ronjae

Arrived home on Monday night after 2 brilliant weeks on Celebration and was in the TA on Tuesday and booked another 2 weeks next June. Just my luck - the free AI upgrade finished on Monday!!!:mad::mad::mad:

Thanks to all who wished us a good holiday.

John

 

Watch it John,it`ll be comedy gold :D

 

You and Carole have a wonderful time

Thanks Jim we will-especially when the drink is free:D

Thanks Linda. Didn't think there would any chance but hopefully I'll find somewhere I can get away from it.

Off on Celebration on Monday for hopefully 2 weeks of peace from the World Cup!! Not even started yet and I'm fed-up hearing about it already.

Seats booked, online check-in done-roll on 16th June and Celebration!

Hi Ronjae We are on from the 9th for a week. second week we are spending in Icmeler so we will be leaving ship as you boardbeen on Celebration once before Just hope its as good as it was then

Hi livingston, Hope you have a great time. We're looking forward to Celebration-wanted a change of itinerary this time. I'm sure we'll enjoy her as much as Dream.

We are on the Celebration in June Also going to Larnaca and Ashod If you send me details of anything you want toknow fron these ports I will try to find for you

When are you on Livingston? We go 16th June for 2 weeks. Been on Dream twice but first time on Celebration.

just another way of trying to squeeze more money out of the traveller.

 

We've booked extra space seats Jim and paid the full price at the time (£50 each) for both flights. I see they are now down to £ 30 each with "4 seats remaining". What will happen to these 4 seats if they are not booked come check - in? I expect some passengers will be lucky and get them for free.

 

How apt-the Poseidon Adventure has just come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John,

 

We also paid and pre booked our seats and checked in online.Checking in online is the final confirmation of your pre booked seats,until you do so your seats are not confirmed and just turning up at the airport with your seat receipt to check in it won't be accepted as final confirmation

Jim, I have pre-booked our seats too and when I didn't receive the automatic confirmation I emailed Thomson to ask why and was told they are having "technical issues" that doesn't send out the confirmation of booked seats. They did confirm my seats on the same email for both flights and assured me the check-in staff would be told. They aslo said there was no need to check in online but I may do it just for the hell of it.

I have just booked the Celebration for June sailing from Marmaris and have been told I have to pay $20 per person online at www.evisa.gov.tr. Is this correct?

 

I sailed last August from Marmaris as well and was just given a form to fill in that allowed us through without the need to get a Visa.

 

Has it changed?

 

Thanks

 

 

John

Hi John, the info from Pushka is correct. What's your date in June? We are on for 2 weeks starting 16th

We are flying from bournemouth to turkey on 5th may to take agean and holyland cruise

Does anyone know the turkey visa situation, weve been told by one agent we dont need one if going on a cruise and onother agent said we must get one at airport and the 3rd said we must get one onlinel all thompson agents .

Also is anyone taking any private excursions as we would be interested in sharing one on the first day but are new to cruising so dont know how to go about it.

Thanks

Hi Bartonboy,

I posted this a few weeks ago:

Phoned my TA and they got in touch with the Thomson visa dept and they confirmed visas WILL be required if flying in to Turkey and this from UK gov site:

Entry requirements

Visas

British nationals need a visa to enter Turkey, except for cruise ship passengers with ‘British Citizen’ passports entering the country for a day trip, remaining in the port of embarkation and returning to the ship the same day.

British Citizens can get a multiple entry visitor visa, valid for 90 days, on arrival at any port of entry on payment of £10 in cash (Scottish currency is not accepted). You can also get an e-visa in advance online (if you’re visiting as a tourist or on business) or from the Turkish Consulate in London.

From 10 April 2014, it will not be possible to get a visa on arrival. If you’re arriving in Turkey after that date, you will need to get an e-visa online before you travel. Cruise ship passengers with ‘British Citizen’ passports entering the country for a day trip, remaining in the port of embarkation and returning to the ship the same day will continue to be able to enter Turkey without a visa or e-visa.

__________________

Hope this helps. I'll need to get them as well - we go on Celebration 16th June and fly into Dalaman.

Thank you just rang customer services and all booked now .should have done that in the first place much easier :)

Glad to help Cornetto - enjoy your cruise. By the way what one are you on?

hello can any one offer some advice. Just tried to book or seats on our flights as the website says we can book up to 90 days before we fly. The Thomson shop we booked with confirmed this ;clicked on the seat we wanted that did not say unavailable as per the key. Will not allow us to select even though available. Even double checked their instructions on selection. Very frustrating and gave up , then wonder if its because I am using my ipad or is it just the website .

many thanks for any input guys :)

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Hi Cornetto, can't help with the online problem but I called customer services the day before I could reserve online and they did it for me. I also have email confirmation of the seats booked.

No John,I,ve booked through a TA but can check-in online if I want but will prob get TA to do it?In my experience never noticed any difference in bag drop off point to normal check in.As you say bags still need to be checked in and weighed and they still check your print off

Thanks Jim. Just wondering what the advantage is when the TA does it all for you. Never had any problems in the past so will let them do it again this time.

If you book through a travel agent, will they do all this for you then? After all they (may) charge you more than the internet price (£10pp) If not, what use are travel agents?

