Reviews of Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship, Thomson Celebration, Thomson Cruises

We have just returned from our...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

0

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs J Trigg

Comments:

We have just returned from our first ever cruise- a treat to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary- and what a great time we have had.



All the staff and crew members were constantly cheerful and friendly, the ship itself was very clean and well maintained.



With reference to an earlier review regarding an outbreak of gastro enteritis, on our cruise the crew could not have done any more to try to prevent an outbreak- we were asked to use the hand sanitizer every time we entered the dining rooms and also on returning to the ship after a visit ashore, along we reminders to wash hands after toilet visits etc. (common sense really!).



Our cabin was an outside cabin on deck C, the lowest deck but this was not a problem, we did experience the waves covering the porthole when we had slightly rough seas but this just added to the fun!



Our cabin was kept immaculate by our cabin steward who visited twice daily-once in the morning and once in the evening to turn down the bed covers etc.



The itinerary was good, unfortunately the weather was not too kind to us, apart from glorious sunshine at our 1st port of call, Flam, it was grey, overcast and rainy, but this didn't detract from our enjoyment. Our Captain, Geir Larson, was excellent, constantly keeping us informed of the places we were visiting and any other points of interest along the way. He also has a great, dry, sense of humour.



The on board entertainment was brilliant, there if you wanted it, but plenty of quiet areas, Explorers Lounge, card and games room, reading room if you just wanted peace and quiet.



The music provided attempted to cover all tastes from classical in the explorers lounge to show band in Liberties playing hits past and present to the absolutely excellent shows put on in the Broadway show lounge by the show-team. These were outstanding. Their enthusiasm and energy knows no bounds.



After seeing the shows we would retire for a nightcap in the aptly named Horizons bar right at the top of the ship on deck 9. This bar has windows all along 3 sides giving a great view. As we went in here most nights we built up a great rapport with the bar staff who were both attentive and entertaining.



As this was our 1st cruise we were a little apprehensive that it would be a little too "posh" but we were pleased to find that although there were ample times to get dressed up in our finery it was quite relaxed and we never felt out of our depth.



We thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this cruise- it definitely won't be our last.

I have just returned from a...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Fjordland Splendor

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Not Specified

Submitted By:

Ms D Hackney

Comments:

I have just returned from a weeks cruising in the fjords. I traveled with my mother-in-law who is not so mobile and uses a wheelchair to get about. We had booked one of the adapted cabins for disabled passengers, these are situated right under the bridge, with fantastic forward views through large windows.



The cabin suited our needs entirely, my Mother-in-law can walk with the aid of sticks, and found all the amenities in the cabin excellent. There is a fair slope up to the bathroom to allow access, and no "threshold" between bathroom, which is basically a wet room, and cabin. So beware if you have a long shower in a wavy sea as it can overflow.



All the Philipino staff are genuinely kind and helpful above and beyond the expected. The "no need to tip" policy of Thompson’s made us feel that all the help we received came naturally from such hospitable people. The stewards, waiters, maitradee, even passing engineers all went out of there way to help.



A senior team member was quite concerned that we might have been offended by the fact that some of the trips ashore when not open to wheelchair users as they were tender trips. My mother in was not concerned as she found the beautiful scenery and super entertainment ensured she had a marvelous holiday experience. Some other wheelchair users may feel that cruise ship in general might find an imaginative solution to disabled passengers getting ashore.



The food was of a good standard, the onboard entertainment kept us busy, with evergreen's restfully evening light classical performances a highlight.



The weather was great, and nothing beats sailing away from a stop over. Down a stunning fjord, sitting on the lido deck with some rousing music playing away.

We have just returned from the...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

Full Board

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mr A P Gaylard

Comments:

We have just returned from the "Springtime Splendours" cruise. This was our first cruise and it was, overall, very enjoyable. We booked less than two weeks before sailing and got a pretty good deal. We did not take the AI drinks package, as it was being offered at £170 each and we don’t really drink to that degree! The only downside to the late booking was that we could not specify a cabin and ended up with a twin inside cabin on Deck 1 (C-Deck) at the bottom of the ship. At least we were well forward and missed the engine noise that aft cabins seem to suffer from on decks 1-3. However, you do pick up quite a bit of “sea noise” in this location (wave slap and the background rushing of the water over the hull). The cabin fittings tended to creak quite a bit when the sea state got to “moderate”. The room was of a reasonable size with a good amount of storage and the en-suite was adequate; the fittings were a little tired and the towels grey. Overall the cabin was quite comfortable, restful and we slept pretty well.



