Thomson Celebration Colourful Coasts 6th March

[scareyness]

I finally managed to book this yesterday!:D

 

I have read many reports and reviews of this ship and am now looking forward to experiencing it for myself. Having cruises with FO and P&O before this will be our 1st cruise with Thomson.

 

I am however a little disappointed already as I have tried to get information from Thomsons about the cruise and have had no reply. Requested info on drinks package (lucky someone gave it on here), any gala/themed nights, various information about the cabins, but still nothing.

 

This cruise is going to be a lot of 'firsts' for us, ie: time of year, duration, location, company, and I was hoping for some answers. Maybe anyone can help?

 

Any ideas of weather at that time of year? What sort of clothing is needed? any woollies? How many gala nights? I am assuming that the ship will be as others are in that your luggage is delivered to your cabin and collected at end of cruise? Is embarkation and disembarkation a problem at each port? No one has mentioned about dinning times, is there a 1st and 2nd sitting? I think I am right in saying tips are included?

 

Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Lastly anyone else going on this cruise?

[marylizcat]

Well, the weather will probably be good, but might not be! One gala/formal night on the Sunday. Luggage is indeed delivered and collected from cabin. Embarkation at Gran Canaria was quick. Just a short queue to register credit card and take photo for your pass. No sittings at dinner. Go when you like. Tips included, but you can give a bit extra if you like. Hope this helps. Sure you will have a great time, as we did at New Year.

[davecttr]

You will also be escorted to your cabin on arrival which is nice and the luggage is collected at about 2am of your departure day. Depending on your homeward flight time you might be able to take in a half day tour on departure day and anyway all the ship facilities are available until you leave. There should be curtesy cabins available for a fee so you can freshen up or you could try the fitness centre! Hand luggage can be left in a secure area so you don't have to carry it around all day.

 

dining times are:

Meridian restaurant

breakfast - 8am to 10am

lunch - noon to 2pm

dinner - 6pm to 9.30pm

no sittings, just turn up!. You can ask to be on the same table each time

 

Buffet

Continental breakfast - 6am to 10am

Egg/Omellette station - 7am to 10am

Breakfast - 7am to 11.30am

Pizza Oven and snack bar - 11.30am to 7pm

Lunch - 11.30am to 3.30pm

Delecatessan corner - noon to 2.30pm

Afternoon tea - 3.30pm to 5.30pm

Dinner - 5.30 to 11pm

Late night buffet - 11pm to 2am

late Night menu - 2am to 6am

 

I was impressed with the buffet which has separate salad/pudding stations etc and plenty of choice. Do not panic if you find the captain in the queue, someone else is driving!

 

24 hour food :eek:

 

I will be embarking on the 7th, short, fat, bald, bearded, glasses, you have been warned :D

[davecttr]

Got my ticket today, 25kg luggage allowance. I reckon that will be 20kg hold and 5kg carry on. No problem as my suitcase is only about 10kg fully packed :)

 

Last check in 1 1/2 hours before the flight!, no way, at least 3 hours for me :(

[scareyness]

im usually way over my limit! (a woman thing I believe!):eek:

 

Where are you flying from? I see you are joining ship the day after us, we got good flights and times so it suited us better to go from Tenerife

 

I cannot imagine why you want to spend any extra time at the airport? Any reason?:(

[davecttr]

im usually way over my limit! (a woman thing I believe!):eek:

 

Where are you flying from? I see you are joining ship the day after us, we got good flights and times so it suited us better to go from Tenerife

 

I cannot imagine why you want to spend any extra time at the airport? Any reason?:(

 

I am flying from Airwick Gatport and should arrive aboard early evening, just in time for a meal, a few drinks and then the sail away :)

 

Paranoia about missing connections is my normal reaction to travelling so as I am taking a taxi to the airport I am allowing plenty of time just in case the M25 behaves badly. I also have a backup plan with 3 alternative rail routes into London and 2 out to Gatwick.

 

On my last cruise I was enjoying the brass band at departure, when you could hear it as the dock workers decided to start up their noisy machinery and guess what? Yes, a car pulled up in the car park and they missed the ship :eek:

 

It turned out OK for them as they had booked by phone that morning and the rep said 7.30 departure when they should have said 17.30. Thomsons flew them to Copenhagen where they missed their connection so were given a hotel overnight stay and flown to Bergen where they joined the ship. I reckon that rep does not work for the company now :o

[scareyness]

MMMMMMMMMMhhhhhmmmmmmm! I can see the logic in that!

 

Last cruise we did, we left Cornwall at 9ish in morning on train to Reading, then more trains..........., stayed overnight at Guest House close to Airport. Ap at 6am, got to airport at 9am for midday flight!!!!! to Barbados (by which time I was totally shattered!!!):eek:

 

So this time a 90 min (ish) drive to airport and 3ish hour flight to Tenerife is going to be a doddle I think??? Albeit that I am fully booked in my guest house so working all day and will then be leaving at 3am:(, hope the road to Exeter is empty!!!

