Dream is starting to come true

Thomson Dream’s first season of cruises in the Med came to an end this week as the ship arrived in Harwich, and then sailed for a multi-million dry-dock and refit in Hamburg.
The 1,500-passenger vessel, largest in Thomson’s fleet, had a stormy ride earlier this year with passengers complaining about faulty air conditioning and problems with bathrooms following its transfer from Costa Cruises.
But recent passenger questionnaires have shown 100 per cent scores of “good” or “excellent” for service and 99 per cent for food, entertainment and cabins.
Managing director David Selby said: “We accept that there were challenges following Thomson Dream’s introduction to the fleet in April but the customer feedback over the summer as a whole has underlined the efforts our crew have put in to deliver a fantastic cruise experience to all our customers.”
Selby will announce next week what work is to be undertaken on the ship during its six-week stay in Bremen. It will be in Southampton on December 8, ready to cross the Atlantic to begin a season in the Caribbean.
Cabins are available on the 15-night voyage from £774 per person (two sharing a cabin). The cruise visits La Coruna in Spain, Porto, Madeira, Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados. The fare includes free coach travel to Southampton and return flights from Bridgetown to Bournemouth, Glasgow or Manchester.
A 14-night Classic Caribbean cruise in January, visiting Havana, Cuba – which is off-limits to American cruise ships – the Dominican Republic, Tortola in the British Virgin Isles, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, Columbia and Jamaica, is available from £1,349 per person. Based on January 6 departure, and including return flights from Gatwick, East Midlands or Manchester.
Go to www.thomson.co.uk/cruise or call 0871 231 3243.
NOT SURE how you’d pack a family treasure to have it assessed on an Antiques Roadshow cruise, but the opportunity is available on board Fred Olsen’s Black Watch, sailing to the Mediterranean next May.
At least it’s a round trip from Dover, departing on May 18, and the 23-night voyage takes in Gibraltar, Cagliari, Athens, Istanbul, Malta, Tunis, Cadiz and Lisbon as well as a number of smaller ports.
On board for the first half of the journey will be Lars Tharp, a former director of Sothebys, and then Roadshow colleague Will Farmer, who specialises in 20th Century decorative arts. Both will give talks as well as offering valuations.
Fares from £2,279 per person. Go to www.fredolsencruises.co.uk or call 01473 742424.
New to cruising? Go to www.discovercruises.co.uk for advice on ships and destinations.