Perhaps because it’s an older ship, it suffers from a fair degree of mechanical vibration, particularly aft. Having heard the level of engine noise at sea I would avoid decks 1-3 aft. It did also pitch and roll a bit when on a “moderate” sea. However, neither of us suffered from sea sickness.



The ship, and room, was very clean. The previous cruise had, we were told, a small D&V outbreak. The ship was apparently fumigated at the start of the cruise in Tenerife. Apparently this meant a late embarkation for those who did the complete cruise, but we joined the next day in Gran Canaria. Alco-gel washing stations were manned at all entry points into food service areas and at the gangway. These reassuring countermeasures seemed to do the trick. Cleaning of handles and rails was also much in evidence.



Service was excellent. Particularly the cabin stewards (cabin cleaned whilst we were at breakfast and the bedding “turned down” in the afternoon) and food service staff. In this respect, using hotels as a benchmark, I would say it was more five-star than three-star. The food in the Lido (self-service) and Meridian (waiter service) was, on the whole, excellent. A few dodgy dishes were served (tasteless soup, tasteless and gelatinous deserts, and mundane salads) but these were the exception.



The a la carte restaurant, Mistral’s (£15/head charge), was very good on the night we went. The food is several notches up from the other options. However, I would have liked to see better wine by the glass options, not always wanting to drink much but enjoying a glass or two with a meal. The reds weren’t bad, the sparkling prosecco was OK, but the rose and white were insipid. These went under the brand name “piccolino” and had are allegedly exclusive to Thompson, so you shouldn’t have them inflicted on you elsewhere. It baffles me how you could actually go out of your way to pick this stuff. Perhaps it’s wine for people who don’t really like the taste of wine, or it’s just done on cost? I was also a shame that the bar did not offer a desert wine, even in Mistral’s. However, some very drinkable well-priced wines are served if you buy by the bottle.



The breakfast service was also very good. A choice of waiter served or buffet breakfasts were available. The buffet runs until a very civilized 1130am. The variety and standard of the food was on a par with four-star hotels that I have stayed in.



When you add in Lunch (buffet or waiter served), afternoon food services at the Lido Grill (Soup, Sandwich & Pasta, Pizza, Burgers), Afternoon Tea, Dinner (Buffet, waiter served and a la carte) and late night buffet there was something available over the full 24 hours.



Of the available entertainment, we really enjoyed the “Evergreen Trio” (light classical and classical versions of show, rock and pop tunes) who played mostly in the “Explorer’s Lounge” and SP3 (Jazz vocalist plus piano) in “Horizons”. The rest of the entertainment was not really our thing, but that's a very personal preference. The (loud) on deck quizzes and activities were a bit holiday camp at sea, but many of the passengers seemed to enjoy them (Chacun à son goût.) The ship also has some quieter areas (lounges, library, games room), if you just fancy a quiet read as I do on holiday.



Our itinerary was good. It provided a mix of quiet and interesting and lively.



We didn’t see much of Gran Canaria as we joined the ship in the evening. We arrived on Sunday at Santa Cruz (La Palma), so it was quite quiet. It is, nevertheless, an Interesting and attractive Canarian town.



We arrived at Maderiaon the May Day bank holiday. However, there were still things to see. We did the cable car ride, which gives panoramic views of the town.



I thought that Cadiz was, perhaps, the weakest location on the trip. However, the town does have an atmospheric old quarter. We also ate some good tapas in a small bar near the theatre. On the whole though the place seems a bit shabby, particularly along the seafront.



Lisbon is a vibrant and fascinating city, providing lots of shopping and other sights. We would definitely fancy this for a “city break”. The port is a little way from town and we caught a taxi (15 Euro for two) as the shuttle busses organized by Thompson (£3 each, return) were oversubscribed on the way out in the morning.



Vigo (Spain) was much better than I thought it would be. It is an attractive city blending the old with the new. The castle and associated park provide an excellent view of the bay. We also had a terrific seafood lunch at the yacht club. It was very fresh and tasty, at a reasonable price. A nice setting to, we sat in the sun watching the yachts come and go. I think that I will be visiting Vigo again.



