Hi Hopper & Roger,
Many thanks for your replies. Feeling less concerned now!!
At the moment we are on deck 2 or 3 (upgraded to an outside cabin) as this was a last minute special from a travel agent but having read what others have said, I think I'll return tomorrow and try and see if anything is available on a higher deck as I am a light sleeper. It wouldn't affect my wife as she can sleep on the proverbial washing line!
Regarding the drinks package, it cost over £300 pounds and I think we will have to get totally legless each day to get our monies worth! We both mainly drink wine nowadays so we'll have to try the house wine (is it true the waiters 'top you up' as often as you like?)
and then pay for a better wine if we aren't too keen. Any ideas what wines are on sale?
Once again guys,thanks for putting our minds at rest.
Davegee.

Can i ask where the prejudice towards tattoo's comes from ??

I'm 42 years old and have 2 tattoo's and going for a third soon , in no way to i consider myself a lager lout , i like to judge people as i find them , just like most folk do and just because they may have tattoo's or a football shirt i don't pre-judge them as some seem today , quite frankly i find stereo-typical attitudes more offensive than a tattoo or football shirt.

apologies for going
All i can say is the Destiny is a great ship given the age she is , has a tremendous crew , has excellent entertainment and will proved a very good value holiday , if small cabins that you are rarely in and towels are you're only complaints then count yourself lucky.

Hi

I read the review that Davegee refers to, which is on another review web site and at first i was horrified and started to think that i have just booked a 2 week cruise on a roman slave galley. Luckily other reviews revealed fantastic holidays so feel slightly reassured now. Engine noise can sometimes be quite relaxing especially after a couple of days getting used to it.

Hi again Davejee

Yes the wine waiters keep going if you dont stop them, we do like a good wine, red, but the house (ship) wine has always been ok.
About the noise we have never been on the lower decks but have meet a lot of people that have some have said its noisy at the rear but could still sleep ok.
Got to get back to the Man Unt match

Regards

Roger

Nothing wrong with Tattoo's.
I have 4 and I love them. Although I got them when I was in my 20's. Approx 29 years ago. And I have never regretted it. I luv em. And funny enough I am not a larger lout either. Infact I am a very nice person. !
Ive met some hairy bikers full of tattoo's over the years and nicer gents you will never meet. Some of them solicitors who just like to relax at the weekends.
No snobbery please on this site. Theres lots of other sites for that.

Bee Good

Hi,

First time on this forum and booked onto Destiny for first Cruise on 15 Oct.

Not a great fan of formal attire when on holiday, so hoping that won't be a problem. Even so,
is there a facility where you can hire formal wear onboard rather than cart your own from the UK?
This probably isn't an issue for the women, but for us blokes, i don't really fancy carrying a suite or similar to Palma from the UK.

Have booked an outside cabin on decks 2/3 for 2 people wth the drinks package at extra cost. I don't doubt for a minute we will get good value for money with the drinks package at a cost of GBP 338 for 2 people on holiday for a week.

I've heard the food is pretty good, with friendly and plenty of staff. The rooms may be small but for the amount of time we plan to be in them, that won' be an issue. Clealiness, courteous staff and good food will either make or break the holiday.

I've usually had this idea that people who go on cruises are older than us (we are early - mid 40's),
but it would appear that isn't the case anymore. A good mix would be good, but generally looking forward to a good relaxing break, hopefully with some sunsine.

4 weeks tomorrow

only two formal nights , and even then you don't have to do them if you don't want , other evening casual trousers with a shiirt or polo is fine.

There is no formal hire on board.

you'll have a ball , drinks package is probably worth it if you have 5 drinks each per day or more.

i've booked again for next summer but got the AI upgrade free

enjoy the holiday it's a great old ship , great staff and great entertainment - flo-riders climbing walls and fancy atriums don't create an atmosphere !!!! the crew and passangers do !!

Hi Patbhoy

Can confirm what Smurf said but its only one formal night per week and you could just have jacket and tie or not eat in the main dinning room that day.
Drink package is well worth it as you also get soft drinks inc coffee in the lounges which you have to pay for without, and the canned drinks for the day trips.
You will have a great time

Roger

Re. Tattoos.

