A Few Questions about Spirit...help please

[leedslad]

Hi everyone we join Spirit on Friday for 14 nights after half a dozen fantastic holidays on OV and two more recent on Oceana and Ventura which were very moderate.

Its our first time with Thomsons and we are really looking forward to it and just hope its as good as the reviews and we can find ourselves a new cruising "home".

So a few simple questions

Is bottled water included in the all inclusive bit?

If you want a bottle of wine in your cabin is this OK on all inclusive or is it an extra...house wine would be fine?

What the deal if you want a couple of coffees at 1am/2am after youve had a night out...room service? carry them from the bar? best buy a flask :) ?

Ive read somewhere about taking an electrical extension lead with 4 sockets and an adaptor if you want to plug your phone/netbook/etc etc in

Is this correct?

How stupid are the internet charges and are the cabins wi fi'd ?

 

Thats about all. Never been all inclusive on a ship and never been on a ship without tea and coffee in the cabins

 

Thanks

Pete

[kruzseeka]

Hi everyone we join Spirit on Friday for 14 nights after half a dozen fantastic holidays on OV and two more recent on Oceana and Ventura which were very moderate.

Its our first time with Thomsons and we are really looking forward to it and just hope its as good as the reviews and we can find ourselves a new cruising "home".

So a few simple questions

Is bottled water included in the all inclusive bit?

If you want a bottle of wine in your cabin is this OK on all inclusive or is it an extra...house wine would be fine?

What the deal if you want a couple of coffees at 1am/2am after youve had a night out...room service? carry them from the bar? best buy a flask :) ?

Ive read somewhere about taking an electrical extension lead with 4 sockets and an adaptor if you want to plug your phone/netbook/etc etc in

Is this correct?

How stupid are the internet charges and are the cabins wi fi'd ?

 

Thats about all. Never been all inclusive on a ship and never been on a ship without tea and coffee in the cabins

 

Thanks

Pete

 

Hello Pete :)

 

Bottled water isn't included in the AI package - you can buy it at a reduced price though. If it's for use at the dining table you don't have much option but to buy some but there is iced water served free at lunch and dinner by the waiters. Also free water available 24/7 from the Lido restaurant. You can bring bottled water on board though - so buy some at a local supermarket much cheaper and use that for taking out on trips etc.

 

On AI wine is served by the glass - as often as you want but you don't get bottles (too open to abuse if they give out a bottle which could be given to someone else not on AI). Thomson allow you to take alcohol on board or buy from the duty free for use in your cabin unlike many other cruise lines - but if you have AI you wouldn't be wanting to do that I guess! :D

 

I believe that coffees from room service would be chargeable. Many take those insulated mugs and fill up at the Lido (ordinary coffee free anytime) and take hot drinks to their cabin. Cappuccinos, hot chocolate etc are free in the bars on AI but you'd either have to carry it back to your cabin or decant it into a thermal mug if you want it to stay hot (unless your cabin is round the corner from a bar! ;) )

And I think AI ceases between 2am and 10am.

 

Yes, 4-plug extensions are the way to go to allow you to charge phone, camera batteries all at the same time. I think the voltage is such that it seems a slower process than on the mains at home so it's a good idea to be able to do them altogether.

 

No wi-fi in cabins. Sorry can't remember Internet charges last time we were on board and I haven't saved that in my travel information. From memory they had different length slots which got cheaper the more you had (an hour much cheaper than 20 mins pro rata) but I think people complained about it being slow. It's charged up to your onboard account. The crew can often be found in hot spots in the port terminal buildings or internet cafes - but that's perhaps a bit of a bind when on holiday. I'm sure someone will be able to answer your question though.

 

Have a great time - hope you enjoy your first Thomson experience! It's certainly an itinerary which is a winner. :)

[Rebel Rouser]

Leedslad

 

The Thomson Spirit offers Internet access on board. There is a separate charge for this which can be purchased while on the Spirit. If you decide to use the Internet on board, you will be given a shipboard email account to use. It is worth noting that reviews of the Internet access on the Thomson Spirit suggest that it is extremely expensive (around £1 per minute) and very slow and unreliable. If you do wish to use the Internet, there is a comfortable Internet Lounge for passengers' use with staff nearby to assist with using the facilities

 

 

From an Ipswich fan :D

[goonersue]

Well done kruzseeka. You answered all the questions fully.