Visiting Cherbourg was the result of a late alteration, as the weather did not suit docking in Guernsey. However, Thompson laid on a free bus to a local flea market (fascinating glimpse into the local way of life) and town. The ship docked very close to the old town anyway making access easy. Being Sunday it was only the Restaurants, Cafes, Patisseries and Boulangeries that were open (not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning!). There is also a museum at the port with a decommissioned French submarine on display. Well worth a look.



Finally, we disembarked in Southampton. The coach transfers back to the airports that we had, in the main started from, were very good once we got going. We had a comfortable transfer back to Gatwick. However, the process of getting people on to the right coaches was a shambles. We left over an hour late, even though hour baggage had been taken off the boat overnight and there was no customs or passport checks that I could see. The problem seemed to be people not knowing where they should be (Odd as we had pre-booked seats on a coach with a specific ID. We had the info from the coach company before we left. I also checked with reception the night before, and they had our names against a specific coach. Finally Thompson put a confirmation letter in our cabin). Our coach waited for five no-shows for an hour.



The weather was not great, but we had some sun.



I did have some other gripes: it took 3 days and some nagging to get our TV up and running; the emergency alarm went off twice; given its potential importance the emergency alarm was not really loud enough in our cabin (it sounded more like a wake-up call in another cabin); conversely announcements for entertainment were too loud, frequent and intrusive.



However, all told, the experience was pretty good value for money. There was something available to suit most tastes. It was a good introduction to a cruising holiday. Next time I would probably go a bit more up market and hope to avoid the holiday camp feel of some of the aspects of this particular product.

We have just returned from our...

Overall Rating:

5/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

MyTravel

Submitted By:

Ms M Smith

Comments:

We have just returned from our first ever cruise with very mixed feelings. The cruise was marred by an outbreak of gastro enteritis. My partner was visited by the medical team onboard and given injections and pills twice. The crew on board did everything to play down the true amount that had been affected by this.



We then had to leave the ship earlier than we should have for the crew to sterilize the ship. We were taken to a very plush hotel to spend eight hours before being bussed to the airport. My partner was in no fit state to be left in a hotel foyer whilst suffering from this condition. We also upgraded to all inclusive but incurred costs at the hotel which was very expensive.



The entertainment we all thought was more for the more mature the food waiters and cabin staff were second to none though the toilets on a few occasion on the main deck were out of order due to the vacuum system not working. We missed the cocktail party and two days of excursions due to being quarantined in our cabin. I therefore can’t agree with recent views expressed on this site giving 10/10.

Colourful Coasts Depart Friday...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Stewart Wainwright

Comments:

Colourful Coasts Depart Friday 21st April Tenerife.



Food, cabin service, waiter service, entertainment all very good. However holiday ruined by illness caused by onboard virus. Only one of my group affected but whole party confined to cabin for 2 days.



Forced to eat from room service menu which is absolutely diabolical, in terms of choice and quality. It would appear that a significant number of passengers were affected by this virus (at least 20% of our bridge tour group had been affected). This illness was potentially severe enough to make several pass out with dehydration. This was also not the first week which had been affected.



The situation was such that the entire ship was evacuated of passengers to allow for a complete sterilization (Friday 28th April). This evacuation was also very badly organised and of such of a poor standard that seriously impaired the quality of the holiday. However on a positive side it could have been an excellent holiday had Thomson eradicated this problem earlier. Any one considering booking should confirm that the illness has been eradicated.

I've just got back from my first...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss J Alger

Comments:

I've just got back from my first ever cruise and can tell you now that it won't have been my last! It was an excellent way of holidaying and I can't wait to do it again!



The highlight of my holiday was the entertainment team (Nick, Nick, Rob, Kristy, Daniela, Laura, brain, Alanja and a few others). They were outstanding. They would do a show in the evening that you would have paid good money to see, then have half an hours rest and then repeat the same show again every night! They must have been shattered! Not only that, but they were so friendly and if they just said hello to you, you felt like a famous movie star had just greeted you! I was very worried that I would feel sea sick as I usually do, but it's so easy to put your mind off it on this boat, and most of the travelling is at night when you're asleep.



