Thomson Cruises are getting onboard with you (Part 2)

[Dreamgirl1957]

Hi Thomson Team

 

What is happening with the loyalty scheme, I always book early but it seems the late bookings get the best cabins:(

 

Here here !!!! Very well put ! ;)

 

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[Huddersfieldtourist]

Hi Thomson Team

 

What is happening with the loyalty scheme, I always book early but it seems the late bookings get the best cabins:(

 

 

I can say that they do not get the best cabins if they book late - all things being equal. They may get a lower price but equally may not. The recent Transatlantic on the Dream saw the Manchester flight at £879 in Summer 2012 and by End of November it was £1220 for the same grade cabin - the prices can go up and down.

 

Someone booking for example a 4/5 inside on the Dream 12 months before someone else for the same cruise will get a better 4/5 inside cabin than those who booked late for the same grade as a rule but there will be an odd exception. By better I mean one that is either quieter or midships etc not an upgrade. There is a method which is followed which I can not explain on here. This has nothing to do with prebooking of cabins. ( obviously if you book early and pre book your cabin number you will have more choice).

 

On the recent Dream Transatlantic two people sharing a 4/5 cabin ( not sure if it was inside or outside ) upgraded on arrival at the ship by PAYING allegedly £300 ( each ?) to change to the one remaining balcony suite on Deck 11. Thomson rarely upgrade you for nothing unless they have no option - that is so it is fair to everyone. If one party gets a free upgrade everyone else wants one - so they do not do it.

[Dreamgirl1957]

I can say that they do not get the best cabins if they book late - all things being equal. They may get a lower price but equally may not. The recent Transatlantic on the Dream saw the Manchester flight at £879 in Summer 2012 and by End of November it was £1220 for the same grade cabin - the prices can go up and down.

 

Someone booking for example a 4/5 inside on the Dream 12 months before someone else for the same cruise will get a better 4/5 inside cabin than those who booked late for the same grade as a rule but there will be an odd exception. By better I mean one that is either quieter or midships etc not an upgrade. There is a method which is followed which I can not explain on here. This has nothing to do with prebooking of cabins. ( obviously if you book early and pre book your cabin number you will have more choice).

 

On the recent Dream Transatlantic two people sharing a 4/5 cabin ( not sure if it was inside or outside ) upgraded on arrival at the ship by PAYING allegedly £300 ( each ?) to change to the one remaining balcony suite on Deck 11. Thomson rarely upgrade you for nothing unless they have no option - that is so it is fair to everyone. If one party gets a free upgrade everyone else wants one - so they do not do it.

 

 

 

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Hi huddersfieldtourist , agree in part but I have witnessed a late Booker paying for deck 1 on spirit getting deck 7 delux at no extra cost . I know the cruise was a good price too. Just seems a shame Thomson didn't give the deck 7 cabin to an early booker instead.

 

Also the Dream Caribbean Tran you refer to was also being sold for £799 during very late Oct on tv on one of the cruise sale channels. I would have snapped it up but knew

my husband would be too busy at work when it sailed. :(:(

 

I normally book early so I know I've got what I want , I think prices are either best very early or very late, not usually mid way but I know there are some real experts on here who bag some good deals so always happy with any advice :cool:

[Huddersfieldtourist]

The Transatlantic cruise in December went as low as £719 and we paid £715 as we got given a £4 discount by the agent !!! This was 12th October 2012.

 

Whilst your scenario may happen it will be the exception and you always have to remember there are people who say they paid nothing for the upgrade when they did etc ( wind up merchants ) and also those where Thomson have had to move them at the last minute etc -

 

99% will not get a free upgrade ( even if they say they have ).

 

Sometimes people may get moved from a 6 inside on the Dream to a 5 outside but they tend to class that as the "same".

 

Cruise with flight with Thomson can go up as the cruise approaches if they believe supply is less than final demand ... the Transatlantic cruise from Manchester being a recent example as I quoted above.

 

Agree midway is not usually the best - but last minute is not always the cheapest all the time. And you have less choice etc

[Dreamgirl1957]

Hi again hudd ( I've given you a new name, bit less typing :):):) )

Crikey that was a bargain, good for you.

