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Thompson Destiny Cruise Ship

Myself, Wife Mary and Daughter Natasha. Before I start I would like to thank all the staff and friends we met for making our holiday a memorable one. So thank you for that.
Just back from a Stay and Cruise. The first week was a stay in the Talayot and the second week was on board the Destiny. See report for Talayot on Hotel Reviews. We were booked for the western Med Cruise. Stopping at Villefranche, (France), Marinea Di Carrara, ( Italy), Civitavecchia, (Italy) Olbia, (Sardinia), Mahon, (Menorca) I will explain how we got about the shore later at the end of this report.
We did pay extra for the All Inclusive Package which includes drinks. Take my advise and take this deal as the drink can be expensive and it will not be long in adding up when you get you final bill.
Arrived on the Destiny on the 17th July. Not as big as the cruise ship we were on in the Caribbean but big for a Cruise Liner in the med. Bags were left a the quayside and delivered to your room. We were met by guest relations who escorted us to our cabin. Number was 3001 inside at the front of the ship. First impression was my god its very small. But once we unpacked and stored the suitcases away the room was acceptable for the 3 of us. The bathroom and shower was very small. I knew that the time spent in the cabin was worth making a big issue of the size of the room. After all the room was spotless. We had a chamber lad called Frady from the Philippines. Nice lad who kept our room spotless with the fine touches of a chocolate on your pillow and animals made from your towels when he turned your bed down for the evening. There was 7 bars on this ship. Entertainment in them to suit all tastes. There was food served 24 hours a day at the Lido Café. There was also a grill bar by the pool serving food from 9am to 6pm. The Seven Seas Restaurant was the place to eat. Breakfast, Dinner and Evening Meals. The service and foods was excellent. The captains night (Friday Night) was a night to remember. Approximately 99% of the men and boys were dressed in either a Tux or Black tie Dinner Jacket. Some chose to wear a shirt and tie with trousers. The ladies and their daughters were all dressed in frocks and appropriate dresses. I have to say that the effort to get dressed up for this occasion was well worth it. I would attend black tie events during the course of the year for various functions but this was fantastic. Meeting the captain and then being escorted into the Can Can lounge for Cocktails and then into the Seven Seas for Dinner. A wonderful occasion. My advise would be to make the effort. At least, wear a shirt and tie. You will appreciate the whole atmosphere better for this. Some chose not too and they looked out of place. My 9 year old daughter had a great time in the kids club. They looked after her well. Infact given what has been happening around Europe with Madeline and other incidents I have to say that I felt very secure and had no worries letting my daughter do her own thing on the ship. The pool was not good. There was a paddling pool for toddlers and then the other pool was 5ft 9in with no life guards. I think Thompson's should take a good look at this before there is an unfortunate incident.
My daughter is not a good swimmer so she could not get a swim during our week on board.. Staff are brilliant. Every time I raised my arm to scratch my nose a waiter was there wondering if I needed a drink.
Entertainment Staff are very good with various games and competitions around the pool area and the show at night in the Can Can lounge.
Destination Services on the ship are there to flog you shore excursions despite what they say. When you ask them about a DIY shore trip they are not too helpful with the information. The best way is to ask the other passengers.
Villefranca, France- Nice resort. We got the train to Monaco for 20euro p/p return. Only 20 minutes. Step out of the station and look up to your right. You can see the Palace. Walk up the steps to the Palace. Once you have done that get the Noddy Train from there to the Casino in Monte Carlo. A lovely trip along the sea front past the Fast Cars and Lovely Yachts. This costs you 9 Euro. A taxi would cost you 12 Euro. Ship was charging £35 p/p.
Marina Di Carrara, Italy - Industrial Port - Not very nice - Got the ships half day excursion to Pisa for £30 p/p. No other choice. Could not get a train there. Still it was very nice. A very dirty city. Lots of Pick Pocketers - Beware.
Civitavecchia, Italy - Ship was looking for £90 p/p for a full day trip. We had planned to get the train. 22euro p/p return . Stepped off the gangplank at 9am and there was loads of people with the same idea. Spoke to one of the taxi drivers of which there was loads. Spoke to Maximillion. He said if I get 8 people together he will take us around Rome for 45euro each. I managed to get 8 people and Max took us to all the top spots of Rome waited for us and brought us back to the ship at 4pm. Good thing was only taxis and cars are aloud in the centre of Rome. Max dropped us off beside all the top spots - no walking. The bus tours from the ship had to walk 3 to 4 hours around Rome as the buses were not aloud into the centre. Lots of Pick Pocketers - Beware.
Olbia, Sardinia - We did our own thing. A very small town with not a lot happening. Most of the shops were closed
Mahon, Minorca - Lovely town in Menorca - We did our own thing. Bought our Ciggies from here to take home. 29 Euro for 200 L&B.
Had a fantastic week on board the Destiny. Going to book here for next year for the Eastern Med trip. Take my advise and treat yourself. Once you have done a stay an cruise you will not go back to sitting around a resort for 2 weeks.

