Home today from Spirit

[campolady]

Just got home after an excellent week on Spirit that far exceeded expectations. Hope you don't mind me posting a few impressions that may be of interest to anyone sailing on Spirit this Summer.

 

On Arrival - Our taxi got us to Malaga cruise terminal just gone 10.30 last Sunday morning. Thee was only one person ahead of us at the Thomson table and we were upstairs/checked in within a few minutes. On first view before boarding the ship looked tiny but, once we were on board, she soon proved to be a tardis. At the top of the gang plank we were welcomed and escorted to our cabin - as there is no guarantee that 'Cabin Only' passengers accommodation will be ready before noon it was a pleasant surprise to be able to go in immediately.

 

Cabin - We had only booked 12 days before departure when the only cabin availability was deck 1 or 2 inside; we were too late to pre-book a particular cabin so had to take 'pot luck' but were very pleased to be given 840 in a good, quiet location (only another cabin on one side and a small service corridor on the other) close to the main 4 lifts. The cabin was surprisingly spacious with 2 x single beds in a 'L' shaped configuration that proved to be very firm and extremely comfortable. There was more than ample storage space and a large supply of coat hangars. Our Cabin Stewards were Sami and Mary but I can't say much about them as they never introduced themselves - the cabin was kept tidy but the bathroom wasn't kept quite as clean as we have been used to on previous cruises (e.g. the sink wasn't always wiped over/taps left soap stained but I am being picky here and it only took me a minute to do the job myself).

 

Safety Muster - This took place at about 5.30 and was far more detailed than we had on Majesty or Dream. Unfortunately some passengers still take this as a joke and spoilt it for other people by laughing/talking/taking photos throughout the drill!

 

Food and Drink - We didn't have the drinks package (£400 if paid for before sailing or £430 once on board) but decided to book 2 x wine packages - 1 x 7 bottles at £99 and 1 x 5 bottles at £71. We generally drink Rose wines but, although the package had a good selection of Reds and Whites, there was only one Rose (a Rose d'Anjou) so, after trying one bottle of the Rose and finding it not the greatest, we swapped to the sparkling Blanc de Blanc which was lovely and dry; we still had 2 vouchers left after dinner on the final night so 2 bottles were boxed up for us to bring home today. Drinks service was very quick and efficient throughout the ship with none of the long delays that we had experienced on our 2 cruises on the Dream last year. We had breakfast each morning in the Compass Rose MDR which was a half waiter service/half buffet with a good choice of dishes to suit all tastes and, importantly for us, the cooked food was hot as were the plates for hot dishes. Lunch we mixed between Compass Rose and, on days we went on excursions, the Lido buffet. We had dinner each night in Compass Rose having the same table for 2 each evening in the care of the very entertaining duo of Larry and Jude who took great care of us, plus our wonderful wine waiter Mario. On the whole the food was good and, apart from the last night, we always found something to suit - we especially enjoyed the soups which, once again, were always hot. The final nights menu didn't inspire us so we opted for 2 of the dishes available at a supplement - a 7 ounce Prawn skewer at £9.99 and an 8 ounce Fillet Steak at £12.99 both of which were excellent. We requested a table for 2 in Compass Rose on our first day and, apart from the lunchtimes we were in the Lido, had the same table at all mealtimes throughout the cruise.

 

Entertainment - What can I say but absolutely first class! Definitely the most talented team we have had on any of our cruises. We watched all 7 shows over the week and enjoyed them all (the comedian wasn't our type of humour but was entertaining and had a good singing voice) - climaxing last night with the wonderful 'Les Miserables' finale (we have seen this 3 times before but never as good as this performance). Over the week the shows were:-

Sunday - The Piano Men

Monday - Tribute to the Blues Brothers

Tuesday - Concerto Broadway

Wednesday - Guest Comedian Allan Roberts

Thursday - Lots of Love

Friday - Revival

Saturday West End Wonders

We didn't think anywhere could beat the theatre on the Dream but we really enjoyed sitting upstairs by the balcony rails in the Broadway Mezzanine lounge from where we had a great view of the stage and could really appreciate the complex routines; we never had any problem getting a good seat but did always attend the 8.30 shows so it may be busier for the second performance at 10.30.

