Reviews of Thomson Destiny Cruise Ship, Thomson Destiny, Thomson Cruises

Having just returned from...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Destiny Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S Rooke

Comments:

Having just returned from Destiny, I felt compelled to write after reading some very negative reviews before I went.



I was very apprehensive about going but I cannot rate it highly enough.



Food was excellent [lots of it], waiters excellent, cabin steward excellent.



Our favourite bar was the Clipper, we just loved Joshua and Dennis what happy lovely people. The music in that bar was good but too loud.



I have to agree with other people about Agadir, drop it!



We ate in the Seven Seas restaurant; look out for Reynaldo and Butch, service with a smile. The all inclusive package was well worth it.



Thank you Thomson for a fantastic memorable week.

I toured on the Thomson destiny...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Jewels Of The Mediterranean

Date of Holiday:

May 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mr D Clarke

Comments:

I toured on the Thomson destiny in May 2006 on the Jewels of the Mediterranean.



This was our first time cruising and we were very apprehensive. What a fantastic time we had!



The food was excellent, as was the entertainment in all venues. We had an all inclusive package, we thought it would be local drinks beers, wines and spirits but everything was name branded products.



The staff on bored couldn’t do enough for you. Children’s clubs were excellent our 10 year old boy, used it all the time and we hardly saw him!!



Cabins were small but we did expect it but you only sleep and change in them anyway.



We had such a fantastic time on board we booked again within two days of coming home for the Destiny Colourful Coasts at Easter 2007.



We will let you know when we get back from this cruise if anything changed for better or worse, but you can’t get much better when you give a mark of 10.

Having just returned from a...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Coulourful Coast

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs L Moore

Comments:

Having just returned from a cruise aboard the Destiny, I would like to say that even though I did suffer from seasickness on one of the 7 days that I was on board, it did not detract from the holiday.



The entertainment was superb and the dancers where exceptional, Matthew and Christian gave it everything they’d got. They were even sorting cases on the last day!



The food was excellent and the waiters especially Ramil and Mark were very hardworking and seemed to be on the go all the time.



The cabin was small but adequate I wouldn’t like to have had three trying to share the cabin though.



The stewardess Alyona was brilliant and kept the cabin spotless, origami a speciality with my nightdress and rabbit making out of towels was wonderful.



It was a special birthday cruise for my husband and I know he really enjoyed it.



I agree with other reviewers that the port of Agadir could be dropped for an extra night in one of the other ports, that was the only places that everybody I spoke to hated!

Our cruise on the Thomson...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr A Burton

Comments:

Our cruise on the Thomson Destiny the trip was fantastic the staff are great our house keeper Adrian was wonderful nothing was to much trouble even when he was not feeling well owing to a sour throat. The bar staff are super.



All the rubbish I read on here before we went was not noticeable. But Thomson should keep check on some of the rip off excursions one was the Las Palmas, Gran Canaria trip las Palmas and Bandama crater owing to the Christmas festivities still going on and being a Sunday the tour guide told us the shops where shut.



The cathedral had a service and the museum was shutting almost as soon as we arrived she then went on to tell us about the sand sculptures which we should make an effort to see but didn’t take us there instead drove around and around until the time was up. the trip to Taroudant one and half hours sat in a coach one hour in the Souk and one and a half hours back. I also think it is a total rip off to charge 12 pounds for a cabin safe with no refund on return of the key if you don’t use it nobody can another Thomson rip off.



other than these few niggling bits it was very, very good the ship was super hardly moved even when we were in 55 knots of wind and unable to land in Lanzarote as the port was closed all-in all a good trip.

Where do I start?

Overall Rating:

3/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2006

Tour Operator:

Cruisedeals.com

Submitted By:

HW John

Comments:

Where do I start?



Upon arrival at Tenerife, everything seemed fine. The staff friendly and ship looked beautiful.



All was not what it seemed though, the food on the lido buffet was cold all the time, my partner came down with a virus only 1 day into the cruise due to poor hygiene, passengers weren’t sanitising their hands when asked...the list could go on forever.



This ship is old, and in fact is very unstable in the slightest sea swell. The vibrations are terrible in the Oklahoma lounge and also the casino.



Thomsons used to offer fantastic cruises; they were a delight to travel with, however now this ship is a total shame to them and also the way it is run is appalling.



You may wonder why I have a reason to complain, well 31 cruises in a little over 10 years makes you see the light to every operator, the before and after effects as times change.



Another nail in the coffin was the fact we couldn’t dock at Arrecife due to the rough seas and had to make our way back to Tenerife where we arrived the night before disembarkation.



