MEDITTERRANEAN CRUISE
We flew from Gatwick to Palma Majorca to embark on our 7 night Mediterranean cruise on board the Thomson Destiny, flight time would be just over two hours. We left on a beautiful sunny day in May only to arrive in Palma to torrential rain, thankfully the sun eventually came out and the rest of the cruise was spent in glorious sunshine.
Thomson Destiny is the largest of Thomson ships at 37,584 tons and accommodating 1,450 passengers with a passenger to crew ratio of 2.8 and is ideal for families and those taking their first cruise.
Facilities include a Casino with both tables and slot machines, 2 outside swimming pools (1 for families and 1 for adults only although this didn’t appear to be particularly well policed on our cruise), and a Library. Out of the 725 cabins only 9 have private balconies, we were in a standard outside cabin on deck 4 which was handy for the Reception, Seven Seas Restaurant, Library and shops all of which were on the same deck .
Check in at Palma was quick and efficient and we were soon settling into our cabin, the layout of the beds were L shaped with one of the twin beds under the port hole and the second bed at a right angle to it. At between 111 and 166 square feet the standard cabins are not large but our cabin was comfortable and clean. Deluxe cabins range from 164 to 239 square feet and suites 275 square feet with the grand suite being a comfortable 349 square feet.
After settling into our cabin we went for dinner in the Seven Seas Restaurant, the food was of a very good standard and the staff very attentive and the highlight of the meal was when all the waiting staff came into the restaurant at the end of service singing and with one of the waiters playing the guitar, a very nice touch.
We had opted for first sitting at dinner which meant we had the rest of the evening to take in the entertainment on board, we ended up at the Oklahoma Lounge where the resident band were playing for the sail away party, it was also where they served an excellent midnight buffet.
Day one of the cruise was spent at sea en route to Gibraltar which gave us time to discover the ship. After breakfast in the Seven Seas Restaurant we went along to the showcase for the ships excursions, we booked one of the excursions but decided that on the whole we would make our own arrangements at the ports of call. We had a tour of the bridge which was very interesting, the Captain and his officers were very friendly and answered all our questions making for a most enjoyable tour.
Afternoon tea was taken in the Lido Cafe and evening meal back in the Seven Seas Restaurant, that evenings entertainment was in the Can Can Lounge.
Day two and we decided to have breakfast al-fresco in the Lido Cafe in order to watch the ship dock in Gibraltar. We hadn’t booked one of the ships excursions for today and once ashore we searched for a local tour operator to take us on a tour of Gibraltar. We joined several other passengers in a local minibus and had a most enjoyable morning visiting the Barbary Apes, St. Michael’s caves and the military tunnels all for about half the price of the ships tour.
After a little bit of duty free shopping we returned to the ship and had lunch by the pool side and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and relaxing. Today was the formal evening so we got togged up in our best clothes (although most of the gentlemen wore Dinner Jackets it is by no means compulsory and many men were in suits), we had cocktails with the Captain before dinner then went to see the cabaret, a comedian by the name of George King and then ended the evening with a flutter in the casino.
Day three and I started the day with what was becoming my regular walk around the ship prior to breakfast. Today we were in Lisbon and once again we had not booked a tour, once ashore we went to the tourist information office to get a local map then we walked through the cobbled backstreets of Lisbon down to the main square and then back along the water side. Once back on board the ship we relaxed around the pool and had some lunch. After dinner we went with two of our dinner guests to the Oklahoma Lounge for the Kareoke show.
Awoke on our forth day to a pre-arranged wake up call as we had booked an excursion to the Harvey’s winery in Jerez, we were taken from the port in Cadiz to the winery where we had the obligatory wine tasting, we also had a tour around the local area before returning to Cadiz where we spent a little time exploring before rejoining the ship for a swim before dinner.
Day five saw us berthed in Malaga for a full day so we decided to spend the morning on board making use of the facilities whilst it wasn’t too crowded, we went ashore after lunch. Malaga was a pleasant surprise, the old town with the Cathedral and square was very pleasant and even the newer parts of town with the beaches and hotels seemed clean if not a little commercial. Dinner was once again in the Seven Seas Restaurant and we were very much enjoying the company of our fellow dinner guests, two other middle aged couples and after dinner we went with one couple to the show in the Can Can Bar.
Day six and as they say if today is Wednesday then this must be Cartagena, one of the benefits of a cruise is waking up every day in a different port, being able to see half a dozen locations on a 7 day holiday without having to pack and unpack your suitcases every day and no driving.
As with the majority of our ports of call we had chosen not to book an excursion but simply made our own way into town. That evening after dinner we went with our new friends to the Oklahoma Lounge where the other Gentleman and I were roped into judging the Miss Destiny contest, a great evening and a splendid end to what had proved to be a most enjoyable experience.
As with most cruises our luggage had to be out of the cabin for pick up on the last evening before a certain time so we returned to our cabin at 01:15 to do just that before settling down for our last night onboard. When we awoke the next morning we were back in Palma, we had breakfast and disembarked the ship at around 08:30 to get the coach transfer to the airport for our flight back to Gatwick.