 

Ports Of Call - This cruise had 2 new destinations for us in Vigo and Huelva plus 2 old favourites in Porto and Lisbon plus for us the least interesting place Gibraltar:-

GIBRALTAR - Someshere we know very well! We took the port shuttle minibus to Casemates Square at the bottom of Main Street - fare £4 or 6 Euros per person return. We walked up to the top of Main Street whilst waiting for the shops to open (it was a Bank Holiday and we were warned in the Cruise News that they would be closed all day but they all opened at 11 a.m.). Had a quick look round M&S and BHS but didn't see anything interesting so we took the shuttle bus back to the ship. We docked next to 'Royal Princess' (as featured in the recent TV 'Cruise' series) so we looked like little and large next to each other!

VIGO - Vigo turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. We walked a short distance from the port along the seafront to a large shopping mall where we saw a locally operated coach for a 2 hour tour of the city; this included a 20 minute stop at the lovely Samil beach plus a 25 minute stop at a manor house/museum/gardens and a 20 minute stop at a high point that had 2 great miradores (view points) with great views over the city and coast. The fare was just 15 euros per person (get a ticket before boarding but you don't pay until the end of the tour or you can pre-book on line); we highly recommend this for anyone visiting Vigo. The new 'largest ship in the world' Harmony of the Seas was also in port and looked good despite recent adverse press reports; most of the passengers on our coach trip were off Harmony.

PORTO - We last visited Porto on Dream 18 months ago and it poured down all day; this time the weather was kind to us. This was one of the two places that we booked a Thomson excursion - Taste of Porto - which we really enjoyed and thought good value. The trip included a coach tour of the city, trip down the River Duoro and visit to one of the Port Wine lodges (plus a tasting of a White Port and a Tawny Reserve Port). A truly lovely city.

LISBON - We walked out of the port terminal and booked a 2 route ticket on the HOHO bus (16.50 euros for one route, 9 euros for the second route or 19 euros for both). Parts of the first route (purple route) weren't over exciting as it mainly travelled through the commercial district but the second (blue route) was excellent taking us through the city and out along the river to the Belem Tower and Navigators Monument; each route took around 1 hour 40 minutes and we stopped for Coffee and Portuguese Custard Tarts at a café by the main bus stop (no. 1) between routes.

HUELVA - This was Spirits first ever stop at Huelva and, unfortunately, it showed as the port authorities had forgotten to provide a crane for loading the gang plank so disembarkation was considerably delayed, and then they had the steps the wrong way round so walking down to the quayside was very difficult - this meant that organised excursions were very late setting off. However, the port had provided welcome entertainment from people dressed as Conquistadores complete with cannon fire which was a nice touch; local TV cameras filmed the arrival of the ship which was shown throughout Andalucía on last nights news bulletins. The port also provided free shuttle buses into Huelva centre (the port area is 18 kilometres from the city centre). We did our second Thomson excursion here 'Panoramic Huelva') that was a pleasant 4 hour trip including a visit to a Sanctuary where Christopher Columbus prayed before his epic 1492 voyage to America, a visit to the grave of William Martin 'The Man Who Never Was' (google it if you don't know this fascinating story), a stop at the Columbus monument and an hours free time in the city centre. Huelva is a relatively new city as all older buildings were destroyed in the 19th century Lisbon earthquake that also decimated Huelva; it only has a population of 150,000 people and the centre is small but there was a good selection of Tapas bars - mainly serving superb local seafood especially the famous Huelva Prawns. Most passengers either stayed on board for a final days sunbathing or did one of the Thomson excursions to Seville - but as we were only in port from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and didn't get off for the best part of an hour late due to the gang plank issues) Seville is really too far to be able to see much as the journey takes 1 hour 40 minutes each way.

 

All in all we had an excellent week and definitely hope to sail on Spirit again before she leaves the Thomson fleet. Hope my post hasn't bored you too much!

Edited June 5, 2016 by campolady

[mama4321]

Thank you so much for your detailed review. I am currently trying to find out as much as I can about the Spirit as we booked yesterday for a cruise in July so it was great to come across this up to date information. It sounds as if you had a wonderful holiday.

 

If you don't mind can I ask some questions?

 

Firstly, do you have to pay to use the gym (good intentions:)) and sauna?

 

Also, you mention a wine package - I can't find details of anything other than the all inclusive, so is this something which is only available once onboard? And are there other packages too for soft drinks?