I bet your right on the wind up merchants too, some people just love to wind you up , they've prob paid top wack and are just bitter :D

Prob best to just book and enjoy what you've got and not want more, now if I can just master that ....:rolleyes:

 

Thanks too for the deck nine cabin tips for the dream, really appriciate it:)

 

 

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[sodafountain]

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

Hi huddersfieldtourist , agree in part but I have witnessed a late Booker paying for deck 1 on spirit getting deck 7 delux at no extra cost . I know the cruise was a good price too. Just seems a shame Thomson didn't give the deck 7 cabin to an early booker instead.

 

Also the Dream Caribbean Tran you refer to was also being sold for £799 during very late Oct on tv on one of the cruise sale channels. I would have snapped it up but knew

my husband would be too busy at work when it sailed. :(:(

 

I normally book early so I know I've got what I want , I think prices are either best very early or very late, not usually mid way but I know there are some real experts on here who bag some good deals so always happy with any advice :cool:

 

When looking online at later sailings, if a particular deck has sold out, it is not available as an upgrade, sometimes if you leave it really late, you only get a choice of 1 or 2 types of cabin (mabe deck 5/6 inside and Suite), and the price already reflects the upgrade to the lowest cabin available.

 

People may assume they have not paid an upgrade, as they have not asked for it, but if that is the lowest grade available at time of booking, the upgrade price is included in the base price, but they may not realsie.

[Thomson Cruises]

Hi Thomson Team

 

What is happening with the loyalty scheme, I always book early but it seems the late bookings get the best cabins:(

 

Hi aerobics9876,

 

We're currently looking into a loyalty scheme at the moment and Fraser gave the most recent update on this in his Q&A. Here's a link to the loyalty scheme question if you wanted a bit more information - http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1723652. If you've got any ideas on what you'd like to see, make sure you let us know so we can pass them on.

 

Thanks

Rhiannon

[Huddersfieldtourist]

When looking online at later sailings, if a particular deck has sold out, it is not available as an upgrade, sometimes if you leave it really late, you only get a choice of 1 or 2 types of cabin (mabe deck 5/6 inside and Suite), and the price already reflects the upgrade to the lowest cabin available.

 

People may assume they have not paid an upgrade, as they have not asked for it, but if that is the lowest grade available at time of booking, the upgrade price is included in the base price, but they may not realsie.

 

 

Probably the best answer to this query of "free" upgrades.

[Mitheral]

Hi Thomsons!

 

Wonder if you could help me find out how and where you apply for either the Social Hotess job or Destination Services on board the Thomson Cruises ships. Yours hopefully Mitheral!:)

[Thomson Cruises]

Hi Thomsons!

 

Wonder if you could help me find out how and where you apply for either the Social Hotess job or Destination Services on board the Thomson Cruises ships. Yours hopefully Mitheral!:)

 

Hi Mitheral,

 

If you'd like to send us an email to cares@thomson.co.uk, we can provide you with the contact details you'll need.

 

Thanks,

Lauren

[sodafountain]

Hello Thomson Team,

 

Could you please comment on this, if the whole holiday is supposed to be handled with ease, and you control the flights and ship, why are people removed from the ship when you know that the flight home hasn't even left the UK yet, in fact, teh plane bringing out the new passengers hasn't even arrived in the UK to bring them out.

 

Hi there the problem was caused by delayed inbound flights - due to Thomson Aircraft getting stuck in Austria in the morning.... The inbound Manchester flight didn't arrive till gone 1am, and I believe there were others late in also... We got turfed out of the airport to a hotel over night at 11pm ish as they knew the flight wouldn't return to Manchester, but it took a passenger to go get security to escort him through to arrivals to actually get a rep to come in and speak to us.... eventually getting back home on Sunday evening 19 hours later than scheduled ... Now while it wasn't a complete disaster as we did get a bed and breakfast - the ship really annoyed me as they knew the delay and yet insisted that we disembark, the insisted there was no delay and refused to acknowledge that their inbound flight hadn't even left Manchester! Eventually admitting that while they knew the flights were off it is company policy to disembark passengers as scheduled as you are no longer the ships responsibility it's the airlines responsibility.... So much for a seamless holiday experience... So we left - to simply spend 6 hours sat at an airport going nowhere to then get bussed around and spend more time waiting ... And all together the communication was shocking - while I appreciate these issues happen I would have hoped that Thomson would have handling of such situations down to a "T"

 

 

 

I shall do a trip report at some point, but despite a great New Year's Eve and some 20+ Thomson cruises I won't be returning to this boat in a hurry ....