 

They don't have tea and coffee making facilities in the cabins Pete because of the Health and Safety. Smoke alarms.

 

Sue

[leedslad]

DIdn't expect to get all the answers so quickly...thank you.

 

4 way adaptor no problem, am I right in thinking this then need to go into a 2 pin plug adaptor?

Where am I likely to find / buy thermal mugs?

The bottled water charge sounds a bit strong...free beer, wine and spirits and soft drinks but pay for water!! Is there a fridge in the cabin? Just contemplating that early morning dehydrated to death feeling brought on by sunshine and all inclusive:eek:

Suppose you can swerve round the bottle of wine issue easily enough by taking a couple of glasses back to the cabin and could I suppose decant into an empty wine bottle. I'm sounding like a right alcholic here but its just nice when youve had an hectic night to put your feet up and chill out in the cabin with a bit of peace and quiet and a glass of wine

I know there is one formal night a week which is OK. I know that your not stopped from entering any bars if you dont wish to take part and you can eat in the buffet. I'm undecided if I should pack my dinner suit(which I hate wearing). What percentage of the men on board would you say opt out and just stay smart casual?? Or is the Gala dinner just too good to miss?

Finally, seeing as though football has been mentioned;)...do Thomsons ships have the contract to show England internationals? We play Bulgaria on Friday night with what will be an 8.30pm kick off Corfu time.

Or do I need to hatch a plan to disappear into Corfu Town to watch It:)..anyone want to keep me company?

[Rebel Rouser]

Thermos mugs you can get from most retailers, loads on fleabay.

 

Thomson's will probably show football on the many screens, but can't guarantee it last time we were in Corfu town watched the England Greece game..you know the one where Beckham scored from a free kick :D

 

As for the formal night last December I never took a suit but this year I have sorted my self out with a dinner suit to keep her happy :rolleyes: but did feel a bit left out with the dinner suit.

 

 

Your right about the wine, just fill a glass up every 10 mins :D

 

Water as above with the thermos mug, would be lost without mine ;)

 

 

Correct about the 2 pin adaptor

[Jim The Scot]

Where am I likely to find / buy thermal mugs?

 

Asdas

 

The bottled water charge sounds a bit strong...free beer, wine and spirits and soft drinks but pay for water!! Is there a fridge in the cabin? Just contemplating that early morning dehydrated to death feeling brought on by sunshine and all inclusive:eek:

 

 

Yes fridge in the cabin..Not the biggest and it will already have drinks in it but take these out an replace with your own.at the end of your cruise put back the drinks you took out

 

Suppose you can swerve round the bottle of wine issue easily enough by taking a couple of glasses back to the cabin and could I suppose decant into an empty wine bottle.

 

Yes,exactly what we did.A few drinks back to the cabin whilst getting ready for nightime and a few after the bars close :D

 

I'm sounding like a right alcholic here but its just nice when youve had an hectic night to put your feet up and chill out in the cabin with a bit of peace and quiet and a glass of wine

 

Your on the right forum

 

I know there is one formal night a week which is OK. I know that your not stopped from entering any bars if you dont wish to take part and you can eat in the buffet. I'm undecided if I should pack my dinner suit(which I hate wearing). What percentage of the men on board would you say opt out and just stay smart casual?? Or is the Gala dinner just too good to miss?

 

Can`t comment personally on the Gala night as its not my forte but speaking to other passengers some thought it was good others didn`t..As far as percentages of men that opt out or attend.Difficult to say but a fair number do miss out.The Medusa bar was busy at the time the guests were making there way through to the the gala night.

 

 

Thomson's will probably show football on the many screens, but can't guarantee it last time we were in Corfu town watched the England Greece game..you know the one where Beckham scored from a free kick :D

 

You`ve got a good memory :D

 

As for the formal night last December I never took a suit but this year I have sorted my self out with a dinner suit to keep her happy :rolleyes: but did feel a bit left out with the dinner suit.

 

Photos please.

[solostar]

Hi Jim, I didn,t think that there was a fridge in the basic cabins, hope I am wrong :confused: it would be very handy!

[goonersue]

We had one in ours. It wasn't a fridge like we know them, but a lift up lid by one of the drawer units. Didn't hold much, but kept your drinks ok.

