My Review of Crimean Discovery

[dingadong]

oh dear....I have been noticing this for a while....first on the dream and now (it appears) on celebration too

 

slow bar service....long queues at the bar

 

no towel animals

 

turndown service getting later and later

 

pool towels not being replaced

 

crew seem overstretched....especially cabin stewards

 

cut backs on shows...more singing

 

a long wait for meals in mdr

 

no singing waiters in mdr......(please tell me this isnt true)

 

under/overcooked food

 

lacklustre menues

 

chaotic tendering....missed ports....sudden unexplained itinerary changes

 

sudden policy changes (vip booths, duty free being confiscated)

 

ships puttering along...breakdowns....norovirus

 

I was hoping it was just me that had noticed these things?

 

Oh dear - what a shame. We had our first cruise with Thomsons last year and only another week and a bit til our next. I have to say, I have raved to friends and family about the fantastic level of service/food/entertainment (evrything!!), so hope that this is just a wee glitch. Someone did mention that there was quite a significant crew change maybe two weeks ago in Istabul - do you think it is just teething problems. Have to say - if this had been my first cruise this year, and reading all the various threads, I would have been slightly worried. I am remaining optimistic though and still looking very much forward to my hols! Will take the advice on here though and have a wee ship day when in Constanta!:)

[Sheila49]

The first 8 items on Geomat's list applied to our cruise too although we still enjoyed the entertainment. We were on Dream 25th May to 8th June this year.

[Julessmiles]

Oh dear - what a shame. We had our first cruise with Thomsons last year and only another week and a bit til our next. I have to say, I have raved to friends and family about the fantastic level of service/food/entertainment (evrything!!), so hope that this is just a wee glitch. Someone did mention that there was quite a significant crew change maybe two weeks ago in Istabul - do you think it is just teething problems. Have to say - if this had been my first cruise this year, and reading all the various threads, I would have been slightly worried. I am remaining optimistic though and still looking very much forward to my hols! Will take the advice on here though and have a wee ship day when in Constanta!:)

 

Please report back - we go in a few weeks time too :). Info queen & Topsey are both currently onboard & have not had any bad reports yet from them; sad for those who were on the not so good cruises but maybe it was a glitch that is being ironed out......I live in hope as we were on last year & had a fantastic time.

 

Hope yours is a good one.

 

I am sure we will hear - warts & all - from them both ;)

[Julessmiles]

Just read a positive review from the Celebration ....

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=222469

[skioncruises]

Just read a positive review from the Celebration ....

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=222469

 

Have just read the review. After 24 years of cruising with Thomson we have never had such a bad experience over the two weeks (Ancient Wonders/Crimean Discovery 3 - 17 June). Yes, we had a good holiday - when Thomson had no input whatsoever, i.e. when we did diy, did not have to tender, managed to get a correct drink at the bar without the help of a waiter, etc. etc.

[Julessmiles]

Have just read the review. After 24 years of cruising with Thomson we have never had such a bad experience over the two weeks (Ancient Wonders/Crimean Discovery 3 - 17 June). Yes, we had a good holiday - when Thomson had no input whatsoever, i.e. when we did diy, did not have to tender, managed to get a correct drink at the bar without the help of a waiter, etc. etc.

 

Sorry you had such a bad experience :(

[skioncruises]

:confused:

Sorry you had such a bad experience :(

 

Hi Julessmiles

 

I could go on forever as there was something happened every day, including illness from which I am still not recovered. Most were niggles which we have never had before and their standards are dropping badly.

 

We have been loyal Thomson cruisers since 1989 and in more recent years increased to several times a year.

 

We have always liked their product and are going on Island Escape in September but now debating whether to lose our deposit and cancel the 27 night crossing on the Dream in April.

[geomagot]

Most were niggles which we have never had before and their standards are dropping badly.

 

yep I agree, they are niggles, not really enough to completely spoil your entire holiday but (for me) getting to the stage where its difficult to keep on turning a blind eye every day..... like not getting the pool towels replaced.....we resorted to raiding the housekeeping closet in the end:o

 

I will add: I havnt (yet) been on celebration but I will be in a couple of weeks time (its make or break for thoms really)

 

I've booked ventura for christmas this year (just couldnt bring myself to trust the dream with my family christmas again this year)

[Jakanne1]

yep I agree, they are niggles, not really enough to completely spoil your entire holiday but (for me) getting to the stage where its difficult to keep on turning a blind eye every day..... like not getting the pool towels replaced.....we resorted to raiding the housekeeping closet in the end:o

 

I will add: I havnt (yet) been on celebration but I will be in a couple of weeks time (its make or break for thoms really)

 

I've booked ventura for christmas this year (just couldnt bring myself to trust the dream with my family christmas again this year)

 

When I read this, geomagot, I began to be concerned as I value your comments and reviews. Three friends and I are in the stressful phase of looking into booking a cruise to the Caribbean in February/March 14 and find that we have little choice on flights and on our budget. (Less than £2000). After spending quite a long time at a cruise specialist travel agents it boils down to R. Carib. for 10 night cruise or Thomson Dream for 2 weeks.

