Oh Jonny in what way did you find your cruise this year on The destiny the worst one?

Shame for you

Just come back from a week on the Celebration doing the "Jewels of the Med" cruise. We had a fantastic time - the cruise was faultless and comes highly recommended.

We did the Mediterranean Renaissance itinerary 10-17 August. Our first cruise and we absolutely loved it. We would definitely book the Celebration again. If Ann and Nigel from Birmingham are reading this - hello and thanks for a great few nights!

Pam and Dave from the Wirral

Had two weeks July/Aug on this ship. It was an excellent cruise with probably the best attentive staff we have had on the many cruises we have taken. the entertainment was second to none,congrats to the show team, even better than the destiny which we were on a couple of years ago.The Murder Mystery on our last night was superb.
Although the dining option is eat at any time the waiters often ask if you would like the same table each night,we did and found that we DID get it most of the time, only missed a few when it was very busy.
We had the pleasure of being served each night in the Meridien by ROY and JM who looked after us exceptionally well. (they looked after several tables in the Captains area of the restaurant and we where given his table for most of the second week minus the captain.I would like to thank them for their efforts.
We were on the all inclusive drinks package and never had to wait for service.The bar waitress particulry Anna & Sheiba and other waiters knew our names and cabin numbers from the first drink and throughout the cruise. This made it very informal and friendly.
The only negative was that the ship is a little tired and in need of some modernising chairs worn,linen and towels clean but washed out some carpets well worn (although some were being re-laid during the trip.
All in all it was a very good cruise. The ship is not glamourous like the P&O Oceana but even though a so called budget cruise it left Oceana standing with personal service and friendliness.
Would I go on this ship agian?
Most certainly.Thanks to the crew.
Kavmick.

I would also like to say weldone to the staff on the Celebration.

We were on Jewels of the Med from Aug 17th till 24th.

We have cruised 6 times in total. Formerly with an Italian cruiseline, then Princess and also P&O and yes they are top of the range near enough and I guess that Princess is my favourite so far BUT...in April we went on the Destiny as we only booked late and wanted a cheapy so to speak, we were pleasently surpirsed that the food was actually better than we had on the Oriana with P&O, the service from the Bar/Cabin and Waiting staff is second to none.
We booked late again for the Celebration and the standard and serivice was repeted once again.
Yes, the Thomson ships are small and old, but they do their very best to keep it as spick and span as they possibly can.
The staff work their socks off and always have a smile for you. We enjoyed the fact you could turn up and be seated and even at busy times waiting times kept to a minimum.
We embarked quite late and didnt get to the Meridian resturabnt till 9:45pm but we were sat down and not rushed at all. We requested the same waiters each night, Ace and Albert. John was our wine waiter and was very knowlegable about wines and each night he brought my daughters orange juice straight up to her, and actually, he never charged us for her drinks.
As for the Entertainment, we liked to just chill out in the casino bar most nights but we did catch one show and it was of the highest standard, absolutly brilliant singing and dancing from the young team.
In Liberties bar each night was fun and laughs with quiz games etc, most bars had some sort of music from taped music followed by a band/group/disco something for everyone.
There was even a get-together for Teens which was great for my 14 year old , it gave her the chance to meet kids of her own age to hang out with.
ther were lots of children onboard but none of them were any bother, i didnt see any running abvout at night or anything.

We had a suite and it was very spacious. You get an american sized bed, a double wardrobe, a seating area with a curved sofa a coffe table and two armchairs, a big dressing table with the whole of the wall mirrored and a large bathroom. the sofa converts into a double bed which my daughter slept in and there is a curtain to pull acroos so as she had some privacy.
We werent in the cabin that much but we often sat and had a drink and cheese and bix , watched T.V for a bit before getting ready of an evening, also when it was a bit rainy one day it was somewhere to sit till it cleared up...which it didnt..Corsica, rained all day .
I noticed that the Delux cabins were a good size too. In the suite was a bowl of fruit, and bathrobes. There is a mini bar and if you drink any of it its charged to your account. the price list is on the dressing table and the prices were about 20p dearer than if you bought it at the bar, so for instance, a glass of wine at the bar was £2.95, or £3.10 from your mini bar.

One thing I'd like to say is that, on the Thursday in Barcelona, the ship had a 5 yearly Inclining Test ...testing the ships boyancy.. ther was nothing the ship staff could do as it was out of their control...the whole of the ship had to leave, staff and all, from 10am til 5pm and we were told this at the start and as a thank you for the inconvienience EVERYONE got a free trip in Barcelona...and thats not cheap is it ...and then we were taken to a shopping centre and a function room was set up for all passengers to have a lunch and wine/beer/soft drinks which, although there were long ques, as we all arrived at once, there was plenty of food though it may of not been to everyones liking but they did their very best.

