Attention Nancyneptune - Re: Cruise & Maritime.

You asked me to report back with regard to our recent cruise on Magellan so here goes:

We embarked at Tilbury which was a bit of a nightmare. C & M have fixed boarding times according to which deck you are on but everyone arrives early anticipating traffic problems on M25 or Dartford crossing so packed waiting area and only refreshments available were instant tea/coffee and sweets!

Once on board we enjoyed the cruise. Magellan had been fully refurbished in 2015 when C & M took it over so everything in good condition. Very similar to Thomson experience except gratuities not included. Cabin was o/s on next-to-bottom deck but very spacious. 3 wardrobes. Free safe but no kettle. Food in MDR excellent - 5 courses + tea/coffee at dinner but 2 fixed sittings. Service prompt but not rushed. Breakfast and lunch open dining in MDR. Buffet is up on deck 10 but always busy. Only open at mealtimes + afternoon tea. Free tea & coffee 24 hours. Drinks prices very reasonable. Optional AI £17 pppn.

Very impressed with the shows. The theatre is magnificent with proper comfortable seating sloping up through two deck levels. Show team of twelve (5 singers + 7 dancers) plus live 6/7 piece band (not recorded music) for show. Comedian did main show on 2 nights of 8 night cruise. Show team on all other nights. 2 lecturers on board + Art instructor and Craft instructor.

We enjoyed the ship and would go again. Have friends going on new addition "Columbus" (ex OV?) in a couple of weeks so can report back on that one if required.

Any questions please ask.

Glad you enjoyed your cruise! Thanks for the feedback.

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Really pleased to hear you enjoyed your cruise- we are sailing on her next month from Liverpool.

We have been with C&M once before, but not on this ship. Was it very formal in the evenings? My OH will put up with wearing a suit on a formal night but doesn't really want to wear a jacket every night.

Ours was an 8 night cruise. There were 2 Formal nights, 3 "Informal" nights (Jackets for men but tie optional), and 3 Casual nights. All dress codes were only "suggested" and not "compulsory".

Thanks for that.

I'm sure we will enjoy it, nice to be going from a local port!

You asked me to report back with regard to our recent cruise on Magellan so here goes:

 

We embarked at Tilbury which was a bit of a nightmare. C & M have fixed boarding times according to which deck you are on but everyone arrives early anticipating traffic problems on M25 or Dartford crossing so packed waiting area and only refreshments available were instant tea/coffee and sweets!

 

Once on board we enjoyed the cruise. Magellan had been fully refurbished in 2015 when C & M took it over so everything in good condition. Very similar to Thomson experience except gratuities not included. Cabin was o/s on next-to-bottom deck but very spacious. 3 wardrobes. Free safe but no kettle. Food in MDR excellent - 5 courses + tea/coffee at dinner but 2 fixed sittings. Service prompt but not rushed. Breakfast and lunch open dining in MDR. Buffet is up on deck 10 but always busy. Only open at mealtimes + afternoon tea. Free tea & coffee 24 hours. Drinks prices very reasonable. Optional AI £17 pppn.

 

Very impressed with the shows. The theatre is magnificent with proper comfortable seating sloping up through two deck levels. Show team of twelve (5 singers + 7 dancers) plus live 6/7 piece band (not recorded music) for show. Comedian did main show on 2 nights of 8 night cruise. Show team on all other nights. 2 lecturers on board + Art instructor and Craft instructor.

 

We enjoyed the ship and would go again. Have friends going on new addition "Columbus" (ex OV?) in a couple of weeks so can report back on that one if required.

 

Any questions please ask.

Thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed your cruise. The ship sounds really nice and pleased to hear you enjoyed the food and entertainment. Like the idea of the free safe and really don't mind not having a kettle in the cabin as we like to be out and about and don't spend much time in the cabin. Glad to hear the service was prompt in the MDR as we found the service to be really slow in the MDR on our last Thomson cruise due to cuts in staff. We often left without coffee to try to get seats for the show. Don't mind the gratuities as we always tip well on Thomson's anyway even though it says tips included.