The menu is ok if you want beef and pork EVERY NIGHT!! Only twice in the week did we get a chicken dish. The best meal of the week was the British pub afternoon meal in the clipper lounge, to which everyone agreed on that.



The shows were very amateur, dancers with no idea how to dance properly. It was enough to make you laugh.



The activities in the day were very limited apart from the last night where you got a decent meal and a decent game show.



Now as I got back yesterday, I've looked at my credit card statement and they have charged me for an excursion that we didn’t go on as we didn’t dock in Lanzarote which they said would be refunded! I’m furious! And as they took my bill when I went to clarify it at reception, they apparently 'threw it away' when I wanted it back.



Sadly it was my partner’s first cruise, and due to this experience she also wanted it to be her last.



I read the reviews of the ship before coming on and kept an open mind about things on it, if I knew then what I know now, I'd have never bothered booking for it.



So people, if you are planning to take a trip on this boat for a special occasion or first cruise, take my advice and steer clear, as it won’t just be the sea that makes it rocky.



Total money wasted with you Thomson! You’ve just lost yet another valued customer who's put a lot of business in your pocket over the last few years. Get your act together and start pleasing your customers. Shame on you!

I feel I must write this review...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Idyllic Iberia Cruise

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Sky Travel

Submitted By:

mistymax

Comments:

I feel I must write this review after just reading one from a man I won't name, who went on the canaries cruise Dec o6.



I did in fact try to rate my holiday back in August but the Thomson site wouldn't upload it.



Myself my mother, my son and his mate (14 years old both of them) went on the best holiday we have ever had. A cruise and stay with Thomson’s. A week cruising round the med, and a week holiday in Majorca (Calla Millor) afterwards.



We found that from getting on the Thomson Destiny to getting off, the staff couldn't do enough for us!! We had inside cabins that were spotless and everything worked (we here horror stories from other cruise lines). The man I referred to earlier, said that the carpets were dirty! When we were onboard this ship, the cleaners shampooed every day, sometimes twice we saw them and we never saw dirty carpets!



We always saw people using the sanitation facilities near the cafes. And every show we went to see, which was virtually all of them, was amazing! I don't know what this guy is "in to" but it's not show's! There were no out of tune singers on stage nor were there costumes tatty and full of holes. All the staff we saw always greeted us, politely.



And to make the holiday the weather was very good for the whole cruise. The ship as I say was spotless and there was never dirty plates left on tables, as the waiters cleared them away as soon as you had finished. No one walked about with bare feet.



The whole holiday was fantastic and we are hoping to cruise on the Thompson destiny again this year. My hat goes off to all the staff because they work very hard the whole time they are on board the vessel. Some times 10 months at a time! Worth thinking about? I have recommended this cruise to a lot of people and I would not have done so if it was in a state like the man said it was. And we never even felt the motion of the boat on floor 2! Big bonus.



A really big thank you to all onboard as they really made our holiday a good one!

We have just returned from the...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Destiny Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

 W Watson

Comments:

We have just returned from the New Year 2007 cruise to the Canaries on the Thompson Destiny.



New Years Eve in Funchal was quite wonderful and never to be forgotten. I've just seen reported that the Funchal new years fireworks are rated the finest in the world.



This was our first experience of Thompson Cruises, having done several other similarly priced cruises with Island Cruises in the Mediterranean.



We found the food served in the Seven Seas restaurant to be superb and a good standard of service, as well as entertaining waiters.



At all eating area entry points there were sanitizers provided for hand cleansing, however unfortunately the majority of passengers using the Lido Cafe, chose to completely ignore them!



We found the entertainment to be very disappointing particularly in the show lounge. It's very obvious that they haven't done much of this type of entertainment and there wasn't one good singer amongst them.



The shows were so amateurish compared to all other cruise shows that we have seen! Oh and could someone please have a whip round to buy the dancing girls some new tights as those currently worn have holes that a football could go through!



The show had a guest comedian, George King, who had some good stuff for his 'clean' act but we understand he was crude in his late show. On the subject of cleanliness in the hygiene sense, he was seen walking around the Lido Cafe during mealtimes in his bare feet! Thompson's - what are you thinking of to condone this behaviour.



The cabins were extremely small, but well maintained. We did note that the cabin was well served with coat hangers, which was a plus.



Throughout the ship, carpets were highly stained, particularly the grey coloured. We did use the stained areas to assist navigation during the first few days in fact! I can't imagine how the stains have arisen but the carpets are unsightly in many areas.



The Clipper Bar was the best area, with bar staff Victor, Joshua and Uri good ambassadors for the ship. In other areas we noted that a lot of the waiters etc to be dull and abrupt at times.



