Celebration review and pictures posted May 13

[joeholiday2]

For those that can't wait.....

 

Ship Pictures

http://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/1649

 

Cruise Pictures

http://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/1675

 

Review as posted on main site:

 

Egypt & Holy Land Cruise 27th May 13

 

The whole cruise was just what we needed, a lovely break with great weather. We only really went for the sun and the itinerary was not one that particularly inspired us, so it was a chance to relax. We only did Jerusalem and Bethlehem as a tour and just walked off at the other ports (with the exception of Port Said). Alexandria is the biggest dump I have seen, a horrible, smelly place where they pester you non stop. The Jerusalem and Bethlehem trip was really good, and one we have both said we are glad to have done it whilst we have the chance. On this day there were 900 passengers going out on trips, so anyone left behind would have had the ship almost to themselves.

 

 

Having been on the ship exactly 12 months previously (half term...) we didn’t notice much change in the hotel operation, food was just as good, and very similar to what is served on Dream. The shows provided by the wonderful entertainment team have changed, a great thing for the regulars but we missed the Africa show, we could watch that most nights..... On the whole the ents were great, Top Men were regulars in Liberties and 2Intense in Horizons, the classical Duo plays in Hemingways now instead of Explorers, all were fantastic. We also got to meet up with our old friend Gavin Carroll who is CD for 2 months this summer. A lot of the entertainment team have changed, they really are professional and look like they are loving the job. It’s not just the performers that do a good job on Celebration, the backroom production team are excellent, they really make the most of the smaller Show-lounge than on Dream, the sound levels are just right, not too loud, and the sets are far better and more imaginative than Dream, making good use of the limited room they have.

 

 

We did notice that there seemed to be a lot fewer sunbeds up on the sundeck, I asked the question to a staff member and they assured me there was the same number. I don’t agree, they were not as crammed in on the main sundeck and the forward one only had 2 piles of beds early morning, not 4 like last year. Even though there were a lot more Children on than last year the sports court hardly seems to get used, I think they should change this to sundeck space as by 10am on sea-day not a bed could be found.

 

 

Having been on both Celebration and Dream pre and post Platinum refurb I think they have done a better job on the Celebration, it smartens the ship up more than on Dream. Like on Dream it’s mainly carpets and upholstery that have been improved, although the cabin bathrooms have had a makeover on Celebration with large tiles instead of the small mosaic type, the old brushed aluminium cabinet remains but there is a new sink unit. This is made of what I would call good quality MDF so I wonder how it will wear over the years?

 

 

To sum up, it was a good cruise, up to usual Thomson standard, with the great staff once again being the stars of the show.

 

(edit)

Just remembered, they charge £5 each for a shuttle bus into Larnaca, we walked it in less than 30 minutes...

Edited June 9, 2013 by joeholiday2

[Keith1010]

Thank you for review and the photos.

 

Keith

[Little Nell]

Thanks, JH, for the excellent review and photos. The furnishings and carpets look very similar to the Dream refurb.

 

I haven't been on the Celebration for a long time but she is looking very good and is tempting me back on her.

 

Can I ask what your itinerary was?

[joeholiday2]

Egypt & Holy Land Cruise 27th May 13

 

Yep the refurb is similar, I can't put my finger on it but it just seems better on the Celebration. The new bathrooms are better.

[Little Nell]

Yes, it is not good that they haven't refurbished the Dream bathrooms.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Fabulous photos Joe, as usual :)

 

I am beginning to wish we hadn't changed our cruise from the Celebration to the Dream. Apart from the illness on the Dream, the refurb looks miles better on the Celebration :rolleyes:

[Malch_uk]

Excellent pictures Joe.

 

Interesting to see they are still doing the "Midnight Buffet" on Celebration. I thought it had stopped. I'm sure they did not do it on Spirit last year.

 

Malc.

[Julessmiles]

Excellent pictures Joe.

 

Interesting to see they are still doing the "Midnight Buffet" on Celebration. I thought it had stopped. I'm sure they did not do it on Spirit last year.

 

Malc.

 

They didn't do it in the Spirit when we went either :(

 

Thanks for the photos, Joe. Out of interest, who was the ACD when you were onboard? Is Gavin Carroll on now for the next 2 months?

Edited June 9, 2013 by Julessmiles

[stevedeccaman]

"Just remembered, they charge £5 each for a shuttle bus into Larnaca, we walked it in less than 30 minutes... "

---------------------------------------------------------------

On stop over in Larnaca on Celebration in April the shutle bus was complimentary :confused: all these little "add ons" are strarting to mount up:(

 

Stevie

[joeholiday2]

Gavin went on around the 20th May, first week he was assessing the ents then he started as CD, he said he was on for 2 months. AFAICR he is going back to head office for a month then on Majesty for 2 months, Don't hold me to it though.....

