Reviews of Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship, Thomson Spirit, Thomson Cruises

Having read the review for the...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

mediterranean renaissance

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr A Bradley

Comments:

Having read the review for the same month I think we must have been on different ships, I do agree with lack of sunbeds on day at sea(Saturday) but any other day there was plenty of sunbeds to go around, your cabin staff do give you your towels for the sun beds and yes you must return them at the end of your cruise but we believe that is because too many were being stolen and I don’t see a problem with this, you can get them changed at any time by asking your cabin steward.



The Lido restaurant was self service but this was stopped for health reasons which was explained in the cruise news and I for one would rather this than end up ill. As for the comedian who I take it was welsh, I found him very funny and not smutty at all and I spoke to other people who had families with them and they had no complaints they also found him to be very funny. I agree that entertainment was not as good as last year but still thought it was very well done. We had a first class holiday, staff and their service was excellent as always.



Finally one major moan, when o when are Thomson’s going to look into the shuddering when ship is in port and sailing as a lot of people were making comment about how serious this is.



We believe that the ship is going into dry dock in the winter just hope that this gets sorted.

Our first cruise with Thomson...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Itinerary:

Jewels of the Med

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

johnboy59

Comments:

Our first cruise with Thomson having previously cruised with Air Tours on the Sunbird this was so much better.



The cabin was cozy but always immaculately clean. The food and service was first class and we enjoyed the totally flexible meal times and non-fixed tables. The whole experience was superb. My only gripes: we paid for flight meals but never got them (fully refunded) and the embarkation procedure was awful. We queued for over an hour in the heat.



They really need to streamline this as it is not a good start to the holiday very minor and, well the fact that we have booked a Thomson cruise again for 2006 says it all fantastic. Do it!

We just got back from the ship...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr D Osborne

Comments:

We just got back from the ship and my advice is to stay away the ship has the sickness and diarrhoea virus, the smell of vomit as we were leaving the ship was revolting. New rules all guest must wash their hand with antibacterial swabs, no helping yourself to extra portions.



In the lido the food is served like school dinners (not a self service buffet as advertised.)The food remains high quality in the Compass restaurant, that’s if you don’t mind sitting next to strangers which in our case were Russian, as was many of the guest. Cloth napkins, have been replaced with paper and tea mugs are now plastic.



We have sailed on this ship on several occasions and the entertainment was second to none, but this week must have been amateur week there was no harmony and choreography was poor, we found the comedian crude telling smutty jokes to and audience of mixed ages including young children. On the days at sea there are not sufficient sun beds .New rules two orange towels are given to you in your room, these are for the sun beds (if you can get one). However should you fail to return your towels at the end of the week you will be charged 10 pounds for each towel that gets removed from your sun bed (you have been warned).



The Jacuzzi was over run by Russian people and their children, whilst this is ok the people did not realise that the rules advice about drinking and health warnings including dropping glasses into the tub. All the rules are in English. The spirit is now an old lady of the sea and always was a ship of class but has become a cost saving exercise for Thomson such a shame.

My husband and I spent our...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

0

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr A Holder-Twomlow

Comments:

My husband and I spent our honeymoon cruise aboard the Spirit, and what a fantastic way to spend a week! The crew were fabulous, the food outstanding and the entertainment, out of this world!



Thanks to all the entertainment staff in the Broadway Show lounge, especially Daniel, who has a great voice. Guys, your shows were the best!



Special mentions to Elvis Parsley in the Compass Rose restaurant, he's great entertainment, and Nadia in the Lido Bar, great girl, she was always smiling.



Also special thanks to Sue Stewart (Front Office Manager), she couldn't be more helpful if she tried, and to Roxy. These two ladies made our honeymoon magical for us. I can't forget a mention for Bob McGowan, the cruise director, what a great guy and given the hours he works, always happy and smiling.



All in all the Thomson Spirit is a happy, lively and friendly ship. I would recommend her to anyone who fancies trying a cruise, you won't be disappointed.

From stepping off the plane at...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Idyllic Iberia

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr Mike Gear

Comments:

From stepping off the plane at Palma everything went like clock work. The former Gurkhas, yes that's right ex-Gurkhas dealt with the security on board (you're safe with those boys).



We found the crew to be extremely polite and courteous throughout the holiday and the Bar staff were not to pushy with the drinks. The waiters - what a bunch of wonderful lads, very talented they contributed a great deal towards making the cruise very enjoyable and made you feel very special.



