Cruise n Blues Holiday dream becomes nitemare

[Keith Jackson]

It had all started so well. The volcanic cloud had gone, the flight was on time and Thomson were Germanic efficiency in logging us on board.Our Cabin , No16 , was a pleasant surprise and roomier than we expected and totally private .

 

Day 2 Saturday at sea, got to know the ship and it's smiling Philopino crew and hard working Ukrainian girls. Horizons a very nice relaxed bar with a good pro trio.

 

Day 3 Ah the start of our Hols, Crete and very good tour to Knosssos and a cretan preserved village with nice simple lunch and Retsina.

 

Day4 Kusadassi. The honey undertaking the tour was on her first trip too and very good she was!Mary's House was...a house! Ephasis was fantastic.

 

Day 5 Mykonos - Pretty average tour, the wine tasting was forgetable. Mykonos Town is lovely I could stay here longer.

 

Day 6 Athens and the Partenenon. A physically demanding day, steep climbs and no shade, the tour guide also rushed us a bit

 

Day 7 Katacolo Olympia. Well, I didnt see it. I had a great deal of trouble breathing, managed to get to the big Ukrainian Doc who examined me and - excuse my language - **** himself! I was taken by ambulance to intensive care in Pyrgos, you wont find this on a cruise itinery.To thompson's credit and my everlasting gratiude, they looked after my wife really well, The holiday was curtailed at this point. Sam Hale on board and the on shore reps were simply superb. My wife was placed in a very nice hotel in Pyrgos, After 4 days I was transferred to Patra UH and a stent placed in my main Heart artery.

We booked this holiday in May 2010 and here I was in the ER, but at least Im alive, I was escorted home from Athens yesterday and I have nothing but praise for the Insurance Co - City Bond - and the Greek medical profession.

 

I'm sorry if this is a bit "off - line" but at least you know your in good hands

 

Observations

 

Capt's dinner - well the ladies like it I guess

 

Entertainment - Shows arent my thing but they certainly earned their money

 

Food - A bit mixed I felt. The Lido is basically a canteen and , personally, I felt a bit uncomfortable there and the food was pretty average. The Compass Rose, was also a bit like catering for the LCD I understand why , on that scale it cant have the feeling for food and intimacy or charm that a local restauarnt can have - we had a lunch in a Taverna in Mykonos that was simple but true to itself, and theres far more to salad than lettuce. That said it was perfectly acceptable if a bit bland to me, Im sure many people will love it.Although I still dont get that stuff about the polystyrene Baked Alaska thing

 

Vibrations - Difficult to ignore

 

Would I go again? Well I'm pretty determined to finish this one!, on the whole we had a lovely time , met some really nice people and were impressed by the high degree of customer attention it's not something I'd do each year but - health permitting, because lets face it if your miles out at sea you could be in real trouble - I was lucky, but health and Insurance claim on my curtailed holiday permitting I think we would

[davecttr]

Phew! glad to hear you will still be cruising. On a light note, were the 'extras' a Thomson package. ;)

 

At least Thomsons looked after you well and the doc spotted it was a problem indigestion tablets would not cure.. The insurance company seems OK too as I was expecting you to write that they had come up with some purile excuse for not paying.

[kruzseeka]

It had all started so well. The volcanic cloud had gone, the flight was on time and Thomson were Germanic efficiency in logging us on board.Our Cabin , No16 , was a pleasant surprise and roomier than we expected and totally private .

 

Day 2 Saturday at sea, got to know the ship and it's smiling Philopino crew and hard working Ukrainian girls. Horizons a very nice relaxed bar with a good pro trio.

 

Day 3 Ah the start of our Hols, Crete and very good tour to Knosssos and a cretan preserved village with nice simple lunch and Retsina.

 

Day4 Kusadassi. The honey undertaking the tour was on her first trip too and very good she was!Mary's House was...a house! Ephasis was fantastic.

 

Day 5 Mykonos - Pretty average tour, the wine tasting was forgetable. Mykonos Town is lovely I could stay here longer.

 

Day 6 Athens and the Partenenon. A physically demanding day, steep climbs and no shade, the tour guide also rushed us a bit

 

Day 7 Katacolo Olympia. Well, I didnt see it. I had a great deal of trouble breathing, managed to get to the big Ukrainian Doc who examined me and - excuse my language - **** himself! I was taken by ambulance to intensive care in Pyrgos, you wont find this on a cruise itinery.To thompson's credit and my everlasting gratiude, they looked after my wife really well, The holiday was curtailed at this point. Sam Hale on board and the on shore reps were simply superb. My wife was placed in a very nice hotel in Pyrgos, After 4 days I was transferred to Patra UH and a stent placed in my main Heart artery.

We booked this holiday in May 2010 and here I was in the ER, but at least Im alive, I was escorted home from Athens yesterday and I have nothing but praise for the Insurance Co - City Bond - and the Greek medical profession.

 

I'm sorry if this is a bit "off - line" but at least you know your in good hands

 

Observations

 

Capt's dinner - well the ladies like it I guess

 

Entertainment - Shows arent my thing but they certainly earned their money

 

Food - A bit mixed I felt. The Lido is basically a canteen and , personally, I felt a bit uncomfortable there and the food was pretty average. The Compass Rose, was also a bit like catering for the LCD I understand why , on that scale it cant have the feeling for food and intimacy or charm that a local restauarnt can have - we had a lunch in a Taverna in Mykonos that was simple but true to itself, and theres far more to salad than lettuce. That said it was perfectly acceptable if a bit bland to me, Im sure many people will love it.Although I still dont get that stuff about the polystyrene Baked Alaska thing

 

Vibrations - Difficult to ignore

 

Would I go again? Well I'm pretty determined to finish this one!, on the whole we had a lovely time , met some really nice people and were impressed by the high degree of customer attention it's not something I'd do each year but - health permitting, because lets face it if your miles out at sea you could be in real trouble - I was lucky, but health and Insurance claim on my curtailed holiday permitting I think we would

 

 

I'm sitting here ready to type something and having difficulty finding the words! What a shock and an awful experience Keith. I'm just so pleased you are home and, I trust, on the mend. You and your wife (she must have been so worried) were clearly well looked after which is so very reassuring. Pleased that everyone stepped up to the plate and delivered for you!

 

The holiday pales into insignificance in comparison to your health (but pleased your experiences were generally positive). Look after yourself and my very best wishes for a full recovery.

[Jim The Scot]

 

Whe I saw the title of the thread I thought,Oh no the Dreams back to what it was early last year

 

KJ,sounds a nightmare but hope your well and on the road to recovery.

[Kiki cat]

What a frightening experience! Scary in the UK never mind in Greece! So glad you are recovering and sounding so positive. Just goes to show we should not take our health for granted! Best wishes to your wife x

[Ceabea]

oh my goodness what a frightening experience for you both (and the ships doc by the sound of things :D) so glad it was handled well and YOU were looked after and fixed - so many other ways that whole experience could have ended!! also good to know they took care of your wife who must have been out of her mind with worry.

 

For you next holiday go somewhere flat!!! ;) :D

[Keith Jackson]

Thank you all!! I have no intention of signing out just yet:) and you typify the wonderful qualities we found among fellow cruisers, on behalf of a very relived couple thank you once more for your concerns and well wishes

 

Keith & Myrna

[Julessmiles]

Thank you all!! I have no intention of signing out just yet:) and you typify the wonderful qualities we found among fellow cruisers, on behalf of a very relived couple thank you once more for your concerns and well wishes

 

Keith & Myrna

 

So sorry to hear you have been SO ill and pleased that you were SO well looked after - thank goodness you were in port when it happened and they managed to get you to hospital quickly. My parents have nothing but praise for Thomson when they were in a similar situation; they were in the Red Sea when their friend took seriously ill; Thomson pulled out all the stops and could not have been better - it is so reassuring to know how professional such a large company can be and also makes you realise sometimes that it is important to pay the extra and go on a package rather then "go it alone"

 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery now you are home

[rookery]

...and also makes you realise sometimes that it is important to pay the extra and go on a package rather then "go it alone"

And also highlights the importance of good insurance cover.

[kate52]

What a frightening ordeal for you and your wife- especially so far from home.

Congratulations on making such a good recovery!

It's reassuring to know how well you were looked after, both on board and in hospital.

Very best wishes- hope you enjoy many more cruises,

kate

[missus mac]

So sorry to hear that you were ill on the cruise, Keith, and wish you a speedy recovery. It's comforting to know that the Spirit doctor and Thomsons took such good care of you and your wife.

 

We were on board but had no idea of this. On the second Saturday, we did see a woman collapsing on the Lido Deck, just at the bottom of the stairs to Deck 6 - I think she may have been trying to get to the Lifeboat Drill. We were very impressed by the speed with which the medical team got to her and took care of her.

 

I hope you can do the second leg of your cruise sometime - it's a superb itinerary.