 

Mab and Lewis are both doing ACD.

 

Midnight Buffet... well around 11ish, was good, they had the veg carver doing a live demonstration. This wasn't on the same night as the comedian's late night show, which is good as you don't miss out on one or the other as we have done in the past.

 

Something else that has come back to me:

The Comedian was called Andre (no second name given), he was brilliant, probably the best we have seen on a Thomson ship. he mixed comedy and magic, it was really good, no "where are you from" spiel to fill the act out, no songs to fill the act out, just laughs and magic.

[geomagot]

great pics joe:cool::cool:

 

many thanks for this

 

cabins look great dont they

 

did you notice if they show a veiw from the bridge on the tv?

[geomagot]

 

Something else that has come back to me:

The Comedian was called Andre (no second name given), he was brilliant, probably the best we have seen on a Thomson ship. he mixed comedy and magic, it was really good, no "where are you from" spiel to fill the act out, no songs to fill the act out, just laughs and magic.

 

thinks that would be andre payne....have seen him on other ships (not thoms) great magician and v funny too

[Little Nell]

Congrats, Geo, on your 1,000th post :):cool:

[geomagot]

yay!! thanks nell

 

if i can repeat this a thousand times (before i die) I will almost be level with kirk;):D

[Little Nell]

yay!! thanks nell

 

if i can repeat this a thousand times (before i die) I will almost be level with kirk;):D

 

:D He was on the other day. Nice to see him back ;)

[Julessmiles]

yay!! thanks nell

 

if i can repeat this a thousand times (before i die) I will almost be level with kirk;):D

 

 

Think he's stalking you Geo; he was back on here earlier ;) Only about 13,000 more posts to go for you now.........

[joeholiday2]

They do have a forward facing camera feed on the TV's Geo.

 

Great for those of us that slum it in the insides....

 

Andre Payne, yep that's him (just googled him) they didn't advertise his second name

 

This is him:

[geomagot]

thanks joe

 

pity that they dont really have any other views from around the ship too....they did have pool cam on the dream briefly?

 

would be nice to broadcast some of the shows too....put those flat screens to good use:cool:....wonder why they dont??

[Julessmiles]

thanks joe

 

pity that they dont really have any other views from around the ship too....they did have pool cam on the dream briefly?

 

would be nice to broadcast some of the shows too....put those flat screens to good use:cool:....wonder why they dont??

 

 

 

Can't be long before you head off on the Celebration Geo? Have you still managed to keep it a surprise?

[twojays]

Thanks so much for posting the recent pictures & info about the Celebration. We are going on same Cruise as you on Monday (17th June) - so that was really helpful!

 

:)

[geomagot]

Can't be long before you head off on the Celebration Geo? Have you still managed to keep it a surprise?

 

yep....4 weeks time.....I thinks its still under wraps jules....not sure?...ms magot has the (dark) art of knowing exactly whats afoot in this household...even before I've thought of it:(

[trinitytrees]

not strictly related to post, but can see you are going on celebration in 4wks please may I ask you or anyone else re insurance. I have checked the wording on our policy and gives a list of countries, (Europe cover) and it says mainland Europe. I have checked various definitions of mainland Europe and it appears that although some of the ports of call are defo in Europe they are not in mainland Europe. ie Ukraine. greek islands

 

anyone got any thoughts on this, there is conflicting info on the web.

 

I don't trust insurance companies, thought we were fully covered on house buildings cover till we made a claim, and a small one at that, first one in 30yrs.

[Julessmiles]

not strictly related to post, but can see you are going on celebration in 4wks please may I ask you or anyone else re insurance. I have checked the wording on our policy and gives a list of countries, (Europe cover) and it says mainland Europe. I have checked various definitions of mainland Europe and it appears that although some of the ports of call are defo in Europe they are not in mainland Europe. ie Ukraine. greek islands

 

anyone got any thoughts on this, there is conflicting info on the web.

 

I don't trust insurance companies, thought we were fully covered on house buildings cover till we made a claim, and a small one at that, first one in 30yrs.

 

Our Insurer states the following for European Cover:-

 

 

** Europe consists of Albania, Andorra, Austria, The Azores, The Balearic Islands, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, The Canary Islands, The Channel Islands, Corsica, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lapland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia (Moscow), San Marino, Sardinia, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine (Kiev) and the Vatican City.

 

 

Can you not phone them to check if you will be covered?

Edited June 14, 2013 by Julessmiles

[Julessmiles]

yep....4 weeks time.....I thinks its still under wraps jules....not sure?...ms magot has the (dark) art of knowing exactly whats afoot in this household...even before I've thought of it:(

 

 

Oh well - I'm sure you'll have a superb time no matter!

[cruiseclues]

Thank your for your review and great pictures. :):):):)