As for the Captain and his team they were very informative (recommend the Tour of the Bridge) The Entertainment first class. Only down fall were the trips not worth the cost. I.e. Lisbon High Lights trip took us to places of interest that were closed - were informed always shut on a Monday but not told this when we booked the trip. My advice, take local tour bus instead.



Overall a very enjoyable holiday! Well done Thomson.

First cruise. Husband not keen...

Overall Rating:

0/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship Red Sea

Date of Holiday:

May 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

silvasands

Comments:

First cruise. Husband not keen to cruise but managed a last minute bargain and took our younger children with us 19 (f) and 23 (M)! Four berth cabin was ok but our family do get on very well, I’m relieved to say. Amazing what students will put up with for a free holiday.



Due to us forking out for the `kids'. We were worried about having to pay for all the trips so we used the internet to book them.



Petra trip was booked with Jordan Tours and yes Sami was there on time at the port entrance with a card with our name on, as promised. Great trip and also took us to Wadi Rum, horses at Petra and meal. Lives at Petra and took us to interesting parts of the city. Great guy!



Cairo and Luxor trips were booked with Memphis Tours. Great again. On time and minibus for the 4 of us. Private guides around Pyramids and museum and City of Dead. Willing to go where you wish to go...not carpet factory etc! Boat trip on Nile included as were meals. They do have problems being allowed on portside but you can get off the ship and ask the guys who are organising the Thompson trips to phone the port gate and allow them access so they can pick you up while the 20 odd coaches are packing everyone else on. Petra for 4 was around £185, Cairo and Luxor were far cheaper than Thompson too.



negotiate the price and it’s possible to get a few quotes off the internet but I can vouch for the 2 companies I have mentioned. They are reliable and courteous. We paid cash when we were there, though I did send a credit card deposit to Memphis Tours. but had it returned later as I paid in cash when I met up with them and they refunded my card so I didn’t have to pay any fees! We did tip them, driver and guide. Luxor trip goes in an armed convoy..20 + coaches and our minibus! Anyone else going to Luxor also travels in this armed convoy up and back ! Hair raising speed and nose to tail!



Ship great and recommend cruise. We had a pleasant surprise and a great holiday...but you can do the trips yourself, jt tours and Memphis Tours for reliability.



Drinks on board reasonable. Entertainment good...we all enjoyed it and my 2 are 'wild' students. Find peaceful bar, bow of ship. it is there as is quieter sun deck. Top of ship. Next time we’ll revisit Petra, lots more to see and stay in Port to visit local area. If no bombings! Have a great cruise!

First time on a cruise with 3 of...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Jewels of the Med

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs L Webb

Comments:

First time on a cruise with 3 of my girlfriends, all of whom had never cruised before. We all had 4 single cabins, all of which were ok, but could do with refurbishing.



That out of the way, the cruise was fantastic. The food excellent, waiter service in the Compass Rose Restaurant exceptional, entertainment very good, and ports of call very enjoyable. All the crew went out of their way to make our holiday very enjoyable, nothing was too much trouble.



I understand that the ship is due for refurbishment in 2007 which in some areas is needed, but this did not deter our enjoyment of the cruise. The ship does suffer from vibration and engine noise especially when docking and leaving port. Might be worth bringing some ear plugs!



Would certainly consider cruising with Thomson again, it was certainly value for money. Would be better if they didn't charge single supplements though!

Our first ever cruise and...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Jewels Of The Med

Date of Holiday:

May 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr K Edmondston

Comments:

Our first ever cruise and definitely not our last, we got a free drinks package upgrade (worth it's weight in gold) and unlike other A/I packages the drinks tended to be branded i.e. Stella, Boddingtons, Tia maria, Johnny walker.



Cannot really complain about the ports, yes some were a little rough but they are ports what do people expect. We made our own way around and loved Naples, Corsica and Barcelona (Palermo and Toulonne we could take or leave). The ship itself and the staff could not do any more to make us feel like a part of one big family and the shows were exceptional, all of the entertainment team worked hard to make sure you enjoyed yourself and the rest of the staff especially the waiters took great pains to learn your name and to have a laugh with you.



My wife was a little scared about getting seasick but even after cruising through a gale one night was left totally undisturbed by any kind of motion. We arrived back in England Friday afternoon and sat looking in next years brochure by Friday teatime.

The most perfect honeymoon.

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs A Cooper

Comments:

The most perfect honeymoon.



The staff were fantastic, the deluxe cabin was wonderful and the food was the best we've tasted (especially good for vegetarians)



We were slightly worried that we were too young for a cruise in our early twenties but this was not the case!



