I'm sure you will be fine. I'm a bit of a fussy eater too - I'll eat all meat but not too keen on my greens

Even in the main dining room you can always ask the waiters at the time you place your order. If you don't want mushrooms or fancy extra potatoes just ask them and they'll be more than willing to accommodate you.

I can't think of a single occasion I haven't found something I liked on board. Dont worry!

Phil.

Hi Phil

Well I feel much happier now! My husbands diet consists of cheese, cheese and more cheese His cholestrol levels will be through the roof! But I cannot get him to eat much else! If there is cheese and crackers he'll be happy and he likes thin fries! Anything but healthy!!

The two late nights in Croatia, I do know we are going to eat out in the evening, so we will see what there is to eat out!!

Debbie

There is usually a good selection of cheese available most nights somewhere or other on board. I've only ever found chips available once and that was during a set lunch menu.

Thank you Phil, at least I now have an idea of what to aim for in terms of spending money ~ would you happen to know what the draught lager is on board?

Just been asked by my husband what the lager is on baord & as I have no idea I thought I'd ask you guys.

In case it makes any difference we have the all inclusive package (free as we booked 12mths in advance!! ~ Thanks Thomson)

Cheers Shelley

Sorry no, I can't remember mainly because I only drink bottled beer. They have your usual array of Corona / Budweiser etc in bottles though.

Phil.

Hi,

Anyone out there who is travelling next week (26 May) like me??

I have mixed feelings about this ship when reading the reviews But I'm trying my very best to keep an open mind! I have booked a superior outside cabin, but on looking back at the reviews someone had said the bedside cabinets were painted a gloss white? and bedding had cigarette burns on them?? This really disheartens me I don't mind that the ship is old at all and that decor will be old fashioned, but so long as the rooms are nice and clean!

Debbie

Found a new website which has a lot of information on about the Emerald! I have discovered a glitch in cabin grading between Thomsons and Louis Cruises - I have booked cabin no. 300 on bolero deck which Thomsons say it is a superior outside cabin, also paid for this grade of cabin. but Louis Cruise website stipulate this is only a standard cabin?? I am now in the process of battling it out with Thomsons before I travel next week Surely Louis Cruises should not what grade of cabin it is, as it is their ship chartered to Thomsons! I'm very confused now! If anyone can advise!

Thanks
Debbie

Hi

I've been reading some of the reviews of the Emerald and one thing is worrying me.

Someone has mentioned that there is no shade on deck. My husband & I like to lie in the shade rather than the sun, as he burns very quickly.

Can anyone give us clear info on this point, as it could well ruin our holiday.

We are booked for the Pearls of the Aegean w/c 30/06/06.

Thanks

We sailed with Louis Cruises on a mini cruise to Egypt a few years ago on the Marissa - yip it wasn't a top cruise ship but our outside cabin was lovely - a super picture window. The service was spot on - as a result we plan to go to Pafos next year and book a 3 day cruise to Rhodes with then direct ----- to be honest I'd trust them over Thomsons any day -----------

I suppose its like hotels - when you get to a hotel and ask them what a room upgrade is or a meal upgrade you very rarely pay as much as you would have to pay if you went through the tour operator!

Hi Presto2

Yes i'm beginning to realise this about dealing direct! I have had confirmation from the Thomson Cruise Manager by email this week that the cabin we have booked is definitely graded as superior?? Strange .... Well I then fired off the email confirmation from Louis Cruises stating in their eyes it was classed by them as a standard cabin! Mmmm, he then came back with a load of schpeel about how one tour company is within their rights to grade it different to another company! Well, I'm not convinced, I think it a ploy from Thomsons to get more money from the Customer?? I may be wrong, but watch this space when I return on 2 June, as I will definitely leave a review!

Debbie

Just hope you have a great time and that everything is fine.

Bayliner, i've replied direct to your inbox on the cabin.

I'm back online and nutty as ever.

I'm on board the Emerald from 26th for both 7 day cruises back to back.

Going back to the point about shade. I can confirm there is not much shade, the top deck will only be shaded if you sit near the funnel and use that dependant on what side the sun is. There is a small bar up there which has a little shady area but this gets full.

The same goes for the sunbathing areas at the back of the ship and are dependant on time of day.

The Lido deck does have a two level area, but beware this fills at food times and is more for seats than beds, but you can sit here in shade or sun.