All sounds good to me and we will certainly give it a try.

Thanks once again for all this great information and would appreciate your friend's opinion on the Columbus when they return. Hope they also have a great cruise.

We enjoyed the ship and would go again. Have friends going on new addition "Columbus" (ex OV?) in a couple of weeks so can report back on that one if required.

 

Any questions please ask.

Thanks for your Magellan review. As we loved OV (and OV2), it'd be really good to hear what your friends think of Columbus.

W liked the Mall idea on Magellan. A corridor with seating down one side of the ship with the bars, library casino etc branching off it. One of the bars was a nightclub type in Dec 15 but in Dec 16 it had been changed into a bar with an English pub feel to it even a dartboard, On our 3 night cruise there was no live entertainment in there, only lightly played background 60's music which made it a great place to sit and chat, something Thomson's could do with.

Gill

Thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed your cruise. The ship sounds really nice and pleased to hear you enjoyed the food and entertainment. Like the idea of the free safe and really don't mind not having a kettle in the cabin as we like to be out and about and don't spend much time in the cabin. Glad to hear the service was prompt in the MDR as we found the service to be really slow in the MDR on our last Thomson cruise due to cuts in staff. We often left without coffee to try to get seats for the show. Don't mind the gratuities as we always tip well on Thomson's anyway even though it says tips included.

All sounds good to me and we will certainly give it a try.

Thanks once again for all this great information and would appreciate your friend's opinion on the Columbus when they return. Hope they also have a great cruise.

Should have mentioned gratuities of £5 pppn are added to onboard account (although you can amend or remove this at reception). Also, second sitting diners go to the first show at 7:30 before dinner so no rush to leave the restaurant as the various cabarets and game shows don't start until after the second show.

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W liked the Mall idea on Magellan. A corridor with seating down one side of the ship with the bars, library casino etc branching off it. One of the bars was a nightclub type in Dec 15 but in Dec 16 it had been changed into a bar with an English pub feel to it even a dartboard, On our 3 night cruise there was no live entertainment in there, only lightly played background 60's music which made it a great place to sit and chat, something Thomson's could do with.

 

Gill

Yes, all the "non-theatre" live entertainment (Cabarets, game shows, quizzes etc.) was in the Captains Club bar and a pianist (non-singing) in Sinatras bar. Classical duo in Hamptons bar. Plenty of choice.

Malc.

Thanks for this review which is very informative. We have just returned from a Thomson Spirit cruise and stay which we thoroughly enjoyed after a 12 year gap of not cruising. I have been looking at C&M as I do fancy the option of sailing from Liverpool. I am assuming that by OV you mean Ocean Village? That was the last cruise line we used and we thoroughly enjoyed that cruise so would be interest to try the Columbus.

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Hi Just wondering what the age demographic was on your Magellan cruise was and whether you were constantly having to dodge people on mobility scooters ?:D

Hi Just wondering what the age demographic was on your Magellan cruise was and whether you were constantly having to dodge people on mobility scooters ?:D

Well it was term time so no children or parents on board, but can't say we noticed many wheelchairs / scooters either. I would say it was generally a middle aged range of passengers.

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Well it was term time so no children or parents on board, but can't say we noticed many wheelchairs / scooters either. I would say it was generally a middle aged range of passengers.

 

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Thanks for the reply, I was wondering whether the AI package is the same as Thomson in that only certain drinks are available or all drinks also what were the draught beers/lagers and ciders on board ?.

Thanks for the reply, I was wondering whether the AI package is the same as Thomson in that only certain drinks are available or all drinks also what were the draught beers/lagers and ciders on board ?.

Sorry, can't help with this. Not big drinkers so didn't study the AI offering or the beer/lager situation. House wine in the Restaurant was fine and cocktails were reasonably priced. (They do a "cocktail of the day" as per Thomson.)