Our review - med medley 3rd may on the majesty

Hope this helps some of you newbies like we were.

This was mine and my husband's first ever cruise. One of the reasons we chose Thomson was because we felt it suited our needs of an informal and all inclusive package i.e tips, flights, transfers, food and drinks. The price we paid for our cruise (Mediterranean Medley) was £642pp which included adding on the all inclusive drinks package and upgrading to an outside cabin. Our room was 314 (deck 3) and we were so delighted with the size of the window (nice big square one and not a small round one as expected). Our cabin was just off stairwell c and was in a great location as we only had to get in our lift to go up to deck 10 and go to the bar for a drink or to the buffet for a snack to take back down to our room. Deck 3 was perfect also because getting on and off the ship to go out was on deck 2 and just down the corridor and down one deck.

Cabin - Our cabin although was a standard size and on the small side was perfect for the 2 of us and we did not feel confined at all. The beds were lovely memory foam mattresses, we had a tv which although did not have many channels apart from sky news, a crime program channel, music channels, a channel about emergency evacuation, a channel about excursions and on ship facilities, there was also two channels for movies the ship put on (ask at reception and you can ask for a tv guide for the movies). we also had a well equipped bathroom with sink, toilet and shower with shower gel and shampoo dispenser. the flow on the shower was great!

Arrival - On the day we arrived we got to the airport approx 40 mins late as our flight was late leaving the UK, once we had collected our luggage the Thomson rep was in the airport directing us to the coaches outside. once on the coach we were given an information leaflet about what would happen once we reach the port terminal. when we went in the terminal we were given an envelop with our name on which had our cabin number in and our boarding passes (credit cards which are used as door keys and for any expenses on the ship). We had to have our picture taken and give a debit or credit card number to pay for any expenses on the ship. We then went onto the ship and got took to our cabin. within 30mins our luggage was bought to us. On our bed was the first edition of 'cruise news' which gave us an itinerary of entertainment what was due on for the rest of the day, what times the restaurants were open etc each night we were given one for the following day.

We arrived at 3pm and at 4pm there was a tour of the ship which we went on. we then chilled until 7pm and then had dinner. the muster (emergency drill) was scheduled for 7.45pm this is where you have to put on your life jacket and go to the area of the ship they send you to and listen to the emergency evacuation procedure (takes no more than 15mins). We then went onto the evening entertainment at 8.30pm which is also repeated at 10.30pm depending on what time you wish to eat your evening meal. at 11pm we were due to set sale so went up to deck 10 where the pool is for a sail away party with the entertainment staff.

Restaurant - There are 2 buffet style restaurants, 2 sit down waiter service restaurants (included in the cruise package) and 1 A La Carte restaurant (which charges £19.95 pp for a 6 course meal including lobster etc). You could also choose to pay a supplement in the sit down restaurants for the likes of lobster or steak if you preferred.

Food - was amazing and completely on the go all the time apart from 1am-7am. All the meals can be eaten in the buffet at self serve, breakfast is served in the waiter service restaurant but is also buffet style, lunch and dinner is served in all restaurants and then from 11pm-1pm further burgers, hotdogs, chips and other foods are served in one of the buffets for a late night buffet. As well as these eateries there were 2 food stations on deck 10 by the pool which served an egg station and a waffles and pancake station in the mornings and for lunch served jacket potatoes or filled pittas, and on other days they did a bbq, thai noodles and one evening a chocolate fountain by reception with beautifully carved fruit.

Ports - Our ports included Villefranche, Livorno, Calvi, Marsielle and Barcelona. We did not do any excursions and chose to research public transport and travel to the likes of Monte Carlo and Pisa by bus/train. getting off at each port were tourist guides arranged by Thomson to give you advice on local transport and the easiest way to get to places of interest.

Expenses on the ship - all expenses on the ship are in pound stirling. everything you pay for extra i.e in the shop or if you are not on a drinks package (and premium drinks if you are on the drinks package) are all charged to your room card and a statement is given to you mid week which is paid for and then a statement is given to you on your last day. If you chose not to give a card number you can give £200 cash for reception to hold back or you can simple pay off your room fees anytime during the week by euros or pound stirling.