 

Would you please remind me what the problems were with Dream?

We were not offered Ventura so I will be looking on line to see what it offers. :)

[dingadong]

Please report back - we go in a few weeks time too :). Info queen & Topsey are both currently onboard & have not had any bad reports yet from them; sad for those who were on the not so good cruises but maybe it was a glitch that is being ironed out......I live in hope as we were on last year & had a fantastic time.

 

Hope yours is a good one.

 

I am sure we will hear - warts & all - from them both ;)

 

Will Do Jules!! I am trying to keep an open mind. Some people do like to moan for moaning sake - but a lot of the people on here are seasoned travellers and know whats what - that is the worry. My mindset is, we work and save hard all year for this holiday - it is going to have to be really bad to spoil it!!! If I get a gin instead of a vodka - is it the end of the world?? Well - early on in the night it might be lol ;)

 

This year I am fully prepared to lie on the sports deck - last year we spent a considerable amount of time "wandering" looking for somewhere to lie - I will not be doing to the same this year, my hubby will just have to do the bar run!!!

 

I will no doubt hear from you - but you be sure to enjoy yours! x:)

[skioncruises]

Hi dingadong

 

It's the first time we have ever had to go to reception and complain on more than one occasion. We are not moaners and were horrified at the amount of time things kept happening. I find it difficult to put my points across easily so do anything for a quiet life - don't even take wrong things back to shops - charity shops love me.:eek:

 

We had a lovely holiday as, once we arrived in port we were off the ship, either independently or organised trip, and did not return until sailing time. It was just the avoidable things that kept happening on board.

 

I see you have been on Celebration before, as have we. Perhaps too many cruises with Thomson has made us come to expect too much hence our disappointment but I would definitely say their standards have dropped.

 

I have no doubt you will enjoy your holiday and meet lots of lovely people.:)

[Scarey Mary]

Have just read the review. After 24 years of cruising with Thomson we have never had such a bad experience over the two weeks (Ancient Wonders/Crimean Discovery 3 - 17 June). Yes, we had a good holiday - when Thomson had no input whatsoever, i.e. when we did diy, did not have to tender, managed to get a correct drink at the bar without the help of a waiter, etc. etc.

 

I agree totally with you Jan. Same for us, we haven't done as many as you but what we have done we have never had such a poor experience.

The reviewer is a first time cruiser though so they will have nothing to compare it with.

We did have a good holiday too but it's because we made it that way but it could have been a lot better. We expected the same service,atmosphere etc that we have received on the Celebration the last time we were on. This was our 3rd time on her but unfortunately now it was our last we will not be going on her again.

Even though we didn't like the Majesty the Louis run ship was run so much better than the Thomson one. The food on the Majesty was far superior to the Celebration.

[geomagot]

When I read this, geomagot, I began to be concerned as I value your comments and reviews. Three friends and I are in the stressful phase of looking into booking a cruise to the Caribbean in February/March 14 and find that we have little choice on flights and on our budget. (Less than £2000). After spending quite a long time at a cruise specialist travel agents it boils down to R. Carib. for 10 night cruise or Thomson Dream for 2 weeks.

 

Would you please remind me what the problems were with Dream?

We were not offered Ventura so I will be looking on line to see what it offers. :)

 

they're niggles jak....just niggles.....I'm not a moaner either....just try to turn a blind eye and enjoy

 

and

 

there is a lot to like about the dream/thoms

 

not trying to put anyone off….just telling how I have observed things over the last few seasons

 

but........its getting more difficult to keep on turning a blind eye

 

slow bar service, most notably on the pool deck and medusa/showlounge/casino, drinks service is definitely not what it used to be

 

long queues atthe bar especially in medusa where there is only a small part of the bar that you can queue up to and I am sure thay have reduced the seating

 

nowhere to sit in the medusa (kids like the gameshows) (ok there were 6 of us) we sat on the step by the bar one night

