Back from the dream

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Hi everyone, I have just spent an hour putting on a review and when I sent it, it asked me to sign in and then disappeared - I'm hopping mad:mad:
I will do it again later!!!!
Linda

[Cymro1953]

Hello Linda,
I thought'd you'd been quiet since your return :D
I wrote mine in Wordpad 1st then copied and pasted it on here.
Hope you had a reasonable time.

Berwyn

[CRUISIN LINDA]

My son said I should have done that!! But not that clever on computer:(
Had a good time, but afraid ship is a bit tatty and everyone was moaning.
I will start my review again. Missing the sunshine, sitting indoors:(
Linda

[Cymro1953]

My son said I should have done that!! But not that clever on computer:(
Had a good time, but afraid ship is a bit tatty and everyone was moaning.
I will start my review again. Missing the sunshine, sitting indoors:(
Linda

Yes, there were lots of moans the week before too, but lots of people said they enjoyed it.
It did look really old fashioned in the public rooms, like 50's or 60's.
But we had the best cabin we've ever had, outside deck 6, loads of room. And a real bath.

No sun here either, though it is lovely and warm. No help for me, I'm working all weekend and it's murder trying to sleep in the day.

Just write it in wordpad or notepad then hit save, then you won't lose it off the PC.
Then hit Edit at the top and then Select All. It will all turn blue then copy and paste.

Berwyn

[vwgolf]

Had a good time, but afraid ship is a bit tatty and everyone was moaning.


Moaning or complaining? Genuine complaints, particularly if they follow a theme, are worrying but if they are just the usual moans about tatty decor or noisy pipes then I think they can be safely ignored!

[CRUISIN LINDA]

:pRight, start again!!!
CABINS
Very big and good storage, bath and shower, all kept spotless BUT very dark décor and a bit depressing:mad:

STAFF
Very friendly as is usual with Thomsons

SERVICE
Very good in Orion and Andromeda, they even remember your name, but not impressed with Sirens. We went there once for breakfast. The tables were not cleared and when we asked a waiter to clear our dirty plates (along with plates from the last diner) he said very sarcastically “YES SIR”
Bar service still slow especially in the theatre.

RESTAURANTS
Orion very nice food –went there 3 nights
Andromeda – nice buffet– hot food was hot and plenty of variety, but poor design means you have to queue even if you only want a snack or a salad.
Sirens – see above

ENTERTAINMENT
Brilliant shows as usual with Thomson. Comedian was excellent. There were two shows every night. We went to the late one each evening.

PHOTOS
Didn’t buy any as ridiculously expensive – 15 Euros :(

ALL INCLUSIVE
This will be controversial, but we were pleased with it as we got it free and we only drink beer or wine anyway, so would not have paid for it. It was still on the restricted version while we were there, but I understand it has been changed back to the original now, Would have liked a liquor coffee now and again, but can’t complain as it was a freebie. Lowest bill we have ever had at the end of a holiday £228 for 3 trips and some bottled water!:)

TRIPS
Very good value and excellent advice from the excursions staff

Villefranche – went to Nice and Eze –very pretty village – weather cool!

Livorno – went to Pisa – very interesting and quite impressive – weather colder!

Civitavecchia –stayed in the town and went to excellent market, then sat by the sea with a drinkie or two - weather warm

Corsica – fabulous trip of the Island. Stunning views and “hairy” hairpin bends! Weather sunny!

Palamos – stayed in the town. Very good shops and nice to sit and watch the world go by with a coffee. Weather sunny and warm!

Note to Berwyn – at the boat drill, Stephen Guy said “no hairdryers or irons in cabin” Also said the same on plug in cabin. I took my kettle for use in hotel 2nd week and so used it and didn’t blow up the ship!! ;)