I'm always happy as I prefer to be out on the tours or inside, I love the heat but hate the sun. lol

Andy

Hi I'm sailing on the Thompson Emerald on the 30/06/06 for two weeks. This is my first cruise since I was a child and there are a few things some of you can help me with. We are taking our youngest daughter with us who is 8, are there plenty of activities to keep her occupied. Can you choose where to sit at he restaurant. Is the dress code for dinner formal or is that only for Captain's evenings. Can you take electrical things like phone/camcorder chargers, hairdryers/straighteners and will they plug straight in and is it 240 volts? Are the cabins noisy, we have an outside superior on deck 7. Can you see out or is the view obstructed by lifeboats? Is the food good quality and a good choice and are the drinks expensive? Any help, opinions or advice would be gratefully received. thanks Nick

Hi,

We've just got back after a week on the ship followed by a week in corfu. The ship was good, they were in the process of replacing all the hall carpets when we left.

we were on deck three out side and found the cabins extremely spacious ~ the only downside being that to plug in electricals we had only one socket and had to unplug the tv. I would recommend that your wife buy herself cordless straightners as the plug was a good 8 ft from the nearest mirror.

The kids club was well run but there were only 10 kids on board whilst we were ~ try to send your daughter in her club t-shirt and scruffy pants/shorts as mine did a lot of painting.

Sdeating in the restaurant is allocated of an evening but you are just given a table at lunch and dinner. There is only the one formal night but pants and a shirt will do, the rest of the time you are not allowed to wear shorts for evening meal but anything else goes.

It is 110v on the ship and you need an american adaptor plug £2.99 from tesco. NO Irons Are allowed.

Drinks are reasonable if you are from down south or bloody expensive if you live where I do. Stella £2.30 (I pay £1.80 in my local!) a pint, coke lemonade 95p. We had all inclusive which was well worth it.

Food was of a good standard and if you pick something off the menu but don't like it they will change it for you!

Have fun
Shelley

TO Bayliner

I have just returned after a lovely cruise. Don't worry about the cabins you aren't in them long enough!! Yes cabinets have been painted white and she is a bit old fashioned but the staff are excellent.

I was in cabin 342 and got a bath and the largest cabin I've ever had on a ship. It wasn't crowded even with 2 children and my husband as well as me.

Have fun and stop worrying ~ I too had read the reports and was a little worried. Plus the hotel we had afterwards was worse than anything that could ever have gone wrong on the cruise

Shelley

Hi Shelley

Just got back from the Cruise and hey we had a fantastic time The staff are brilliant and our cabin was quite nice! No painted furniture I have to say! We changed rooms from my originally booked cabin, as the one Thomson put to one side for us was a much better layout.

We did have three days of rain but the places we visited were lovely. I have to say Croatia is a fantastic country and people are really friendly.

I even met Fatanday1942 on the ship, which is nice to put a face to the name! He is still on the cruise this week, lucky thing! As he booked a two week cruise!

Went straight to the Travel Agents on Saturday and got another brochure for my next cruise.


Debbie

Hi Nick

I'll try and answer as much of your questions as possible.

Your daughter of 8yrs, there is a Kids Zone on board at the bottom of the ship and it appears to be good, but my daughter is 14 years old, therefore did not use it, but I do know other kids seemed to enjoy it!

You cannot choose where to sit in the Chanterelle Restaurant, as when you arrive on the ship you are given a piece of paper which has written on your table number for the whole time you are on the ship, so you will probably be sharing with another family or couple! Ours was fine who we sat with! The dress code for the Captains night is formal but each day you will receive a cruise news advising you of the dress code. I do know that there are no shorts or skimpy tops allowed in the Chanterelle Restaurant.

You can take electrical items, but the ships is only 110 volts! We got caught out by this, so our hair straigteners did not heat up as hot but we managed and in the end we bought a hairdryer on the ship which had dual voltage! There are hairdryers in the cabins, but they aren't that good for styling hair! Phone chargeers/camcorders will be fine so long as you have the two pin plugs! My husband took our laptop and this still worked fine.

Cabins arn't noisy, well ours wasn't, we were on Deck 4 in a Superior Outside Cabin, no 408 which was spacious! I cannot comment on your room on Deck 7 if you will be obstructed by lifeboats, but if you look at the deck plan, this should give it away.

The food is of excellent quality and varied, even my husband who is vegetarian was well looked after, as he does not eat much vegetables either!! The Maitre D made sure he was looked after!

Drinks are really cheap, £2.20 for pint of larger, cocktails £2.25, much cheaper than our pubs in England!!

Hope this helps, but if you need any further advice just let me know.

Have a great cruise!

Debbie

nick- there are no lifeboats outside the windows of deck 7- you will have a great view. We were in 743 last year, and it was very handy for the 24 hour tea/ coffee station! Meant we could leave the kettle at home for a change!
Towards the end of the first week, the head waiter will come round to ask if you want to keep the same table, dining companions, for week 2 or if you want a change. The people on our table decided we wanted to stay together (better the devil you know!) but would like a table in prime position- which we got.
The dress code was "smart casual" most nights, which meant collared shirt and trousers for men. On captain's night, most men wore jackets and ties, a few wore djs. This is mainly for the captain's cocktail party before dinner, and several people who didn't go to that didn't bother with jacket and tie.
Hope you enjoy your cruise- it's one of the best itineraries.