We have cruised with Thomson before and have enjoyed both occasions. However on this trip we were both disappointed. The layout of the ship was poor, having to work out which lift took you to the deck you wanted. This was OK after a while. Except on 2 occasions the lift broke down with us in it. Very quickly sorted but disconcerting nevertheless. Overall we found the ship very shabby, not of the standards we had experienced on our previous cruises. The staff, in the main were very helpful and efficient, although none could give us a reasonable answer to why the air conditioning was set to freezing on deck 5.

Our main complaint was that the pool and jacuzzis were out of action for at least 5 days of our cruise. We found it extremely uncomfortable to sit on the pool deck with the noise, dust and awful smell of paint. This certainly spoiled our holiday for us.

We have complained to Thomson about this, and the only responses we have received are platitudes and it was due to unforeseen circumstances that the pool needed urgent maintenance. There is nothing, other than saying Thomson take all complaints seriously and review them fairly and honestly, and that in their view is their final response. So much for their much vaunted after care. As none of those events that affected the pool and jacuzzis were our fault I do think that Thomson should take onboard some, if not all responsibility for spooling our holiday.