Our cruise director 'Richard' was amazing. He organised all of our entertainment and did it with a smile. The food was out of this world! With a 24 hour buffet, and a restaurant that offered 6 course meals every night! I can't even begin to describe how friendly the staff were, I would especially like to thank a waiter named 'JM' and a wine waitress name 'Joyce' who were so friendly and even remembered our names! All of the staff were from the Philippines which gives the boat an authentic touch.



Everyone thought that the excursion prices were too high, but considering you got transport, an activity and guide and often a ticket in to the place you are going I thought it was very good. The cabins felt like hotel rooms instead of boat cabins. It really was the little things that made this holiday brilliant and I can't wait to go on it again! Well done everyone involved in Thomson Celebration!

I have just returned from a one...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S Edwards

Comments:

I have just returned from a one week Easter break of the Colourful Coasts on the Thomson Celebration. What can I say - all in all the cruise was superb. Entertainment terrific.



Richard Sykes is an amazing Cruise Director, very multi-talented. All the entertainment staff were excellent too. I loved Liberties even if the same music was played at the disco every night, in the same order, I'm sure!



The cabin was spotless, the cabin steward - Ifan on deck 3 - was charming, I don't know how on earth he coped maintaining 17 cabins morning and night.



I only have two faults - one is the half stone weight gain and the other is the man who snored like a pneumatic drill in the cabin next to me. Sleep was out of the question!

We took the above named cruise...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

Jilly43

Comments:

We took the above named cruise in the last week of March, 2006. We have cruised before but not with this company.



The weather was very good, food, entertainment and friendliness of the staff could not be faulted in our opinion. Good value for money. Morocco 4x4 Excursion not value for money, at £46. each, the vehicle holds seven people, make sure you suggest people swap seats at stops, as the back seats are very uncomfortable. A long drive before the off road bit through what was really a very large building site, no pretty Berber villages as was mentioned. Our driver didn’t speak a word of English, not good as we were in the vehicle for 8 hours, but it is an experience, better than being hassled in the Souks.



HOWEVER, sadly the Holiday was spoiled by one feature, and that was our cabin allocation.



When we booked, the holiday price was for cabins on deck 1 or 2. It was suggested it could be noisy, it would be advisable to 'upgrade' to avoid this. We paid a sizeable supplement and ended up on deck 3 Cabin 557, I would strongly advise anyone considering traveling on this ship to avoid any Cabin aft of the ship on decks 1,2 or three especially anywhere near this number (near the engine room), like the plague, the noise was unbearable, sleep was out of the question, the corridor frequently smelt of solvent as it was adjacent to the engine room, there was a service lift opposite our door which was in constant use, by men in overalls.



We complained and were offered a dark and dingy cabin on deck 1, where the air-con was out of order, not acceptable when we had paid for an upgrade.



So my advise to anyone is, go on this cruise you will enjoy it, but be very careful of your cabin choice, the cabin boy told us they have complaints in this corridor on EVERY cruise, but sadly Thomson still put clients along there, a bit greedy maybe as this could certainly be classed as a working service area. One client took his pillow to reception and camped out! Maybe we would have got results had we resorted to this extreme action.



Happy Cruising!!

Thomson cruising is just one of...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

meditteranean

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

loracyelsdod

Comments:

Thomson cruising is just one of the best ways to go. You wake up each morning in a different country and port and sleep the night away gently being lulled in your bed by the superb motion of the ship.



This cruise was the first voyage out for the Celebration and as can happen there were teething problems - we got to Balboa and the toilet systems had not worked properly since leaving the docks in the UK - the cabin loos seemed pretty much ok but the public loos just couldn’t cope with the traffic - so to speak!! Thomson’s were absolutely excellent and the captain outstanding in customer service. We were all taken off the ship and transported to high quality hotels for the night so that the engineers could source the problem and sort everything out. We had a great night in Balboa in a top hotel all expenses paid - was lovely and couldn’t have been better if it had been planned as part of our holiday.



The next day we were taken back to the ship and greeted in fabulous holiday style by the staff singing - dancing - greeting us all as if we were the most important people in the world and they were ecstatic to see us back again.



Off we went and the cruise was wonderful for the next few days - the entertainment is top notch and I would rate it amongst the best there is - Broadway style shows every evening - piano players and quieter musicians in the other bars a fantastic jazz band and then disco through the night till everyone was too tired to continue.



