Thank you Windjammer. I didnt think it would be a good option to go AI, but I thought I would ask for advise from people who go on cruises and have more experience than me.
I take it Soda Option, is an AI basis for all soft drinks?
Thomson's online are quoting £150 pp to upgrade to AI which I thought was quite expensive. I would probably have on average about 4 drinks in the evening and never drink during the day. So it works out quite expensive. Also you mentioned a very worthwhile point - getting up early in the morning for an excursion - that would put me off drinking the evening before.
One more question if thats ok. Do you know the approximate price on board for a glass of wine or a soft drink ie. diet coke. Thanks.
Not done Thomsons recently so not upto date on the current prices.
A guide has been and probably still works is similar to pub prices in the uk(down south pubs).
One other advantage of NOT doing the AI is you can buy a bottle from the list rather than having to have the house wine by the glass, they should save what you don't drink for the next night.
Not sure if Thomsons do an adult soft drink AI option, don't forget that tea coffee is available anyway and the ships water is fine I often drink that between drinks.
We usualy take a 3ltr wine box for that pre dinner glass while getting ready but if only one of you actualy drinks even that could be too much for a week, I see they now have 1.5ltr wine in a bag in Tesco that could be an option.
Just checked my Celebrity prices(2 weeks ago) which should be higher than thomsons current prices,
Juice, $3 (decent sized glass)
Draft beer $5.18
very large martini $12
bottle of wine $40+
US ships are much more expensive for wine so shoud lbe able to get somehting well under £15.
I think a can of soda was somthing like $1.85, I got the adults soda AI which was $55 for 9night cruise
A guide has been and probably still works is similar to pub prices in the uk(down south pubs).
One other advantage of NOT doing the AI is you can buy a bottle from the list rather than having to have the house wine by the glass, they should save what you don't drink for the next night.
Not sure if Thomsons do an adult soft drink AI option, don't forget that tea coffee is available anyway and the ships water is fine I often drink that between drinks.
We usualy take a 3ltr wine box for that pre dinner glass while getting ready but if only one of you actualy drinks even that could be too much for a week, I see they now have 1.5ltr wine in a bag in Tesco that could be an option.
Just checked my Celebrity prices(2 weeks ago) which should be higher than thomsons current prices,
Juice, $3 (decent sized glass)
Draft beer $5.18
very large martini $12
bottle of wine $40+
US ships are much more expensive for wine so shoud lbe able to get somehting well under £15.
I think a can of soda was somthing like $1.85, I got the adults soda AI which was $55 for 9night cruise
Windjammer, thats brilliant, thanks for all your help 
Hi mtek,
Thanks for that, I was wondering if there would be taxis at the ports of call to take you on tours, and whether it would be cheaper to book with them instead of using Thomsons, as on previous holidays we have saved pounds by using the local tour operators. The only thing is my husband is a bit wary of the safety factor involved.
Wendy
Thanks for that, I was wondering if there would be taxis at the ports of call to take you on tours, and whether it would be cheaper to book with them instead of using Thomsons, as on previous holidays we have saved pounds by using the local tour operators. The only thing is my husband is a bit wary of the safety factor involved.
Wendy
There are usually taxis at every port, just make sure you agree a price beforehand and that the price is for the whole party and not each like a taxi driver tried to do to us in Hammamet.
Have a look at the sticky topic "DIY Excursions Med Area" at the top of the forum to see if any of your ports are mentioned.
luci
Have a look at the sticky topic "DIY Excursions Med Area" at the top of the forum to see if any of your ports are mentioned.
luci
Wendy - which ports are you calling at? In some ports if there are a number of cruise ships in at the same time the Emerald passengers do not get the taxis waiting for the as the Americans and others not used to the euro usually tip more. Some ports are easier to do by public transport. Athens for example has a great metro system into the city. If its Dubrovnik then there is a local bus (can's remember what number) just outside the port area. Corfu - well there is a courtesy coach which takes you to the port entrance and its a fair walk into the old town. In Rhodes you stop right at the start of the old city and if you want to go to somewhere like Lindos there is a very good and very regular public bus service. In Santorini its always a tender port and you can get the funicular up to the town for about 4 euro but there are long queues coming back down as most ships are leaving at the same time. In Mykonos Thompson usually run a bus into the town (well the edge of the town). In Zakynthos its another tender port and if you walk about half way along the port towards the church and go one street back there is the local bus station. It takes you to most parts of the island. Trieste and again you arrive in the middle of the town and if you want to go to the castle then its only a short taxi ride and there is a taxi rank just outside the main square. In Venice it is possible to walk to the vaporetto stop for number one vaporetto which takes you down the Grand Canal to St. Marks. However this particular trip in Venice is a bit of a rip off at 10 euro or so each when a three day vaporetto ticket is only about 35 euro each and you can use this out to the islands - Murano, Burano and the wonderful cemetery island of San Michele. Rovinj and again you are right in the town and the town and its bell tower are well worth exploring. Zadar I have not done. I usually take a trip in the Turkish ports but I have heard that taxi drivers will give a better deal on trips to Ephesus.
