zMarella Celebration

My wife and I boarded as foot passengers in May 2010 at Marmaris Marina, Turkey, from where the Ship now turns around every Monday. The initial embarkation process was a bit of a mare as we were 'tagged-on' to a coach party from Holland, where it was presumed our passports should be processed with our new ship-mates! Not the case folks - if you are based in resort (Marmaris) do not let Immigration cancel your Visa as Turkey DOES NOT operate multi-entry Visas, and you will be charged £10 per head again when you disembark your cruise. My Tip Number 1: 'hold on to your passport until you see the Purser on board!
The Ship is well laid out, has above average sized cabins - which are very comfortable - backed up with the services of your own Cabin Steward/ess; inside cabins offer exceptional value for money. In the cruise price is a fully waitered-service restaurant for main meals (not set sittings)as well as a self-service restaurant offering around-the-clock cuisine, from a positively sumptious selection; beleive me there is a dish for every pallete and the Maitre D' will ensure special dietary needs are met or get you a table reservation of the Haute Cuisine restaurant for any special occassions. There is usually one Formal Evening per cruise; this is completely at each passenger's disgresion and non-compulsory - so you need not worry if you dont use all your baggage allowance!
There is an option for fully-inclusive alcoholic drinks package where all your party must take; drinks prices are reasonable (£3.10 for draught beers and £3.60 for ****tails); organisers make much-ado about the forty ml measure for spirits but only one bar we saw (Horisons) stuck to the rules! My Tip No.2: If you like strong ****tails, insist and watch the barman!!
The Celebration has a full entertainment team who are professional, extremely talented and enthusiastic; if you have opted fro a fourteen-day cruise, panic-not as the entertainment programme is nicely tempered over two weeks so you will never be bored. The Cruise Director and his team will ensure all activities go with a bang, down to popular TV style games shows or cash-prize Bingo! The Cabaret Show each night are a delight on the eye and ears.
Shore excursions in the many and varied ports-of-call are extra, well managed and fully couriered/guided but can be expensive overall; its up to the passenger whether to be part of the herd or be more adventurous, self-sufficient and worthy-wise. The Destinations desk will give free advice, as well as town maps. My Tip No.3: You can get to Ephesus (Ancient Roman City as in the Bible) by local taxi from Kushadasi Port for a fraction of the Ship tour - team up with fellow passengers and halve your costs again!
Conclusion: I thoroughly recommend the Thomson Celebration to all: Ship offers much to passengers of every age, the food is extremely good, itineries well thought-out and interesting; is great value for money when Brits actually barter. Marmaris is beatiful in itself, and the trip in and out of Marmaris Bay, is positively breathtaking. www.LowcostCruising.com John Hagan