The food and service throughout the cruise had been of a very good standard, the entertainment also of a very good standard, the ship is an excellent size for finding your way around and getting to know the staff and your fellow passengers, the amenities although not as great as you would expect from the newer, larger resort ships are suitable for a good relaxing family holiday or as in our case for couples and those testing the water for the first time as far as cruising is concerned.
Facilities include a Casino with both tables and slot machines, 2 outside swimming pools (1 for families and 1 for adults only although this didn’t appear to be particularly well policed on our cruise), and a Library. Out of the 725 cabins only 9 have private balconies, we were in a standard outside cabin on deck 4 which was handy for the Reception, Seven Seas Restaurant, Library and shops all of which were on the same deck .
Check in at Palma was quick and efficient and we were soon settling into our cabin, the layout of the beds were L shaped with one of the twin beds under the port hole and the second bed at a right angle to it. At between 111 and 166 square feet the standard cabins are not large but our cabin was comfortable and clean. Deluxe cabins range from 164 to 239 square feet and suites 275 square feet with the grand suite being a comfortable 349 square feet.
After settling into our cabin we went for dinner in the Seven Seas Restaurant, the food was of a very good standard and the staff very attentive and the highlight of the meal was when all the waiting staff came into the restaurant at the end of service singing and with one of the waiters playing the guitar, a very nice touch.
We had opted for first sitting at dinner which meant we had the rest of the evening to take in the entertainment on board, we ended up at the Oklahoma Lounge where the resident band were playing for the sail away party, it was also where they served an excellent midnight buffet.
Day one of the cruise was spent at sea en route to Gibraltar which gave us time to discover the ship. After breakfast in the Seven Seas Restaurant we went along to the showcase for the ships excursions, we booked one of the excursions but decided that on the whole we would make our own arrangements at the ports of call. We had a tour of the bridge which was very interesting, the Captain and his officers were very friendly and answered all our questions making for a most enjoyable tour.
Afternoon tea was taken in the Lido Cafe and evening meal back in the Seven Seas Restaurant, that evenings entertainment was in the Can Can Lounge.
Day two and we decided to have breakfast al-fresco in the Lido Cafe in order to watch the ship dock in Gibraltar. We hadn’t booked one of the ships excursions for today and once ashore we searched for a local tour operator to take us on a tour of Gibraltar. We joined several other passengers in a local minibus and had a most enjoyable morning visiting the Barbary Apes, St. Michael’s caves and the military tunnels all for about half the price of the ships tour.
After a little bit of duty free shopping we returned to the ship and had lunch by the pool side and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and relaxing. Today was the formal evening so we got togged up in our best clothes (although most of the gentlemen wore Dinner Jackets it is by no means compulsory and many men were in suits), we had cocktails with the Captain before dinner then went to see the cabaret, a comedian by the name of George King and then ended the evening with a flutter in the casino.
Day three and I started the day with what was becoming my regular walk around the ship prior to breakfast. Today we were in Lisbon and once again we had not booked a tour, once ashore we went to the tourist information office to get a local map then we walked through the cobbled backstreets of Lisbon down to the main square and then back along the water side. Once back on board the ship we relaxed around the pool and had some lunch. After dinner we went with two of our dinner guests to the Oklahoma Lounge for the Kareoke show.
Awoke on our forth day to a pre-arranged wake up call as we had booked an excursion to the Harvey’s winery in Jerez, we were taken from the port in Cadiz to the winery where we had the obligatory wine tasting, we also had a tour around the local area before returning to Cadiz where we spent a little time exploring before rejoining the ship for a swim before dinner.
Day five saw us berthed in Malaga for a full day so we decided to spend the morning on board making use of the facilities whilst it wasn’t too crowded, we went ashore after lunch. Malaga was a pleasant surprise, the old town with the Cathedral and square was very pleasant and even the newer parts of town with the beaches and hotels seemed clean if not a little commercial. Dinner was once again in the Seven Seas Restaurant and we were very much enjoying the company of our fellow dinner guests, two other middle aged couples and after dinner we went with one couple to the show in the Can Can Bar.
Day six and as they say if today is Wednesday then this must be Cartagena, one of the benefits of a cruise is waking up every day in a different port, being able to see half a dozen locations on a 7 day holiday without having to pack and unpack your suitcases every day and no driving.
As with the majority of our ports of call we had chosen not to book an excursion but simply made our own way into town. That evening after dinner we went with our new friends to the Oklahoma Lounge where the other Gentleman and I were roped into judging the Miss Destiny contest, a great evening and a splendid end to what had proved to be a most enjoyable experience.
As with most cruises our luggage had to be out of the cabin for pick up on the last evening before a certain time so we returned to our cabin at 01:15 to do just that before settling down for our last night onboard. When we awoke the next morning we were back in Palma, we had breakfast and disembarked the ship at around 08:30 to get the coach transfer to the airport for our flight back to Gatwick.
The food and service throughout the cruise had been of a very good standard, the entertainment also of a very good standard, the ship is an excellent size for finding your way around and getting to know the staff and your fellow passengers, the amenities although not as great as you would expect from the newer, larger resort ships are suitable for a good relaxing family holiday or as in our case for couples and those testing the water for the first time as far as cruising is concerned.
Robert Lidster, January 2009
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