regards
Andy

Rating: 2 stars plus

For the large ships with more than 1000 passengers, this is the third-lowest rating in the world.

Former names: Queen Anna Maria, Empress of Britain, Carnivale, Fiesta Marina, Olympic.

Tons: 31500
Crew: 550
Passengers: 1050 basis 2, 1386 all berths
Entered Service: April 1956
Steam turbine, 22400 kw, about 30000 horsepower.
Officers: Greek
Cabin Size: 9,36 - 28 square meters (small)
Pools: 2 outside, 1 inside, 1 whirl-pool

Dining (from Berlitz):

The dining room is large, but crowded, and noisy, also it has been pleasingly redecorated.
There are two seatings. The food, be aware, is certainly not for gourmets - rather being quantity instead of quality...
...The 24-hour informal eatery (Yacht Club) is a fine piece of design, but, in practice, it is an awful operation.

So, i think, Thomson Cruises is for cheap first cruise for beginners o.k., but if you know better ships, i think, you will not be satisfied.

Schaljapin

Although Berlitz is a reasonably well respected publication, it is still one Man's (a team) opinion. A Man who has cruised on the finest ships in the world and eaten the finest maritime cuisine.

I've not Cruised on the Topaz. However, Thompson Cruises would be out of business if every single passenger was dissatisfied! I'm sure that your cruise will represent excellent value. If you don't expect the very highest standards, you will probably not be disappointed?

Andy it would be great if you could write a review for CruiseTalk when you return. Our review section does not have a review of Topaz yet.

quote:

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Originally posted by AndyHowitt:
As a veteran of over 25 cruises from the best to the worst, we are going on Topaz in January. Comments please.

[This message has been edited by AndyHowitt (edited 11-09-2000).]

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Andy, here is a hyperlink to what she looked like inside in the old days. Nice well laid out ship. Not a grand one, but comfy.

I sailed her as the Queen Anna Maria
http://www.simplon.free-online.co.uk/EmpressOfBritainPCs.html

My sentiments exactly - she looked auite nice in other colours, especially Epirotoki's, but not in those wretched rainbows. Grrrrrrr. Just goes to she you can make a sow's ear from a silk purse.

Queen Anna Maria, Oct 1965

Dear
I first saw the Queen Anna Maria (the former Canadian Pacific Empress of Britain) on her first arrival under the Greek Line flag and at that time remarked that she was fundamentally still Canadian Pacific in atmosphere, with the addition of the Night Club and lido deck area. I had been on her sister ship, Empress of England (still in CP service, Montreal to Liverpool) at least 10 years ago when they were both new and doing West Indies cruise service out of New York in the winter time. The new and larger Empress of Canada does this now.

I had the chance to sample this ship on a weekend 'cruise to nowhere', sailing at 6.30 pm, Friday 8th September. Embarkation started at 3.30 pm with a group of 15. Typical of New York - everyone loves to come to a sailing party - even for so short a cruise. Sometimes a longer cruise sails at an hour at which very few can come but late Friday afternoon was perfect to gather a large crowd. We had the portion of the Zacharatos Lounge, opposite the Dolphin Bar for our party, complete with champagne and handled by Sam (as we called him) one of the bar stewards. After we sailed Sam, seemed to be everywhere and we continued to have good service from him. On Saturday night he set up a Pre-Dinner cocktail party for 30 people for us and it was well done.

The departure was as gay as for any longer cruise and we headed majestically out to sea. I shared stateroom M81 - amidships, outside - with our own 'cruise director' and organiser. A comfortable room, with bed, convertible sofa, easy chair and bench, plus bathroom. This cabin became our 'hospitality' room, which always adds to the trip.

Our group, of 15, had two long tables for 10 in the dining room - 8 on one and 7 on the other. The line found it necessary to add 3 single people to one table - which worked out well - and we could eat at either table. We were in second sitting and had two excellent waiters. Only the Main Dining Room was used; the normal First Class Dining Room was not used at all - nor was the special Tourist Class Kosher Dining Room. The menu offered a great selection and basically everything was very good. It was not Cordon Bleu gourmet but then you must remember that they are serving 800 at two sittings with a First Class menu and considering everything, I had no complaints, and I did sample a lot. However, typical of a foreign ship, you don't get a good American breakfast - especially eggs.

The ship had three orchestras aboard - one Greek, one Italian and one American - playing for dancing or cocktail music. I thought the Greek orchestra the best. There were three variety shows - one each night - plus the usual Bingo, horse racing and Greek dancing with instruction.

Saturday was the most beautiful day at sea and the lido deck was well used. Our group had 10 deck chairs in a row (for 15 - which worked out well). We sampled the four outdoor pools - including the slides! The usual lifeboat drill had been held at 10.15 that morning.

The Promenade Deck, portside, was set up with tables and chairs for 11 am bouillon and crackers, afternoon tea and 11pm buffet. I did look in on all these but only sampled the bouillon one morning.

I never did see any trays of hors d'oeuvres served at cocktail time; only bowls of nuts and pretzels. There was no Reception or Captain's Cocktail party for passengers. This had been done on previous Greek Line weekend Cruises - also on the Queen Frederica Weekend Cruise. These are usually mob scenes but you do get a free drink and a chance to meet the Captain.

Of the public rooms, I thought the Olympian Ballroom the nicest for dancing. I didn't think much of the Night Club, except to enjoy its bar during the day - it is right at the stern. Speaking of bars, the Athenian Bar, forward, seemed to be a favourite spot of mine as well as the surrounding Garden Lounge. This was an excellent place to enjoy Greek Metaxas brandy after dinner, for 30 cents. I did try Ouzo, which is like Pernod, and costs 20 cents. Another bargain, for 10 cents, was a cup of Italian demi-tasse coffee from a huge pressure coffee machine.

There was a good photographer on board and the service was fast. The pictures, all in colour, were $2.50 each but very good. This was a considerable improvement over the service aboard Olympia, where the pictures I received had the correct numbers on them but were of unknown people.

Sunday was cloudy and overcast and with some rain. Later we were racing to New York to get away from Hurricane Doria. However, there is much diversion on board ship and a cloudy day need not interfere. We had arranged an engine-room tour for 10 that morning - which was very complete - starting from the Engineer Officer's quarters on Boat Deck and going down in their private elevator to the engine room and working back along the twin screw shafts.

In lieu of outdoor swimming, we used the indoor pool, with its gym and sauna. The latter two are new on the Queen Anna Maria and on my visit to her on her initial voyage, these were in the process of construction. The pool water was very warm and the sauna not as hot as on Swedish ships; but still, I was glad these were available for use.

The Farewell Dinner was excellent, with fine food and a Baked Alaska served flaming to all tables at one time - a take-off on the famed Swedish American Line Farewell Dinner, to which none can compare. However, this did add a fine touch to the evening and typical of any dessert course, our steward still wanted to bring us slices of watermelon and other melons, as he had done at previous meals.

We docked on Monday morning at 8 am and I was at work before 9 - completely satisfied. This was a fine cruise. What made the cruise was that our group got along so well together and we had an able 'conductor'. This was a pleasant way to spend a weekend and add another ship to those that I have tried.