 

the kids cabin didnt get evening turndown until gone 9pm (youngest dd and mil like to turn in early)

 

stewards seem stretched? cabins were made up spotlessly every day but sometimes not until 1pm we often had to go and hunt down fresh towels ourselves, they only changed the pool towels a couple of times in the entire cruise

 

no towel animals dd made her own (it was an ele-bunny-monkey) we did get chocolate tho

 

our pink bath was scrubbed down the brown fibreglass (spotless brown fibreglass)

 

we had to send undercooked/overcooked food back in mdr a couple of times....never had to do that before?....they changed it no problem

 

2 hour wait for food a couple of nights in mdr

 

couldn’t get a table at all in the mdr on formal night despite have an early sitting ticket (ok there were 6 of us....they did give us a freebie bottle of wine when we eventually got in)

 

nv was on board at new year....they were serving us at the buffet....also a nasty airborne viral throat infection which mil (in her 80's) succumbed to 2 days before flying home and had to be nebulised before leaving for a 9 hour flight

 

daytime pool entertainment was lacklustre especially at n/y (although by march they had brought top men in)

 

the big killer for me however (and this may sound petty but it was the suddenness that bothered me the most) was the duty free confiscations that happened without warning in the middle of my cruise (now stopped I believe)....one day I carried my caribs on board no probs....the next day they took them off me and locked them up! I even had to down a cup of rum punch (from the rhum runner) at the gangway one day

 

and the prebooked trips debacle which I have discussed (at length) previously on here

 

then they mucked up the bill when I checked my bank statements after returning home

 

tbh I am really pinning my hopes on celebration in july...by all accounts (on here and elsewhere) it seems to have fared better on the platinum upgrade and there are some good reviews around....I'll be sure to let you know

 

in the meantime I am trying out Ventura this Christmas…I’ll be sure to let you know how that goes too….I’m not completely loosing sight of the dream and may also book for spring 2014…..depends how we fare at Christmas?

 

sorry this is soooo long:o

[Grez]

Its odd how the Louis run ships have always been slightly below the other 2 in terms of quality, but recently that trend seems to have been reversed.

[Sailaway487]

Its odd how the Louis run ships have always been slightly below the other 2 in terms of quality, but recently that trend seems to have been reversed.

 

I've been noticing that too. The difference in a year!

[Grez]

I've been noticing that too. The difference in a year!

 

Its as though the 2 companies have reacted to the recession in a different way. Whilst Thomson seem to have used it to cut back costs as much as possible whilst increasing prices (Ellacott was boasting earlier this year how spend per customer has increased), Louis have decided that to grow their market they need to improve their current offering thus making them look more attractive whilst others are cutting back. I would never have considered taking a genuine (ie Olympia, Orient Queen) Louis cruise this time last year, but now their new niche product looks very appealing.

[geomagot]

Its as though the 2 companies have reacted to the recession in a different way. Whilst Thomson seem to have used it to cut back costs as much as possible whilst increasing prices (Ellacott was boasting earlier this year how spend per customer has increased), Louis have decided that to grow their market they need to improve their current offering thus making them look more attractive whilst others are cutting back. I would never have considered taking a genuine (ie Olympia, Orient Queen) Louis cruise this time last year, but now their new niche product looks very appealing.

 

the only people who are truly happy about Ellacotts platinum changes are the shareholders.....for the moment;)

[Jakanne1]

Thank you Geomagot for that detailed and quick response.

 

We are not taking children so those niggles won't affect us. We know it is an old ship and accept that there will be no all singing all dancing, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, shopping malls, crystal chandeliers etc. we would just like clean, comfortable, quiet at night cabins with very good food and entertainment. The main focus for us is tfo be able to visit many Caribbean islands and get some sun and fun. The over/undercooked food in the MDR and NV are a concern though. I too thought the confiscation of drinks and withdrawal of duty free without warning when it was usual practice was a very annoying thing to do.

 

My cousin has been on Majesty and Dream and much preferred Dream. I have been on Majesty and was more than satisfied with the food and service, it was only the layout of the top deck and self service dining that I felt was not up to the standard I had expected and Dream appears to be much better on those accounts. And the theatre looks a far better arrangement.

 

The main reasons I personally would choose Dream compared with Royal Carib. and similar is .....it is coming in cheaper, flights are direct from our local airport, it is more port intensive and I know the entertainment cannot be beaten. We just have to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of each. :rolleyes::)

 

PS. And as we are hoping to go in February there is no need to be concerned that the ship will have Spring Breakers on board. :eek: