Just returned off discovery.....

[Jakanne1]

We needed you on our first day at sea, not for Mrs S2B but for me! I don't know if discovery is less stabilised than other similar liners but with a slight swell, I felt decidedly off colour. Many others did too, there was a queue at reception for sea sickness tablets!

 

Haha. I've come to the aid of a few with my sea sickness tablets and ginger capsules. I must check if I've got plenty for crossing the North Sea later this month!!

[shot2bits]

Haha. I've come to the aid of a few with my sea sickness tablets and ginger capsules. I must check if I've got plenty for crossing the North Sea later this month!!

 

 

You certainly came to our rescue! Just be careful you don't get any nasty bruises if it's rough! Lol [emoji6]

Edited August 7, 2016 by shot2bits

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Pleased you enjoyed Azura - and the Fjords never fail to deliver do they? We're going on her next year. Yes were on Oriana in May - everything on board very good and she's having a refurb this October so should be looking good for you! ;) She's sister ship to Aurora if you've been on her. We like the size very much - rather similar I think to Discovery - big enough not to feel crowded but no pressure on facilities like the theatre, bars etc. Never failed to find somewhere to relax. The lovely tiered stern gives loads of deck space too - the bigger ships have given this area over to cabins and I guess that's the way things are going but I think it's a pity to lose the outside space. Down to £sd I suppose. :rolleyes:

 

My brother loves Aurora, in fact it is the only ship he will go on! After I had posted, I realised you had been on Oriana to America. Where are you going on Azura? She is much bigger than Oriana, but we really liked her. Very long corridors, but good exercise as our cabin was at the front and the buffet was at the back :rolleyes:

[kruzseeka]

My brother loves Aurora, in fact it is the only ship he will go on! After I had posted, I realised you had been on Oriana to America. Where are you going on Azura? She is much bigger than Oriana, but we really liked her. Very long corridors, but good exercise as our cabin was at the front and the buffet was at the back :rolleyes:

 

Caribbean - local flight was the clincher! ;) Yes Azura is a lot bigger and we liked her too but must confess the size of the Oriana/Aurora is what we like best. The only thing which didn't appeal much on Azura is the outdoor screen. Very few people were watching the films at night and the sound was a bit intrusive around the pool in the daytime. Still as ever it's a game of compromises and you go with what suits best at a given time itinerary/cost/ship/timing. We're just so lucky to have the choice! :)

[Jakanne1]

You certainly came to our rescue! Just be careful you don't get any nasty bruises if it's rough! Lol [emoji6]

 

Haha!! Good memory!! Don't take high heels now on cruises. :D

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Caribbean - local flight was the clincher! ;) Yes Azura is a lot bigger and we liked her too but must confess the size of the Oriana/Aurora is what we like best. The only thing which didn't appeal much on Azura is the outdoor screen. Very few people were watching the films at night and the sound was a bit intrusive around the pool in the daytime. Still as ever it's a game of compromises and you go with what suits best at a given time itinerary/cost/ship/timing. We're just so lucky to have the choice! :)

Yes we found it noisy by that pool, but the other pool was not too bad. Not really sunbathing weather though in Norway, although I think we had it much better than others who went before and after. We did have a balcony though :)

[davecttr]

I can see why TUI want to change the passenger demographics. apparently industry research shows that the worst passengers for profits are the older ones who have completed lots of cruises. Younger and/or first time passengers spend more aboard so there is more profit. With the market far from mature there is plenty of opportunity for attracting new customers.

 

ps - not all oldie veterans spend little aboard. I dropped over £600 on Discovery and over £400 of that was pure profit because I lost it in the casino - they should give me a medal ;)

[shot2bits]

BTW, the captain told us Majesty and Spirit are going in the next two years. Forgot to mention that in the review.

 

 

I also forgot to mention the bathroom; very small with a bath and over bath shower, which was very good. If you have any mobility problems you may find it tricky to get in and out as it is not a walk in shower obviously. Just a standard shower curtain though. General condition was poor with grouting wearing in a lot of places. Constant sound of running water in there for some reason.

[davecttr]

I also forgot to mention the bathroom; very small with a bath and over bath shower, which was very good. If you have any mobility problems you may find it tricky to get in and out as it is not a walk in shower obviously. Just a standard shower curtain though. General condition was poor with grouting wearing in a lot of places. Constant sound of running water in there for some reason.

I had an outside single on deck 3 and it had one of those intimate shower curtains as well :D

 

the grouting was in good condition and looked as if it had just been replaced. There was a scratch in the shower cubicle but not obvious. The shower itself was powerful and blimey the temperature control actually worked :eek:

[gillhalfpint]

Found the review and comments interesting for our forthcoming cruise on 29 October. That one is adults only which is fine, but what will be a problem for me will be intrusive music. Why do they feel that everyone wants music at high volumes all day. To me, the afternoons are for chilling out and relaxing, joining in if you want to, but certainly not wandering round trying to find somewhere to chat. I have been embarrassed sitting in a lounge trying to chat with someone and not hearing a word being said back to me for loud piped music or a group playing to a virtually empty lounge. Still looking forward to our cruise though, and will explore every nook and cranny for my place of solitude to escape the noise - sorry music - when I want to sit and read or chat in peace. I certainly don't want to feel obliged to be confined to cabin to get it. Bring it on though - so excited to try the "new" one.

 

Gill.

[Julessmiles]

Hazel, Dave. She has a great voice :)

 

 

Hazel was onboard on 11th June (she is one of the "Godmother's of the ship) Has she gone home or jumped ship? I did get the impression she wasn't too happy though but it was the first week!

 

350 children??? That sounds horrendous - that is what we have always enjoyed Thomson cruises before as there have never been too many children onboard even in the school holidays.

