1st time cruiser review for Destiny and Med Renaissance

[tirchonaill]

Right, here we go, 1st stab ever at a review:o

 

Booked myself, the Mrs and 2 friends last autumn with the free AI included. Booked flights seperate, flew with easyjet.

Was a surprise for the wife as was her 40th on the day we sailed, 8th May. Only told her few weeks before the cruise(had to give her some notice to go clothes shopping for it), had phoned her boss already sorting out that weeks holiday for her.

 

Thankfully I found this site, where I got to ask a few questions, with always somebody willing to help with anwsers.

 

The week or two before going, things looked to be very worrying, no tickets, Ash and worst of all, no proper AI.

Some members on here reckoned I probably needed no tickets as was only going cruise only. CORRECT, all I had was a 4 page leaflet with the names which was sufficent.

 

Anyhow, 8th May arrived, woke up 4am, 1st thing, birthday kiss for the wife of course, put on the internet, "O NO" ryanair have cancelled all flights to Spain from UK & IRL, easyjet are bound to follow, cant get through to Belfast to find out. Get to BFS and all is well, PHEW, arrive in Palma at 1330, taxi pre-booked, €25 straight to Thomson terminal. Security at harbour just opened the barrier for us without any questions.

 

Check in was a doddle, from leaving the taxi to getting our cabin took about 20mins, 5 mins later the luggage arrived.

 

Now for the big question "Whats the story gonna be with the AI" as things were looking depressing on this forum before leaving.

The pool bar behind the Lido was were we went to find out our fate "Is Tia Maria on the AI list", he replied " Yes, it is". Happy days, we knew they must have went back to the old AI.

 

We were in cabin 2116, no noise of any description, was perfect, well maybe 1 hitch was that due to the unsettled weather, I had to go up a few decks in the morning to see did I need a jacket or not.

The ship seemed extremely clean, looked like new carpets, as I got to know, they spend some time cleaning, was scared to stand still in case they thought I was an ornament and started polishing me.

 

 

Blakes; only ever drank in here when I would go to get the daily paper they printed, drinks in here seemed strong to most bars on the ship.

Always used to find a lot of people seemed to go here for a nap, maybe it was something to do with my previous point.

 

Clipper; There always seemed a good crowd in here but there again it does not have that much seating,so would look packed. Seem to have a singer accompanied by pianist in the evenings, think Flopsy has more detail on them.

 

Sky bar; hhhmmmm, lovely bar with lovely views at times but sorry, they need someone with personality up there in the bar (was not the only person who touched on this subject) . Not the easiest bar to get to.

 

Oklahoma bar; Our favourite by a country mile, the 2 barmen, Sabi and Taha, dead on lads, Sabi being suppose our favourite.Even the waiter and waitresses were fab here. Never left here before 2am any morning.

 

Deck bars; never used them much as was have already stated, was not the best of weather for sitting out and would be ashore anyhow during the day. Best remembered for the good news of AI the 1st day.

 

Seven Seas; 1st night, we were taken to any table, after that stuck at the same table which I would not be eager on, I think I would rather have new faces every night. We were the early sitting, only missed the last night, went to Lido instead, big mistake as it was freezing.

All the same the food and service in the seven seas was top class.

Wore shirt and casual trousers every night bar captains night when I wore a dinner suit( that was one of my main questions on the forum here before going, would I be OTT if I was to wear dinner suit, you all put me right there too, bought one and boy, was I happy as 90% of men had one)

 

Lido; As Flopsy has mentioned, the majority of the time, it was pretty cold here but the food was fab, I do myself blame the air in the Lido for making my clothes shrink as thats where I spent a lot of time, great brekkies and lunches.

 

Can Can lounge; Went to see Abba the 1st night and thought it quite a good show. Seen the comedian on the Monday night and also on the Thursday night when he was on after Moulin Rouge which we also seen.

The comedian was a great laugh, was happy he done two shows.

As Flopsy has also stated, when they done the Can Can in Moulin Rouge, I have never seen so many men slumbered in their seats suddenly sit up with eyes glued to the stage, me, being one of them, even the captain of the ship sitting behind us was on his feet shouting Bravo Bravo.

 

 

 

Game shows; Thought these were good entertainment. Only problem is they were always at 10pm and clashed with the can can shows.

1st one was on the Sunday, called "Chance", the wife actually won this one so I better say it was similiar to mastermind:D.