Bit confused about all this talk about online check-in and boarding passes Linda. Just called our TA after reading the posts and was told not to worry as they will do all that for me as they always have done (F.O.C.). Is it if you have not booked through a TA the online check-in applies? Another thing I'm wondering about is the baggage drop off point -surely your baggage still has to be checked in at the desk and weighed?

I thought I had flagged this up - but can't locate the thread.

 

From 10th April 14, all holders of a British Citizen Passport will require a visa to visit Turkey and must obtain this in advance of travel from the official Turkish Government website www.evisa.gov.tr for $20 per person. You are advised to apply at least one-week before departure. Visas will not be issued on arrival in Turkey. If you hold a different type of Passport, check visa requirements with the Turkish Embassy before you travel. Failure to comply with entry requirements will result in travel being denied/entry refused.

 

Am I correct in saying that cruise passengers in transit via a Turkish airport/port to their ship do not require a visa ?

Phoned my TA and they got in touch with the Thomson visa dept and they confirmed visas WILL be required if flying in to Turkey and this from UK gov site:

Entry requirements

Visas

British nationals need a visa to enter Turkey, except for cruise ship passengers with ‘British Citizen’ passports entering the country for a day trip, remaining in the port of embarkation and returning to the ship the same day.

British Citizens can get a multiple entry visitor visa, valid for 90 days, on arrival at any port of entry on payment of £10 in cash (Scottish currency is not accepted). You can also get an e-visa in advance online (if you’re visiting as a tourist or on business) or from the Turkish Consulate in London.

From 10 April 2014, it will not be possible to get a visa on arrival. If you’re arriving in Turkey after that date, you will need to get an e-visa online before you travel. Cruise ship passengers with ‘British Citizen’ passports entering the country for a day trip, remaining in the port of embarkation and returning to the ship the same day will continue to be able to enter Turkey without a visa or e-visa.

Is this available/included on Caribean cruises with Thomsons?

Don't think it is Jim. You thinking on going

thank you for your answers hopefully it will calm him down bit (although he does seem to enjoy having something to worry about)

 

We're sailing on the Celebration on the 9th June..and are really looking forward to it .. all new ports and a "new" ship for us ...

How long are you on for?

advice & help please:

We are booked to go on our 1st Thomson fly cruise in June 2014

and my husband has started firing questions at me re: the flight and transfer to the ship :

he would like to know whether there will be a Thomson rep on the flight, or will we be met at Dalaman airport (before or after security)?.

He also has many questions about our luggage,such as how does it get to the ship, do we collect it and take it to the waiting coaches ourselves or will it be transferred across (like on a P&O Caribbean cruise) ;

re: the coaches will we be given tickets on the plane or will we be shown where to go when we get past security....the list of questions goes on!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i've told him that we will probably get this info when the tickets arrive, but as someone with a tendency to panic he needs to know now!!!!!

Hi Kizzysmom,

What date are you going? We are on Celebration for the first time 16th June for 2 weeks- been on Dream twice but the Boss wanted to try another itinerary.

Tell us about it!!!

 

We often get stung up here.

There was a long spell when they wanted around £3000 each for Dream over Christmas, it was £1000 each less from Gatwick.

 

Some of the flights from Scotland are expensive too.

Just did a wee comparison on the website for our cruise on Celebration June 16th for 2 weeks flying from GLW. All are base prices with "No fuel Suppliment".

Glasgow: £1242

Edinburgh: £1285

Newcastle: £1314

Manchester: £1440

Stansted: £1206

Gatwick and Heathrow: £1539

For once it looks like Scotland has done not so badly!

Already posted on Roll Calls but no replies. Anyone going on Celebration June 16th? We are booked for 2 weeks B2B then and it's our first time on Celebration.

We're booked 2 weeks B2B next June on Celebration and because we couldn't get deck 9 at the time of booking (end of May), we settled for Cabin 062 on deck 8. TA has just called to say Thomson are offering us an upgrade now to a Deck 9 balcony cabin for £336 per person. Would be nice but don't think it's worth that much.

hi ronjae

 

yep...I also believe that at the moment dollars are getting a better rate when you exchange them locally (than euros...and they did seem to ask for dollars first)

 

cant help with dollars tho (we only took euros) but euros are accepted all over (taxis/shops/coffee shops)...in israel they will acept euro notes only and they will give change in shekels (as they dont usually hold any euro coins)

 

we changed a small amount with our taxi driver...I am not sure if the rate was good or not? but it was only a small amount....shops/coffee shops etc will also exchange them (small amounts)

 

we used euros mostly everywhere in israel

 

there are cashpoints in ashdod

 

in turkey they will accept anything...sterling/dollars/euros

 

very enjoyable itinerary this...have a great time

Hi Geo, thanks for that-sounds like nothing has changed in Israel! Wasn't sure if they took Euros or not.

I'm sure we'll have a great time. Have been on Dream twice but the Boss wants to do the Greek Islands area and Dream doesn't go there.

Hi Geo, We are on Celebration for two weeks B2B next June and are now in Ashdod for 2 days and may get the bus to Bat-Yam where we lived when I worked in Israel. Was wondering about the currency and where you changed it. While we were there they were desperate for US dollars and you got better rates than the bank offered if you knew where to go.