We were celebrating my sisters 50th birthday on the thomson platinum Canarian flavours cruise,but celebrations fell a bit flat when we arrived at our cabins which were on deck 8 we had paid one hundred and fourty pounds supplement plus fourty two pounds per cabin to get a pre booked outside cabin ,and on entering the cabin I felt like I was in an early sixties caravan, the paintwork was really poor the toilet seats and towels very shabby,I expected lack of space but thought we would have pleasant surroundings . Our cabin stewards Lyndon and Nataly worked very hard making up the cabins and cleaning them and we're always friendly. we had booked a thomson cruise due to the advertised open dining and took this to mean we would be able to have our meals on a table for four but how wrong were we,after a constant battle and the embaresment of having to explain to the couple they just plonked on our table that we prefer not to share tables due to our mothers hearing difficulties we gave up on the restaraunt and went self service which although adequate not what we wanted ,again it was difficult for our mother as she had to get up for her food or one of us would choose for her.we didn't really need or use the entertainment but I do now realise what Simon cowel means by you would work well on a cruise ship.the lounges and bars had lovely staff and were kept clean but I felt there would be a shortage of outside seating space in nicer weather.this was my first cruise and I was told many times you won't feel the ship moving ,this is not a true statement as you constantly felt the ship moving and as I'm prone to motion sickness did need to see th Dr for an anti sickness injection ,this was the best £24.00 I have ever spent and it worked quickly .we had pre booked the drinks package and it worked very well the red and white wine were pleasant the cocktails varied and the supplements on branded drinks just£1.20 .i don't think cruising is for me but my sister wonders if another cruise line may be better .