Now for the negatives:-

On holiday truths someone said it was shabby and I think that summed it up. Everyone we spoke to was moaning about the state of the ship and was going to write a letter of complaint to Thomson. Several people were on their first cruise and said they might not cruise again and certainly not with Thomson. Someone at our hotel is cancelling their booking because of what they heard from other guests who had been on the cruise.
The paintwork on the outside was terrible and the davits had been painted over, so we wondered if they could be lowered in an emergency. The boat drill was a fiasco. They did check we were there, but they didn’t check people had there lifejackets on properly and some people didn’t. Also it was held inside and so no-one would know where to go in an emergency.
Another danger was the hairdryer. It was in the bathroom over the sink with no safety button on it.
We were on deck 7. In the corridor was water dripping through a light!!! into a bucket and the bucket was there all week. The carpets were stained in places, some people had cabins flooded, we didn’t, but our loo flushed itself several times, once when I was sitting on it – mmm nice!!:rolleyes:
There was a smell of sewage on deck 6 near the excursions desk and a general smell of fuel around the corridors when we were in port.
The plastic plates issue has been done to death, but the worse things were the plastic beakers!
The pool roof was over at the beginning of the cruise due to bad weather, but when they tried to open it, it got stuck and as far as I know stayed like that for the rest of the cruise.
The aircon was useless, there was no way to adjust ours without taking the front off to move the dial. Then it was just lukewarm all the time. We ended up with a sore throat and cold (along with several others) which is still hanging around.

So, sorry guys, I shall not be going on the Dream again, I don’t even know if £5,000,000 will solve all the problems. We were thinking of going on her to the Caribbean next winter, but now looking to Fred Olsen or RCI.
I told Thomsons on my questionnaire that it really should have been refurbished before they took on customers.

Now to try that copying and pasting!!!


Linda

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Well I copied it OK, but why did it come out such small print?

[Cymro1953]

Hi Linda,
Well done,
Great review, I'd done the ship part of mine but not done trips yet.
Glad you managed with kettle.
Didn't you get proper china cups and saucers in the buffet? Glad the food was hot for you.
Did you enjoy the self flushing loo? :D
Berwyn

[Scarey Mary]

Thanks for the review and glad there's someone else as good with computers as me.:) It's alright these men saying you just do this and that and it's easy:confused:
Think after the reviews we are going to wait and see if the Dream gets sorted not risking it yet.
Will Thomsons ever learn it was exactly the same with the Escape when it went over to Thomson before it had been refurbed. It must have cost them a huge amount in compensation and it looks like there going to paying out again for the Dream.
Just hope cos of this we don't end up paying higher prices for future cruises.:(

Mary

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Yes there were china cups and saucers in the buffet.

We found the plastic plates OK but they were strange sizes - either the huge oval ones or tiny tea plates. We like smallish portions, but not that small. Some people used the big plates as trays and put all their courses on them:)

We are going to write to Thomson with our concerns. I don't expect any compensation (but you never know:)) I just think they may have been better to cancel the contract after the accident (if they could) and perhaps take on something newer, that didn't need refurbishing.

The sun is out here Berwyn, but I am missing it sitting inside writing reviews!!! :D Just seen your photo on captain's night - very nice, like DW's dress. Where did she get it? You forked out for the official photo then. Ours was awful, it was very rough that day and loads of people didn't make it to the dinner. I had to dose myself up with Kwells. Which are the travel pills that people recommended on earlier threads?

Linda

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Did you enjoy the self flushing loo? :D
Berwyn

Not when I was sitting on it :D:D

[Jim The Scot]

Hi Linda,

You mentioned that Bar service was slow especially in the theatre...Was that waiting to be served at the table or going to the bar,is it due to a lack of waiters ?Also,are you permitted to buy say a pint/drink at one bar and walk about the ship with it?

As for


" but our loo flushed itself several times, once when I was sitting on it – mmm nice!

I look forward to that ;)

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sick/sick0019.gif

[Cymro1953]

Yes there were china cups and saucers in the buffet.

We found the plastic plates OK but they were strange sizes - either the huge oval ones or tiny tea plates. We like smallish portions, but not that small. Some people used the big plates as trays and put all their courses on them:)

We are going to write to Thomson with our concerns. I don't expect any compensation (but you never know:)) I just think they may have been better to cancel the contract after the accident (if they could) and perhaps take on something newer, that didn't need refurbishing.

The sun is out here Berwyn, but I am missing it sitting inside writing reviews!!! :D Just seen your photo on captain's night - very nice, like DW's dress. Where did she get it? You forked out for the official photo then. Ours was awful, it was very rough that day and loads of people didn't make it to the dinner. I had to dose myself up with Kwells. Which are the travel pills that people recommended on earlier threads?

Linda

She got it here.
http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/product/details/show.action?pdLpUid=AX163&pdBoUid=1920&lpgUid=11096608#colour:0,size:

Yes, we had to have those ones. 1st time for me with a dicky bow. And we'd said "NO more cruise pics"
1st 3 things I packed were black shoes, suit and black tie. When I unpacked no tie :eek:. Good job they had those in the shop.

