Calypso

by **nanabo** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:24 pm

I think you are all jumping the gun here you pack of negatives, because the first week it sails the ship hits a gale it does not mean its going to be like that all the time. After all it was late March early April what can you expect in the med at this time, the weather is uncertain. Thats why its cheap at this time of year. Come May all will be well with the weather. I have been on all Thompsons cruises and found them quite good for the price you pay, but cant do anything about the weather.

We are sailing on her in mid May going to Albania and the smaller Greek Islands that the bigger ships cant sail to, so will be interesting and different. I read the cabins are quite small unless you book a cabin for three which is larger, but then its only to sleep in really isnt it. It would have been nice to have a balcony on the ship as goes through some picturesque places and a canal. Will let you know more on return

Bo

by **Scooby26** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:11 pm

We have just returned from the first Thomson Calypso cruise. It is certainly not like any of the other Thomson ships. Thomson advertised this ship as 'refurbished'; well the cabins that I saw had certainly not been refurbished. The carpets were dirty; the curtains stained and threadbare; the furniture old and scratched; drawers didn't open properly; no coat-hangers; no bins; dust everywhere; some portholes leaked. The cabin was not vacuumed or dusted all week. I even had to take a toilet roll from one of the 'public' toilets. Towels were also not always replaced when they were dirty.

We queued in several queues for about 45 minutes before we managed to get in to our cabin � the check-in procedure was appalling.

On the first day at sea most people were sick as it was very rough; only about sixty people out of 486 attended the captains dinner and most of them during the meal. In Thomson's defence, they did reschedule the captains meal for later in the week but most people by then had had enough and many didn't attend.

There were not enough drinks waiters; we often waited more than half an hour for our drinks to arrive after ordering. The food was of extremely poor quality and was mostly served cold-that's when you managed to get it after queuing for sometimes more than fifteen minutes. The entertainment during the day was non-existent and was only of a satisfactory standard in the evening - the resident band sang the same songs all week!

Most people on board were very unhappy with their holiday; some even set up a committee to complain. The staff were very friendly but seemed powerless to improve anything. Some people that had booked a two week cruise transferred their second week to a hotel - Thomson tried to charge them for doing this!

All I can say is that you will only travel on this ship once - I doubt that there will be any returning passengers. I would only rate this cruise a 2 out of 10.

by **Hephaestos** on Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:40 am

My wife read the above comments and the reviews printed elsewhere on this site. She immediately placed an order for some ginger tablets, which she reminded me did the trick last year when we were on an enclosed ferry boat from our (138,000 ton) cruise ship to the Mexican mainland. She wasn't ill, despite the rough seas and a baby that threw up all over the place! I think I may try some myself. Apparently they are very good and very inexpensive. She bought them from a web site but I can' remember its name. If anyone is interested then I will get the name and post it here.

by **nanabo** on Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:11 pm

It looks by all the bad reviews about this ship that Thompsons weren't prepared properly for the maiden voyage with staff shortage lack of coat hangers & not a full kitchen staff etc; etc; Hope they respond to all the comlaints made and its sorted before we go.

Bo

by **Hephaestos** on Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:40 am

I'm waiting now for the reviews of the second week, which should hopefully be posted Monday/Tuesday of next week. Then we'll see if improvements have been made. I'll also know whether to prepare for a relaxing cruise or a survival course!!!

by **parrotsontour** on Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:34 pm

Oh dear what have I done? I have persuaded my extreemly sea sick husband to have his first cruise on the calypso. (We have arranged for him to have the injection on Sat though.)
I know that there are lots of negatives but I'm hoping that the positives will win through when we go on Saturday 14th.
Here was me hoping that this would make hubby fall in love with cruising for the rest of his days. Ho hum!! To late for regrets now!!

by **Hephaestos** on Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:13 pm

As you get off, we'll be getting on. Don't judge cruising by the Calypso. The big ships are a world away from what you read on this board. However, it sounds like many of the problems were down to teething troubles. Fingers crossed!!

by **Hephaestos** on Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:28 am

Bummer! Looks like nobody survived the second week. Guess we'll just have to prepare for the worst!! Anybody got a Max Bygraves LP???

by **mm4143** on Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:30 pm

Heph

Strange how no-one has reviewed. I can't find anything.

Maybe thats a good sign and everyone enjoyed it.

Or there in bed still recovering you never know.

by **Hephaestos** on Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:52 pm

mm

No I can't find anything either. I'm looking forward to it now, as I like a challenge!! Nothing bodes well for this cruise. Thomson 'support' staff couldn't be bothered to return my emails and their Press Relations department is worse than useless. It was all I could do to get a grudging response from them and even then all they did was send out a brochure that I could have picked up at a travel agents'. I only hope that the crew on the ship are more forthcoming. They are Louis employees, not Thomsons. I've never booked with Thomsons before and I'm not impressed so far!