 

Finally, we don't sail until late evening, but do I gather that you were able to get on board in Malaga well ahead of sailing?

 

Many thanks:)

[campolady]

Thank you so much for your detailed review. I am currently trying to find out as much as I can about the Spirit as we booked yesterday for a cruise in July so it was great to come across this up to date information. It sounds as if you had a wonderful holiday.

 

If you don't mind can I ask some questions?

 

Firstly, do you have to pay to use the gym (good intentions:)) and sauna?

 

Also, you mention a wine package - I can't find details of anything other than the all inclusive, so is this something which is only available once onboard? And are there other packages too for soft drinks?

 

Finally, we don't sail until late evening, but do I gather that you were able to get on board in Malaga well ahead of sailing?

 

Many thanks:)

 

There is no charge for the gym or sauna.

 

Yes, the wine package can only be bought on board and is only available to buy for the day you board and until 6 p.m. the following day - there is also a soft drinks package (not sure if this is just for children) and a beer/lager package. The wine we were drinking (Blanc de Blanc sparkling dry) was £19.99 at full price but worked out at £14.14 with the wine package - the house wine (not the greatest) is £3.90 a glass or £14.50 a bottle so we were paying slightly less for a far superior wine. You are given vouchers - one per bottle - which you fill in/hand in whenever you want a bottle stating which wine you want and your cabin number; bottles can be obtained in any bar or restaurant around the ship and can be taken from the restaurant to another bar if not finished at a meal time or from bar to bar (including the theatre bar if you want to watch a show) as the evening progresses. Half used bottles can be stored for you to finish the following day (not that any of ours had any left to save overnight lol).

 

We too didn't sail until late (10 p.m.) but were on the ship just after 10.30 a.m. and the first flight load (from Bristol) were already on board. After landing/collecting your luggage at Malaga you will go straight from the airport to the ship which takes around 15t minutes.

 

Hope this helps - you will have a great time.

Edited June 5, 2016 by campolady

[Vitalsign]

Many thanks Campolady for your great review of Spirit and sorry you and hubby couldn't get an extra week as you both deserve it after missing out for so long Glad your hubby is enjoying good health now.

My first cruise was with Spirit in 2005 and haven't sailed her since but my friend and I would like to cruise her this September so am pleased that although she hasn't had the upgrade of sister ship Celebration that she's not too tired, the food is good and hot and the entertainment excels that if the Dream. I've been in Dream twice this year and was disappointed with the singers but a new team is on for my next cruise in 2 weeks time so will report on them when I get back. StrumJam are the band currently on Spirit and I loved them on Dream so looking forward to seeing them again. Love the singer of Soundroom but the lead guitarist is not the best imo.

Can you tell me pls who the cruise director is on Spirit

Thanks

[mtt]

Many thanks Campolady for your great review of Spirit and sorry you and hubby couldn't get an extra week as you both deserve it after missing out for so long Glad your hubby is enjoying good health now.

My first cruise was with Spirit in 2005 and haven't sailed her since but my friend and I would like to cruise her this September so am pleased that although she hasn't had the upgrade of sister ship Celebration that she's not too tired, the food is good and hot and the entertainment excels that if the Dream. I've been in Dream twice this year and was disappointed with the singers but a new team is on for my next cruise in 2 weeks time so will report on them when I get back. StrumJam are the band currently on Spirit and I loved them on Dream so looking forward to seeing them again. Love the singer of Soundroom but the lead guitarist is not the best imo.

Can you tell me pls who the cruise director is on Spirit

Thanks

the dream ents team changed on april 30th we found the team before the best team team we have seen since 2009 matt and seb were brilliant, my mum who has been on the spirit this april thinks the dream team were better

[mtt]

spirit cd is Lewis Power Stannard, strum jam are much better than sound room who are on the dream but the dream does have tom and maris

[GLYNAGP]

Thanks Campolady for the review we are on the Spirit in October (cruise only) we did the Majesty a couple of years ago when she was based in Malaga and enjoyed it and it's so handy for us to be able to board in Malaga . We are going on P and O Ventura in August with our 8 year old grandson from Southampton it's our first time on P and O it will be interesting to make the comparison .

