There’s a short video about Thomson’s newest ship and Flagship, ”Thomson Dream’ here:
http://media.thomson.co.uk/asset/v00/775/979.asx
Although it is made up of still images. Fares for 2010 are also on their web site:
http://www.thomson.co.uk/cruise.html
(See my review of ‘Thomson Celebration’, menu right)
Costa Europa
Carnival Corporation announced this week that the 1,488-passenger Costa Europa, currently operated by its Costa Cruises brand, Europe’s number one cruise line, will join British travel company Thomson Cruises under a 10-year bareboat charter beginning in April 2010. Under the agreement, Thomson has an option to purchase the ship any time after five years.
Costa Europa, which joined the Costa fleet in 2002, was one of the first ships to operate on regular cruises in the Arabian Gulf, with departures from Dubai, and the Indian Ocean out of Mauritius.
Costa Europa originally entered service in 1986 as Home Line’s Homeric and then sailed for many years as Westerdam for Holland America. When she joins the Thomson fleet she will be reunited with two other former Holland America ships: Thomson Spirit sailed as Nieuw Amsterdam and Thomson Celebration sailed as Noordam. Costa Europa will be renamed Thomson Dream when she joins the fleet and she will sail from Palma, Majorca.
Although the Costa Europa will be leaving, Costa is continuing to expand its fleet of 14 ships currently in service. The Italian company’s fleet expansion program is in fact presently the biggest of its kind in the world with five new ships entering service between 2009 and 2012 representing a total investment of 2.4 billion euros. The Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica were named together on June 5, 2009 in Genoa, Italy. In late January 2010, the Costa Deliziosa, sister ship to the Costa Luminosa, will be introduced. Two sister ships to the Costa Pacifica are scheduled to debut in 2011 and 2012.
Over the next three years, Carnival Corporation & plc will launch 13 vessels for seven different brands.
“While we continue to grow our business with new and exciting vessels, we are also divesting of older tonnage which allows us to offer one of the most modern, technologically advanced fleets in the cruise industry,” said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO.
(Travelpage.com)
Experience: If you are wondering exactly what the Thomson cruise experience is like, I have two reviews of ‘Thomson Celebration’, menu right.
I am recently back from a 7 night ‘Colourful Coasts’ cruise on ‘Thomson Celebration’. So wa sit cheap? Are they second rate? Was the ship full of Chavs?
Celebration 29/3/09 Santa Cruz, La Palma
I’ve written a ridiculously long (extensive) review of the ship/cruise telling you how it really is: warts and all. Please see menu right.
Malcolm
Thomson Cruises to focus on eastern Med Thomson Cruises is to position a ship in Turkey next summer as part of a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean The Thomson Celebration will run new itineraries from Marmaris in Turkey. The company is also relocating the Thomson Spirit to Corfu for 2010.
Thomson Destiny (Ex RCI 'song of America')
Thomson Celebration’s fly-cruises from May next year will cover destinations including Izmir, Santorini, Alexandria and Ashdod in Israel with prices starting at £779 per person. Thomson Spirit will sail from Corfu to Venice, Dubrovnik, Kotor in Montenegro, Athens and Rhodes with rates starting at £749.
TUI UK & Ireland director of cruising David Selby said: “Our new summer 2010 programme reaffirms our belief that the Eastern Mediterranean is the next cruising hotspot for the UK market, it reflects our ongoing commitment to our customers and what we believe they are looking for when booking a cruise holiday. “The launch of a brand new full season of cruises from Marmaris in Turkey with flights from 12 UK airports offers our customers easy access to an exciting and popular area of the Mediterranean.”
Thomson Destiny will run three itineraries from Palma with departures on Saturdays rather than Thursdays with connecting flights from 14 UK airports. Prices start at £699. The line is retiring smallest ship Calypso at the end of 2009 after a summer of cruises from Halkidiki and an seven-night farewell voyage from Limassol.
(Phil Davies – Travelmole)
(Malcolm Says: Don’t worry about those fares, Thomson offer some very good discounts especially nearer departure).
