This was our 5th Thomson cruise and our first on the Spirit and like the previous 4 it did not disappoint us. The flights to and from Dalaman were on time and the coach transfers to and from Marmaris took about 1 1/2 hours. Both embarkation and debarkation were well organised and efficient. The ship is one of the oldest in the fleet and we believe is due to be retired in a year or two, but it is spotlessly clean and comfortable. We had an inside cabin which was more than adequate in size for the two of us, with plenty of storage space. Our cabin Stewards Robert and Lloyd were excellent. We ate breakfast and dinner in the Compass Rose restaurant where our waiters Joe, Cece and wine waiter Mario not only provided excellent service but great craic. The food was excellent with sufficient choice to suit anyone. We purchased the wine package at £99 for 7 bottles. The entertainment shows each evening were fantastic, better than some we have attended at home. We had a great time and plan to go with Thomson again, they really suit us.

As to shore excursions, we did our own thing. Having researched private tours to Ephesus we found that Ephesus Shuttle had great reviews. From our initial email to Suzan the whole experience was first class and very professional. We booked the Shuttle 2 Tour leaving at 8.30am at a cost of 55 US dollars each, much better value that the ship's tour. Suzan answered all our emails promptly and we were delighted to learn that payment would not be taken until the end of the tour. We arrived on the dockside in Kusadasi around 8.15am and our guide Millie was already waiting for us. She explained that we were the only two people booked for the tour that day. We asked would it still go ahead and she said of course, they never cancel a tour once it's booked. She led us to to our 'private' air conditioned mini bus. Our driver Mousa was excellent. He made sure we were comfortably seated and drove very carefully throughout the trip. We first went to the House of Mary, then on to the wonders of Ephesus itself including a visit to the Terrace Houses which are amazing and not included in the ships tour. On the way back we stopped at the Temple of Artemis and we were able to view the Basilica of St. John and the Isabey Mosque in the distance. Millie our guide is a lovely young woman, her English is excellent, she is friendly and approachable and is very knowledgeable about all of the sites, she took care to answer all our questions. She did not rush us and ensured we understood what we were looking at. We arrived back at the ship at 1pm. We would highly recommend Ephesus Shuttle and thank Millie, Mousa and Suzan for our a wonderful day. In Athens we took the Hop-on-Hop off Bus Tour which cost 20 euro each and includes a stop at the Acropolis. Entry to the Acropolis is 12 euro each but on the day we visited it was free - so we were well pleased with our decision to go it alone.