[mama4321]

Thank you for your reply Campolady, that's all very helpful. It will be our first time cruising with Thomson, and I am looking forward to it very much.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Brilliant review Brenda. Glad you had a good time.

 

I will make a note of the bus in Vigo. We have been there twice. The first time we went on a trip to a village (can't remember the name now) where Columbus landed when he came back from America, a very good trip. The second time we just walked around the town, but the bus sounds very good if we go there again.

[campolady]

Brilliant review Brenda. Glad you had a good time.

 

I will make a note of the bus in Vigo. We have been there twice. The first time we went on a trip to a village (can't remember the name now) where Columbus landed when he came back from America, a very good trip. The second time we just walked around the town, but the bus sounds very good if we go there again.

 

Can highly recommend the bus company Linda - the guides love of her area was so infectious. They also do tours from other local ports El Ferrol and A Coruna. The company is tours4cruisers http://tours4cruisers.com/en/ and their staff are very easily recognisable as they wear local costume.

 

We hope to do the Santiago de la Compostela tour if we dock at one of their ports again - 30 euros compared with £69 on the ship and the reviews from people we spoke to who had done it were excellent.

Edited June 6, 2016 by campolady

[GLYNAGP]

Campolady, A quick question please. As cruise only passenger did you need to do any online checkin before arriving at the port or were passports and copy of the invoice sufficient? I can't remember what we did previously on Majesty and I can't find any information on the Thomson on website. Thanks

Edited June 6, 2016 by glynandkath

[campolady]

Campolady, A quick question please. As cruise only passenger did you need to do any online checkin before arriving at the port or were passports and copy of the invoice sufficient? I can't remember what we did previously on Majesty and I can't find any information on the Thomson on website. Thanks

 

No online check in required - all you need is your Passports; we took a copy of our invoice but weren't asked to show this. You just give in your name at the Thomson table on the ground floor of Malaga cruise terminal and they give you your envelope containing cabin numbered labels to attach to your luggage (which is then taken off you) and security seals to attach to your luggage on your day of departure.

 

Check in was very quick and easy - try to time your arrival for just before a transfer coach is due from the airport to avoid queues.

[campolady]

We hope to do the Santiago de la Compostela tour if we dock at one of their ports again - 30 euros compared with £69 on the ship and the reviews from people we spoke to who had done it were excellent.

 

Oops! That should say compared with £44 / 56 euros on the ship.

Edited June 6, 2016 by campolady

[Vitalsign]

Thanks Mtt for name of CD on Spirit I haven't heard of Lewis but will look out for him.

I agree Seb and Matt were good but not the rest The team before were much better and James who sang us out of Gibraltar on April 2015 Transatlantic was fantastic. Paul (CD) and Taylor were good (Jan and April 2016) but I also like Gavin who is CD currently with Taylor as ACD What can I say about Tom and Maris that hasn't already been said other than fantabulosis. Noel from Heart and Soul is very talented and they still get a good crowd in Tides even though Tom and Maris have moved into Waters Edge.

[GinoG]

We are on the same cruise this Sunday - just wondered which terminal you used in Lisbon and whether there is anything of interest walkable from the ship. If not will probably do the hoho.

Edited June 6, 2016 by GinoG

[campolady]

We are on the same cruise this Sunday - just wondered which terminal you used in Lisbon and whether there is anything of interest walkable from the ship. If not will probably do the hoho.

 

Sorry - can't find our Thomson Lisbon map so cannot guarantee the name of the terminal but think it was Santa Apolónia. However, it is the one we have always docked at with Thomson and is nearest the city centre. If you go out of the terminal building and turn left, it is only a 10-15 minutes walk to Lisbons main waterfront square 'Commerce Square' https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A9mSs2z_YVZXqjwAjrNLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByZmVxM3N0BGNvbG8DaXIyBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Commerce+Square+Lisbon&fr=yfp-t-424 with lots to see round there; you can also start any of the HOHO bus or tram tours just up the street to the rear of the square.

Edited June 7, 2016 by campolady

[campolady]

Sorry - can't find our Thomson Lisbon map so cannot guarantee the name of the terminal but think it was Santa Apolónia. However, it is the one we have always docked at with Thomson and is nearest the city centre. If you go out of the terminal building and turn left, it is only a 10-15 minutes walk to Lisbons main waterfront square 'Commerce Square' https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A9mSs2z_YVZXqjwAjrNLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByZmVxM3N0BGNvbG8DaXIyBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Commerce+Square+Lisbon&fr=yfp-t-424 with lots to see round there; you can also start any of the HOHO bus or tram tours just up the street to the rear of the square.