There are bars for every taste from quiet lets have a drink and a chat bars to panoramic view bars with pianists and jazz bands, the show lounge on two floors where you have your captains cocktail party (posh frocks and all), the disco and nightclub for the quizzes, karaoke (stylish of course) and dancing till the early hours.



The food and restaurant service is fab - superb quality and a different choice each night - so much you are never hungry. The lido is open 24hrs a day so you can eat there whenever you feel peckish starting with a very early morning breakfast (if you have been partying all night) and going through to normal breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, tea, dinner and supper - wow make sure you take clothes in different sizes to accommodate your appetite!! :)



Unfortunately we had more problems with the toilet systems on the ship and the cruise was cut short but we were all well and truly compensated and the Captain was excellent as he was putting the health and safety of the passengers before anything else. Thomson certainly did us proud and we came home a week early but having had one weeks fantastic holiday for FREE and receiving a discount off our next cruise with Thomson which we very quickly booked as soon as we got home.



I would say a very big thumbs up to all Thomson cruises and don’t worry what age you are there is something for everyone from the kids club for the little ones through to the older kids who have the swimming pool and arcade zones as well as for the younger adults and older adults who can find something to suit their tastes and mood and then the next generation who can always bob with the rest of us or relax and chill in relaxing surroundings. Definitely not as lots of people think - a holiday for the oldies -



I would give this a 10/10 if we had not had the problems with the toilet facilities but I still give it an 8/10 despite that and would recommend it to anyone.

Having cruised previously on a...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

0

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr AM Chatwin

Comments:

Having cruised previously on a number of occasions with both Carnival and P and O, I was a little concerned that Thomson cruises might not quite live up to previous cruise experiences. Not a bit of it!!! This was a great value for money cruise.



Yes, the ship (Thomson Celebration) is older than most of those used by so the called current market leaders but it has everything I wanted and provides something for everyone. If you want to be quiet and listen to live classical music, you can. If you want live jazz in a pub environment, it is there. If you really do want to play Mr and Mrs or take part in Karaoke, you can.



The service was excellent and the quality of the food exceeded my expectations. It was very good and the choice was far better than I expected. The Mistral restaurant is a "classy joint" and well worth the extra charge at least on a couple of nights. Considering the cost, I could not fault this holiday in any way. It was interesting to speak to many experienced cruisers who now cruise Thomson regularly.



Yes, I too was a bit of a "cruise snob" but I will definitely be cruising Thomson again. Well done to all on Thomson Celebration.

As a student going on holiday...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

Egypt

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss S Zompi

Comments:

As a student going on holiday with my grandparents and mother, I worried about not having much to do on the ship, but once I was there I found it a very enjoyable experience despite the large amount of OAP’s about.



The cinema was good considering it was free, and the 24 hour buffet was great!

I also found the entertainment hosts to be very funny and well...entertaining!

The daily quizzes were fun and the night shows were also very good, especially Moulin Rouge.



I didn’t go on any excursions as they were very expensive. But there was enough going on, onboard the ship and if we wanted to take a walk by ourselves into the nearest town, that was also possible.



Although my granddad had gone to Cairo using a taxi instead of the ship bookings. It cost him £40 instead of the 60 odd quid the ship was charging, but the taxi driver had no clue what he was doing and therefore cost him time, so id watch out for that if anyone’s thinking of going.



The weather was lovely, the entertainment team was great, the food was excellent, and the staff were really friendly.



All in all, it was really good and I’m considering convincing my friends to go on the Thomson Spirit with me this summer.

Well done!

We did the Colourful Coasts...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts, 17-24 february 20

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr A Rance

Comments:

We did the Colourful Coasts cruise 17-24th February. Having done one cruise previously to this (the Italian MSC Armonia in October 2005), it was interesting to compare the two.



The MSC cruise started out from Venice at night with passengers on the upper decks sipping cocktails as we romantically passed the twinkling lights of Venice and the Grand Canal. On the Celebration, a long trail of Brits danced the conga round the sun deck as we left Tenerife, while the band played 'Is This The Way to Amarillo' at full volume - this was to set the scene for the cruise!



The ubiquitous Stephen Guy was our Cruise Director and he takes a 'hands on' approach - you will find him dancing and singing on stage as well as making most of the announcements over the ship's PA - occasionally propping up the bar and even interviewing himself one afternoon on 'so you want to be a cruise ship entertainer'. Stephen is a professional entertainer in every sense, but he seems to have an ego the size of an ocean liner!



