Thomson Spirit

[sobral]

So pleased we have our own forum! About time too!

Willl be sailing on the Spirit in Summer 2008 and I have read lots of reviews regarding the shuddering of the ship, I have sailed on the Spirit and the Celebration a number of times and never noticed any vibration. Anyone shed light on this?

[Trillion]

I was on the Thomson Spirit in April 07' and never noticed any shuddering. :)

[fern]

We have been on both Spirit & Celebration several times and have never had a problem with vibration on board.

 

The only place we ever noticed it(and only slightly) was in Horizons lounge when the ship was sailing very slowly pass the erupting Stromboli!!!:)

[jenny wren]

We were on Celebration in November and did notice vibrations at the rear of the ship particularly in the show lounge but our cabin was forward of midships and we felt nothing there. On reading reviews of costa Serena which is our next ship, there are reports of her having bad vibrations at the rear of the ship and she is much newer and bigger than Celebration, so maybe a common problem, I don't know.....

[steelerannie]

We've just been on the Spirit and the vibration is a problem, especially in the showlounge. We were on the Spirit in May 2006 and didn't notice it, but this time it was quite bad.

 

Ann

[kruzseeka]

We were on Celebration (June) and Spirit (September) last year and there was definitely a noticeable vibration in the show lounge - especially if you are sitting centrally. It didn't seem obvious in the dining room (wine wasn't sloshing around!) or elsewhere but you could see people visibly wobbling up and down in the show lounge!!!! Having said that, we soon got used to it and we weren't really aware of it if say, we were watching the show. It was mainly if we weren't concentrating on anything that we began to notice it. It's not there all the time and when it is, it kind of builds up then subsides again. One of the quirks of these two ships - it definitely wouldn't put me off gong on either of them! All part of the charm for me!!

[Nephthys]

We were also on the Spirit in April '08 & she definitely has a vibration, even in post on auxillary engines (sort of side to side). We also noticed it in the show lounge & that's more of an up & down motion that becomes more & more tangible, then subsides, only to start again.

It's also in other areas of the ship but, just as you think you'd sussed out the designated areas, she fools you & does it somewhere else!

One couple removed a picture from their cabin wall as the rattle irritated them, but they & everyone to whom we spoke (including us) weren't really bothered about it. It won't put us off returning to sail with her again.

[Nephthys]

sorry - above should say, "even in port..."

[Dr_Dave]

We noticed a degree of vibration/shuddering but it didn't put us off the ship or the holiday experience. You soon get used to it.

[tinnyboy_1]

was on spirit early May and shuddering was noticable mainly in the show lounge but elsewhere sporadically. Sometimes it was uncomfortable and a fellow lady passenger remarked that it was uncomfortable for her as she was a lady(boobs lol) as they were moving with the vibes.

Tinnyboy_1

 

Still an enjoyable cruise though.

[sobral]

Thanks for all your answers. I can stand a bit of vibration, probably the drink will dim the effect! lol

[RedmondCruiser]

The vibration stems from the initial design of the Niew Amsterdam and the Noordam III. They were designed in the 70's and constructed in the early 80's. The fuel shortage was on their minds and they equiped both ships with slow turning engines designed to burn almost any fuel -- right up to tar. Hence they both had vibration problems. It is not that big of a probem. We had sailed on the Noordam 10 times and the Niew Amsterdam once and still reguard them as our favorite ships.

[davecttr]

The vibration stems from the initial design of the Niew Amsterdam and the Noordam III. They were designed in the 70's and constructed in the early 80's. The fuel shortage was on their minds and they equiped both ships with slow turning engines designed to burn almost any fuel -- right up to tar. Hence they both had vibration problems. It is not that big of a probem. We had sailed on the Noordam 10 times and the Niew Amsterdam once and still reguard them as our favorite ships.

Thanks for the info, i have been wondering what all the references to design 'problems' were. Maybe not so much of a problem now with fuel prices being what they are and will we see the Spirit and Celebration bunkering on used cooking oil!!!

[RedmondCruiser]

I know that the Spirit is the former Niew Amsterdam but what is the current name of the Former Noordam III, which was built for Holland America ? She was our favorite ship and have always wondered what became of her.

[Norcruiser]

If you are talking about Nieuw Amsterdam's sister Noordam she is currently sailing as Thomson Celebration.