The arranged trips were very good but could end up being a little on the expensive side if you choose to go on lots of them. They were worth the money though, especially Rome and Barcelona.



The ship was lovely and not what we expected. Our favourite bar was Horizons on the top deck.



Our cabin was spotless everyday with fresh towels and sheets. We also had a lovely bouquet of flowers on arrival and dinner at the captains table as we were honeymooners!



It was difficult to know which staff members to tip at the end of the holiday because they all worked so hard!



We would recommend this cruise to anyone and would love to go back again year after year!

The ship was fantastic, the crew...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Itinerary:

Full Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

ElizaB

Comments:

The ship was fantastic, the crew were wonderful, the food was superb - pity about the stops though.



Boarded in Sharm el Sheikh on Thursday and sailed overnight to Aquaba, did the excursion to Petra which was well worth the £70 and we also explored Aqaba which was a bit dirty but that is only to be expected in this part of the world outside of the "tourist only" areas. Then it all started to go downhill.



Sunday was supposed to be at sea but the schedule changed and we sailed Saturday night back to Sharm for the day. Sunday we sailed overnight to El Sokhna for the people taking the excursion to Cairo. We knew we would be berthed for the entire day but not that the ship would be tied up at an industrial port with cargo ferries, a concrete wasteland and metal warehouses. Sure - for a price we could have gone to a "nearby resort hotel" and the price included the use of a sun bed and towel by the pool (wowee!!) but we already had that on board so why pay twice, just to look at a bigger pool.



Monday we sailed (overnight again!) towards Safaga for the Luxor trip, arriving late morning the following day. The latter part of this leg of the trip was the only time we sailed during daylight hours! Safaga was a huge expanse of concrete with the town just outside the port. We walked out to try and find something of interest but just found low-rise apartment blocks and no shopping centre or anything else.



We hope to go back to Egypt to do the Nile cruise with an extra week in Luxor so did not do this trip either. Those who did disembarked on Wednesday for a 0630 hrs start and did not get back to the ship until 2215 hrs at night for the 2230 hrs sail back to Sharm.



If this had been our first cruise I do not think we would ever set foot on a ship again. If you book the cruise in order to do all the main excursions (total cost over £200 per person in addition to the cost of the cruise) and "do" Egypt in a week then you may have a good time. However if, like us, you want to pick just one or two excursions and are looking forward to a cruise then that element is almost non-existent. The ship sails in the evening when it is dark and arrives at the next destination (with one exception) before breakfast the next day.



We had not anticipated that on the days when we did not take the excursions we would be almost trapped on board. Perhaps our expectations were too high, perhaps we should have researched the stops in depth before booking, but the cruise description while it may be the truth is certainly not the whole truth and we were very disappointed. The ship itself was excellent, the port facilities and attractions were non-existent.



Would certainly recommend a cruise on the Thomson Spirit, just not the Red Sea Magic, which was anything but!

I am not going to write an...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Itinerary:

Thomson Spirit Cruise Ship

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

G North

Comments:

I am not going to write an expansive review of this week we had on the Spirit in March 2006 but will give my opinions on some of the points raised in the April reviews below which are fair comment in places but need further clarifying to be totally informative.



Firstly the ports - yes they are poor except for the one at Sharm and Aqaba where you are near to some civilization. Both within 10 minutes of a beach etc.



Secondly the trips - we did Cairo ourselves by taxi with another couple and including all the admissions to the Museum and the Pyramids we paid £40 per person and had none of the herding and crush everyone else had by going with 900 other people on 25+ coaches. For Petra we paid £20 each for the taxi and £18 UK (21 Jordanian) entry to Petra - with Thomsons this is £65 all in but includes a meal at a hotel - the advantage of DIY is that we set off at 9.15 am as opposed to 7.30 am and still beat them back by an hour as the taxi goes quicker and we did not have to wait for Mr and Mrs Smith who were still in the shops or whatever etc etc.



I agree the food quality on board matches the excellent Thomson show team - both excellent - the resident bands are not as good but pass the time. Safaga port can be horrendous depending on which berth the ship gets - when we joined at Safaga it was quiet but the week later when we disembarked we were at a different berth and it was Very Noisy. Port Sokhana for Cairo seemed quiet but basically deserted with nothing of any significance nearby so you either stay on the ship all day or go to Cairo!!!



