Maureen

I might beat Luci to it.

The all inclusive package basically covers you for most drinks, but there are proviso's.

Firstly, they will serve wine at the table but it will be the house white or red, by the glass. You cannot have the bottle, but they will return to refill.

Premimum spirits are at an extra charge. The extra charge is something like 50p to get jack daniels rather than local burbon.

An irish coffee will cost 60p, but you can get round this by ordering a coffee and a whisky and pouring one into the other. lol

Its excelent deal if you get it as a free upgrade but if you have to pay, look at it this way.

£260 for 14 days.

Roughly £18 a day.

9 beers or 18 cans of coke or 12 wines

Its surprising on a day at sea how quickly a bill will add up. Kids especially at something like 80p - 90p a can

Hope this helps

Andy

thanks for that one we got all inclusive for £99 and £49 for our son who i am sure will make good use of it. Does this include cocktails?

Maureen

Yes, on our cruises, we have been allowed the cocktail of the day and the listed thomson cocktails, of which there is something for everyone, even the kids as they have non alcoholic ones which are actually very nice.

However, if you want something out of the norm then they may charge.

If you get the chance, PS I love you is excellent, Baileys, calloua and something else in a glass with brown sugar round the rim, mmmmm

Have a good one

Thanks for the info Andy. Cruise cant come quick enough for us. Will certainly try the cocktail you recommended and others as well. Do you find that the dining areas get very busy at certain times? Is there ample room to sit on the deck area?

Sorry for asking for this info

Maureen

Hi all you cruise experts out there.

I am a first time cruiser looking to booked for my 40th at end of June. I have been looking at Island Escape and Thompson Destiny departing on 21st and 23rd June respectively.

Can anyone give me any ideas what price I should be paying for that time of year as the ones I have prices are over £1000 each.

Are there any other cruise ships that take a similar route in the Med. I am wanting the visit Monte Carlo, Rome and Florence any other destinations would be a bonus.

many thanks for your help.

Virgin Cruiser

Transferred from another topic

Elaine Hillyard
New User...

Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 4
Location: WEST YORKSHIRE
6 HTPoints

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 4:23 pm Post subject: 1ST TIME CRUISING

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Hi all you cruise experts out there.

I am a first time cruiser looking to booked for my 40th at end of June. I have been looking at Island Escape and Thompson Destiny departing on 21st and 23rd June respectively.

Can anyone give me any ideas what price I should be paying for that time of year as the ones I have prices are over £1000 each.

Are there any other cruise ships that take a similar route in the Med. I am wanting the visit Monte Carlo, Rome and Florence any other destinations would be a bonus.

many thanks for your help.

Virgin Cruiser

can anyone tell me what brand of lager, beer and cider you can get with an all inclusive drinks package please.

Maureen

Hi Maureen

There is a bar list from the Thomson Spirit here:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6491&start=20

The lager is Stella or Boddingtons and you can get named spirits such as Smirnoff, Teachers, Bombay Sapphire, etc in the AI, just remember to ask for it otherwise you will probably get the ship's brand.

HTH

luci

thanks for that Luci

Maureen

I actualy like palma as an airport . There is a long walk but I have never had big delays getting bags or waiting for the coaches to the ships. We got stuck on the runnway trying to de-ICE the wings, they have no de-iceing machines.

Anyway my tip if going on a cruise via palma is get the earliest flight you can. Less chance of delays in the UK and you are on the ship for lunch and NO hanging around on the last day waiting to leave. Depending on UK travel home before tea time. IF on AI you get max use of it since it is not valid on departure day.

many thanks for that our flight out to palma is 7am but the flight home is not till 19.30 so i expect there will be hanging around somewhere till the flight.

maureen

We didn't leave the Spirit until 1730 and, despite being out of our cabin at 0900, the day didn't drag. We were able to use the AI all day until we left the ship.

luci

thanks for that Luci its good to know .

cheers

Maureen

To "Virgin User". We were on the Island Escape last year in June for 2 weeks and paid £1200 each for outside on Emerald Deck. At that stage we were also "virgin cruisers" and met many who had paid less than that. We have booked 2 further cruises since then, the Carousel back in October and the Thomson Spirit leaving this friday 4th February. We booked these 2 through teletext deals on ITV page 227.

Given that the date you are looking at is pre-school hols there should be no problem booking late. My advice would be to wait until mid/late May and see what the prices have come down to. You are looking at two options so you will certainly be able to pick the deal you want at a much lower price. Last summer the IE prices were as low as £600 for a two week cruise, although typically £700-£800.

Do not make the mistake of doing a cruise and stay as the cruise is fantastic and a stay for the second week would be a come down. The Island Escape is a fantastic way to cruise.

Enjoy.

Luci, I stand corrected on the Thomsons AI, so modify advice early flight out late flight back.

The other thing is there is a small shopping mall with a supermarket a few minutes walk from the port for topping up with some essentials that will not be included. Walk out the port gates and head left follow the road round and you will see it. Great for some crisps/snacks for the cabin bottled water and a bottle of xxxx if not on AI saves carrying from the uk. A wheely type carry on is ideal for this trip to the mall ask any crew member they all know where it is.

For a guide on pricing late june this is what happened lasty year.
From a TXT page for 29may 04 the following was on offer for 2 weeks late june 04. (prices droped a little bit in june). It will be interesting to see how prices go this year, I think there will be a pick up in demand from new cruisers since therea re a lot more adds on tv.

£679 Island escape
£949 Thomson spirit.
£919 Thomson Emerald
£779 OV.
This year OV and IE are undercutting Thomsons but keep an eye on P&O,Princess,RCI,Celebrity for the med the little extra cost add LOADS of value. FredOlsen always has the odd very special,Cunard are doing good deals on the QE2.

Hiya

Me, my wife, and my 2 daughters, one 16 one 14 are going on thompson spirit colourful coasts cruise on the 11th feb!

we have been looking at photos and they look superb!

Is anyone else going on the cruise? or has been on it?

Feel free to give me advice, i havent ever been on a cruise before!

Cheers,
George from Southampton

Hiya sorry me again!

We are a bit confused with what to wear in the evenings, my daughters want to no if your allowed things like denim skirts? or is this not formal enough? hmm!

Cheers
george

What dress code is expected of a 14 year old boy for evening meals. What would he get away with wearing?

Maureen

Hi Maureen

Have you read our reviews of the Thomson Spirit?

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/cruise-reviews/thomson-cruises/thomson-spirit/

I'm sure someone mentions travelling with a 14 year old boy there.

luci