Hi. i think this may have been covered already but without having to trawl through the pages ,can anyone tell me which ports i need euro and what the other ports have.we are doing rovinji ,treiste, dubrvnik, venice and zadar. Thanks in advance . 10 more sleeps

Hi we have just returned from that very cruise!

euros needed for trieste and venice (also Corfu town)

Kuna needed for the others.....but just get them in Rovinj, there is a cash point in the square just behind the harbour.....and for reference, the rate was around 8 kuna to the pound ! (I say that as we had no idea how much to draw out LOL)

I cant rave enough about the itinerary....any questions just ask......i have posted a review but I believe there is a delay in them being published....

Thanks Fitzy2. I did the itinarey 2 years ago with hubby but daughter was working on Emerald at the time so she sorted money out and we just gave her euros in its place. (easier for us both at the time).Could have just asked her but bet she cant remember .Im going with my mum this time as hubby cant get anymore time off this year.I just know she will love it thats why i chose this one. Just Zadar we didnt do last time. Looking forward to it so muc, hoping for some sunshine too??????

Fitzy2

Please feel free to post your review in here if you still have a copy of it while you are waiting for the official one to be approved.

luci

OOOPs sorry...didnt keep a copy......

not to worry...it was all good...but am happy to answer any questions in the meantime

last 2 weeks cruise is fast approaching

who's coming?

unfortunatly not but really wish i was

Parents on board, last minute deal from the local airport.

Istanbul today, along side the Jade the last ship we were on together in June.
(Edit to remove obsolete link)

"cruise beyond expectations".

Sounds like the Emerald still delivers, so looking good for those on the final(next) one.

Update Parents Returned Friday,

Very very happy.

After a few years of only hitting the main stream lines P&O,Cunard,Celebrity,RCI,NCL,Fred Olsen, this Emerald trip was local airport and interesting itinerary and OK lastminute prices so worth giving a go

Smaller ship and extremely friendly atmosphere, very impressed by the CD team that provided most of the entertainment, none of the big glam shows but interesting and enjoyable.

Crew outstanding, (so much for prepaid tips gets you bad service).

Food, not up there with the other lines for some dishes and choice but very good and much more in tune with the UK market, good plentifull veg.

Passenger demographics fairly typical mid->old for an offpeak trip, very much a british holiday maker.

Excursions well organised and managed much better than the big ships.

For a ship about to retire from the Thomson brand it was in tiptop condition
cabin(forward OV) spacious

Drinks much cheaper than the US ships.
Thomson still sting you when booking late with addon fees(like tickets on departure)

Parents will be considering another trip next year, itinerary along with local airport departure will be the key factors , in the mean time they have PA&O trip to do at NewYear.

Our UK brand cruises were with the Sun Cruises, Island with 2 on the Topaz, in some way miss the uk ness that these trips had.

I think we will seek out an itinerary we like on a Thomson ship for next year, if we can get the price right we can give it a go and see if what we think we are missing is real.

Well, now the Emerald is hitting Athens ready to offload all the Thomson kit onto the Spirit.

I have some updated info on the Emerald for anyone interested.

Basically, Thomson in their infinite wisdom of using one of the island ships on the routes have offloaded their most popular ship.

Louis Cruises are happily taking her back and she may even replace the small ship M/V Coral for 3 - 5 day mini cruises from Cyprus.

The overall fate of the Emerald is in the hands of Louis Cruises. Basically she falls foul of the new SOLAS regulations which become into force in 2010. Basically the ship will need a large refit to meet the new regulations. This is not potentially out of the question, as the Emerald was enlarged back in 1991 and has proved herself in the years since.

For those interested in still trying to sail on the Emerald, keep an eye on Louis Cruise lines own website for her to transfer back to their hands. The crew will still be sourced from the same company (except no thomson staff).

For those who want to follow the existing staff, many are transferring to the destiny.

Andy

As for my cruise, both the ship and staff performed over and above expectations

Thought I would have a blessing on board to say goodbye to the ship I honeymooned on.

No smoking in doors at all, even for her last cruise, so we occupied the back deck on 5 behind the yacht club for our main smoking area.

Ports of call and everything was near perfect for her last cruise.

Andy

Thanks for the update Andy. It's sad to see her go.

luci

I know Luci, but don't forget she should still be around for a couple of seasons, and there is a small chance she will get the refit and sail as an exclusive, obscure destination cruise ship in the future.

I am planning to try to get on her in 2010.

On another ship, I am informed the old Topaz, after being ruined as part of the peace ship to athens, is headed for Scotland to be scrapped

That's good news - had always thought of going on the Emerald and if they put her to good use for mini cruises from Cyprus that is even better as that is our next 'plan' for 2010!!!!! (Not that we are keen !) We once did a 2 day mini cruise with Louis Cruises on the Marissa and had a fabulous time ---

We have been on The Emerald three times, because we love it. Such a small and comfortable ship and much more personal than some of the current ocean-going giants around. Thomsons are very silly not keeping her! She cruises round the Greek Islands most years during the winter months under the Louis banner but I was interested to see some "men in suits" looking around the ship when we were in Piraeus during her penultimate Thomson cruise. It would be interesting to know what that was all about.

TJS

You should have seen the entire Louis contingent jump on board at Cyprus in her last week. They were almost desperate to get Thomson's off the ship. This included the charter management team and the regular hiring an firing teams. It was also interesting to see David Selby (TUI cruise director) sneal on board at Corfu, and sail off on the last leg of crew only to Athens.

As i've said, the crew rumour is that Louis will move the MS Coral to pasture and upgrade in size to the Emerald, which should be 3 - 5 mini cruises from Cyprus to Lebbanon, Egypt and Syria etc.

Another comment was that, to meet Solas requirements, the refit would cost many millions, but would effectively extend the life by 20 years (much like the refit in the late 80s where they added around 4 decks to the upper superstructure. I would also not be surprised if another UK based travel company was not watching the developments concerning the Emerald with wide eyes. (if Louis Cruises were guaranteed a 5 year charter, the work would almost certainly be undertaken)

Lets watch this space.

Andy