We are seasoned cruisers both with Thomson's and other cruise lines. Until now we have always enjoyed cursing with Thomson and have always had a good cruise experience with them. However our latest cruise with their latest ship Discovery and the newly named company TUI was a different matter. Gone are the experienced friendly Pilipino crew to be replaced by very in experienced crew, mainly from the Balkans and Eastern Europe who are very different in nature.

The service was very patchy in the bars, it was very poor in certain parts of the ship. There was constant loud inappropriate music all over the ship both for the age group and where it was playing. I really did not want to listen to disco music while having dinner and breakfast in the main restaurant 47 degrees. The waiter service in 47 degrees and 47 degrees gallery was poor. The waiters have not been trained correctly in how to serve at table. They constantly served me before my wife, leant across me rather than serving between us. Removed my plate before my wife had finished her meal. They did not make eye contact with us while telling us who they and their assistant were. They were reading from a prepared script in their head with no real interest in us. It was like talking to someone in a call centre.

There appears to be no dress code anymore. We saw people wearing shorts and tee shirts in the main and speciality restaurants. Even on formal night the dress code was advertised as Dress to Impress, what does that mean!! somebody thought it meant dirty jogging bottoms and a union jack tee shirt which had his breakfast down the front of it. No one was challenge about their dress. I think I could have gone to dinner in a vest and that would have been OK. Read more