Red Sea Magic, Just Returned. Part 1

[Cymro1953]

Just back at 2 a.m this morning from the 31st March RSM cruise.

 

Plane was late leaving Sharm and we didn't land in Manchester until just before midnight. :( I was up at 8am typing this, it's 1st thoughts straight off the top of my head as you can probably tell when reading it.

 

And it was Magic. We had a fantastic time, met some lovely people and saw some amazing sights we would never have seen without this cruise.

 

The Ship.

It's our 1st time on the Spirit and though small and old she was lovely to sail on.

we were up on Deck 7 living the sweet life in the Woburn Suite. (All puns deliberate and awful :) ).

 

You can she she's an older vessel, but well maintained and kept spotlessly clean by the hard working crew who seem always at it. We never saw a dirty public area or toilet all week.

 

Yes, you can feel the vibration, or wobble, in several areas of the ship, especially the Horizons Lounge, but not noticeable in our cabin.

DW used it to her advantage for an aching back after the long excursions, positioning the relevant spot against the back of the chair and the wobble in Horizons used to massage her back like those massage chairs you see in the department stores.

The only minor problem we had was a wobbly shower head in our cabin which didn't like staying in the place you pointed it.

 

We did speak to some who were on the lower decks and complained of a continuous noise like sleeping next to a washing machine, but again spoke to others who were amidships on deck 1 and were not troubled at all by it.

 

The food was good to excellent. Always excellent when we ate in the Compass Rose and good and plentiful in the Lido Buffet. The only thing about the buffet despite all the rest of the food being hot, we could never seem to get a hot slice of bacon at breakfast. And watch out for the black pudding, it's tasty but spicy. Not like Bury black pudding.

The meat described as Beef or Steak in the buffet tended to be tough, but the rest was good.

The weather was beautiful throughout and warm enough to eat your breakfast outside by the pool, when you're not up before dawn for big excursions that is. The only cool bit was on the shady side of the ship as we were rounding the Sinai Peninsula on the sea day, that was a bit breezy there.

 

All th e waiting staff were polite and cheerful, More reserved in the Compass Rose but lively and jolly up in the buffet.

 

The entertainment team were hard working and very good.

Not top notch West End Theatre, but when you're sat there in good company watching the singing and dancing of the Thomson Spirit Showteam with a cocktail in your hand they're not far off. They really worked hard to put on some fantastic entertainment for us. From the Sailaway party on the 1st night to the show on the final night which we dragged ourselves to after our 15 hour excursion to Luxor and Valley of the Kings :eek:.

 

Talking of cocktails, we didn't have all inclusive and spent about £ 200 on drinks for the 2 of us and didn't go thirsty. I haven't asked NO.2 son what his drinks bill was. But he seemed OK when he got his final statement. Didn't keel over in shock. That's why we had a suite, the 3rd bed is in the lounge area separated by a curtain. We didn't fancy him coming in at getting on for 4 a.m. and trying to climb into a bunk drunk.

 

The passengers on the ship surprised us in their age range, being the type of cruise it was we expected them to be older, but they ranged from tiny toddlers and primary school children with plenty in their late teens and 20's for our son to mix with. From what I've seen of his evening pics so far seem to show him in the company of no less than 4 females, all attractive and mainly blonde.

 

We did hear some complaining about the cruise, mainly from those who seemed to have booked it cheaply last minute and not researched it and got a shock on arrival in ports that are basic and industrial and nowhere to go if not on a ship's excursion.

One nice surprise we did have was a note on the last night saying we didn't have to be out of the suite until 1pm on leaving day, so no getting cases out by 2am the night before for us. :D

 

This is long enough I'll do excursions in part 2. I'm the only one up and the washing's already in the machine. The joys of returning from holiday

 

Berwyn

[Cymro1953]

Sorry Posted this twice. CC froze as I was posting it

[Zappa]

Your report was so good I read it twice anyway.:D

[Cymro1953]

Your report was so good I read it twice anyway.:D

 

Thanks, Not bad for only 4 hours kip, even if a bit long winded.:D

I'll get on with excursions now.

 

Berwyn

[tjl75]

Pleased you had a great time on the Spirit. When you get the chance could you do a comparison between the Dream and Spirit, good and bad!

 

Thanks

 

TJ

[Cymro1953]

Pleased you had a great time on the Spirit. When you get the chance could you do a comparison between the Dream and Spirit, good and bad!

 

Thanks

 

TJ

 

Hi TJ,

We were on the Dream last year on the 1st full week's cruise after Thomson's took her over and her time in dry dock after Costa had crashed her with tragic consequences.

 

WE did not like the layout of the Dream, I can't put a finger on it but there was something about the ship's atmosphere and layout that we did not like.

To be fair most of the staff were new and still being trained by crew from other ships. The cabin, for a standard one, was one of the best we had had.

Our main complaint was that whenever we tried the buffet was that the food was lukewarm at best and mainly cold and did not improve despite complaints.

Food in the Waiter service restaurant was always hot.

 

The Spirit on the other hand, once you find your way round has a happy friendly atmosphere from both staff an passengers.