The entertainment overall wasn't bad, though there is a bit of a "Carry on Cruising" feel to it. Deck quizzes were often in progress when we returned to the ship each afternoon - unfortunately these were conducted at such a volume that they could probably be heard in Gibraltar! One certain young lady we nicknamed 'Foghorn' throughout the cruise, on account of her particularly strident vocal chords. The quizzes weren't exactly sophisticated, either - "name a type of animal that has four legs, begins with 'd' and ends with 'g'", kind of thing……



We opted for the £99 inclusive drinks package, which is good value if you like a tipple, and saves the hassle of signing chits. The deal includes wine at meals (they are pretty generous at re-filling your glass), and canned soft drinks and nibbles - so you could get a few tins and some Doritos from drinks station in the mornings to take ashore with you. Grab a banana or two from the breakfast bar on the lido deck and you're all set up for the day! Most cocktails are included in the AI package, so you can try them out.



Food was generally good, as was the service in the Meridien restaurant; we liked it that you could usually get a table for two by asking the maitre'd. Don't mind sharing with different fellow cruisers each evening, either. The menu was very varied, ranging from the exotic (Heart of Palm) to war food (corned beef hash and Spotted Dick). You can get something to eat 24hrs a day, so be prepared to put on a few pounds.



We don't usually do the organized trips, as most ports are easy to get around:



La Palma - this is the smallest of the Canary Islands. We didn't do an organized trip here, just walked along the seafront and checked out the Old Town - there is a fair number of shops in the town, but most of them close after 1pm on Saturdays. The old town is quite picturesque, and we came across some pretty cottages up the hill a bit - these aren't mentioned in the tourist guides, but worth a visit. There is also a life-sized replica of the Santa Maria (Christopher Columbus's ship) at the far end of the town, next to the old fort and river.



Gran Canaria - Again, we just walked off the boat round to the promenade and the Tourist Info office where we found out about the city tour on the open top bus. This trip is well worth doing (9 euros I think). Gran Canaria's Las Palmas is the seventh largest city in Spain, and it sprawls for miles. Plenty to see and do, and lots of decent shops.



This was the night of the Captain's Cocktail Party, which we were looking forward to but didn't get to go because we were both seasick. The celebration is quite an old ship, dating from 1984, and pitches around a bit in rough seas (I don't think it has much in the way of stabilizers) - the moral is to take plenty of seasickness pills with you, and take them as soon as the sea gets rough……



Madeira - For us, this was the highlight of the trip. Madeira is a pretty island with lots to see and do. Don’t believe the taxi drivers that queue to meet the boat at the quayside when they tell you its too far to walk to the town - they speak with forked tongues and tell porky pies. It's about a mile (20 mins easy walking distance) from the quay to the town centre, and the walk is quite interesting. We did a sightseeing trip on the open-top bus, then took the obligatory cable car up to Monte.



Had a look round the church then did the toboggan run down the hill. This is a bit of a let-down as it costs 25 euros for two and isn't exactly a white knuckle ride (unless you’re an average Madeiran tourist, in which case it'll probably set your pacemaker racing!). The Cresta Run it isn't. Unless you feel you really must do the toboggan ride, you are better off getting a round trip on the cable car and watching the toboggan activity from the hill. Also at the end of the toboggan run we were met by more taxi drivers telling us it was a 2km walk to the nearest bus stop (it isn’t - its about 100 yards) and too far to walk down (I doubt it). The ticket you bought for the open top bus tour is valid for the yellow (local) buses too!



Agadir - didn't much enjoy the day at sea en route from Madeira (there isn't really much of interest to do on board, unless Bingo and Arthritis seminars float your boat. There was even a napkin-folding seminar (I kid you not!). We were cautious about visiting Agadir having read some of the horror stories, but I can confirm that this port presents no particular threat as long as you use common sense. This isn't a port where you can easily go it alone - the town is some 5km from the dock and there are no buses or taxis as far as we could see. So we elected to go on the organized horse riding trip, with a visit to the Souk and Kasbah (fort) included. The horse riding was great fun for a novice like me, no problems keeping up - my old nag was on remote control and knew where he was going, even managing to munch at a few tree barks on the way!



