Guest Solent Richard Posted August 7, 2015 Report Share Posted August 7, 2015 I'll bet that headline surprised some folk. But seriously I was delighted to learn from a friend of mine who also writes a blog, Tom's Cruise Blog.co.uk, that Thomson had won a landmark case over it's responsibilty concerning outbreaks of Norovirus. The case, which centred around an outbreak of norovirus on board the Thomson ship, Thomson Spirit, was one of these class actions and involved a total of 43 claimants. 28 claimants alleged that they had contracted norovirus while the remainder claiming breach of contract... http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/cruise-line-wins-landmark-norovirus-case "Judge David Mitchell, sitting in the Central London County Court, found in favor of the cruise line, saying that it was a very well-controlled outbreak and that the cruise line applied and implemented its systems well and that the cruise line was not negligent". "In coming to his decision, the judge took into account not only the evidence taken from the ship but also evidence from the passengers. This included passenger complaints about not being able to have self-service food, being given paper napkins and being confined to their cabins. The judge found, however, that these complaints were deemed to be evidence of compliance with the ships’ outbreak plan". The Judgement appears to be the first claim of its type to be successfully defended at trial in the United Kingdom and is of considerable importance to the cruise industry and recognises that norovirus is not caused by the ship. That final line is exactly what the majority of cruisers recognise and in my view points the finger fairly and squarely at those passengers, whom we have all witnessed, have poor hygiene standards. Furby, Matilda_1, RobBar and 1 other 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted August 7, 2015 Report Share Posted August 7, 2015 Another outcome on the above issue that pleases me no end is that these 'no win no fee' 'ambulance chasing' lawyers have just taken a rather deserved financial knock. RobBar and Cunardcruiser 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruise chef 866 Posted August 7, 2015 Report Share Posted August 7, 2015 Very Interesting & the right decision, maybe passengers might be more concerned about there own hygiene & welfare of others in future. I would say I have observed both staff & customers alike who frankly shouldnt be let loose in public. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels36 450 Posted August 7, 2015 Report Share Posted August 7, 2015 The issue here is that the cruise line was able to win the case by showing that it complied with it's "outbreak plan". Any future legal challenge will have to prove an inadequate "outbreak plan", and this would be far more difficult as current UK Health and Safety Law is based on document compliance not document quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sinbad10 757 Posted August 7, 2015 Report Share Posted August 7, 2015 Suing because they had to be waiter served instead of self service option being available and perish the thought of having to use a paper napkin . Well done the judge another case of greedy people trying to get compo. Cunardcruiser and ron 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Obviously not too many Thomson cruisers on this forum judging by the lack of comments. I'd probably say that Fred Olsen are also pleased that Thomson won the case, they being one of the biggest sufferers of the norovirus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels36 450 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I think that all cruise lines have suffered from the virus, but perhaps some have been more fortunate than others regarding subsequent publicity. In May I thought that the control measures on Azura were noticeably more rigorous than on the previous cruise on Oriana, but these now seem minimal compared with the "mandatory" controls on Fred Olsen's - Balmoral. At the entrance to every room there is a "hand-wash dispenser stand", while the restaurants have a double defence, with the "hand-wash dispenser stand backed up by a member of staff with a bottle. In the toilets a notice invites you to open the door using a tissue from a box supplied, and most people seem to be complying. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jaguar01 546 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Hello,sorry I can't be bothered to read the whole thread, but I do totally agree with Richard,it is not allways the case,that the lawyers took a big hit.Was it Billy Graham who said lets kill all the lawyers.? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Terminator 916 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Hello,sorry I can't be bothered to read the whole thread, but I do totally agree with Richard,it is not allways the case,that the lawyers took a big hit.Was it Billy Graham who said lets kill all the lawyers.? I think it was Pol Pot... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 On a slightly different tack, but still a 'well done Thomson', I read elsewhere that on Thomson Celebration they charge £13.00 a head for 'VIP' seats (?) in their show lounge and similarly for a high level deck space to witness sail aways. Whatever next? Charging to use the cabin safe? RobBar 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oldworldtraveller 2225 Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 They already charge to use the cabin safe or at least they used to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 They already charge to use the cabin safe or at least they used to. Actually i know they do OldWorldTraveller. It was just me and my facetious sense of humous that raised the point. Oldworldtraveller 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sea Cruiser 89 Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 What do you all think of the Thomson Ships? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sammy sun 1084 Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 I see they now have the old Royal Caribbean ship Splendour of the Seas. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sinbad10 757 Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 What do you all think of the Thomson Ships? We have friends one couple always cruised on Thomsons and they said they preferred them after cruising on Princess so went back to Thomson's and the other couple cruised on P&O and said they thought the food and entertainment and staff were better on Thomson,s but P&O ships were nicer. I suppose its subjective and is down to personal opinion nobody is right or wrong. RobBar 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 We have friends one couple always cruised on Thomsons and they said they preferred them after cruising on Princess so went back to Thomson's and the other couple cruised on P&O and said they thought the food and entertainment and staff were better on Thomson,s but P&O ships were nicer. I suppose its subjective and is down to personal opinion nobody is right or wrong. It certainly is subjective Sinbad. So much revolves around a person's lifestyle. I tried Thomson and decided it just wasn't for me. It's a very basic style of cruising which obviously suits some folk. Kind of a niche market where they still allow smoking on their balconies (well, what few they have). Oldworldtraveller 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 132LK132 Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 It was just me and my facetious sense of humous that raised the point. Middle Eastern Chickpeas perhaps!!! I tried Thomson and decided it just wasn't for me. It's a very basic style of cruising which obviously suits some folk. Kind of a niche market where they still allow smoking on their balconies (well, what few they have). Go on tell the truth! You did like it and spoke highly of the entertainment but didn't like the mashed potato and have held it against them since! Anyhow you could always have had some hummus! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted September 1, 2015 Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 Middle Eastern Chickpeas perhaps!!! Go on tell the truth! You did like it and spoke highly of the entertainment but didn't like the mashed potato and have held it against them since! Anyhow you could always have had some hummus! Mashed Potato LK? Surely one means 'Pomme Puree'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted September 1, 2015 Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 Middle Eastern Chickpeas perhaps!!! Go on tell the truth! You did like it and spoke highly of the entertainment but didn't like the mashed potato and have held it against them since! Anyhow you could always have had some hummus! Actually the crowning glory of my one and only Thomson Gastronomic adventure was the 'frozen' Ratatouille. How any cruise line sailing round the Canaries and calling into ports six days out of 7 need to serve so much frozen freshly available food beggars belief. Freezing the vegetables /ingredients that constitute ratatouille destroys the very texture that the dish depends upon. The funny thing was that four of our table companions had never experienced the dish previously and thought it was normal. More recently I've heard another member had a 'veggie' experience with Thomson. It turned out to be a load of cabbage. RobBar 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobBar 204 Posted September 1, 2015 Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 On a slightly different tack, but still a 'well done Thomson', I read elsewhere that on Thomson Celebration they charge £13.00 a head for 'VIP' seats (?) in their show lounge and similarly for a high level deck space to witness sail aways. Whatever next? Charging to use the cabin safe? Please Richard ,, no ideas , next will be a charge to use the public toilets instead of your cabin. The complaints will then be for the elevators not responsive enough to get you to your cabin. Seriously ... a good judgement unless the CDC and UK equivalent proved the ship itself had failed hygiene standards prior and not applied cleaning as required. Oldworldtraveller 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Solent Richard Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Please Richard ,, no ideas , next will be a charge to use the public toilets instead of your cabin. The complaints will then be for the elevators not responsive enough to get you to your cabin. Seriously ... a good judgement unless the CDC and UK equivalent proved the ship itself had failed hygiene standards prior and not applied cleaning as required. Or a charge to have those single beds made into a double? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oldworldtraveller 2225 Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 My last cruise with Thomson was on Spirit. One evening Roast Beef was on the menu and I asked the waiter 'how is it done' 'in the oven' was the reply. Having rephrased the question I selected this dish and asked for mustard and was presented with a plastic bottle, the type found in cafes. Most staff were very good and drinks were at a reasonable price but the entertainment I thought was amateurish. Never again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sammy sun 1084 Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 I've never done a Thomson cruise but I've heard mixed reviews. I know of some friends who sailed with them last September as they were looking for a quick getaway and had limited dates to work with. They got a decent deal and enjoyed themselves, saying the service and overall value for money was good. The negatives were that the food was not great and the ship was looking very dates in areas but they didn't complain too much as it fitted with their dates and got them exactly what they wanted, a decent last minute getaway at a good price. My only other knowledge of someone cruising with Thomson was in Gibraltar a few years ago. I was on board Aurora with my now wife and family and a Thomson ship was docked alongside us. I remember seeing a woman crying on a bench being consoled by her husband. She was pleading with him not to make her get back on board. We didn't ask the details (as who would) but I don't imagine that Thomson received a positive review on their return Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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