We used the big oval ones as plates, but as the food was mainly cold / lukewarm in the buffet we ate mainly in the Orion.
Lovely hot food on hot plates.

I have contacted Thomson's with the complaints about the ship and they've replied by email, so I'm waiting for them to contact me.

Berwyn

[CRUISIN LINDA]

She got it here.
http://www.marisota.co.uk/shop/product/details/show.action?pdLpUid=AX163&pdBoUid=1920&lpgUid=11096608#colour:0,size:

Yes, we had to have those ones. 1st time for me with a dicky bow. And we'd said "NO more cruise pics"
1st 3 things I packed were black shoes, suit and black tie. When I unpacked no tie :eek:. Good job they had those in the shop.

We used the big oval ones as plates, but as the food was mainly cold / lukewarm in the buffet we ate mainly in the Orion.
Lovely hot food on hot plates.

I have contacted Thomson's with the complaints about the ship and they've replied by email, so I'm waiting for them to contact me.

Berwyn

Yes I really like that dress, just right for the Eclipse:)

Guess what OH forgot to pack? He had packed DJ and bow tie. He forgot the white shirt!! Still they had them in the shop. That's why I had to go to the dinner after he had forked out £30, even though I felt a bit queasy!

I am about to compose my letter to Thomsons. Who do I email it to? Is there a complaints department? (if there isn't, there soon will be:))

Linda

[Cymro1953]

I started with this omne
contactus@thomson-************

They passed it on and I've had replies from here
aftertravelsupport@tui-uk.co.uk


£30 for a shirt :eek:
Yes the dress and shrug was lovely, and with the silver decoration stuff on it she only needed minimal jewellery accessories to go with it
Berwyn

[CRUISIN LINDA]

£30 for a shirt :eek:

Berwyn

Yes, but it is a Rael brook! OH thought it good value:p
Thanks for links.
Hope to email them later. Still got huge backlog of ironing to do:(

Linda

[Cymro1953]

Yes, but it is a Rael brook! OH thought it good value:p
Thanks for links.
Hope to email them later. Still got huge backlog of ironing to do:(

Linda


Good God, do they still make them ? I remember the ads years ago.

I got mine 3 for £18 in MandS !each of blue, cream and white.

Berwyn

[Matt9529]

I thought I would like to add my view on this.

My friend has just literally got back from the Thomson Dream Med Itinerary.
And she was saying to me it was absolutely NO WAY near as good as the Thomson Spirit (on a previous cruise).
She explained to me that it was partly down to the reason that unlike the other ships in the fleet, the Thomson Dream is managed by Thomson itself.
The other ships are all managed by Louis Cruise Lines, and as a result, the deck officers are Greek. Where as in this rare case, they are all British on the Thomson Dream.
But I'm not saying the deck officers are no good, my point is that Thomson arrange eveything onboard and excursion wise.

My friend's quotes where the following...

-Unfortunately the toilet was broken in the cabin for 2 days, after complaing they sent up a bottle of champagne :confused:.

-The restaurant was ok, but the buffet was really bad she said.

- "Spice Market" Excursion, after an hours drive on the coach they pulled up outside a shop and the driver said they only had under 15 minutes to go into one shop and quickly get on the bus. Then after another hours driving to another shop the same thing. But still no spice market. So my friend asked the driver that she did actually want some spices, so he pulled up leaving everyone on the coach but taking her down a back alley on foot to some stalls and saying "what do you want?" :eek: Seriously

- The ship was lacking in decor overall.

Personally I've never been on the Dream but have on the Destiny and I know it was the best holiday ever!! :D

Kind Regards

Matthew

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Hi Linda,

You mentioned that Bar service was slow especially in the theatre...Was that waiting to be served at the table or going to the bar,is it due to a lack of waiters ?Also,are you permitted to buy say a pint/drink at one bar and walk about the ship with it?

As for


" but our loo flushed itself several times, once when I was sitting on it – mmm nice!

I look forward to that ;)

http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sick/sick0019.gif




Yes that was buying drinks in the theatre. OH quite often went out to Medussa Lounge next door and brought drinks in.

Linda

[Huddersfieldtourist]

I started with this omne
contactus@thomson-************

They passed it on and I've had replies from here
aftertravelsupport@tui-uk.co.uk


£30 for a shirt :eek:
Yes the dress and shrug was lovely, and with the silver decoration stuff on it she only needed minimal jewellery accessories to go with it
Berwyn


I would ask them to confirm your email has been passed to the Cruise Dept at Luton