We sailed on the Spirit on a three night break, visiting Amsterdam (berthed in Ljmuiden) and Bruges (berthed in Zeebrugge). As you will see from our ratings, we had a great time on board. The ship is clean and well appointed, Crew are, as usual, friendly, efficient and very helpful. We ate in both the Compass Rose restaurant and the Lido restaurant and found the meals in both to be varied and satisfying, with waiter service in the Compass Rose attentive and efficient. The cabin was nothing to shout about but quite adequate for our needs and kept spotless by our steward.
But, oh! what a disaster when it came to the advertised excursions. On a ship carrying something like 1200-odd passengers, calling at Amsterdam and Bruges, it would not seem beyond the bounds of conjecture that most people would be interested in going to visit these places. Thomsons apparently failed to make this leap of logic and were woefully underprepared for the demand. The two most popular tours, Amsterdam and canal tour and Bruges and chocolate factory tour, were oversubscribed by 4.00 pm on the day of departure and closed to further bookings. This was before the usual "where to go and what to see" introduction to ports of call, which did not take place until 5.00pm! We heard that there were only two fifty seater buses arranged for Amsterdam and canal tour but that might have been malicious rumour as we could find no one to substantiate it.
However, Thomsons did arrange a "get you there and do your own thing" sort of compromise. They put on two shuttle buses (again 50 seat jobs) to run people to the hydrofoil service into Amsterdam and later to collect them and return to the ship. This would have been fine had not the overspill from the excursion turned out to be around four or five hundred people.
This resulted, in our case, in a wait of an hour and a half to get on the bus and when we left there were many,many more still waiting. But we didn't go to the hydrofoil as by this time it was fully booked until 3.00pm and took only fifty at a time anyway. Instead we were taken to the centre of Ljmuiden and left at the bus stop to catch the local number 82 into Amsterdam. Another half hours wait and the bus came. We stood for the entire 45 minute ride.
Prior to going, we had asked if the amusingly titled Destination Service desk could let us have a map of the city to help us get around. Their response?? Sorry, we don't have any as it's our first time here this year. In the end, our day in Amsterdam was reduced to around four and a half hours. And during all that time no Thomsons employee attended to explain what was (or was not) going on or answer questions from the assembled multitude.
Have not Thomsons heard of the world famous "Six P" formula?? Readers not familiar with this should ask a friend. Many in that queue were first time cruisers and the experience has deterred them from further cruises, at least with Thomsons.
The Bruges excursion was slightly better in that we did get onto an excursion with a guide but had to settle for a visit to a brewery rather than the chocolate factory we would have preferred.
If others who were involved in the Great Amsterdam Fiasco should read this account and feel I have been factually incorrect, please post your own account and put the record straight, even if it means adding to the catalogue of woes.
Travel operator:
Thomson
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