Photos - there is an inhouse photographer and videographer who go around the ship taking your pictures. there is no obligation to buy these photos. we did choose to take up an offer of 3 photos get 2 free which were £44 plus magnets and keyrings are just £2.

Staff -The staff are fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble and you can tell it is a joy of theirs to serve you. If you are sat down without a drink even in the buffet areas the bar staff are to come and take a drink order from you immediately and like wise in the sit down restaurant the waiter with get a drink waiter to come to your table immediately to take your drinks order. Every member of staff we walked passed in the corridors said good morning or afternoon. At the end of the holiday you are asked to refer 4 members of staff whom you thought went the extra mile so they could be awarded by their manager as well as 1 whom you thought maybe did not do so well (we couldnt think of 1 person)

Entertainment. The ship has an entertainment team which are extremely highly skilled entertainers who sung the likes of andrew lloyd webber and tim rice, westend shows, music from africa i.e the lion king etc and abba. we were able to see the talent skills of other staff on the ship, and of course met the captain and the head of departments. there are also 2 small inhouse bands as well as a individual singer and a UK special guest. for us it was a scottish comedian called Anthony Scott.

Captains dinner. on the first night we got an invitation inviting us to the next nights event. We were put on the later seating which was at 7.30pm (first seating was 6.30pm). This was a lovely evening which was proved as formal or informal as you wished. My husband wore a shirt and pair of black trousers and i wore a smart pair of black trousers and black and white top, lots of people wore similar and then others wore full suits and ball gowns. This night is of course optional. We had our photo taken with and without the captain and went into the entertainment hall. The captain then introduced us to the head of departments. we then went into one of the sitdown restaurants for our evening meal. 3 of the waiters have formed their own little band so performed a song and there was a great atmosphere in the room.

Leaving - The day before we were due to go home we were given an itinerary of the times the coaches were coming to collect everyone to take them back to the airport. Our coach was coming at 10am. We were asked to put our suitcases outside our cabin door by 1.30am the morning of departure. We then had to make sure we had a simple over night bag with our change of clothes and toiletries. we had to vacate the room at 8am so chose this time to go for breakfast and then had an hour to sit and wait for our coach to arrive. we then went into the terminal and found our luggage which gave us the opportunity to put our over night things in the suitcase. we took our cases to the coach, once on the coach a Thomson rep came and said goodbye which i thought was lovely and personal.

All in all this holiday was fantastic value for money. when we usually go abroad for just 5-6 nights we pay £1,500 for half board but for just £1300 we got accommodation, food, drink, entertainment and 4 different destinations all in 1 holiday!

A good review and absolutely ideal for any newbies out there. Well done and start planning your next cruise!

A really lovely review.

Very helpful for first time cruisers, and brought back happy memories - and future anticipation - for us as we have enjoyed a cruise on Majesty in the past and are sailing on her again later this year.

Thank you.

Hi, did you book last minute to get that price?

Hi, did you book last minute to get that price?

I booked and paid for it all on 15th March. Think it was £580pp before drinks package (£9.10 a day pp) and room upgrade £25.

Thanks. I ask because we have just been on the Enchanting Vistas and didn't get very good weather. We have another week off in Aug and there is ONE cruise that fits our time scale and we are hanging on until the last minute to see if we can get it cheaper.

Thanks. I ask because we have just been on the Enchanting Vistas and didn't get very good weather. We have another week off in Aug and there is ONE cruise that fits our time scale and we are hanging on until the last minute to see if we can get it cheaper.

I have been looking at May/June prices now and none are going under 630pp that's probably the lowest you'll get it for the summer ones. This was to give me some idea how low June 2017 will go from the 900's their at now. I did see one back in March for 380! Very tempting.

Great review, not so worried now.

Thanks. I ask because we have just been on the Enchanting Vistas and didn't get very good weather. We have another week off in Aug and there is ONE cruise that fits our time scale and we are hanging on until the last minute to see if we can get it cheaper.

Previous years we have had several last minute bargain cruises with Thomson - e.g. 7 nights on Dream last July for £360 - but sadly not this year.

5 days ago we booked to go on Spirit for 7 nights from 29th May - just 12 days from booking to departure - and have still paid £529 Cruise Only (no flights) for a basic deck 1 or 2 inside cabin. The cheapest price with flights - from Bournemouth - was £669. The Drinks Package is now £400 which we politely declined.