We had a great holioday and would recommend the Thomson ships to anyone that wants good food, good entertainment and good service while seeing a different country everyday

Hi Nevrow

4 of us are coming onto the Celebration next Friday 7th Sept. Myself, husband, best friend & her husband. Best friend emigrated 22 years ago to Perth, Australia, they are in the UK now for their hols. & I can't wait. We did the Colourful Coasts on the Celebration last year & couldn't fault it! Only problem we had was a bit of vibration while sunbathing on one of the decks. It was quite funny lying there watching your fat wobble! The staff were absolutely brilliant, always smiling & nothing too much trouble.
Did same cruise this March on the Destiny, we don't have anything to compare with, but we loved every minute. Good food, brilliant weather, fantastic ports of call (we even enjoyed Morocco). Will look out for you, we will be propped up by the cocktail bar most afternoons between 4 & 6pm. Then it's time for a siesta before we get ready for dinner. What a life.

Only downside I don't like flying, just had local news on (East Midlands) & Thompsons plane has landed at EMA with problems, had only taken off from Doncaster. I won't think about it too much.

Yes the vibration is funny isnt it, especially when you are reading the menu, looks like you've got the shakes

Beardy,

Will see you at the weekend. Have you got the AI package?

Do you mean Horizons bar?

Nev.

Hi Nev

Yes we all have the AI drinks. I have posted re different charges on the Thompson's ships. This is under the AI subject. We will be celebrating friend Brian's 55th birthday on the Saturday, please say hello if you think it's us. Can't wait.

Kath, Steve, Julie & Brian

Dear All,

Hope to see you all onboard.

We are going on this cruise for my wife's 50th next month but it is actually my 54th on Friday.

Just one quick question is it completely 'cash free' on board?
I'm only asking as I normally give a tip to waiters and bar people each time I get a drink.

Nev & Diane.

It is "cash free". All purchases, which are in sterling and NOT Euros, are charged to your account and paid at end by either credit card or cash.

Not entirely sure about thomson, but most cruiselines apply a mandatory 15% tip to every bar purchase!!

Tips are all included in the price with Thomsons. You can leave a bit extra if you want to but the waiters ceratinly don't expect it. The only tip we left was a few Euros for the cabin staff.

Thanks to everybody for all the very useful info since my posting on 17 August. Off to the Falklands in a couple of weeks (to work) then back for the cruise, can't wait.

We had a great holiday on the Destiny in August and our 11 year old daughter met lots of frinds at the kids club. We are thinking of a Baltic cruise on the Celebration next year. Can anyone tell me if the Celebration has a kids zone similar to the Destiny please?

We are going on The Celebration on 12th October 07 Couldn't buy drinks package here. Does anyone know if you can buy it on board, also do they take Debit cards as opposed to Credit cards on The Celebration.This is our first trip on the celebration.We have travelled on the Spirit and Destiny and have loved both ships.

Yes, there is a kids zone on the Celebration, its up to 12 isnt it?
This summer though, one of the dance team, James, did a Teen "Meet n Mingle" each day just to get the teens together which proved popular and my 14 year old met some teens and hung out with them each day which was nice.

Sorry Nev, never got to meet you, I hope you enjoyed your cruise? We certainly did, only complaint really was that it was too hot! The air conditioning didn't appear to be working in our cabin, we were in no. 427. We were seated every night on the same table, near the Captain's table & had the privelege of being served by JM & Roy. They are 2 of the most hard working, genuine, happy, smiling, friendly guys that you could meet. All of the staff are absolutely brilliant, the food was first class, as was the entertainment & the ports of call on the Med. Renaissance itinerary. My friends only niggle was about the towels & bedding etc. They do all need replacing, but the cabins are kept spotless by the staff. Thanks to 'Andung' who was straight into our cabin the moment we left it to tidy up.

We will definitely be booking again.

Beardy,

Sorry we missed you all, we had a week in Majorca to follow the cruise so only arrived back on the 21st.
We were looked after by Henry and Trio in the restaurant and like yourself sat at the same table every night.
Jay served us at the pool bar and the cabin boy pallos? kept everything 'shipshape' in cabin 050.
We were also impressed with Bram from the entertainment crew

The only downside, I was stung by something on the beach trip on Sardinia and was in agony until the Ship's Doctor removed the sting.

Has anyone booked at the very last minute and recieved a big discount. We are tempted to take a week in October if the price drops enough and would take a chance and wait till a couple of days before cruise day if it's worth it?