The wheat factory at Aqaba may be an issue but I would say is subject to wind direction - we had no problems but it could be I suppose. A lot of people make the mistake of getting taxis which park almost next to the ship - walk to the respective port entrances and the price is lower. Comments about the reception desk are again not unreasonable and whilst we had no problems they were the "weakest link" in my opinion on the ship.



Would I go again - yes - but would try the Dead Sea from Aqaba again by taxi and spend more time on the ship - I agree it would be nice if the days at the poor ports it moored out to sea for a few hours whilst the day long trips are away as I would imagine no one would want to get off at Safaga or Port Sokhana for a look around - if they did they would be soon back on board!



I think for the cost of this cruise bearing in mind it is a 5 hour flight not just a short hop to Palma the value was exceptional as we paid £464 total per person including all the flight etc supplements, fuel surcharge, reserved seats on plane. That is why I give it 10/10 - had the price been more I would give it less – up to £500ish it is great value and the weather was super for 5 of the 7 days - Cairo was overcast and the last day we were there at Safaga it was likewise but was clearing up as we went to the airport!!

We have just returned this...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Itinerary:

Red Sea Riveria

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mrs J Westgarth

Comments:

We have just returned this morning.



This cruise is NOT well explained. If you wish to visit some extraordinary places, such as Jordan - fab. Egypt - I would stay in Cairo and go down the Nile, as the trips are expensive and not value for money (except Jordan).



If we knew that we were really going on a ferry to different Industrial Ports, that would have been fine, but we didn’t, we thought we would do a few trips as we guessed they would be expensive (as they always are when they are organised for you), but if you didn’t do the trips, the day left on board at smelly, dirty ugly ports was very unrestful, to say the least.



Safaga, very ugly, noisy, smelly (1.5 days). Sharm el Sheikh, ok, but wasnt given or offered when asked any information how to leave the ship safely and have a look round, as the staff on the ship on reception and at the destination desk do their best to be unhelpful and confusing. Aquaba, we left ship (couldn’t take any more - shuddering) and we saw the wheat tanker that was just behind us - when we returned, it had been unloading all day - dusty, we saw it from miles away.



The trip to the desert and Petra was amazing. Back to Sharm el Sheikh and off for some snorkeling - what a disappointment, the water was dirty, the coral dull and the fish not looking too good either, they whiz around Ras Mohammed in their cruisers pumping poison into the water, we had hardly any time to snorkel. Then onto port for Cairo, stayed on the ship with my daughter as tired and we spent the day listening to a JCB forklift moving crates around, his reverse beeper was really relaxing!!



The boys enjoyed Cairo, but the event was spoiled by the amount of hassle you get, no one can prepare you for this and it is as bad as you can think. Then back to Safaga and this time, they were unloading Barley - if you suffer from Asthma, then you will know how I feel, all this dust was not good for me.



However the ship, entertainment staff, restaurant and restaurant staff were fantastic, couldn’t fault them. If they get the ports right, then it could be a cruise for everyone, the adventurous and the ones who want a rest.

This was our first "big" cruise...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Itinerary:

Red Sea Magic

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr JB Rosling

Comments:

This was our first "big" cruise after a Presidential Nile Cruise last April.



The Thomson Spirit has a lot of things going for it as a cruising ship. The facilities on board were excellent. The quality of food in the restaurants was very good, particularly in Sirocco's. Despite having to pay a £15 a head surcharge in this restaurant it was well worth it for the quality and the one to one service. The Compass Rose restaurant also provided very good food, a cut above the Lido, which was a self service buffet.



The service throughout the ship (with some exceptions - see below) was second to none. The room maid and restaurant staff were always polite and happy to help although I did feel the waiters a bit overbearing. It didn't feel polite to have my plate snatched away the second I put my knife and fork down!



The entertainment on board the ship was also excellent, ranging from Broadway style shows to run of the mill games shows and pub quizzes. The talents of the staff on board were all utilised to the fullest extent in providing entertainment and it is impressive how Thomson have found some many people with such capabilities.



The accommodation was comfortable although basic I thought (we were on deck four). The satellite TV provided somewhat limited channels but there was also an on board cinema with some quite up to date films showing regularly. This is okay if you don't mind unsupervised children who lack the attention span to watch a two hour film running in and out from time to time!



There were plenty of excursions advertised to sites in Egypt and Jordan, however it was these excursions by which I felt the most let down.



Thomson cancelled two of the (IMO) best excursions on the trip (St. Catherine's Monastery and Night In Wadi Rum) because there wasn't enough take up for them. I can understand this to some extent but surely Thomson should be willing to take a risk in running such trips and maybe even making a loss if it ensures customer satisfaction, as they are making enough out the other trips to cover those losses.