Some of the ports of call were slightly limited, and why oh why do they include Agadir of all places. Having read previous reviews, we didn't disembark there and later found those that did were very disappointed with taxi drivers taking them wherever they chose.



Funchal however was excellent,- we took the cable car to the top at Monte, however the toboggans weren't running on new years day and we had to cancel the planned downward trip.



Poor marks for the crew emergency services.



Will definitely return to Madeira on a cruise but not with Thompson Destiny, until they recognise they need a professional entertainments team and not a set of amateurs learning the trade.



Bill and Sandra

Like other passengers on the...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Destiny Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Ms D Jackson

Comments:

Like other passengers on the Colourful Coasts Cruise in October 2006, we were very disappointed.



My husband and I consider ourselves seasoned cruisers, and thought that this time we would take our parents away for a treat.



What a treat, travelling with one 84 and one 89 year old, was always going to be a challenge, but the toilet problems on Destiny turned our trip into a disaster. And the response of the Reception Staff was downright rude.



Passengers asked for a complaint form, only to be told that Thomson didn't have any complaint forms because they didn't receive any complaints! It wasn't until there was a near mutiny on board that the Captain realized that he had better do something to placate the passengers.



The small size of the cabins and lack of cabin space, amenities (we had tea-making facilities and a fridge in our cabin on our last cruise, and it didn't cost as much!) and lack of sound proofing was also disappointing.



We could hear our next door neighbours talking late into the night, as if they were in the room with us.



Entertainment on board was poor, we were refused coffee service in Blake's Bar, but told we could buy more expensive liqueur coffees, shore excursions were disappointing and not many were suitable for our parents.



The arrangements for leaving the ship were made to suit the crew not the passengers.



Having to leave luggage outside cabins the night before leaving, when we weren't due to disembark until 6pm the following day, meant we would be without our luggage for about 18 hours, what a joke.



We booked a 'day cabin' at an additional cost, so that our parents would have somewhere to refresh themselves during the final day aboard, only the find the toilets didn't work!



I could go on and on, needless to say we shall not travelling with Thomson ever again.

Just returned after spending a...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Destiny Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

missjasmine

Comments:

Just returned after spending a two week Christmas and the New Year break on the Thomson Destiny.



We have been on the ship once before and have seen some huge improvements one being the addition of Blakes Bar, which offers more seating in a contemporary and comfortable setting.



The pizza bar area now offers extra foods such as stir fry's, ribs, curry's, chilli's etc. hot dogs burgers, salads and desserts. I think that this is a great improvement.



The show team - you could tell that they have not worked together long as a team however, they were working really hard to fine tune the shows which we enjoyed.



Met some wonderful people.



The ship is kept very clean with hand sanitation gel at all entrances to food areas, which was nice to see.



One fault was that passengers boarded the ship at Tenerife, Madeira, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria meaning that there was life boat drills four times in one week.



I would recommend this itinerary for Madeira on New Years Eve was spectacular.



The food in the Seven Seas restaurant was excellent and the service was great. The wine waiters were so efficient. The waiters work so hard and after they finish serving you on certain nights of the cruise they entertain you with singing and dancing It really brings a smile to your face.



The last time we went on this ship, we booked the grand suite which is roomy and you have a balcony however you don't realise until you are sitting on the balcony that you have no privacy whatsoever.



We booked the best cabin that was available, because we booked in July and that was on deck 4 mid ship outside. They are small cabins but we found that it was more stable than the suite at the front of the ship and suited us just fine. A big bonus as well, we will save a fortune in future booking this grade of cabin.



We did find that the ship was very rocky and for the first time ever after 18 cruises, we had to have sea sickness tablets.



There are loads of excursions to choose from and lots to do on the ship. We really enjoyed this holiday.

When on the Destiny, we found it...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Itinerary:

Mediterranean

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr R Haydock

Comments:

When on the Destiny, we found it to be looking a little tired in places, but the food and entertainment were of a reasonable standard.



There was little space on board, especially during days at sea. Certainly not as spacious as the Ocean Village. The cabins were about two thirds the size of Ocean Village, and as a result, quite cramped.



The most disturbing part of our cruise was when I handed in to reception on board the Destiny, a gold watch, which I found in my cabin safe. I have tried several times, to satisfy myself that the watch has been returned to it's rightful owner.

My boyfriend and I have just...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2006

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

jojo41

Comments:

My boyfriend and I have just returned from a cruise at Christmas on the Destiny and had a fantastic time.



We will definitely be making Christmas cruising a regular occurrence from now on.