The best value on doing it alone is Athens. The metro is about 20 minutes walk outside the port area. Turn left when you get outside the building, walk until you come to a major junction and then turn right for about 5 minutes. If you type in Athens metro you will come on a really great site which shows photos of that junction. Then its 6 or 7 stops to the Plaka or Acropolis.
Have a fabulous cruise. I love the Emerald and unfortunately on this her last year with Thompson I have booked on the Calypso. Going in less than 2 weeks and can't wait. Even booked for next year. The Eastern Med is fabulous and you will have a great time.
Marie
The best value on doing it alone is Athens. The metro is about 20 minutes walk outside the port area. Turn left when you get outside the building, walk until you come to a major junction and then turn right for about 5 minutes. If you type in Athens metro you will come on a really great site which shows photos of that junction. Then its 6 or 7 stops to the Plaka or Acropolis.
Have a fabulous cruise. I love the Emerald and unfortunately on this her last year with Thompson I have booked on the Calypso. Going in less than 2 weeks and can't wait. Even booked for next year. The Eastern Med is fabulous and you will have a great time.
Marie
Hi Marie,
Thanks very much, that's a great help, I'm going to print that out and take it with us.
We're going to Santorini, Turkey, Piraeus (for Athens), Mykonos and day seven Zante.
I've booked the drinks package but think I'll try and cancel it, as looking at it logically we'll not be spending that amount of time on the boat and neither of us are real drinkers, and with having to get up early in the morning it will mean lots of early nights I think. As we're all inclusive in the Louis Grand hotel we'll save all our drinking time up for then, and have a really relaxing week, as the first week seems as though it's going to be hectic.
I hope you have a brilliant holiday,
Wendy
Thanks very much, that's a great help, I'm going to print that out and take it with us.
We're going to Santorini, Turkey, Piraeus (for Athens), Mykonos and day seven Zante.
I've booked the drinks package but think I'll try and cancel it, as looking at it logically we'll not be spending that amount of time on the boat and neither of us are real drinkers, and with having to get up early in the morning it will mean lots of early nights I think. As we're all inclusive in the Louis Grand hotel we'll save all our drinking time up for then, and have a really relaxing week, as the first week seems as though it's going to be hectic.
I hope you have a brilliant holiday,
Wendy
Now that the Emerald is in her last season, I can't help but remind myself that she is my favourite ship, and wondered if others of you have any special memories of this lovely ship and its crew?
I remember that the captain gave a speech at the beginning of the cruise saying that crew and passengers were considered as one big family, and to think of the waiters and other staff as our uncles and cousins etc. and to treat them accordingly. It may have sounded trite, but that's just how it felt, there was no 'them and us' but we were all in the same boat both literally and figuratively with the same objective in view. All the crew were friendly, and would meet your eye and nod or smile as you passed, the captain, senior officers, cruise director and entertainment staff were regularly to be found around and about the ship, and were always friendly and approachable chatting with the passengers.
My very best memory, of both the Emerald and of all the cruises I've been on though was our approach to Istanbul. As stood on the deck watching the domes and minarets of the city appear out of the mist we heard Vangelis, "1492 Conquest of Paradise" playing through the PA system. It was magical, and so totally appropriate to the circumstances.
We sought out the cruise director afterwards (to my shame I'm unable to remember his name) and told him how much we'd enjoyed it, whereupon he confessed that it was the first time he'd done it and had been seriously worried that it was a huge mistake. Nothing could have been further from the truth for us. We bought the CD as soon as we got home and every now and then we sit back, close our eyes and imagine ourselves back there. It's something we will always remember with happiness.
I remember that the captain gave a speech at the beginning of the cruise saying that crew and passengers were considered as one big family, and to think of the waiters and other staff as our uncles and cousins etc. and to treat them accordingly. It may have sounded trite, but that's just how it felt, there was no 'them and us' but we were all in the same boat both literally and figuratively with the same objective in view. All the crew were friendly, and would meet your eye and nod or smile as you passed, the captain, senior officers, cruise director and entertainment staff were regularly to be found around and about the ship, and were always friendly and approachable chatting with the passengers.