 

I was on for a week on the first cruise but having read Shot2Bits review, I certainly would not even think about travelling in the school holidays on the ship - we did manage to find a lovely quiet area to relax - on the "promenade" deck on deck 4 outside - it was very peaceful.

 

We have booked on the Celebration for the next year having defected to Fred Olsen for our previous 5 cruises. As much as I really enjoyed the Discovery, I hope we have done the right thing going back to Thomson next year :confused::confused::confused:

Edited August 10, 2016 by Julessmiles

[happy v]

Hi Kruzseeka, we went to the Fjords - Bergen, Olden, Gerainger and Stavanger. Second time to Norway and still as good as the first time.

 

We really liked the Azura. She is the same design as the Crown Princess which we went on to the Fjords in 2013. The entertainment was very good. There were 3 shows by the show team. We only saw one, but it was excellent. There was a brilliant group playing rock and roll pus tributes to Freddie Mercury and George Michael and the comedian,Bernie Flint.

 

We would certainly go on the ship again. Really like P&O. As you can see we are going on Oriana next year, have you been on her?

 

Hope you don't mind me joining in. We saw the rock and roll group on Azura and thought they were brilliant. We also like Azura and Oriana. I didn't realise the Aurora was the same style.

 

We were on the Britannia and I'm not so keen, even though it's all shiny and new. We didn't like the design, very difficult to walk from the back to the front outside.....in fact I don't think you can get to the front :( but maybe that's just me!

 

I'll be interested in your report on the Discovery. At the moment it doesn't sound as if it's for us but once some regulars have been on we will get a better picture.

[shot2bits]

Julessmiles is correct in that the only place that was relatively quiet was deck 4. The starboard side however is used extensively by smokers so if you are not a smoker it may not suit. Both sides were relatively quiet, at least you can escape the none stop racket there. 350 children was only the first week, there were more the second week. This was emphatically not the relaxing holiday we were hoping for and we won't be going back.

[Katomerikaf]

Thanks for review Shot2bits. gave me some good ideas and tips for our cruise next March.

Bit worried about cabin 2003 -pretty sure that is the one we pre-booked :eek::eek::eek:

Any more info about the noise etc ?? Do you think we would be better changing rooms ?

[davecttr]

Julessmiles is correct in that the only place that was relatively quiet was deck 4. The starboard side however is used extensively by smokers so if you are not a smoker it may not suit. Both sides were relatively quiet, at least you can escape the none stop racket there. 350 children was only the first week, there were more the second week. This was emphatically not the relaxing holiday we were hoping for and we won't be going back.

 

More than 350!. According to the deck plans Discovery has 165 4 berth cabins so that gives 330 potential kiddies. This is why they are marketing it as a family ship, they have to fill those cabins. She had the same number of 4 berth when she was Splendour.

 

 

ps - controversially did all those out of control kids come from deck 2? there are 48 quad cabins down there :eek: The est are more expensive on higher decks ;)

 

pps - contrast this with Dream which has 178 extra berths

 

Eeek - I have discovery booked for next May - any school hols

Edited August 11, 2016 by davecttr

[shot2bits]

Thanks for review Shot2bits. gave me some good ideas and tips for our cruise next March.

 

Bit worried about cabin 2003 -pretty sure that is the one we pre-booked :eek::eek::eek:

 

Any more info about the noise etc ?? Do you think we would be better changing rooms ?

 

 

Well, our friends were sleepless for a week and finally snapped and stormed to guest services. They said that they were near the crew cabins, but it was the noise from above the cabin, a kitchen or storage area or something that drove them to distraction. Given what they told us, I would change without a doubt!

[Katomerikaf]

Thanks - will do

Don't mind being near crew cabins but didn't realise that kitchens etc were above :(

[Julessmiles]

More than 350!. According to the deck plans Discovery has 165 4 berth cabins so that gives 330 potential kiddies. This is why they are marketing it as a family ship, they have to fill those cabins. She had the same number of 4 berth when she was Splendour.

 

 

ps - controversially did all those out of control kids come from deck 2? there are 48 quad cabins down there :eek: The est are more expensive on higher decks ;)

 

pps - contrast this with Dream which has 178 extra berths

 

Eeek - I have discovery booked for next May - any school hols

 

When in May? Yes - there is a school holiday at the end of the month

[muffinman1]

Personally I don't think cruising is a kids holiday, they should be next to a pool and beach , a good AI hotel is where parents should take kids, thank god I go cruising out of school times, don't think I could handle 300+ kids, there would be a lot of falling out with parents ;)

[shot2bits]

I am already looking at next years holiday, land based, AI but most important, adults only! Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Pensioncruiser]

Our next cruise in 2 weeks on Celebration is adults only.

[shot2bits]

After Discovery, we feel 'cruised out'. We need a relaxing holiday next year. Celebration is also described as platinum. I'm sorry to say I found nothing platinum about it and it's another experience on my never to do again list! But hey, that's my subjective opinion and many people on here will no doubt flame me for it. Enjoy and ignore me!

[Pensioncruiser]

You are correct cruising IMO is in no way relaxing, but we are pensioners and can do that at home, we do enjoy Celebration, did her in the Caribbean in Feb, and again last year but we are easily pleased! Will probably give her a miss next year as we have Dream & Discovery booked.

[Julessmiles]

After Discovery, we feel 'cruised out'. We needrelaxing holiday next year. Celebration is also described as platinum. I'm sorry to say I found nothing platinum about it and it's another experience on my never to do again list! But hey, that's my subjective opinion and many people on here will no doubt flame me for it. Enjoy and ignore me!

 

I don't think it's Platinum anymore - think that was a marketing ploy that went a bit wrong as people were expecting It to be the same as the Platinumn Hotels!

[shot2bits]

They were, and it wasn't!