You don't get much instruction, but the horses seemed to be well looked after and it seemed much more fun than the (alternative) camel train. The Souk was interesting - we got a little bit of hassle to buy things, but it was friendly and fun. The trip to the Kasbah isn't a big deal, just a ride up the hill to the old fortifications (most of which were destroyed in the earthquake here in 1960, in which 20,000 people died). But you get a great view of Agadir and the distant Atlas Mountains. A trip well worth doing.



Lanzarote - Not much of interest here, although I understand the interior of the island has some interesting scenery. We just looked around the castle and explored the shops. The tourist brochures extol the picturesque virtues of the harbour and its surrounding 'fisherman’s' cottages - we could only see modern townhouses and duplex apartments. Quaint it ain't.



Tenerife - We did the organized tour to Mount Teide, which was very enjoyable and is recommended. You ascend by coach up to 6000 feet, passing through a thin layer of cloud on the way, which is a strange experience. The bus took us through the Mt Teide national park, past some pretty strange rock formations (Planet of the Apes was filmed here), and we stopped for coffee at a small café with a good view of the mountain. Then plenty of stops and time for walking around and exploring this amazing place.



Our flights were OK, transfers and baggage handling were efficiently conducted, and no problems with any of the paperwork.



In conclusion there is no doubt that, for similar money, the Armonia is a classier ship, with a nicer dining experience and calls at better destinations (Venice - Dubrovnik, Santorini, Athens). If you have done a Thomson cruise you will find something like the Armonia a step up. But the Celebration has a great friendly atmosphere and you will doubtless have a fun time. Colourful Coasts is a top value for money cruise.

Well, we've been home now for...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr G C Smith

Comments:

Well, we've been home now for 24hrs and I can't believe how great our first cruise was.



Our cabin was 855 (deck one, outside) and was as roomy as many hotels are, spotless clean.



The restaurants were spacious, clean, and the service was excellent. The food was perfect, with a wide choice of dishes available and the menu changed daily.



We paid for the drinks package (£99) and although the prices aren't any dearer than at home, we were glad we did as we tried every cocktail available!



The choice of dining, entertainment and bars was as good as any ship afloat.

Our Ports of call were all different, but Morocco was the most enjoyable as we took the Souk and Medina trip and to visit the Souk with all the bartering and haggling was an experience not to miss.



The staff on board couldn’t do enough to make our holiday special.

Well done Thomson! This wont be our last cruise with you!

We took our first cruise Sept 04...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

carmen

Comments:

We took our first cruise Sept 04 for our 40th anniversary on Thomson spirit round the med and pre-booked deluxe cabin on deck 8 but could not wait to go again.



It was fantastic, my sister and husband wanted a cruise so we told them about Thomson, they booked for Dec 10th 05 on celebration and could not believe the standard of every aspect of the cruise.



My husband and I booked a last minute cruise on Jan 13th 06 but this time we had a cabin on deck 3 ( not much difference in cabins only used cabin for sleeping in) unknown to us my sister and hubby surprised us and booked again for same cruise they went on in Dec.



With the help of Thomson they kept it a secret until we were on board then sprang the surprise on us, and they like us can not wait to go on our next cruise with Thomson for the 5 star treatment, it is better than a hotel as you wake up in a different place each day , it is the only holiday we have been on when you do not hear people moaning and complaining (there is nothing to complain about) here’s to our next cruise with Thomson.

Just been on the Thomson...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Colourful Coasts Cruise

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

ALXCAZ

Comments:

Just been on the Thomson celebration colourful coasts cruise. And had a fantastic time, even with the weather being cloudy, and a force nine Gail on are day at sea. The crew are so friendly, and the entertainment team were great. Did the camel ride in morocco, which was fun, and then went to a souk (market), which was all right as they were dead friendly and did not hassle us like we thought they would. In Madeira we went up in the cable car and came down in the sledges that was greaaaaaatttttt. We did a deal in la Palma with a taxi driver 60 euros for a 2 hour tour which split between 4 was only 15 euros each and the trip from the boat was 28 each. We went up inside the volcano. The only fault I could find was the price off the photos on the boat which were nearly 13 pounds each and they take loads. We bought 3 on the camels for 6 euros. Would recommend a Thomson cruise to anyone.