My very best memory, of both the Emerald and of all the cruises I've been on though was our approach to Istanbul. As stood on the deck watching the domes and minarets of the city appear out of the mist we heard Vangelis, "1492 Conquest of Paradise" playing through the PA system. It was magical, and so totally appropriate to the circumstances.
We sought out the cruise director afterwards (to my shame I'm unable to remember his name) and told him how much we'd enjoyed it, whereupon he confessed that it was the first time he'd done it and had been seriously worried that it was a huge mistake. Nothing could have been further from the truth for us. We bought the CD as soon as we got home and every now and then we sit back, close our eyes and imagine ourselves back there. It's something we will always remember with happiness.
My best memory of the Emerald has to be my honeymoon in 1999 when the Emerald was sailing round the caribean.
One of my best cruises ever, and was the first on the Emerald.
I'm booked for the last two weeks to say my farewell to my favourite ship and clock up my 14th cruise on her. And i've got my normal cabin.
And in all those years, I think papanik has always been on board too. Jonathan, the philipino officer who also handled the lifeboats, was on there for all those years but left a couple of years ago.
I have amny happy memories and have met many lovely people and crew, lots of whom I still keep in contact with a always will.
I will miss the emerlad and I think thomson's will miss alot of their repeat passengers.
Andy
One of my best cruises ever, and was the first on the Emerald.
I'm booked for the last two weeks to say my farewell to my favourite ship and clock up my 14th cruise on her. And i've got my normal cabin.
And in all those years, I think papanik has always been on board too. Jonathan, the philipino officer who also handled the lifeboats, was on there for all those years but left a couple of years ago.
I have amny happy memories and have met many lovely people and crew, lots of whom I still keep in contact with a always will.
I will miss the emerlad and I think thomson's will miss alot of their repeat passengers.
Andy
Hi everyone. I have posted a review of our cruise on the Emerald today so it will appear shortly. Another great holiday after a shaky start.
Taylaboo
Taylaboo
OOOO why shaky???? 
we go on 1 st August.....Adriatic....is that what you've just done (sorry...being impatient here......I should wait for your review to show up LOL)
we go on 1 st August.....Adriatic....is that what you've just done (sorry...being impatient here......I should wait for your review to show up LOL)
The admin who approves cruise reviews is on holiday at the moment and won't be back for almost 2 weeks.
Unfortunately all our reviews have to be approved before they are shown due to the amount of spam we receive. I'm really sorry.
BTW Welcome to HT taylaboo1! Perhaps you can post an outline of your review here.
luci
Hi As my review has still not been posted here it is for those going soon.
Our flight was delayed so long at Norwich airport we missed the sailaway at Corfu. As we were "go as you please" in the second week visiting with friends in Corfu Thomsons arranged for us to do the Adriatic in our second week, so we stayed with our friends a week early. We should have flown from Norwich at 4pm and at 9.30pm were coached to Gatwick, and took off at 3.30am arriving at our friends house the next morning having been up 28 hours. Awful!! We crashed until lunchtime!! Bless them for having us at such short notice. We had booked the Pearls of the Aegean so we could have our wedding anniversary and my birthday on board so were a bit disappointed not being able to do this. We joined the Emerald a week late and were not disappointed. She may be getting on a bit (like us) but she is kept very clean. I must admit I prefer her to the Celebration. She is smaller but the cabins are larger and it is a very friendly ship.
Our cabin was great for us two but probably cramped for four adults. We were on deck 4. Thanks to Sylvana for keeping it spotless. Clean sheets every day, clean towels twice a day, and beach towels provided as well. The food was excellent, especially in the Chanterelle restaurant. We ate breakfast from the buffet on the pool deck and it was good, with plenty to choose from. The shows were very good, thanks to Gavin and his young entertainment staff. I especially enjoyed the "I'm an entertainer, get me out of here" on the pool deck on Thursday afternoons. Very funny. We loved Venice and Dubrovnik. Do the town wall walk, hard work but worth it for the views. It took us about ninety minutes as I am still recovering from a broken ankle. Not for the elderly or disabled, too many steps. We thought the Thomson trips too expensive so got taxis (very cheap) and did our own thing, seeing everything we planned to see.
