First Timer With Thomson

[Caz722]

We are going on our first ever cruise in September on Thomsons Dream and I have a couple of questions. Firstly at Gatwick is our flight solely for the cruisers as I'm a bit worried about any flight delays as there doesn't seem much time between the flight and getting to the ship once in Corfu?

Secondly we have booked the all inclusive option, does this cover everything on board food and drink wise or do we have to pay extra for some of the restaurants?

Thank you in advance.

[John Bull]

Assuming you've booked the fly-cruise as a package (ie it was priced inclusive of flights & transfers) it'll be a Thomson flight dedicated to folk on your cruise, possibly along with some folk who're taking a Thomson hotel-based holiday.

 

You don't quote the actual timing, or the embarkation port or where the ship is scheduled to be on Day Two, but it's usual for Thomson (& other fly-cruise operators like P&O) to build in plenty of leeway to arrive at the first port-of-call on time even if the sailing is delayed by several hours due to a late flight -which happens fairly frequently.

In any case, with a fly-cruise it's Thomson's responsibility to get you there in time for the sailing - if you missed the sailing it'd be up to them to provide hotel, meals & onward transportation for you to catch up with the ship. I don't think that's ever been necessary, because of the afore-mentioned leeway.

In short - no worries :)

 

(All?) Thomson ships, like most cruise ships, have a premium-pay restaurant - just the one on Dream.

Included meals (you can choose between the main dining room or the buffet as the mood takes you) & snacks are very acceptable, most folk use the premium-pay restaurant only for a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary.

 

Did you pay full-price (something like £250 pppw) for the drinks packages? :(

Thomson's package is seriously over-priced, especially since their bar & wine prices are much more reasonable than most cruise lines - about the same as provincial pubs & no service charge.

The package includes only very basic drinks - draught John Smith's and a lager (not bottled or canned beers), about half the cocktail selection, un-branded spirits, fountain soft drinks (not cans or bottles), low-quality wine (not the same wine as the house wine that they sell), etc. If you want a drink that's not included in the package there's a premium - around £1 to £3 per drink.

Thomson often offer the package free or at about half-price as a come-on to book a cruise. That's fine, but if you paid full-price for the package it's a poor deal.

 

Free tea and coffee 24/7, including in-cabin facilities, though as on every ship I've ever sailed coffee from the urn is like mud. "Premium" (ie drinkable ;)) coffee is included in the drinks package.

Free fruit juice for all in the buffet during breakfast time.

 

Thomson use "second-hand" ships (Dream was Costa's Costa Europa), so don't expect the latest amenities or glitz.

But a good choice for a Brit's first cruise - all geared to British tastes, a great camaraderie between passengers, a great crew, excellent entertainment, good food in the main dining room (buffet is rather canteen-like), and no big price-shocks on-board. (except that long after other hotels & ships abandoned the charge, Thomson still charge about £15 per week to use the in-cabin safe).

 

Very friendly ship - you'll enjoy. :)

 

JB :)

Edited August 9, 2016 by John Bull