 

Sue

[solostar]

That would be great, just to keep drinks cool would be fine, nothing worse than a gulp of warm water in the middle of the night! Did you do a review Sue ? We are going in 3 weeks and I can,t read enough about it :D.

[goonersue]

No, I didn't. I'll make some notes and put one on. Are you going on both Adriatic Explorer and Pearls of the Aegean?

 

Sue

[leedslad]

What a helpful lots you are

The plan is coming together

Trust a Scotsman to have sussed out the beverages situation properly:) Decanting into a wine bottle is the future!!

Shopping list of 2 pin adaptor, 4 way adaptor, and a couple of thermos mugs. Asda here we come!

The fridge is a real bonus for some reason I didnt think there was going to be one. As stated...bottle of cold water is an absolute must first thing on a morning.

 

Decided against the Dinner suite you can find me in the Medusa on gala night. I hated dressing up at school !! On Ventura I was one of the maybe 2% who didnt conform and you were made to feel uncomfortable...plus the evening buffet was garbage

 

Just a note for ex OVer's that there is a big rumour on the OV Renagadees facebook page that OV is soon to return :D..according to ex OV staff apparently

[solostar]

Leedslad, you will find this a very helpul forum, I have learned loads from it, hope you have a great time, we will be getting on when you are getting off! :p I think , concerning the adapters, that there are both round prong and flat sockets in cabin, perhaps Sue can verify this :confused:

Sue, Yes we are going on both, so excited, getting on everybodies nerves :o

[Rebel Rouser]

 

 

You`ve got a good memory :D

 

 

 

Photos please.

 

 

My memory is good when it suits me :D

 

Yes, will post pics after Christmas in my £59 M&S dinner suit :p

 

 

Leedslad, my Mrs is a Leeds fan :mad: even sleeps in a bloody Leeds shirt for a nighty..every game she has Leeds Texts (lot of swearing just lately though)

[Jim The Scot]

Hi Jim, I didn,t think that there was a fridge in the basic cabins, hope I am wrong :confused: it would be very handy!

 

Apologies..I never read the thread title properly.For some reason I thought I was replying to a thread regarding the Dream.I just saw the word spirit not thinking it was the ship they were talking about..Seriously though,I haven`t a clue if theres a fridge on the ship called destiny as I`ve never been on her,I was talking about the dream.

 

I`ll butt out now

[pedxxx]

Going back to wifi access. There are wifi points in the Explorers bar and the casino. Bad news is that nobody seemed to admit to knowing passwords. There is an internet cafe. It cost around €6 for 10 minutes. I had to resort to pointing my smart phone towards port hole while in the port or standing on the decks. I was lucky in Venice, Crete, Split and Dubrovnik and probably looked peculiar on deck wandering around with it but at least I got emails away to the kids.

 

If you're planning to take a laptop then obviously this isn't much good for you.

 

We used to take the occasional drink back to the cabin and the glasses were taken the next day. We had a fridge but we never had cause to use it.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Right! I am going to be controversial! ;)

 

Berwyn recommended those thermal mugs, so I bought two. I thought I would try them out, by taking some soup to football. Nightmare. :eek: First they leaked into my bag and then, when we went to drink it at half time it was cold! So they went to the car boot! Rubbish!

 

Secondly, why is it safe to plug in a 4 pin adaptor and not a little travel kettle?:rolleyes: On Princess they had no tea-making facilities, but no-one objected to my kettle and I didn't have to hide it in the cupboard between uses either ;)

 

Thirdly, why buy water when it is free in the buffet 24 hours?

 

Fourthly, Why do men hate wearing DJs? My old man looks really good in his, ( from Matalan ) Someone asked him if he was a doctor! Ha ha ha! Usually looks like one of the old gits!!!

 

Forget the internet - you are on holiday! I am always glad to get away from it. Don't phone - it's too dear, if you must communitate - just text!

 

Lastly -Rebel Rouser -just be glad you aren't married to an Arsenal fan , as I am!!:(:(

[leedslad]

Like it...little travel kettle and some sachets of decaff(will pinch the sugar and milk)

Agree about buying bottled water but do need the ability to rehydrate early in the morning...dont want me in my whatevers wandering off to find a drink...get lost for one thing:)

DJ's with collar and dickie bow are far too warm and uncomfotable...thats all...