 

You should spot me, totally exhausted from work and 4 week old grandson (1st:D), laidened with too much lugage and booze!!!:D:D

[john_l]

Hi,

The wife and I are also on this cruise, and are looking forward to it.

Flying from manchester at 10am so hope to be drinking my first cocktail on board by midday.

 

I just love cruising and feel like a big kid waiting for Christmass.

 

How many more sleeps to go?

 

:):)

[davecttr]

Hi,

The wife and I are also on this cruise, and are looking forward to it.

Flying from manchester at 10am so hope to be drinking my first cocktail on board by midday.

 

I just love cruising and feel like a big kid waiting for Christmass.

 

How many more sleeps to go?

 

:):)

 

18 sleeps or partial sleeps as the panic rises about the plane journey :eek:

 

Only a few things to do, hair cut, beard trim, maybe buy new binoculars, pack, pack again, oops, book taxi, check passport 47 times, buy some distinctive coloured tape to make my suitcase stand out from the 232 identical ones on the carousel :D

[scareyness]

Got my tickets today! Yippppeeeee:D:D

 

I have been looking forward to going to Agadir but after reading some of the posts on here I have been alarmed and put off a bit. But I managed to get some info from someone on Trip Advisor and they said the following:

 

Do NOT be afraid of Agadir, its one of the few places in the world where unaccompanied women can walk the beach and prom untroubled.

 

Was recommended to go on the 'Noddy train' to get a little feel of the place and its cheap too! Plenty of taxis also cheap. Approx £2, they said even if you get 'ripped off' it will only be to the tune of £5, so I could handle that. Or a visit to the Kasbah for a great view.

 

They also gave me details of where to shop without getting fleeced and to walk along the beach or the prom area behind the hotels. I really cannot stay on the ship in this port!

 

I quote their advice 'if you stick to the prom and the road area behind you will love Agadir. Our first visit was on a cruise ship and we then went every winter for the next 10 years! Enjoy your trip and don't miss Agadir. We are off on a cruise this week stopping in Casablanca but will stay on board there but never in Agadir.'

So I am happy to go ashore now!:D I think its always best to go to any port with an open mind, after all, any holiday is what you make it yourself. Will report back on my return.

[john_l]

Got my tickets today! Yippppeeeee:D:D

 

I have been looking forward to going to Agadir but after reading some of the posts on here I have been alarmed and put off a bit. But I managed to get some info from someone on Trip Advisor and they said the following:

 

Do NOT be afraid of Agadir, its one of the few places in the world where unaccompanied women can walk the beach and prom untroubled.

 

Was recommended to go on the 'Noddy train' to get a little feel of the place and its cheap too! Plenty of taxis also cheap. Approx £2, they said even if you get 'ripped off' it will only be to the tune of £5, so I could handle that. Or a visit to the Kasbah for a great view.

 

They also gave me details of where to shop without getting fleeced and to walk along the beach or the prom area behind the hotels. I really cannot stay on the ship in this port!

 

I quote their advice 'if you stick to the prom and the road area behind you will love Agadir. Our first visit was on a cruise ship and we then went every winter for the next 10 years! Enjoy your trip and don't miss Agadir. We are off on a cruise this week stopping in Casablanca but will stay on board there but never in Agadir.'

 

So I am happy to go ashore now!:D I think its always best to go to any port with an open mind, after all, any holiday is what you make it yourself. Will report back on my return.

 

OK Scareyness, you go ashore, if you're not back in a couple of hours, we will send a search party looking for you. While you are away, I will guard the bar on the Lido deck :D

[facebook addict]

[Hi Everyone

 

Loving this site:D. Myself, my husband & two children are also on the cruise, cant wait. We are joining on the Saturday 7th looks like we on the same flight as Dave The Road. 12 sleeps. Have been worried about Agadir looking at some reviews but relieved to see the last one. Still not sure what clothes to take & times ticking away. This is our first time cruise. Any tips anyone????:cool:

 

 

 

 

 

quote=scareyness;18110546]I finally managed to book this yesterday!:D

 

I have read many reports and reviews of this ship and am now looking forward to experiencing it for myself. Having cruises with FO and P&O before this will be our 1st cruise with Thomson.

 

I am however a little disappointed already as I have tried to get information from Thomsons about the cruise and have had no reply. Requested info on drinks package (lucky someone gave it on here), any gala/themed nights, various information about the cabins, but still nothing.

 

This cruise is going to be a lot of 'firsts' for us, ie: time of year, duration, location, company, and I was hoping for some answers. Maybe anyone can help?