[kruzseeka]

According to fellow posters recently returned from Dream it appears that there is no drinks package available on Dream - this is not the AI and is a stand-alone offer.

 

On both Spirit and Majesty during the summer season there were drinks packages available to buy on board. These were of the type (not precise details here but something like):

 

35 bottles/glasses(?) of beer

6 bottles of wine (different quantities were offered 4/5/6 bottles etc)

30 soft drinks

30 coffees, hot chocolate

 

All these offered a slight saving and were popular. Once purchased you had tickets which you exchanged each time you ordered from your package.

 

There has been much made of the change in the AI - bringing Celebration and Dream into line with that which operated on Spirit and Majesty (in fact the AI was never as good on these two ships so the change has been for the worse on Dream and Celebration). If standardisation was the underlying reason why therefore hasn't the drinks package, similar to that described above) also been standardised and rolled out across the fleet?

 

 

I would appreciate your comments and can you find out if this package is going to feature on all Thomson ships in the future.

[Grez]

Hi Thomsons,

 

Whilst you are answering questions about drink packages, can you answer this one for me please? Why is it that if I was to go on a Louis ship and purchase an AI package, things such as small bottles of water, coffee of the day and ice cream from the pool bar are included, while they are not included when the same ships with the same staff from the same company (on Spirit and Majesty) sail with the TUI logo painted on the side? And why is this package only £126 when it sails as a Louis ship when booked in advance, whereas with Thomson it is £199? Just curious as I always assumed that Louis ran much of the bar operation?

 

In our “Drinks Unlimited” package you will find listed below many cruise choice drinks that you can enjoy in all the bars, lounges and restaurant on board.

Alcoholic Packages:

Whisky

Vodka

Gin

Rum

Tequila

Brandy

All the above cruise choice brands can be served with choice of mixer (cola, lemonade, juices, etc.)

Soft-drinks served by the glass - cola, light cola, lemonade, orangeade, all mixers and fruit juices

Regular tea & coffee as per bar menu

Draught beer & cruise choice beers (by the can)

All non-alcoholic cocktails

Selection of alcoholic cocktails depicted on the bar list for free

Port wine, sherry, aperitifs and liqueurs

Red, rose & white cruise choice wine by the glass including sparkling wine

Special coffee of the day

Cocktail of the day

Selection of flavored ice cream 2 scoops each portion, obtained from pool bar during opening hours, does not include individually wrapped ice creams

Bottle of wine or champagne purchased will include a discount on listed price (cruise choice not included)

Large bottle of mineral water will include a discount on listed price

Small bottle of water is included.

[geomagot]

 

Someone booking for example a 4/5 inside on the Dream 12 months before someone else for the same cruise will get a better 4/5 inside cabin than those who booked late for the same grade .

 

I thought this too....and has happened this way in the past......but sadly no longer so

 

we booked our transatlantic over a year before departure, paid a fair price for it

 

o/s plus cabin on deck 5/6 didn't prebook cabin

 

got a crappy cabin on deck 5 at the back near some very noisy white space? a thudding noise all night vibrating through the walls behind the bed and we could hear non stop (bing bong) tannoy announcements coming from crew areas below:mad:

 

have been in cabins further up the corridor (midships) and they are virtually silent even more silent on deck 6

[sodafountain]

I thought this too....and has happened this way in the past......but sadly no longer so

 

we booked our transatlantic over a year before departure, paid a fair price for it

 

o/s plus cabin on deck 5/6 didn't prebook cabin

 

got a crappy cabin on deck 5 at the back near some very noisy white space? a thudding noise all night vibrating through the walls behind the bed and we could hear non stop (bing bong) tannoy announcements coming from crew areas below:mad:

 

have been in cabins further up the corridor (midships) and they are virtually silent even more silent on deck 6

 

How do you know that wasn't the best cabin available, based on booking order, after all the pre-booked cabins had been taken :p

[sodafountain]

I see Thomson Cruises answered a question an hour ago (think that equated to about an answer every 120 hours?), but not answered any of these yet, cherry picking again i presume!!