The excursions are inordinately priced for what you get on them. We paid £70 (each!) for the Pyramids and Cairo visit; £65 (each!) for the Perta visit - probably the most expensive bus fare I've ever had to pay. I wasn't particularly impressed by the tour guides either - particularly the Cairo guide who, as someone else has commented in another review, spent as much time trying to sell us jewelry as telling us about Cairo.



The whole Cairo trip was poorly organised. There were 27 coaches of about forty or fifty people and they took all 27 of them to the same place at the same time rather than taking maybe a third to one place, a third to another and the final third to another on the itinerary. The result was a mad crush everywhere we went and a struggle to try and hear our tour guide over the other 27. The problems caused by this were particularly evident at the Sphinx and Mortuary Temple Complex and the Cairo Museum. In addition to our coaches there were, of course, other international tours all jostling for a view of the Tutankhamen death mask and tomb treasures. You can imagine what it was like.



The ship did virtually no cruising by day. Almost all of it was done after sun down, which I found a bit of a let down. Additionally the ports we stayed in sounded very glamorous but weren't. Most of the docks were industrial and Destination Services on board didn't provide any maps or hints as to how to get around the various ports.



Additionally the reception desk gave the impression of being completely unknowing about what was going on, on board. I tried to organise a champagne breakfast but no one knew what I was talking when I enquired, despite the fact that the advert for it was on the notice board next to reception! Even when I pointed it out the girl behind the desk didn't know what I meant. We booked a late check out cabin but the booking was lost and no one knew about it when it came to the last day. We didn't get any disembarkation information for the final day either. The impression gained was one of poor organisation at reception.



Overall it was kind of a mixed bag of a week. Some facilities and services were beyond what we were expecting, but some of them fell way, way short. I didn't feel the trip was as personal as the Nile cruise we did last year and - niggles aside - that makes me question whether I'd want to go back on a big boat like the Spirit or stick to the smaller, more individualised cruises.

We have just returned home from...

Overall Rating:

0/10

Itinerary:

0

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs E Thomasson

Comments:

We have just returned home from the Red Sea cruise. We had a brilliant time. Our cabin was on deck two (middle) we had no noise whatsoever.



Did the snorkeling, Petra and pyramids, all fantastic. The food was great. The shows were fantastic. The cast were very talented. All the staff were friendly and worked hard. One who called himself Elvis Parsley was really funny and could sing and talk like Elvis. All in all very enjoyable.



I wish we had been told you do not need Egyptian money. Anyone going take plenty pound coins as well as notes. We hope to go back and visit places we did not get to see.

Mrs Thomasson.

This was our first cruise with...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Itinerary:

Red Sea Magic

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr B Young

Comments:

This was our first cruise with Thomson and overall the experience was excellent. We were very disappointed with the ports of call as they were generally commercial ports (apart from Sharm) with nothing worthwhile to see - more like Immingham Docks.



I would only consider this cruise if you intend going on the organised excursions to Petra, Cairo, Luxor and the Pyramids etc. Visiting the towns yourself is not really practical although taxis do meet the ship at Sharm where there are public beaches for sunbathing and snorkeling at a cost of £3 pp.



We tried an excursion to a "luxury" hotel which included a sun bed, drink and towel - but that was a complete rip-off. The hotel turned out to be a few hundred yards away and the hotel was anything but luxury. After a small revolt, and to Thomsons credit, everyone’s money (£23) was refunded.



A shuttle bus is provided at Aqqaba for a transfer to the town at £5 - I wouldn't bother - nothing worthwhile to see or do.



We ate mainly in the Compass Rose (waiter service) and had great food and service. There is a Lido restaurant which is self-service. Its well worth splashing out on the Sirrocco at least once - £15 - for the best lobster thermidor!



On board, the food, drink (the drinks package was unbelievable value and covered just about everything apart from water) and entertainment was excellent. The staff were always friendly, helpful and prepared to go the extra mile for you. As well as the on-ship entertainment team, a UK comedian also appeared twice.



Only downside to the cabin was the extremely hard bed. Bathroom small but perfectly functional. The in-room TV showed movies, a couple of news channels and 2 radio stations.

The on-board cinema showed a different movie each day.



On the days that excursions were running, it was easy to get a sun bed - the rest of the time it was a case of getting up at 7am and reserving one - even though the ships newsletter asked everyone not to.



Overall a great holiday and we will certainly be going on another Thomson Cruise - probably to the Canaries next year.