Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	332
Accommodation	200	137
Food	400	241
Service	400	261
Entertainment	100	64
Cruise	400	278

How this score is created

Thomson Celebration (formerly Holland America Line’s Noordam) and sister to Thomson Spirit (formerly Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam), has a nicely raked bow and a contemporary transom stern, but overall the ship’s angular exterior superstructure design makes it look rather squat. There is a good amount of open deck space, and the traditional teakwood decks outdoors include a wrap-around promenade deck. The ship, however, is now quite dated and occasionally suffers from some vibration. Perhaps its best asset is its friendly and personable international crew.

The ship has a spacious interior design and layout, with most public rooms located aft in a vertical arrangement, while accommodation is positioned in the forward section, which keeps noise away from the accommodation areas. The soothing color combinations do not jar the senses; although they are rather dark and somber, with some new color splashes added during the ship’s refurbishment in 2005. There is much polished teakwood and rosewood paneling throughout the interiors. Horizon’s observation lounge, atop the ship, is a pleasant retreat, with fine views forward. The main lounge, which has a small balcony level, is reminiscent of those found on former ocean liners, and is really more suited to cabaret entertainment, and not full production shows. While children are also catered to (with their own play areas and hosts), the majority of passengers are adults.

The ship is exclusively chartered by Thomson Cruises, so your fellow passengers are likely to be mostly British, and typically about 90 percent of passengers will be over 55. Refreshingly, all gratuities are included, and the onboard currency is the pound sterling. Thomson Celebration operates a wide variety of cruises, and, for part of the year, is based in the UK.

Thomson Cruises’ ships are non-smoking, although smoking areas are provided in most public rooms. Note that there are many interior (no view) cabins, and standing in line for embarkation, disembarkation, shore tenders and for self-serve buffet meals is an inevitable aspect of cruising aboard all large ships.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008