a call from the Thomson main call centre today regarding a previous query I had and while on I asked for details/info on the Dream...They knew nothing about it either

 

 

The initial cruises will not be a disaster but some interesting stuff could happen which is always the case when a new ship debuts or there is a change of owner.

 

Looking forward to the reviews from those on the earlier cruises

 

Thats my rant over,i`m sure i`ll enjoy the cruise no matter if the interior is Costa or Thomsons ;)

[davecttr]

The photos in the brochures are either generic, they could be any ship, or of the Dream as she is now. I suspect the only cosmetic changes during the 10 days changeover will be painting the appropriate parts blue and changing the name etc. They might well not even replace the plastic crockery in the buffet although this would be a bad idea as early cruisers will rightly complain. The expensive artwork and sculptures etc might well be missing as Costa might want to keep them. The projected 6 week refit in november is a looong! time, heck you could almost do a engine change in that time.

[vwgolf]

Some interesting comments on here. We're not cruising on the Dream until Auhust by which time I'm hoping any little issues will have been ironed out. As others have said, I await the initial reviews with interest!

[Jim The Scot]

The photos in the brochures are either generic, they could be any ship,

 

Back on my high horse again :D ;)but exactly my point.Thomson are selling cruises on the strength of their brochure/pictures when strictly the ship will look nothing like them initially. Nowhere in the brochure does its says anything about photos being generic/artists impression or this is what the ship may look like post November.

 

Its like selecting and paying for a car from a magazine/internet but when you go to collect it it looks nothing like the one in the picture

 

Poor anology I know but its the best I can come up with at this time of the morning :D

 

 

Found this and I take it this is the statement in the magazine you were talking about dave?

 

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2009/11/16/32397/tui-to-invest-5m-in-thomson-dream.html

[davecttr]

Thanks for the link Jim, it gives more information than the Thomson magazine article.

 

£5 million initial spend.

Initial issues to be looked at:

- sound and lights in theatre

- over bright lights in restaurant

- possible relocation of kids and teens area

- large casino might be better used for additional cabins

 

The last one is interesting, I reckon you could fit 10 cabins in there, right next to the disco :eek:

 

I would add:

- plastic crockery issue

- what use for the existing chapel?

- how about a sky bar

- more single cabins

[Cymro1953]

Thanks Sunbather for the zoover pics link. If she looks like that when we get on I'll be quite happy.

The pic of the inside cabin on there looks identical to the one in the Thomson brochure.

 

As long as both the grub and drink are good and plentiful, and the beds comfortable with the usual Thomson's service from the crew we should be fine.

 

Berwyn

[Jim The Scot]

Thanks for the link Jim, it gives more information than the Thomson magazine article.

 

dave,is there much more in the mag?if not i`ll not bother with it

 

Thanks Sunbather for the zoover pics link.

 

Thanks from me also

 

If she looks like that when we get on I'll be quite happy.

As long as both the grub and drink are good and plentiful, and the beds comfortable with the usual Thomson's service from the crew we should be fine.

 

So will I Berwyn but you must agree it was a decent debate :D ;)

 

Ps,anyone think the drinks package price will come down?

 

Its not for my benefit but for the wifes

[capasamari]

Ha ha nice one Jim, but unless you are in separate cabins you both have to take the all-inclusive package anyway!

 

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Thomson will be taking notes and listening to passengers comments before they make any major changes to the Dream, so hopefully the early birds can have some input to the plans.

 

Carol x

[Jim The Scot]

Ha ha nice one Jim, but unless you are in separate cabins you both have to take the all-inclusive package anyway!

 

Carol,I knew that its just when i edited my post i couldn`t find the wink smiley to put in :)

 

In fact,theres doesn`t seem to be a facility for smilies when/after editing

[Cymro1953]

 

So will I Berwyn but you must agree it was a decent debate :D ;)

 

Ps,anyone think the drinks package price will come down?

 

Its not for my benefit but for the wifes

 

Yes, I'll agree with that.

I've just come from the TA now to pay the balance for 27th April and there's a poster in the window :- local flights, free A.I. and upgrade to outside cabin for £759.

 

Berwyn

[Cymro1953]

In fact,theres doesn`t seem to be a facility for smilies when/after editing

 

No, once you've posted the original as you've found you can only add new text. Spoils the fun