The Gondolas in Venice are very expensive so find someone to share with. Taxis from Dubrovnik port to the old town are 10 euros each way, about a fifteen minute drive. We skipped the Captains dinner having done it before on the Celebration and people on the first sitting were complaining of being rushed in and out so they could get ready for the second sitting. The midnight buffets on the pool deck are great, especially the Indian night. Trieste was lovely but the shops shut on Mondays, the day the ship is docked. Still nice to walk around though. We didn't do the all inclusive drinks package as it had gone up again, and were quids in, even though we had plenty to drink. Bottles of wine in the Chanterelle start at about £12 upwards. Cocktails are about 2.20 euros with a fruit bowl hanging on the side of the glass. They also do a virgin cocktail (no alcohol) that is lovely to drink on deck in the hot weather.
All in all after a wonky start we had a lovely time and its a pity Thomson are not going to use the Emerald again. We would like to sail on her again. Now looking to do a Greek Island cruise, any suggestions?
Our flight was delayed so long at Norwich airport we missed the sailaway at Corfu. As we were "go as you please" in the second week visiting with friends in Corfu Thomsons arranged for us to do the Adriatic in our second week, so we stayed with our friends a week early. We should have flown from Norwich at 4pm and at 9.30pm were coached to Gatwick, and took off at 3.30am arriving at our friends house the next morning having been up 28 hours. Awful!! We crashed until lunchtime!! Bless them for having us at such short notice. We had booked the Pearls of the Aegean so we could have our wedding anniversary and my birthday on board so were a bit disappointed not being able to do this. We joined the Emerald a week late and were not disappointed. She may be getting on a bit (like us) but she is kept very clean. I must admit I prefer her to the Celebration. She is smaller but the cabins are larger and it is a very friendly ship.
Our cabin was great for us two but probably cramped for four adults. We were on deck 4. Thanks to Sylvana for keeping it spotless. Clean sheets every day, clean towels twice a day, and beach towels provided as well. The food was excellent, especially in the Chanterelle restaurant. We ate breakfast from the buffet on the pool deck and it was good, with plenty to choose from. The shows were very good, thanks to Gavin and his young entertainment staff. I especially enjoyed the "I'm an entertainer, get me out of here" on the pool deck on Thursday afternoons. Very funny. We loved Venice and Dubrovnik. Do the town wall walk, hard work but worth it for the views. It took us about ninety minutes as I am still recovering from a broken ankle. Not for the elderly or disabled, too many steps. We thought the Thomson trips too expensive so got taxis (very cheap) and did our own thing, seeing everything we planned to see.
The Gondolas in Venice are very expensive so find someone to share with. Taxis from Dubrovnik port to the old town are 10 euros each way, about a fifteen minute drive. We skipped the Captains dinner having done it before on the Celebration and people on the first sitting were complaining of being rushed in and out so they could get ready for the second sitting. The midnight buffets on the pool deck are great, especially the Indian night. Trieste was lovely but the shops shut on Mondays, the day the ship is docked. Still nice to walk around though. We didn't do the all inclusive drinks package as it had gone up again, and were quids in, even though we had plenty to drink. Bottles of wine in the Chanterelle start at about £12 upwards. Cocktails are about 2.20 euros with a fruit bowl hanging on the side of the glass. They also do a virgin cocktail (no alcohol) that is lovely to drink on deck in the hot weather.
All in all after a wonky start we had a lovely time and its a pity Thomson are not going to use the Emerald again. We would like to sail on her again. Now looking to do a Greek Island cruise, any suggestions?
Thanks for the review, very interesting!
So sorry about your delayed start...how awful for you!
(looks like your review has shown up on the cruise review forum now......
)
So sorry about your delayed start...how awful for you!
(looks like your review has shown up on the cruise review forum now......
)
Errrrm taylaboo 
You got me thinking.....we have a late-ish flight to Corfu on 1 august.......(due to land around 7pm)....not much margin for error there is there??????
has anyone else experiencd this, (delays)....what would happen to us as we are only on a one week cruise???
You got me thinking.....we have a late-ish flight to Corfu on 1 august.......(due to land around 7pm)....not much margin for error there is there??????
has anyone else experiencd this, (delays)....what would happen to us as we are only on a one week cruise???
fitzy2 wrote:
(looks like your review has shown up on the cruise review forum now......
Where? I've had a look and still can't see it under the Emerald.
luci
Is it not the second latest review....?????
bears extremely strong resemblances to the report posted in this forum?????
But I could be wrong LOL
bears extremely strong resemblances to the report posted in this forum?????
But I could be wrong LOL
Thanks fitzy2, I missed that. Didn't see if for looking and I was expecting to see a new message marker sun and there wasn't one.
The backlog of cruise reviews were approved this morning.
luci
The backlog of cruise reviews were approved this morning.
luci
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