 

 

 

Should have added that you can start both the purple (Olisipo) and blue (Tagus) HOHO bus tours or red (Hills) tram tour at stop number 1 in Rossio Square just up the street to the rear Commerce Square; the stop number at the port is number 5 on the Olisipo route. We found the 'Tagus' route far more interesting than the 'Olisipo' route which, to be honest, was quite boring for much of the journey.

Edited June 7, 2016 by campolady

[GinoG]

Thanks - that's really helpful.

[mtt]

Thanks Mtt for name of CD on Spirit I haven't heard of Lewis but will look out for him.

I agree Seb and Matt were good but not the rest The team before were much better and James who sang us out of Gibraltar on April 2015 Transatlantic was fantastic. Paul (CD) and Taylor were good (Jan and April 2016) but I also like Gavin who is CD currently with Taylor as ACD What can I say about Tom and Maris that hasn't already been said other than fantabulosis. Noel from Heart and Soul is very talented and they still get a good crowd in Tides even though Tom and Maris have moved into Waters Edge.

we were on in jan too found all the show team very good, didn't see the team before as went on the dream as friends where working on there ie Ted James the senior ents host and Aaron the showteam leader/ dance capt,wewent on 3 times since oct

lewis has been on the ships for a good while started in show team we met him as an ents host in 2010 and find him really good

[stelin34]

Hi cl was it 399 for ai

[campolady]

Hi cl was it 399 for ai

 

The price for AI when we booked was £399 and £429 once on board.

 

We didn't take this - bought 2 x Wine Packages (1 x 7 bottles @ £99 + 1 x 5 bottles @ £71) once on board. With all the other drinks we had - daily selection of small beers, soft drinks, G+Ts (cruise choice gin that was perfectly drinkable) plus the odd cocktail -our total drinks bill was just under £300.

Edited June 14, 2016 by campolady

[GLYNAGP]

The price for AI when we booked was £399 and £429 once on board.

 

We didn't take this - bought 2 x Wine Packages (1 x 7 bottles @ £99 + 1 x 5 bottles @ £71) once on board. With all the other drinks we had - daily selection of small beers, soft drinks, G+Ts (cruise choice gin that was perfectly drinkable) plus the odd cocktail -our total drinks bill was just under £300.

£399 that's an awful lot of money if I drank £399 worth of drinks in a week I wouldn't be able to surface from the cabin . The wine deals seem good value consider you are on a cruise ship.

 

We've got AI drinks package included in our October Spirit cruise, but to be honest the cruise only prices do drop nearer to departure date with no AI package you always pay for it one way or another .

[campolady]

£399 that's an awful lot of money if I drank £399 worth of drinks in a week I wouldn't be able to surface from the cabin . The wine deals seem good value consider you are on a cruise ship.

 

We've got AI drinks package included in our October Spirit cruise, but to be honest the cruise only prices do drop nearer to departure date with no AI package you always pay for it one way or another .

 

We too have got the 'free' AI package included on our October Majesty cruise. However, despite having AI, we may buy a 7 bottle wine package to have with dinner as we don't particularly like the house wine - especially enjoyed the Blanc de Blanc we had several nights on our recent Spirit cruise and still have 2 bottles that we bought back home as we had 2 vouchers left.

 

As glynandkath said, you pay for the package one way or another - when we booked the price with flights was £661 including the 'free' drinks package (we paid less as we too are cruise only); the price has now dropped to £596 with flights and the drinks package for October departures is £70 each so virtually the same.

Edited June 14, 2016 by campolady

[joeholiday2]

Thanks for a great review Brenda, and pleased you both had a great time.

 

I must thank you for recommending the Botanical gardens in Malaga, it was many moons ago. (probably about 2 years actually)

 

We never made it when we visited Malaga from Majesty, one week was the Easter procession of the Christ, a really good thing to be involved in, and the second week we did the Alcazar and Castle.

 

We made it up to the Gardens last week getting the no 2 bus, and really enjoyed it.

 

Thanks again.

Joe.