Food and Restaurant 8/10

There was a little bit of confusion at the start of the trip because we hadn't been given a table sitting in the restaurant. So for the first few nights we were placed on different tables, much to the amusement of the diners on each table we were sent to.



This soon worked out and we were placed on a table with some lovely people. The food was excellent, especially on Christmas Eve and the Gala Night. The waiters were all great and the 'performances' that they put on were lovely.



Cabins 7/10

We had an inside cabin for the first time ever. Although we found it quite small initially and very dark at night. When we woke up in the morning we thought it was still the middle of the night. We were quite happy, after all we only use it for getting our heads down and it doesn't matter when you've had a few drinks!



The cabin was kept spotless by our cabin steward Nerico who I praise highly for his hard work.



Entertainment 8/10

An excellent entertainment team on this ship. Very professional at all times of the day and night - where on earth do they get all their energy from!



The Gym 6/10

I was a bit disappointed with the gym. The Spirit has a better gym as it has more equipment and the view is far better. Also some of the equipment was not working.



The Bars 8/10

The Clipper bar was lovely (although very smokey at times!). Blake's bar was okay if you fancied a very quiet drink away from all the chatter and hum drum.



The Itinerary 8/10

All the destinations were good. Madeira was magical at night with all the lights in Funchal twinkling away. I was a bit disappointed that the cable car and the toboggan run were not operating but it was Christmas Day!



Will definitely have to pay Madeira another visit. Also a bit disappointing that we couldn't go alongside in Lanzarote due to high winds.



All in all the cruise was excellent and we are now looking forward to our next trip hopefully on the Celebration in a few months time.



Well done to all the crew on the Destiny for creating such a welcoming atmosphere and for working so hard of course!

Over Christmas, we decided to...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr MJ Harmstone

Comments:

Over Christmas, we decided to take the Colourful coasts cruise around the Canary Islands.



The food was OK, but all the puddings revolved around mousse. The profiteroles had mousse in instead of cream; the chocolate fudge cake had no fudge on, and was basically a chocolate mousse cake and the puddings were very samey.



Food - 5/10



The destinations varied with Scorching Sunshine in Morocco, Tenerife and Gran Canaria; and gale force winds in Lanzarote, so much so, we couldn't dock there. Madeira at night looked stunning from the Sky Bar, and it was a massive treat to spend Christmas there.



Destinations - 7/10



Our steward, Alexandra, was one of the most hard-working people I have ever met. Our wine waiter, Jayson, had a never-ending bottle of wine, and our waiter, Alfred, was pleasant enough.



The entertainment staff were out of this world, always keeping the children entertained. There was not one member of staff we could find fault in, and they made the holiday enjoyable.



Staff - 9/10

Having just returned from 7...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Nov 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs L Gray

Comments:

Having just returned from 7 night cruise - Colourful Coasts, I can't find anything to complain about.



This was for me a fantastic introduction to cruising although the destinations were not that interesting. Every single member of staff on board Thomson Destiny are an absolute credit to themselves.



The whole experience went without incident, food was fantastic and service exceptional. I would recommend this holiday to anyone considering it however I don’t think I would recommend for young children, I wouldn't take my own children.



Yes, the cabins are small but not disappointing. It amazed me to see the staff working so hard all day every day. What a pleasant and enjoyable experience and by far the best holiday I have ever had.

Just returned from an excellent...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Nov 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S Young

Comments:

Just returned from an excellent holiday-the staff could not do enough for us. We were delighted with the standard of cleanliness, food and entertainment. Sue Denning, the cruise Director was the public face of the ship and did a very good job.



The excursions that we took were good value for money and well organised.



Everything was thought of throughout our holiday, we felt safe, cared for and knew that the staff wanted us to have a good time. We loved our quiet afternoons in Blake's, the evening shows with exceptional dancers and singers.



The relaxed group of 5 in the Oklahoma lounge, they could strum a good tune, followed by a dander up to the Skybar to look at the evening lights of whatever port we were moored at.



Every morning was a sunrise to capture, with a new view and a different shore to explore. We loved every minute and have returned home relaxed and refreshed. We can't wait to go again.

Had a good trip, Sue Denning and...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coast

Date of Holiday:

Nov 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs E Jones

Comments:

Had a good trip, Sue Denning and her team did a great job entertaining. No complaints but did expect the cabins to be a little bigger.



Nona who was our cabin housekeeper did a very good job everyday with a smile!

I could have spent another week no problem as we were a party of four and we all enjoyed the game shows, it was all good fun.



The chef's also were very good and put on a lovely buffet, c’est magnifique.



Good luck to all the management and staff.