 

Any ideas of weather at that time of year? What sort of clothing is needed? any woollies? How many gala nights? I am assuming that the ship will be as others are in that your luggage is delivered to your cabin and collected at end of cruise? Is embarkation and disembarkation a problem at each port? No one has mentioned about dinning times, is there a 1st and 2nd sitting? I think I am right in saying tips are included?

 

Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Lastly anyone else going on this cruise?

[Pebble12345]

The weather can be mixed in the canaries and you will need a jumper on deck in the evenings.

 

There is a Captains dinner on the Sunday where people dress up to varying degrees, you get allocated a sitting for this of 5.30 or 7.30 for the reception with dinner after but you can swap if you want to. You get free champagne and canapes at the reception which I didnt realise !

 

I wouldnt bother with a drinks package, for 2 adults and 2 children we only paid £240 for drinks, photos of the captains dinner and the safe. It would have cost us £170 each ! We did drink mainly the free tea, coffee and water in the day.

 

Im so jealous of everyone who is going we cant wait to go on another cruise !

[davecttr]

There is 1 formal night where you might want to get dressed up and you will be allocated a sitting time. All other meals are open sitting and you can turn up whenever you like. There is also the Lido buffet for 24/7 food and a more casual option if you decide to miss the Captains party.

 

Ship access should be no problem as the Celebration docks at all the ports, BTW we are sharing Funchal with the Oceana on the Monday but we get there first and hopefully will get the best birth nearest the town.

 

Luggage is delivered and collected from your cabin plus you should be escorted there when you first board.

 

Tips are included but if you want to pass over a few euros for extra good service the crew won't complain!.

 

Hopefully Captain Leech will be in charge as he is quite a character!.

 

The crew have this endearing habit of calling everyone sir so I was soon Sir Dave, the crew call the Captain Sir Alan which I find unusual.

 

The Celebration is a happy ship and when I cruised on her last year even the crew seemed to having a good time.

[john_l]

1 week to go, 7 more sleeps :) Can't wait

[mtt]

It was captain roy when we where onboard in jan

[scareyness]

5 1/2 sleeps for us!!!:D haven't started packing yet! Yikes:eek:

[kruzseeka]

Have a great time (to all of you sailing this week) - and do let us know how it was! I'll be especially interested to hear your opinion of the 'pluses' and 'minuses' compared with your previous cruise experiences.

 

Isn't the last week before you go great? All that anticipation - and it's almost there!

 

Enjoy! :D

[facebook addict]

7 more sleeps for us - I am (or should be) packing as we speak, having a quick break! Its not looking good not much space left in the cases.

So excited we will need to look out for each other on the ship.:):):):)

[scareyness]

I'm doing my VAT today!:mad: Working everyday until we go so is there anyone who fancies doing my packing?:eek: God knows when I will start!

 

There's a cocktail in it if anyone offers!:D

[john_l]

Have a great time (to all of you sailing this week) - and do let us know how it was! I'll be especially interested to hear your opinion of the 'pluses' and 'minuses' compared with your previous cruise experiences.

 

Isn't the last week before you go great? All that anticipation - and it's almost there!

 

Enjoy! :D

 

Thanks Kruzseeka, yes I will make sure I post a detailed review on my return. The last week is unbearable. I never, ever felt like this on previous holidays till we discovered cruising. I feel like a child again. Its like waiting for Christmas all over again.

[facebook addict]

Sorry Scaryness am having enough trouble doing my own & working all week too. Five sleeps :o:o:o:):)

[scareyness]

Still no packing started!:eek: Think it will be thursday til I can think about it!!

 

Fully booked at my guest house, reams of paper work to plough through, shopping, ironing, 3 freezers to defrost, 2 appoinments. Hope to get a few hours thursday lunchtime before another appointment and then an evening Council meeting. Also hoping for a couple hours sleep thursday before we leave home at 3am to go to airport!!:(

 

then yippppeeeeeeeeeeee:D:D:D

[davecttr]

Ironing today, really boring :(

 

Did a practice pack, total weight 18kg so that is OK, but somehow the carry on ended up larger than the permitted dimensions. I rushed out and bought a replacement so now OK.

 

I am taking pot luck with the plane seat, anywhere will do and as it appears to be 3-3 seating hopefully I will end up at the end of the row. If you are the unfortunate ones, just nudge me if I start snoring :D

 

Ooops, I am travelling on a different day :o

[john_l]

 

Did a practice pack, total weight 18kg so that is OK

 

You are far more organised than me ;) I leave everything to the last minute and as a result pay the price. I ordered t-shirts and shirts online on Saturday and they all arrived today too small :o Not enough time now to get them sent back and new ones sent out.

 

So if you see a scruffy guy with holes in his t-shirts, you know its me :):):)