Swap to the Dream?

[rosiebee]

Had an email from Thomson about their new ship - the Dream - it ended with a number to call if you'd already booked a cruise next year and wanted to swap to the Dream. Has anyone made enquiries about this? The ship looks lovely but quite pricey. We've already booked the Destiny with a free AL package. Don't suppose they'd do a direct swap, wondered if anyone had found anything out? Just being curious really.

[kruzseeka]

Hi rosiebee,

Yes, I think Dream looks good too. My TA told me about the possibility of swapping if you already have a summer 2010 cruise booked, which she said they would do 'free', but I expect you would have to pay the difference between the basic cost of the two cruises. And as you say, the Dream prices do look quite high! They are offering AI with the launch of Dream so I think if you got in early whilst that's still available you would retain the AI package if you swapped. One thing though, sailing day is Tuesday with Dream and Thursday? with Destiny so you would have to be able to change your days if that is an issue with other commitments/work.

I'll be interested to hear if anyone has taken up the option and if this is actually what applies though!

I suspect Dream will be quite popular with Thomson cruisers and especially in the first season as people want to see what she's like, but I do feel the prices aren't very competitive compared with other operators in the Med - although I must say at the moment, the trip we've booked for next year is now significantly higher (about £375 more for two and no AI!) than when we booked in May! :eek:

[Iain1873]

Priced the Dream for summer next year (July) for two adults and a child and was quoted £3993 for 2 weeks cruise incl AI , pretty pricy in comparison to Destiny at the £3200 i was quoted , if you can get swapped for free it's be worth a try , but at £3993 the Dream is out of my price range

ps....Destiny is sailing on Saturday's in 2010

[davecttr]

No email from Thomsons for me although I have a 14 nighter booked on the Destiny next May. Probably because I have a single cabin and they are rarer than hens teeth! (Dream has 18).

I look forward to trying Dream when she is integrated into the schedules and the prices subside to more reasonable levels.

I am happy to find that she has a wrap around promenade deck so I can continue with my '10 per day'

[kruzseeka]

We haven't had a specific email either Dave, although we too have a booking for next year. I think the emails about the Dream are just the general mail drop sent to everyone on the mailing list with info on the schedules next year.

Like you, I do quite fancy trying Dream out - but the prices will need to stabilise as you indicate. What are your thoughts on the future itineraries on Dream - I can't see them leaving three ships sailing out of Palma 2011 can you? I hope they widen their horizons a bit more.

And do you think they may send her to the Caribbean in 2011? Why have Destiny there with Louis Lines getting all the on-board profits when they could send Dream and have all the proceeds themselves?

We could start up a whole new debate here on suggestions of what Thomson might do - or what we'd like them to do!! :D

[davecttr]

I did get the Dream Brochure through the post this morning and would consider trying her out, but not at a higher price!

As all this came as a surprise I think next summers iteneries are a 'temporary' expedient while they work the ship up to standard. I imagine starting a ship from scratch with a new crew is a daunting project and they have probably already started recruiting, starting with the capatains?

As you say she would be more profitable in the Caribbean than Destiny but maybe not for winter 2010/2011 as these things take so much planning.

They should have no problem filling the ship with inquisitive cruisers and maybe the demise of Ocean Village will soak up some of the spare capacity on the other ships.

for solo travellers the single cabins look good as they are all outsides and there are some forward well away from the engine noise which are the same size as doubles. They will be very popular so booking early will be essential.

There is a lot of info on the costa site and I expect changes to be mainly cosmetic with lots of blue paint involved.

[Goldryder]

Thomson Dream will be in Ajaccio when I will be there aboard Costa Allegra on May 9th next year, so hopefully I will manage to get some photos of her in her new guise from her old stablemate :)

[rosiebee]

Going in to TA tomorrow to try and swap to the Dream. I've been on the phone to them and it doesn't sound as though it is going to cost any extra, well maybe a few pounds, but we will still get the AL upgrade and there's no admin cost if you swap before about 20th August.
Sounds almost too good to be true. Fingers crossed. I'll put a post up to let anyone who's interested, know if swapping is so straightforward.
Rosiebee

[davecttr]

Check out the Costa site for more info on the Europa/Dream and better deck plans. I notice the Orion restaurant is actually much larger than shown in the Thomsons brochure. Pity that there is no equivalent of Horizons bar for relaxing staring at the sea.

[smiffy1951]

We're booked on the Destiny 1st July 2010 doing the Med Discovery but to swap to the Dream would cost me more money :eek:(when checked on the internet for a similar date - around £200 more) and also the itinerary is one that is very similar to the Jewels of the Med (3 ports the same) we did before so I will be sticking with the Destiny (2 ports the same but rest different).

I'll probably look at what the Dream is doing after that as we will definately be booking for the Caribbean again for March 2011.

It will be interesting to see what itinereries she does in the future.

Janet:)

[smiffy1951]

Whoops:rolleyes:

Got it wrong, we're booked on the Island Escape for the Med in July 2010 not Destiny.

Must have had an OAP moment!!!!

[smiffy1951]

Me again:eek:

Checked the price of the Island Escape on 1st July against the Dream on 29th June, both going around the Med, same cabin upgrade and free AI and the Dream is £300 more expensive???:eek:

[rosiebee]

Went into TA about swapping and yes we could have swapped at more or less the same price, with the AL upgrade, BUT, the equivalent outside cabins were situated at either the rear or the front of the boat and we really wanted to be midships for quietness and stability. The cabins which were midships would have bumped the price up by nearly £400. So we're staying put on the Destiny. A bit disappointed because I really wanted a bigger cabin, but like everyone says, the ship more than makes up for the lack of cabin space. Still looking forward to it!
R

[triplec]

At the weekend I booked a 2 week cruise for September 2010 on the Dream so that I could take advantage of the All Inclusive upgrade. Cruises in June and September 2010 are adults only - again that's what encouraged me to book.

Portland were £200 cheaper than Thomson so I booked with them. An outside cabin on deck 7 was £3000.

TripleC:)

[midlandcruiser]

HI, I've taken the plunge and swapped from Island Escape to Dream next July. It's cost an extra £240 for a family of 4 inside cabin. I didn't think that was too bad, still from Birmingham and AI. Only 370 days to go.:D

[rosiebee]

Did a U turn and swapped to the Dream after all. Someone said that sleeping on one of the drop down beds on the Destiny was like sleeping in a coffin. Rather put me off. TA was really helpful and we're actually paying slightly less while still having an ouside cabin and the AL free upgrade.
Really looking forward to the first reviews of the ship when she sails under Thomson.
Rosiebee:o