I posted a reply to Smurf last but it didn't display.
I said (like phil.wirral) that it was on another review website-Thomson Destiny reviews, and it wasn't my opinion!
Like Smurf I don't pre-judge people either.
Glad you enjoyed Destiny and I have a feeling I will now.
Davegee.

Hi Patbhoy

We are also on our first cruise on Destiny -15th October.

We have booked a specific inside cabin on deck 3 to try and minimise motion and engine noise

Bit older than you but very young at heart.

Glad we booked the all inclusive, shipboard prices are considerably more expensive than
my local pub. A single G & T on ship I believe is now £3.05, my local pub serves huge measures
almost a treble for £3.20 including a slimline bottle of tonic.

Got our tickets this morning

Cheers

Jim

Having enjoyed a great cruise on Destiny this year we were hoping to repeat the experience next year on a different itinerary, Jewels of The Med. Unfortunately the only date that is suitable for us is 29th May, which is Whit week. Has anyone been at this time and is it full of children? It's not that we don't like kids, we've got 2 grown up of our own, but would prefer it if there were not loads of kids making stacks of noise. We went in June this year and there were very few children but it didn't stop the presence one or two at the comedian's later show making it difficult for him. I guess we just prefer a bit peace and may have to opt for The Dream or another adult-only ship, a real shame as we loved the Destiny.

Hi

We are doing Jewels of the Med 15th October, does anyone know about shuttle buses at the ports of call??

Jim,
U dont want the kids on cruises, then travel during Term Time.
Failing that do a bit of hill walking. You get to the top and you can have all the peace and quiet you want. Sorry mate bit of a sore point with me when adults give off about kids.
Anyway - Thomson's newest ship The Thomson Dream is doing 2 months next year for adults only. Check it out - I think its around the time you would like to travel.
Me - I luv the kids on holidays. Thats what its all about - seeing kids enjoy themselves.

hi everyone im just back from my 6th cruise on destiny
and cant wait to book my 7th
im sorry iv never cruised with kids but i love seeing other little kids
enjoying the cruise just shows it aint just for old folk
p.s colin it true destiny last cruise will be oct/nov 2010 how sad is that!

Sorry if I offended anyone, although I thought I might, I never intended to give the impression I don't like kids. As I say I have 2 grown-up kids and obviously spent many holidays with them. I suppose I meant to say I have a problem with badly-behaved, out of control kids and was wondering if this was prevalent on the Destiny at that time. Kids having fun and making a racket is one thing but kids out of control is something else, I suppose I would like a rule of ' Only well-behaved children allowed '.
It's always a case of the few spoiling it for the many.
To put it in perspective we stayed in an adults-only hotel following our stay on the Destiny this year and some of the adults were worse than kids. Perhaps we all need to grow up, or down.

Again sorry if I caused offence.

Jackie,
I liked the Destiny. It is a shame she is being sold off. BUT. If you read my last review on the old girl. I would tend to say she is looking a bit tired. So if the same crew move across to the replacement ship, then there should be no problem. Afterall it was the Crew, and the type of passengers Thomson's get, that can make a great cruise into a brillient cruise.

Jim,
I do agree with you on the point of badly-behaved, out of control kids. But to be honest with you, I have seen very few badly behaved kids. 99% of the parents are very thoughtful towards their fellow passengers.
Although some of the oldies would need to wise up. They had to escort a passenger of the Destiny this year at the Rome Stop. Too much alcohol mixed with fighting the night before and he was told to leave the ship the following morning escorted by 2 Itallian Policemen. Nice to see that Thomson's do not take any cr-- from badly behaved adults. (He obviously did not want to see Rome ). hehe. Its a shame his family had to bear the consequences of his actions the next day.

Does anyone know what ship they are getting top replace the Destiny or is that why the Dream was purchased ??

the dream was bought to replace the calypso which goes off the water in october

not sure what ship replacing destiny

I know its not the Destiny but on Island Escape in August they had a Happy Hour 3 till 4 where all the kids had to vacate the pool + it was adults only.
Must admit it was pandamonium at other times + the oldies were grumbling a bit.
Also there was a lot of families getting upset due to 14/15 yr olds continually "bombing" the little ones in the pool causing lots of crying kids + some close encounters between families.
There are signs around pool saying "No Bombing/Diving" to no avail.And dont forget this pool is probably 7' deep + a lot of kids are a bit afraid when being bombed by big 6' lads.
johnny c