Food would probably be of similar quality, but always hot on the Spirit.

As the crew had been together a while they were settled in and worked well together.

The showteam on dream were newly put together and despite being good were still settling in together, while the Spirit showteam are gelled well together.

 

Berwyn

[pmh]

sounds like you had a wonderful time. We are off on our 1st cruise on the spirit in june. Likewise we have splashed out on a suite, just wonder if you had any pics, praise/criticisms of the accommodation. did you try the sirocco restaurant?

Regards Pauline

[Cymro1953]

sounds like you had a wonderful time. We are off on our 1st cruise on the spirit in june. Likewise we have splashed out on a suite, just wonder if you had any pics, praise/criticisms of the accommodation. did you try the sirocco restaurant?

Regards Pauline

 

Hi Pauline,

Thank you, it was great. Yes I have pics and will be uploading them for you and others.

Bed was huge, we had a decent size bath with shower over it. Loads of hanging space. A fridge and a safe, but did not use either.

Only problem we had with the suite was minor, a wobbly shower head that didn't want to stay where you pointed it. But it was nothing really.

The one thing Delyth pointed out that I hadn't noticed was that at night ,because we were sharing with our son, we drew the curtains between the bedroom and lounge area where he slept was that it made it like an inside cabin for us. But if it's just you 2 you won't need to shut it.

IMPORTANT make sure you get a suite on deck 7 and not deck 8.

We had the bottom of the lifeboat across the top of the window, but you could see out of the window. But on deck 8 suites the top of the boats block th whole window. We had 125 on deck 7 next to the stairs, nice and quiet.

 

Berwyn

[tjl75]

Hi TJ,

We were on the Dream last year on the 1st full week's cruise after Thomson's took her over and her time in dry dock after Costa had crashed her with tragic consequences.

 

WE did not like the layout of the Dream, I can't put a finger on it but there was something about the ship's atmosphere and layout that we did not like.

To be fair most of the staff were new and still being trained by crew from other ships. The cabin, for a standard one, was one of the best we had had.

Our main complaint was that whenever we tried the buffet was that the food was lukewarm at best and mainly cold and did not improve despite complaints.

Food in the Waiter service restaurant was always hot.

 

The Spirit on the other hand, once you find your way round has a happy friendly atmosphere from both staff an passengers.

Food would probably be of similar quality, but always hot on the Spirit.

As the crew had been together a while they were settled in and worked well together.

The showteam on dream were newly put together and despite being good were still settling in together, while the Spirit showteam are gelled well together.

 

Berwyn

 

Hi Berwyn

 

Thanks for this very helpful, I guess we will have to try them both then!

 

TJ

[Cymro1953]

Hi Berwyn

 

Thanks for this very helpful, I guess we will have to try them both then!

 

TJ

 

Any excuse to fit an extra cruise in :D .

 

If you asked would I go back on the Dream it would be a maybe.

But Spirit, you try and stop me getting on her again

 

Berwyn

[Scarey Mary]

Any excuse to fit an extra cruise in :D .

 

If you asked would I go back on the Dream it would be a maybe.

But Spirit, you try and stop me getting on her again

 

Berwyn

 

Hi Berwyn

 

Glad you had a good time and enjoyed the Spirit. She was the first ship we went on and loved it. Back on her soon and can't wait. It will be the third time and hoping to see some familiar faces.

 

Mary

[Cymro1953]

Hi Berwyn

 

Glad you had a good time and enjoyed the Spirit. She was the first ship we went on and loved it. Back on her soon and can't wait. It will be the third time and hoping to see some familiar faces.

 

Mary

 

Hi Mary, she's a lovely little shipand everyone so cheerful and friendly. I don't know when I last had so many people smiling at me in such a short time.

 

Berwyn

[kruzseeka]

Hi Berwyn, really glad you had a great time and that you felt so at home on the Spirit. :) It is a lovely friendly ship - hard to put your finger on just what it is - but once experienced we certainly want that same atmosphere again, hence our return to both Spirit and Celebration (which you'd enjoy just as much!)

 

Great reviews too - yes the ports are a bit dire - but as you say the excursions really are the highlights. Tell Delyth that her idea of using the vibrations to ease her back is brilliant! Must try that one! :D

[Cymro1953]

Hi Berwyn, really glad you had a great time and that you felt so at home on the Spirit. :) It is a lovely friendly ship - hard to put your finger on just what it is - but once experienced we certainly want that same atmosphere again, hence our return to both Spirit and Celebration (which you'd enjoy just as much!)

 

Great reviews too - yes the ports are a bit dire - but as you say the excursions really are the highlights. Tell Delyth that her idea of using the vibrations to ease her back is brilliant! Must try that one! :D

 

Hi Kruzseeka,

I know what you mean, I don't know what it is but you feel at home straight away.

At least we'd done our research thanks to you all on here and knew the ports were not the highlights of it. But what excursions!!

 

We're now off on the huge Princess ship in June. Delyth likes the big ones, so we'll give it a try.

I'm hopefully looking forward to Spirit in the Fiords next year if the cash is there.

 

Berwyn

[infoqueen]

hi berwyn welcome back. so glad you had a good time and enjoyed being on the spirit shes such a friendly ship i always feel really at home on her. anyway back to reality for you now but at least the weather is nice here for a while. as for me think i am going to book for the dream 25th june but holding my nerve for a couple of weeks before booking hoping for a drop in price

nice to have you back

shirley

[Cymro1953]

hi berwyn welcome back. so glad you had a good time and enjoyed being on the spirit shes such a friendly ship i always feel really at home on her. anyway back to reality for you now but at least the weather is nice here for a while. as for me think i am going to book for the dream 25th june but holding my nerve for a couple of weeks before booking hoping for a drop in price

nice to have you back

shirley

 

Hi Shirley, we had a great time. The Spirit was lovely. Yes back to reality, washing machine has been on the go all day. We're lucky to have good weather now we're back.

 

Berwyn

[solostar]

Hi Cymro, really enjoying your review, but when you have time could you go back to the restaurant & buffet, and give me some more detail of what is on the "menu" Thankyou :)

[Cymro1953]

Hi Cymro, really enjoying your review, but when you have time could you go back to the restaurant & buffet, and give me some more detail of what is on the "menu" Thankyou :)

 

HI Solostar,

the buffet had both hot and cold sections. For breakfast we had cereals(proper Kelloggs ones) not the "mystery cornflakes" you get on other lines. they had all the usual hot cooked breakfast items and an omelete station cooking fresh omelettes to order. As well as chilled juices, fresh and tinnned fruit salads.

 

Lunch and dinner times had an excellent salad area with both separate salad items like tomato, lettuce etc. to make up your own and ready made salads like tuna salad, greek salad. The hot stuff consisted of grilled turkey steaks , fish fillets. hot rice and an Indian item of some sort, not always a curry.

They had usually a pasta gratin dish of some sort with a creamy sauce.

A hot roast carvery. jumbo hot dogs. Plenty of choice to suit both carnivores and vegetarians.

In the Compass rose, the menu was what you would expect in a good reastaurant. Dinners consisted of 5 courses, we only ate in there twice though as we were on the long day excursions and were up early and late back so usually went straight to the Lido Buffet.

It will be different if you are on her in the Med or Aegean as you'll be back aboard earlier and have time to have a leisurely evening meal.

For example some items we had here were, escargots, Steak Diane, turkey dinner, liver pate mousse, salmon. (Not all on the same night :D ).

The steak here was gorgeous and melted in your mouth, unlike it's tougher cousin up in the Lido.

Going back to the Lido, they have proper cups for your tea, unlike the usual melamine ones they have on other ships. And they have PG Tips tea

 

Berwyn

[solostar]

Thankyou so much for taking the trouble to reply on such a lovely weekend, at least all your washing will be dry! That was a great help, thanks again.;)

[Cymro1953]

Thankyou so much for taking the trouble to reply on such a lovely weekend, at least all your washing will be dry! That was a great help, thanks again.;)

 

It's a pleasure, we were not doing much apart from doing Widow Twanky impressions, tied to the washing machine. Oh and I almost forgot, watching the Formula 1 Grand Prix from malaya :D

 

Berwyn

[CRUISIN LINDA]

It's a pleasure, we were not doing much apart from doing Widow Twanky impressions, tied to the washing machine. Oh and I almost forgot, watching the Formula 1 Grand Prix from malaya :D

 

Berwyn

Showing your age Berwyn!! It's called Malaysia now:D:D

[Cymro1953]

Showing your age Berwyn!! It's called Malaysia now:D:D

 

OK Smartypants :D I still remember my atlas all covered in red bits belonging to the Empire. :eek: With proper names for the countries. Less than 2 years to go now till I hit 60 :eek::eek:

 

Berwyn

[CRUISIN LINDA]

OK Smartypants :D I still remember my atlas all covered in red bits belonging to the Empire. :eek: With proper names for the countries. Less than 2 years to go now till I hit 60 :eek::eek:

 

Berwyn

Oh! I got my buspass, two years ago - fabulous - haven't used the car all week. Shall give it a runout tomorrow though to see daughter and grand-daughter in Aylesbury. I think I have been invited over to do some gardening though :rolleyes:

 

Glad you liked the Spirit. We loved the Celebration and I know they are identical ships. We have just booked the Eclipse for next September, hope it's not tempting fate. It was the Eclipse we had to cancel last year.

[solostar]

Just put in for my bus pass, that is what the cruise is celebrating! Dare I ask for any info on desserts? or aren,t you a "pudding" man :D

[Cymro1953]

Oh! I got my buspass, two years ago - fabulous - haven't used the car all week. Shall give it a runout tomorrow though to see daughter and grand-daughter in Aylesbury. I think I have been invited over to do some gardening though :rolleyes:

 

Glad you liked the Spirit. We loved the Celebration and I know they are identical ships. We have just booked the Eclipse for next September, hope it's not tempting fate. It was the Eclipse we had to cancel last year.

 

Sounds like we're all creaking old crocks on here :D. Where's my walking frame :D:D

Eclipse? Which cruise line? And where are you off to/

 

Berwyn