On the Tuesday night, it was "State of the nation", I represented Ireland in this one against 3 other lads, 1 from Eng, Wal and Sco. The Welsh lad beat me in the final. Wont say nothing about the dodgy questions in final:p

Thursday night had "Family fortunes", that clashed with Moulin Rouge and the comedian, got to see 10 mins between shows, it looked good fun.

Friday night was probably the best, "Mr & Mrs", after witnessing that, there could be some divorce papers being signed as I speak, it is a great laugh.

 

Casino; Some people must pay for a cruise just to stay in the casino, know of 4 people who never left it, plants maybe but dont think so as was talking to them and seemed genuine enough.

 

Bingo; something which I thought I would never go near but ventured to it the 1st day and the 3rd game having a jackpot of over £500 made me return every evening bar one. Jackpot was not won til last day when it had to go, £2,027 went to London, some lift.

 

Entertainers; Thought the lads were all naturally gifted entertainers, of the girls, thought Kelly was head and shoulders above the other girls, maybe the other girls will get better as the season goes on and prove me wrong.

 

Excursions;

Before going on the cruise I knew my wife would rather chillax than go on excursions so did little on that front.

 

Villefranche; went ashore about 1pm, it seems to be a lovely little village, went around it on the mini train for €6.

 

Livorno; Went no further than Livorno itself, would not be rushing back to it but did find it was pretty cheap shopping wise and got all the pressies for back home here. Yes, we also noticed how good the Italian drivers are here, zebra crossing in their eyes must mean "put down the shoe and go faster" suicide mission crossing the road .

 

Rome; We headed off about 11am on the train to Rome €9 return, this took us to the Collesseum and the Vatican. Very impressive trip but missed bingo:p. Couple with us left at 8am on Thomson excursion and were knackered on their return, reckon it was very rushed.

 

Ajaccio; Open top bus tour here, we loved this place and myself and the wife have agreed, we must try and get here for a weekend in the summer.

 

Palamos; Stayed local again,have been to Barca before, nice town with narrow streets, shops seem to be on the pricey side and would not want to leave the gifts for back home being bought here.

 

Problems;

Only hitch was on the Monday morning when a lot of the toilets seem to go out of action, were a lot of crossed legs that morning but all was well again by afternoon. Couple across from us on captain night had their toilet overflow, they asked for another cabin to get ready but were told there were none available, thought that a bad show by all at reception desk. We offered our room but they said they would stay put.

Of course, the sun in hiding for most of the week was a slight problem too.

 

 

So for our 1st cruise, we thought it fantastic, met some lovely people(who we will meet up with again,), quality staff on board. And earlier today picked the cruise for next May, just get the other half to give sign of approval when she comes home. BOTTOM LINE IS I AM NOW HOOKED.

 

Once again thanks to all who anwsered any questions before the cruise and helped make it enjoyable for us.

 

Hope yez are not all sleeping after that!!!

[pokodogo1]

Great Review

 

Just what we wanted to hear as going on the Destiny in about a months time, we have been a little apprehensive since we booked it for various reasons but parts of your review have put our minds at rest.

 

As First Timers ourselves we decided to dip our toes in on the Destiny, hopefully we will have as good a time as yourselves.

 

Quick question ... What deck was your cabin on, we are inside 2/3 did you hear of any reports from these decks (noise/size) etc.........

 

cheers

[steelerannie]

Great review!! Glad you enjoyed the Destiny - we did find in the Caribbean the Lido restaurant is lovely - you get a really nice breeze blowing not gale force like in the med. :eek: Last year they put Taurpaulin (sp) (don't know if that's what they are really called!!) up and it sheltered the Lido quite a lot.

 

So please the AI is back to what it should be. My DD is off on the 29th and is really looking forward to it now.

 

Ann

[ekco]

Great review Tirchonaill.

 

It's really frustrating when people ask questions and never come back to say how they got on, so full marks to you :). Glad to hear you had a good time, it's understandable to be apprehensive on your first cruise, I know we were, but it doesn't take long to settle in and no one makes you feel uncomfortable.

 

I was surprised to hear that 90% were wearing dinner suits, my DH intends to wear just an ordinary lightweight black suit and there's no way he's going to pay for a suit he'll never wear. It's been bad enough getting him to take any suit at all. lol. :D:D

 

Jan

[Flopsy]

That was a super review Tirch, the first of many eh...........

 

Where are you planning to go in May 2011?

 

Flopsy

[tirchonaill]

Great Review

 

Just what we wanted to hear as going on the Destiny in about a months time, we have been a little apprehensive since we booked it for various reasons but parts of your review have put our minds at rest.

 

As First Timers ourselves we decided to dip our toes in on the Destiny, hopefully we will have as good a time as yourselves.

 

Quick question ... What deck was your cabin on, we are inside 2/3 did you hear of any reports from these decks (noise/size) etc.........

 

cheers

 

When we booked, it was also inside 2/3. What we got on arrival was deck 2, cabin 2116, could have no complaints at all about the cabin for size or noise(and we had 3 other cabins neighbouring us). The cabins are sufficent size for the time you spend in them. What we were amazed at, was the amount of hanging space for clothes, loads of room for them, cases were able to be hidden away in them too.

[WashedUp]

What a fantastically helpful and detailed review: very grateful for it (and also glad re the weather as we had to change our booking from the date you went, because of a family wedding, to the 22nd this month). Thanks for all your efforts. Sounds like lots of late nights, which I'm not good at! How on earth to people get up early enough for the excursions?? But all so very reassuring. What price peace of mind?

[tirchonaill]

Great review Tirchonaill.

 

It's really frustrating when people ask questions and never come back to say how they got on, so full marks to you :). Glad to hear you had a good time, it's understandable to be apprehensive on your first cruise, I know we were, but it doesn't take long to settle in and no one makes you feel uncomfortable.

 

I was surprised to hear that 90% were wearing dinner suits, my DH intends to wear just an ordinary lightweight black suit and there's no way he's going to pay for a suit he'll never wear. It's been bad enough getting him to take any suit at all. lol. :D:D

 

Jan

 

Hi Jan..Well, 90% might have been a bot of a porky:o but in all honesty definetly would have been around 75% mark. Mate was laughing at me up to that night about me wearing a dinner suit, he sure was not laughing on the night in question:D..Got mine in M&S, was great value compared to other ones I seen in other shops. Only thing is, I now have to book a few more cruises to get my values worth from the suit:p

[tirchonaill]

What a fantastically helpful and detailed review: very grateful for it (and also glad re the weather as we had to change our booking from the date you went, because of a family wedding, to the 22nd this month). Thanks for all your efforts. Sounds like lots of late nights, which I'm not good at! How on earth to people get up early enough for the excursions?? But all so very reassuring. What price peace of mind?

 

Thanks to be of help, yes, the late nights but the lovely breakfast in the Lido got me up early next mornings. One thing I forgot in my review, was the lifeboat drill which was on the first morning on board, the day at sea which is the best day for a sleep in as nowhere to go.Remember them making the announcement and turning around to the wife " does mandatory mean what I think it means". Have never seen so many sleepy and grumpy heads in one place before:D

[tirchonaill]

That was a super review Tirch, the first of many eh...........

 

Where are you planning to go in May 2011?

 

Flopsy

 

 

Hi, definetly has to have Naples(have always wanted to see Pompeii) and Sicily(Godfather fan) on the agenda. So it looks between the IE and Destiny again, same 2 ships I was deciding over last September as well, happy with the choice I made. Thought the Destiny was great but would like to try another ship, the IE, does not appeal to me for some reason. I have just noticed this morning, the Dream also visits the 2 places but at at a far costlier price.

Now, dont know is this the place to say this, but found a RCI cruise last night sailing on 29 MAY '11 for €335 with $200 on board credit. This offer is up today. No AI here but the 200 would help towards it I presume.

My fear on the RCI ship would be, that there would not be as good a feel factor as the Thomson ships, everyone we met on the Destiny, you could talk to and have a bit of banter with(if they could understand my accent:o).

On the way to Rome on the train and back, we fell in with 2 different crowds who were on the Voyager of the seas(think that was the name). Lovely people but we could not get a word in edge ways with them and I myself love to talk but not with these folk. So that is my fear, an hour was bad enough but a week:eek: no way hosay.

[ekco]

Give us a little hint on where you found the RCI cruise, also presume that's without flights.:)

 

Jan

[tirchonaill]

Give us a little hint on where you found the RCI cruise, also presume that's without flights.:)

 

Jan

 

Presume its good value then:), if flights were included I def would have booked it.

The $200 on board credit is gone, must have been up yesterday:(

[budgie1]

Tirch,

 

Very funny review. with lots of good info for the forthcoming cruisers. Taha in the Oklahoma was a good lad. LIke you, me and Mary fell out off there at closing time everynight. Great fella. Always poured my G&T before my drink was empty. :p Wouldnt fancy the RCI Cruises. Too many passengers and they tell me its 7 dollars for a pint. mmm wouldnt be for me.

Colin B Coleraine

[tirchonaill]

Tirch,

 

Very funny review. with lots of good info for the forthcoming cruisers. Taha in the Oklahoma was a good lad. LIke you, me and Mary fell out off there at closing time everynight. Great fella. Always poured my G&T before my drink was empty. :p Wouldnt fancy the RCI Cruises. Too many passengers and they tell me its 7 dollars for a pint. mmm wouldnt be for me.

Colin B Coleraine

 

Hi Colin, ye, tried to add a bit of humour to the review:) I see you have gone Destiny 2 years running, was it as good the 2nd time? Am going against the RCI idea alright, hefty wallet needed comes to mind.

Even the waitors and waitresses in Oklahoma were great, once they seen you were running out, refills were on the way.

2 pics I think of Taha in the following;

http://s811.photobucket.com/albums/zz31/donegal69/Thomson%20Destiny%208-15%20May/

 

Shaun

[budgie1]

Shaun,

 

Second year last year we did 2 weeks B2B on the Destiny. We walked on at around 2ish, and went straight to the bar by the pool, and the Barman remembered our names from the previous year. Maybe something to do with me hanging around the bars alll the time. You wouldnt get that on the big ships. Certainly recommend it the second time around. Although im looking forward to the Celebration in Turkey this year. Great photos. Yep that was Taha lifting you. Your obviously a wee light thing like me. :p You look like the sort of couple Mary and I would have loved to have met on baord.

[the east man]

Excellent review tirchonaill, and some handy tips. Looking forward to some good nights in Oklahoma:o

[aligarter]

Fantastic review Tirchonaill, Great pics as well. You looked a real james bond in your tux. I think its lovely when you see all the men dressed up like that I bet your wife was really over the moon with her 40th birthday treat I Hope that she had a wonderful Birthday.

 

We sre off on Saturday want to try the skybar as loved Horizon bar on celebration, will let you know if the bar staff have grown some personalities whe we get back.....

[tirchonaill]

Fantastic review Tirchonaill, Great pics as well. You looked a real james bond in your tux. I think its lovely when you see all the men dressed up like that I bet your wife was really over the moon with her 40th birthday treat I Hope that she had a wonderful Birthday.

 

We sre off on Saturday want to try the skybar as loved Horizon bar on celebration, will let you know if the bar staff have grown some personalities whe we get back.....

 

The waitresses are great up in the Sky bar, just the chief in command behind the bar but I only came across the person once, could have been a bad day just for them, we all have one of them. Sky bar is lovely though.

She loved the cruise, boy o boy, I earned some amount of brownie points with that surprise:) Looks like going to book Destiny again now for end of next May when my birthday will clash with the cruise, my 40th++:D

[aligarter]

The waitresses are great up in the Sky bar, just the chief in command behind the bar but I only came across the person once, could have been a bad day just for them, we all have one of them. Sky bar is lovely though.

She loved the cruise, boy o boy, I earned some amount of brownie points with that surprise:) Looks like going to book Destiny again now for end of next May when my birthday will clash with the cruise, my 40th++:D

 

Will be our first time on Destiny, bit nervous after having 2 wonderful cruises on Celebration, I can recommend the adriatic cruise did that last May was just brilliant. well I never been away for my B day yet.. have hinted for my 50th though took hubby away for his a few times so mine will have to be a real good one ;) sis inlaw says should do maldives ... hee hee

[Cymro1953]

Tirch,

Wouldnt fancy the RCI Cruises. Too many passengers and they tell me its 7 dollars for a pint. mmm wouldnt be for me.

Colin B Coleraine

 

Hi Colin,

We did an RCI one last June, lovely ship, but I didn't enjoy it. Apart from the cost of the drinks + 15% tip on each order, they allowed smoking indoors in the lounges and as a non smoker with a dicky chest it didn't help. Only 1 lounge that was totally N/S.

Also found most of the passengers very ignorant on their geography, hadn't got a clue what part of the world we came from. Thought we were English :eek::D

But DW has been enticed by the Larger newer ships.

After we do Red Sea Magic, we are going on a Princess cruise. built 2002 and 2600 passengers :eek::eek:

At least we've got $400 OBC that'll help with the drinks.

 

Berwyn