[stevedeccaman]

Hi Thomsons,

 

Whilst you are answering questions about drink packages, can you answer this one for me please? Why is it that if I was to go on a Louis ship and purchase an AI package, things such as small bottles of water, coffee of the day and ice cream from the pool bar are included, while they are not included when the same ships with the same staff from the same company (on Spirit and Majesty) sail with the TUI logo painted on the side? And why is this package only £126 when it sails as a Louis ship when booked in advance, whereas with Thomson it is £199? Just curious as I always assumed that Louis ran much of the bar operation?

 

In our “Drinks Unlimited” package you will find listed below many cruise choice drinks that you can enjoy in all the bars, lounges and restaurant on board.

Alcoholic Packages:

Whisky

Vodka

Gin

Rum

Tequila

Brandy

All the above cruise choice brands can be served with choice of mixer (cola, lemonade, juices, etc.)

Soft-drinks served by the glass - cola, light cola, lemonade, orangeade, all mixers and fruit juices

Regular tea & coffee as per bar menu

Draught beer & cruise choice beers (by the can)

All non-alcoholic cocktails

Selection of alcoholic cocktails depicted on the bar list for free

Port wine, sherry, aperitifs and liqueurs

Red, rose & white cruise choice wine by the glass including sparkling wine

Special coffee of the day

Cocktail of the day

Selection of flavored ice cream 2 scoops each portion, obtained from pool bar during opening hours, does not include individually wrapped ice creams

Bottle of wine or champagne purchased will include a discount on listed price (cruise choice not included)

Large bottle of mineral water will include a discount on listed price

Small bottle of water is included.

 

nice one Grez:cool:

 

but you will get a standard PR reply :rolleyes:

 

Stevie

[mtt]

why are the spirit cruise for next april not available yet, but in the brochures:confused:

[skioncruises]

why are the spirit cruise for next april not available yet, but in the brochures:confused:

 

I presume you did mean April 2013. Did you remember to change from fly/cruises to cruises from UK? they are there.:)

[skioncruises]

why are the spirit cruise for next april not available yet, but in the brochures:confused:

 

Sorry mtt. Ignore my previous post. Have just unearthed my brochure and see what you mean about in print but not on site. Missed off itineraries or is that when the lease will end and the ship returned to Louis? or even a replacement ship?:confused:

[okavango]

why are the spirit cruise for next april not available yet, but in the brochures:confused:

 

im confused which April do you actually mean 2013 or 2014 ????

[mtt]

im confused which april do you actually mean 2013 or 2014 ????

 

 

2014

[okavango]

2014

 

could be because Spirit wont be sailing a full winter schedule so when it kicks off for the year (even though it will be early'ish) it would be classed as its summer schedule ,if you look online for any of the other ships it doesnt go past the end of their winter schedule, does that make sense

[geomagot]

How do you know that wasn't the best cabin available, based on booking order, after all the pre-booked cabins had been taken :p

 

I suspected, because we booked our transatlantic virtually on release, I don’t think all the o/s+ cabins on deck 6 and all the midship deck 5 ones had been prebooked by that weekend?

 

I have always thought that the earlier you book the better your cabin allocation is

 

not this time tho?

 

also, I noticed that quite a few of our o/s neighbours (by the white space at the back) had booked with (a certain deals website) and many of those with o/s on deck 6 midships (away from the white space) had booked on the thoms website......do i detect a pattern?? or is it pot luck? not sure??

[sodafountain]

I suspected, because we booked our transatlantic virtually on release, I don’t think all the o/s+ cabins on deck 6 and all the midship deck 5 ones had been prebooked by that weekend?

 

I have always thought that the earlier you book the better your cabin allocation is

 

not this time tho?

 

But surely anyone booking a crusie AFTER you can still pre-book any cabin available, i always thought that cabins were then allocated to those that didn't pre-book about 2 weeks before sail date, once the pre-booking is closed for that cruise.

 

So it shouldn't matter if they booked before or after you, if they then pre-book a cabin, they can be where they want, and you'll be left with whatever is left at the end of it.