Dont want to browse the tinterweb as such just post a cruise diary to the kids and a few pals every couple of days

 

Arsenal...now that is funny(but if im honest I wanted them to win against the dark side)

At least as a Leeds fan we are owned by a respectable English gent not a load of Yanks/Arabs/Thais/Indians...Chicken Tikkas Masala Rovers etc:rolleyes:

[Rebel Rouser]

Thermos mugs are not travel mugs as such, must always be kept upright. but they do keep the drinks hot 3 or 4 times longer than a normal mug. If like me I always fill up 1st thing in the morning and stand on the top deck getting a good view travelling into ports.

 

A good 4way adaptor should always be fused.

 

 

Water can be used in the Thermos mugs

 

Yes forget the Internet your on Holiday, just use my android phone for texting kids when On holiday and only switched on at certain times of the day, don't use the ships signal..now that's expensive and make sure roaming is switched off.

 

RR

[davecttr]

Don't risk taking a travel iron or kettle with you. If you do the best you can hope for will be to have them confiscated and the worse could be thrown off the ship at the next port.

 

If you boil a kettle and the steam sets of the fire alarm there will be hell to pay as the firefighting procedures are activated.

 

Real reason for the restrictions.

 

Thomsons have old ships

the power supply is not the capacity of modern ones

the fire proofing is not the same as modern ships

 

It is certain that if people are using kettles and irons someone will eventually leave one on and it will set the ship alight.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

:)

Don't risk taking a travel iron or kettle with you. If you do the best you can hope for will be to have them confiscated and the worse could be thrown off the ship at the next port.

 

If you boil a kettle and the steam sets of the fire alarm there will be hell to pay as the firefighting procedures are activated.

 

Real reason for the restrictions.

 

Thomsons have old ships

the power supply is not the capacity of modern ones

the fire proofing is not the same as modern ships

 

It is certain that if people are using kettles and irons someone will eventually leave one on and it will set the ship alight.

 

My point was "How are multi socket leads safer than kettles?" given that the power supply is so bad! And how come other ships who supply kettles don't set off fire alarms all over the ship?

 

I don't need an iron - I'm on holiday :) Besides there is a laundrete I believe :)

[Jim The Scot]

:)

 

My point was "How are multi socket leads safer than kettles?" given that the power supply is so bad! And how come other ships who supply kettles don't set off fire alarms all over the ship?[ /quote]

 

Linda

It could be that kettles supplied by ships have been safety checked.Kinda like years ago if you had reason for a stay in hospital and you wanted to take a personal electrical item in with you it had to be safety chcked first by their maintenance crew.

[goonersue]

Cruisin Linda.

 

As you can guess from my user name, I'm married to an Arsenal fan. (He set my name up right at the beginning of all sorts) I am a bit brainwashed, but not as mad as he is!

 

Sue

[skioncruises]

Hi leedslad

 

Friends had a "travel kettle" and own hairdryer but neither were dual voltage and blew the circuit.:eek:

 

We take a 1 litre Stanley flask (expensive but good - have tried others and this is the best). Fill it with hot water from deck urn before retiring and it is still hot for cuppa in the morning. Often refill at breakfast and have a cuppa in the afternoon in cabin. Also use thermal mugs on deck.

 

Cabins/shower/storage space not quite as spacious as OV. No free safe. No fridge in standard cabins.

 

I see you did repo in 2010. We did final week in Med plus repo on OV2 in 2009. 33 fantastic days. OV got greedy in 2010 as we tried again but would not give them what they wanted. Got 1 x 18 and 1 x 14 days with Thomson instead for less than they wanted.:D

 

You'll enjoy Thomson cruises. We've been with them since 1989.

 

:)

[CRUISIN LINDA]

:)

 

My point was "How are multi socket leads safer than kettles?" given that the power supply is so bad! And how come other ships who supply kettles don't set off fire alarms all over the ship?[ /quote]

 

Linda

It could be that kettles supplied by ships have been safety checked.Kinda like years ago if you had reason for a stay in hospital and you wanted to take a personal electrical item in with you it had to be safety chcked first by their maintenance crew.

 

Hi Jim,

 

Yes I think that probably sums it up - 'elf & Safety:rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

Now can someone tell me if there is a fridge in the basic cabins on the Spirit or not? If not, not worth having a kettle anyway:)

 

Also can you get tea and coffee via room service and is it free?

 

How much is the safety deposit box? It was free on the Dream:cool: