written by 18Turner on 22/06/2014
The entertainment on the Spirit was excellent, really high quality and thoroughly enjoyable. Our cabin was of a generous size with everything we could need and spotlessly clean, the stewardesses are amazing, the itinerary was great and the tours excellent in every way. I really can't fault any of it... Until we come to food. To be fair, food on any cruise isn't amazing but this was worse than anything I could have imagined. Buffet - fish dishes were mixed in with other dishes, which for the surprisingly high amount of people with seafood allergies including myself caused issues, fish was regularly being dropped into meat dishes thus contaminating all not to mention the fact that you don't really want a lump of fish in your meat pie! This aside the vegetables were regularly so over cooked they were mush, meats burnt or over cooked and dry, many dishes didn't even loosely resemble the label. The desserts, well better to avoid completely. Restaurant - normally food in the restaurants is of a better quality, not so here. On 4 occasions during a two week cruise the main was literally inedible. The consommé and soups plain nasty, although the beef which I am certain was bovril was palatable, desserts again, awful and often the same dessert was served under a different name. Highlights were crispy duck which was dry over cooked meat with a mushy skin. Stuffed pork loin which was so over cooked and hard you could even cut it with a knife! Strawberry shortcake with no strawberry and no shortcake. Mint moose which I suspect was made with toothpaste. Steak Diane , steak was good but the Diane sauce was more like a budget supermarket instant gravy made thinly and spoilt everything it came in contact with. Pancakes with caramel sauce, on a table of five we all ordered and upon first mouthful it was synchronised napkin spitting! May I never experience that again. After two weeks of that McDonald's sounds amazing!
written by on 04/05/2013
we have just returned of the thomson spirit cruise to the pharaohs and promised land,we had a great time.this is our first cruise so nothing to compare with, the cruise liner spirit is a lovely ship with loads to do everyday of the cruise, the food is first class plenty of variety,you can either dine self cater from a very well presented buffet,or you can be waited on in the restaurant in the compass rose.we decided to eat from the buffet and was highly satisfied.the food is 24 hour and as many drinks of coffee or tea you can get. you can book the trips on the ship, however we and friends of ours decided to go it alone by taxis.there was plenty of taxis waiting on the port side however better getting the shuttle bus provided by thomson to the centre then haggle the prices for your trips .the taxis we had was ok the driver very helpful he took us were ever we wanted to go also giving us all the knowlege about the places that we visited. thomson said it was not safe for us to go alone, we never encounted any trouble at all,in fact quite the opposite,all the places we visited- we was made to feel very welcome.oh and this was less than half the price and we saw alot more and was not rushed we told the driver how much time we wanted at each place,
written by stitch on 12/05/2012
my expectations of a first cruise and first holiday with thomson were not high, and they did not even reach that it was butlins at sea, but not quite as good the ship or ferry more like, it was old and tired the ship had a vibration all the time it rolled even in calm water.the food was limited not at all tasty and not much choice,i had diarrhoea and vomiting on our 4th day the nurse attended said myself and wife were to stay in cabin for 24 hours and meals were sent in the meals were worse i didn't think that possible missed 2 days in different ports, ruined our holiday found out the ships previous sailing had norovirus, we had an awful time nice birthday and 30year wedding anniversary trip, complaind to thomson they couldnt be bothered to reply i will be sure to go with them again if i ever cruise again it will be an american ship
written by on 17/05/2011
This was our first cruise and it was even better than we expected!
The staff were friendly,the cabin was very roomy with a Queen size bed,the food was varied...we ate in The Compass Rose and found it very good.
There were different types of entertainment to suit all tastes e.g.
Comedian
West End style shows
Piano Bars
Casino
We were only at sea 1 day...which we liked,anymore would have been too much!
The rest of the days we awoke in a "new" port and couldn't wait to explore the area.
Really we have no negatives....perhaps Tea & Coffee facilities in the cabin would be nice!
written by on 05/11/2010
Our first cruise. Apart from being held up going and coming at airport, and to be fair outward journey was caused by a strike by French Airpot Control taking i ntermittent strike action!! Food and facilities could not be faulted - yes their were small irritations but these were personal things and nothing is perfect- Evening entertainment was exceptionally good, theses staff members work exceptionally hard and deserve all the credit they receive. Staff in the resaurants and food facilities were first class and nothing was any trouble to them. this also applied to the cabin staff who kept you entertained each day by arranging someof the towels into small and delightful animals. This is definately an art. Ship was going for refurbishment for three months and this can only enhance your cruise. Thank you all.
written by on 02/08/2010
Another excellent cruise with Thomson. Not their fault but weather was too hot for the week.Venice was extremely busy as wll as the old city in Dubrovnik. As usual the food at all times was plentiful and excellent. The Cruise Director, Ray Bauer, was very good and at times honest when schedules had to be changed due to a thunderstorm. Only Nathan in his team let the side down as he appeared not to fit. Other minor grumble was that the quizzes were the same as last year it appeared but but the answers had changed eg Oscar winners but Thomson had not updated. Whilst good the entertainment needs changing as we have seen some shows several times now !
written by jennydoll on 28/07/2010
We have travelled on the four times and the Celebration twice, yet again no faults to report already booked again for next year on the Celebration.
As usual the food, service,and entertainment in the showlounge was excellent. Cabin cleaned to a very high standered.
Visited some beautiful places during the fortnight and had wonderful sunny weather and calm sea the whole time.
Since we have been on Thomson cruises for years there is nothing we needed to know before purchase.
written by guardsmanlegion on 04/05/2009
Tours a bit on the pricey side
Food very good
Entertainment 2 to none
staff always ready to help
The Airline that we travelled from Gatwick was indescribable even Ryan air has more leg room . . THE NAME OF THIS AIRLINE FIRST CHOICE YUK ! LAST CHOICE.
IF on a day at sea you felt like a tan you had to be up and stake a claim to a sun bed by 0700hrs IT WAS LIKE BEING ON A BOAT LOAD OF GERMANS
To sum up after 4 cruises with Thomson's we felt that the standards had sunk its like Benidorm afloat
written by on 28/03/2009
This is the 3rd Thomson cruise that my wife and I have been on in 24 months, firstly the Calypso, small, a little tired but great atmosphere, did the Greek coast, Corfu and the Corinth canal, Truly great!
The second was the destiny, cruising the Canaries and Madeira, lovely ship, much larger than the first, but food ,staff entertainment spot on.And lastly the Spirit, which we got back yesterday (26th March 2009) on the Red Sea Magic trip.Lovely ship, not new but stylish,with same standards of friendly ness from the staff, with decent food and good entertainment.
written by Michael1963 on 21/09/2008
I have just returned home from a week on the Thomson Spirit. For those wondering about the vibration yes it is still there and worse than a couple of years ago. I spoke to s senior officer who said they had carried out numerous repairs and investigations and they CANNOT cure the vibration.
The standard of food has gone down I thought as the choice is not as good as it was and the Lido food seem to be out too long and was either not very hot or dry due to the heat lamps. The cabins are tired, tiles loose on the floor, discoloured grouting etc. We had a cabin mid-ship level 3 this was ok, we visited some friends on deck 1 and 2 at the rear and the vibration and noise was terrible, I would have needed ear plugs for me to sleep down there.
There are rumours it is having a major refit soon, but again I think it will not be noticeable as it sounds more like a hull and structure safety inspection and I don ' t think you will see much difference cosmetically.
If you go all inclusive be sure to specify branded drinks when you order otherwise they give you the house spirits which are cheap and nasty, most branded are available with NO supplement to pay.
The entertainment staff were not as friendly as previous cruises, they seemed to think they were above everyone else and the standard and quality of the shows was nothing to write home about. The games they play seem to be identical on all the ships and the show themes also the same come on get a director in with a new list to perform and get more variety. At the end of the day the cruise was ok, Thomson is the budget end of cruising so you get what you pay for, that said I would not like to think I ever pay full or brochure price as there are many other companies with better quality ships in that price range. Hope this review is useful.
written by on 06/09/2008
Our first cruise and all I can say is BRILLIANT. I was very nervous before setting foot on board as I had read some negative reviews but I can honestly say I thought it was terrific value for money. Took a 14 year old very fussy eater but even he found something to eat at every meal time.
written by MUTNAT on 26/08/2008
This was our 1st time cruising and definitely wont be our last. We booked this cruise as we wanted something special as we were celebrating our silver wedding, the crew certainly made it special for us an anniversary we shall never forget. 10/10 for Restaurants, bars, shops, entertainment and everyone involved with the spirit . We met a lot of lovely people and will be booking for next year. Good luck to the spirit
written by on 02/08/2008
Overall I think that Thomson are a great company to cruise with and they really do look after you. The atmosphere on the ship was buzzing every day and night and it didn't take very long to meet some interesting and friendly people (not to mention the captain).
Things that I was worried about before the holiday:
Airport Transfer - The coach that takes you to the ship from the airport is fully air conditioned and comfortable, a great relief after our exhausting journey (especially if you get motion sickness in stuffy vehicles like myself).
The Food Onboard - All the restaurants provide a different style of service, my personal favourite was the Lido which had a different theme every night i.e. Indian, Italian, English. The service in Sirocco's and The Compass Rose was spot on.
Atmosphere Onboard - I was glad to see a mix of people on board, some families, couples and groups of friends, old and young, from different parts of the world, about 80% British. Very layed back feel to the ship and you are made very welcome.
Entertainment - The best thing about the entertainment for me was the variety of things on offer. The broadway showlounge has a different show on every night, entertainment is provided by a live band in the High Spirits nightclub or you can relax in one of the quieter parts of the ship with the classical musicians. (High spirits is usually the more drunken part of the ship and thats were you will find me next time I cruise)
I think that's about it, hope my review has been of some help, sorry if I went on a bit but I had trouble finding a detailed review on the net and this is my attempt of one. 9/10 for the Thomson Spirit from me.
Hope you have a great time.
written by Petya on 17/07/2008
Our Jewels of the Med cruise was wonderful. Our deluxe outside cabin was big and comfortable. The staff were really lovely. The shows were West End quality. The food was very nice. The excursions were very good and cheaper than we had expected. Although the buffet at the Lido restaurant was very nice, half the food on offer was the same every day. We loved our first Thomson cruise so much we have already booked another one for next year!
written by lindilu on 16/07/2008
What a fantastic experience and one we shall certainly repeat. Can't thank the crew enough we were treated like royalty from the minute we arrived. The staff are particularly helpful and polite and the whole ship was immaculate. The freedom to do as we like and eat when we like was great and the entertainment was first class, far better than we expected.
written by on 16/03/2008
All excursions were good except that in Agadir
We were in Agadir a couple of years ago with Suncruises and enjoyed the experience so much so we recommended this to the rest of our family - but the quality had gone down - great pity.
written by golfoscarbravo on 26/08/2006
We had a lovely family holiday (kids aged 4 and 5). Almost treated like 5 star guests. First port, Palermo in Sicily is easily the worst, dirty and being Sunday mostly closed! Next year this cruise goes to North Africa instead (Tunis I think). Excursions much cheaper at the port, or easy by local transport. Kid Zone rep's brilliant. Entertainment team fantastic loads of staff always cleaning the whole ship. Travelling overnight was great, soft vibration sent us all to sleep, woke up in new port. Wish we were still there.
Written on: 15/07/2010
Just like to let everyone know that we've booked our summer trip on the THOMSON SPIRIT again this year; this time the PEARLS OF THE AEGEAN. Kids are now 9 and 8 and we are really looking forward to it, yes we expect it to be a bit older and abit more tired...like me!!! A second trip is never remembered quite like the first, but we know we'll enjoy.
written by pauljo on 19/08/2006
This was my first cruise, and the Med Renaissance is a great itinerary.
I didn't go on the excursions, but I found out that the local trasport is really cheap - a return train fare from Civitavecchia to Rome is only 9 Euros and a tour bus is 13 Euros, yet plenty of passengers paid 80 pounds for a the Thomson coach trip and came back exhausted.
The holiday as a whole is great value, and it was great to wander through Corsica and the South of France.
However, the day at sea was terrible, with extremely bumpy seas - they had to close off the decks and shut the lifts. Even the experienced cruisers had sea sickness. I couldn't go to the safety drill or the Captain's Ball, but a few shots of brandy did the trick, and things were great afterwards.
The inside cabin was fine, and it seemed less bumpy lower down in the ship. You don't need a window, as there are loads of comfortable lounges.
There are also 5 bars, so you won't get bored on a 1 week cruise.
The bar service was sometimes excellent, but some of the Eastern European girls gave the impression that they didn't want to be there, and were quite surly in their attitude.
The draft beer is poor, so stay away from the all inclusive package.
The cabin stewardess was a pain - she kept moving our stuff, insisted on coming in during the evening, and I don't think she hoovered up once - it might have helped to tip her on the first night rather than the last.
I would never go in high season again, as it felt like Butlins, and sometimes I cringed at the groups of typical Brits abroad - drunk, overweight, sunburned, and with unruly kids.
Thomson need to pick their market carefully, as the idea of a British cruise (nice food and no tipping) is being spoiled by going for the bargain basement.
I would definitely recommend it, but don't go during the school holidays, stick to bottled (or canned beer) and have a measure of brandy or rum in your cabin in case you feel queasy.
written by Hoaxster on 15/08/2006
The Thomson Spirit Idyllic Iberia Mediterranean cruise was out third cruise in a large family group (10+). We'd been on My Travel branded ships (Sunbird and Carousel) previously, so we had a reasonably good idea of what to expect. Unfortunately, this cruise didn't quite come up to scratch for a number of reasons.
The ship is smaller with (allegedly) fewer passengers than either of our previous cruises, but at times it did seem a little crowded, especially during the day at sea when everyone wanted to occupy the same sun bed on the Lido deck. It is also showing its age somewhat, particularly in the decor and cabin fittings (tiles coming away in the shower room etc). One new thing that really impressed us was the installation of sanitisation pumps (alcohol rub I think) at the entrances to the restaurants, and the staffs' insistence that everyone used them religiously - a good idea well implemented.
Can't really comment on the shows because we've seen enough moderately talented kids warbling hackneyed show-tunes and it's just not our thing. However, when they did venture out onto the pool deck they were quite funny, but they had a nasty habit of putting their foot in it, ie. moaning about how much they get paid, how they were robbed the last time they visited our NEXT destination and how much they miss home. To be honest, I had more sympathy with the guy scrubbing the lavs - which he did frequently and thoroughly.
They weren't the lowlight of staff misery though! A particular barman from Eastern Europe who shall remain nameless seemed to have issues with why he was there (to serve drinks) and who everybody else was (paying punters). The rest of the staff more than made up for this, so don't be put off having a drink.
This brings us rather neatly to the so-called 'all-inclusive' drinks package. This is a complete waste of space, unless you like drinking dubious quality lager and wine that would be better placed keeping a runway in Antarctica clear. Despite forking out the extra dough, we had to pay even more to get something bearable with dinner. At the risk of descending into a rant, we also tried 'Siroccos' in an attempt to get something that didn't reek of MSG. Partial success as a plate of snails and a crepe Suzette hit the spot, but in justifying paying extra, sadly not.
But enough moaning (unless you count the drug dealers of Lisbon, the far-flung mooring off Malaga and the lack of manners displayed by shipmates of all nationalities) and on to the good bits; Our cabin was managed superbly - best cabin service we've had by miles. The kids enjoyed themselves immensely, and the bar-staffs' patience with their insatiable appetite for fruit punch was outstanding. I'm very fussy about food, so even though I've slated it, there was of course tons of it, continually available and served by some wonderful and interesting people. All the food and bar areas were kept scrupulously clean, and I can't praise the people at the bottom of the ship's career ladder highly enough, whereas the more senior ones often came over a bit snooty and full of their own importance.
Gibraltar was exactly the same as last time, except with prior knowledge we knew to just take the minibus that meets you off the boat, pay the seemingly exorbitant price (trust me, the cable-car is a bit of a hike away, and the caf at the top is terrible) and do the two-hour tour. We got to see so much more of the rock and its furry inhabitants. The siege tunnels are really worth the effort - coming back is harder than going in.
Lisbon was rougher than I expected. The commercial port is a twenty minute shuttle-bus ride from the city centre. Although fairly interesting (e.g. Eiffel's free-standing elevator) it didn't blow me away, although lots of kind gentlemen offered to sell me blow - duly declined.
Been to Cadiz before too so we knew pretty much everything was within walking distance. Headed straight through the middle of town (they don't show you that on the open top bus) to the local beach for local people. Stood out like sore pink thumbs, but enjoyed a really good swim and the excellent beach facilities anyway.
Malaga looked terrible (could be wrong there) so didn't even disembark. The mooring is about a mile down a concrete quay designed for cargo vessels, and even though there were shuttle buses into town, they didn't seem too frequent. Took a restful day properly exploring the Spirit's other facilities. Highlights included a self-service laundry, a good long session in the well-equipped gym with a friendly instructor bloke who knows when people just want to get on with it. Found the front of the ship (we seafarers call this 'the bow') where several more bars had escaped our attention for several days. Watched a massive pod (200+ honest) of dolphins come across the aforementioned bow in the most salubrious Horizons bar - if the majority of our group weren't smokers, I think we'd have spent a lot more time there.
The absolute winner of this cruise is Cartagena. It is a beautiful town with lots of friendly people, and everything is very close (two-minute walk) to the port. I'll definitely be going back there.
Most of our party were satisfied overall, but most noted the slightly slower bar service and slightly less interactive entertainment and greatly increased smoking restrictions. I wouldn't recommend either the ship or the itinerary to anyone serious about travelling, but if mountains of food and lakes of booze in sunny weather are what you're after then go for it.
Written on: 18/07/2008
I totally disagree about the drink package.We are not big drinkers but we were very glad we had chosen that option, as it made us more relaxed about having drinks without worrying about the cost. We think it saved us at least £100. The choice was very extensive and who could resist those wonderful cocktails!The house wine was perfectly fine.We also had quite a few iced coffees during the day,also included,and cokes too.We don't drink beer, so we cant comment on its quality. We have chosen the drink package again for our next cruise.
written by Bazzerfrog on 13/07/2006
The whole Thomson cruise experience was excellent. The Idyllic Iberia, Med Renaissance was our second cruise and our first with Thomson, and it won't be our last. The drinks package was great value for money. The staff were so friendly and very helpful. The food was excellent, with plenty of choice for the 2 week stay (never had the same menu twice). The shows by the Thomson show team were always lively and very energetic. Well done team.
The only bad point was our cabin (301) don't book it unless you want to be woken up every time you come in to port, as the ropes and anchors are outside your window banging on the side of the boat. Apart from that it was a very enjoyable cruise well worth the money.
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Mac99's Comment
Written on: 04/08/2008
A brilliant review! Thanks.