Colin B - Northern Ireland :cheers
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Thanks for the review. I delighted that you have caught this cruising BUG! nothing quite like it and as you say 2 weeks in a resort can not compare to the places you can see and visit.
Despite doing the MED numerous times I still find new places |I come across accidentally.

Keep cruising!!

Sue
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hi.colin.thanks for that review .will give that ship a trial...
j.d..
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Many thanks for the review Colin. Very informative and full of useful information.

If you haven't done so already, I should be grateful if you would copy and paste your review into our Cruise Reviews HERE

Thanks

luci :wave
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We have just returned from the Thomson Destiny. This holiday was the 3rd year running on the Destiny for me (19) and mum, and the 2nd for dad and my sister (16). Didn't think we'd get dad on another cruise after he was a bit sea sick last year on the 1st day and had to get an injection from the ships doctor, but with miracle tablets in hand from the home GP we returned, and had another thoroughly enjoyable week with no complaints.

Entertainment: It all depends on your personal preferences but we always love the entertainment. Kane Davies is a great Cruise Director who gets involved in activities and Drew and his entertainment team are friendly and willing to chat to you about anything and everything.
On deck they have quizzes with prizes to be won and our favourite, I'm an entertainer, get me out of here! returned! This ace game, where members of the entertainment team battle it out in silly games to be crowned King or Queen of the Destiny, always provides laughs and is great fun to watch during the afternoon.
The shows this year were amazing with great dance routines and singing. Personal favourite was the Andrew Llyod Webber show which had some great performances by the show-team from musicals such as Joseph and Phantom of the Opera. After show-time we moved into the Oklahoma Lounge where the entertainment team put on game shows where audience participation is a must. Again thoroughly enjoyed these and the enthusiasm of the staff is great.
The UK guest act, Paul Eastwood was hilarious in both his shows and all members of the family enjoyed his shows.
We also love the deck parties where you can listen to the show team sing good old party songs and have a good dance on the deck till 1 in the morning.

Food: We read numerous reviews complaining about the food before we went this year and wondered if Thomson's standards had slipped because in previous years we found the food amazing. Once again it was lovely. There is so much choice and something for everyone, from afternoon tea serving scones, sandwiches and cakes, to the bbq that they serve up on deck. We always ate in the Lido café or the food bar on deck during the day as there was delicious snack food that was light and refreshing. On a night we ate in the Seven Seas Restaurant where the food and service is amazing. The waiters are on hand for anything you need and they provide entertainment regularly, singing and performing tricks.

Ship in general: No complaints about cabins. Yes they're small but a cruise holiday is the kind where you only shower and sleep in them so they don't need to be big. You need American adapters for electrical items in the plug socket and if you want a spare socket use the television plug.
The housekeeping staff are amazing! Everything is kept spotless and tidied and the talented maids regularly make animals out of your towels.
The ship is kept amazingly tidy and wherever you go there are always people polishing banisters, vacuuming or sweeping up.

Ports: We have done this itinerary on previous holidays on the Destiny but one or two of the ports has always differed slightly. One piece of advice is to not do the Thomson trips. They're expensive for what they are and most of the places they take you to can be reached easily by train or bus and it's much cheaper. Maybe wouldn't advise going to Rome on your own as it's quite a way from the port of Civitavecchia.
Villefranche, the 1st port of call, is a small sea-sidey town in Southern France and it's easy to get the train to either Nice or Monte Carlo or you can just have a wander about the pretty town and laze about on the beach.
Marrina Di Carrara is a container port but 5 minutes walk down the road we found a small market selling local produce and items of clothing and jewellery at relatively cheap prices and ideal to take back as presents for friends and family. You can also easily visit Pisa from this port by getting a local train.
Civitavecchia is another container port and we just stayed on the ship this day as it's nice and quiet because lots of people go on the trips to Rome. We've never fancied the Rome trips because we feel there's too much to see in a day trip and think it would be a hectic and tiring day but each to their own.
Olbia in Sardinia is another small sea side resort. Not much to do but its pretty for a stroll or a laze on the beach. Can easily get a bus or walk to the nearest beach.
Mahon is an amazing port to watch the boat sail into and a pretty town to wander around. There are numerous shops in the town centre but you've to tackle climbing up all those stairs first.

All in all another great holiday on the Thomson Destiny and we are trying to persuade dad to let us go again either at Christmas or
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Hi and welcome to HT!

Many thanks for the review, it will be very useful to our members.

I should be very grateful if you would copy and paste it into our Cruise Reviews site, link at the top of the page.

luci :wave
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Well I have gone and donnit. Had such a great time on the Destiny this year (Mediterranean Renaissance), I have booked the Destiny for next year. Is that sad or what ???
Booked a 2 week back to back on 30th July 09 - Moorish Delights & Jewels of the Mediterranean.
On the count down again - Isnt life one big countdown. Got the AI for 2 weeks so that will save me quite a bit of dosh.

Colin B Northern Ireland :hols
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Nice one Colin!

I always have to have a countdown, couldn't get through the working week otherwise.

luci :wave
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Booked this for next year 2009, back to back. Anyone out there done any of the trips.
I like to do the DIY Trips so the more info I have the better.
You can fill me in on what the ship has to offer regarding prices and is it worth it. !!
Common lets have it.

Colin B Northern Ireland :thanks :thanks
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Colin

You are a little bit ahead of yourself. I think you need to give people more information as to the itinary of this cruise. The name such as you have given means absolutley nothing to me.
I have cruised extensively in the Med and most of us on here are only too happy to offer advice or information to assist others on here.

Sue
  • Edited by luci HT Mod 2008-08-03 20:49:31
    To remove off topic comments
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A bit of topic for this topic Sue. :(

Yes Colin the name of the ship and a list of the ports would be a good starting point. ;) (Then I can merge it :rofl )

luci :wave
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Luci

Sorry about that you can edit it as I have cut and pasted it to the correct blog.

Sue
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I've done both Moorish Delights and Jewels of the Med (so that narrows it down to a Thomson cruise anyway!
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Process of elimination, from reading other threads, its the Destiny.

Have done both itineries on Destiny myself - wasn't too keen on Moorish Delights - the trips on offer weren't very exciting and the ports weren't the best for DIY either - but I suppose it depends on what you like doing, one man's meat being another man's gravy etc., so you may find them more interesting. If you have any queries about specific ports and what to find there just ask away. For Jewels of the Med, this was our first cruise and we did quite a few excursions with Thomsons but again, feel free to ask specific questions if you have them and I'll see what I can remember!
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i did the jewels of the mediterranean about a month ago on thomson spirit. i think destiny will be doing this itinery next year ??
:que

have to say, some of the ports on the jewels of the med itinery were excellent. we did go on a few of the thomson excursions because they sounded quite good.
it may be worth considering doing some thomson excursions as these are good value for money and some of them go to places that you wouldnt even think of going to if you visited D.I.Y. we didnt even know that some of the excursion locations existed!!

hope this helps..

need any more info let me know :tup

M
:tongue
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Appologies Luci and Sue - No cobwebs on you 2. !! :rofl
I neglected to say it was a Tompson Cruise.
I thought everyone on the site might have guest just like our friend Jessthepest.
And thanks Jessthepest & Martyn414, I will pick your brains on the stop overs for these 2 itineries.
Report on my desk for 9am tomorrow. !! ;)
Think most of the Tompson ships covering these Itineries would probably stop at the same ports. In my case its the Destiny.

Be in touch.
Thankyou :thanks

Colin B
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Hi, we are going on the Destiny in Oct, we've decided not to go for the AI as we're not big drinkers and also hope to be off the ship most of the day at the different ports. What I would like to know is when we get our card to sign for drinks etc - will our children get their own. They are 15/14 so more than able to and we know that they won't "go overboard" with their drinks, but it would seem rather tedious if they have to find us so we can order their drinks for them. Can anyone enlighten us? Thanks
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Not sure about the Destiny but most of the main Cruise Companies RCI Princess etc have a soft drink card you can buy and they can have unlimited soft drinks from what is on tap. Might be a better option for you with teenagers. They would have a card to produce to allow them this. Maybe someone who has travelled with Thomson's can advise whether this option is available.

Sue
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Meeane,

You should have a brilliant cruise on the Destiny. All passengers get a card whether you are all inclusive or not. AI will be on you card if you are all inclusive. The childrens card will have a the letter "C" on them. This stops the kids buying alcohol. They can use their own cards to buy soft drinks, and they just sign the reciept. The soft drinks are quite expensive. I spoke to a chap on the boat a few weeks ago and he was giving off because a tin of coke cost him £1. All prices are in Sterling on board.
My wee girl who is 9 was always ordering the kids cocktails. These can add up to quite a bit. We opted for the AI card. Glad we did. The list came through our door on the second last night. All drinks were listed. (Type, Location, Bar Tender Number, and Price). Luckily the price line read 0.00 baring a few icecreams and pringles my daughter bought. But I was amazed at the number of drinks which were listed. Soft and Alcoholic drinks.

regards

Colin B
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