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Sailaway487

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Posts posted by Sailaway487

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    I thought it might be new ships, sorry newER , but they know about Sailaway and don't want to reveal their plans yet.;)

     

    Maybe in the new brochure?:confused:

     

    Maybe. I noticed that the 'Thomson TBC' for Villefranche says it has the capacity of 1,750 passengers - checked what they have for IE, Dream and Majesty and doesn't match either of them. Doesn't match Spirit or Celebration either so looks like a new ship to me.

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted · Edited by Sailaway487

    Island Escape's sailing dates have now gone a bit odd.

     

    Its sailings on Palma's schedule are still there, but another Thomson ship keeps being booked now along with it since the update.

     

    Villefranche's schedule has now got rid of Island Escape and replaced it with 'Thomson TBC'. Possibly Spirit to replace its itineraries as it has been booked on the same dates as the original IE Mahon ones.

     

    These schedules though are very confusing! :confused:

     

    So who knows what is actually the case!!!

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    Palma's schedule has now gone even more ridiculous!

     

    Spirit, Celebration, Majesty and Island Escape booked in on the same day on many occasions, and Majesty booked every 3/4 days!

     

    I think they're just putting any ship in now to reserve the space, and the schedule isn't updating the slots it is replacing.

    TUI to Restructure and Change Thomson Cruises!! - Announcmen & Plans in May

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    TUI has revealed their 2016/17 itineraries. Just had a look to see what they're offering - predominantly 10/11 night itineraries which is good. Overnight stops in Barcelona. New 14 night cruises around Central America, a bit like the ones Dream used to do. Better than the Montego Bay offerings they're trying. Also Orient and Far East, and a big emphasis of Northern Europe.

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted · Edited by Sailaway487

    Hi Sailaway, is everything okay with you?

    Have you managed to get any further information. We are missing your updates

     

    1. Will the new brochure be approx third week in April as normal?

    2. Know you have best projection on where the ships will be, any further detail.

    3. Any idea on itinerary line up (re: If its the dream on Corfu)

     

    big thanks in advance as you work very hard at getting information for the forum

     

    Sorry FIFE1, must have missed this post! :o

     

    As per my previous post, schedules are a bit of a mess now.

     

    Summer 2016 to be the reveal of the new Thomson Cruises???

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    Schedules are now all over the place! Celebration now in Palma, Malaga, Barcelona, Mahon and Marseille. Looks to me like Malaga departures.

     

    But it is still in Dubrovnik schedule currently. Dream has disappeared from Rome and is now only a 'To be confirmed' for Split.

     

    Very very confused. :confused:

     

    Whatever TUI's plan is for Thomson Cruises future, looking more likely summer 2016 is going to be impacted...

    TUI to Restructure and Change Thomson Cruises!! - Announcmen & Plans in May

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    I just agree with everyone.

     

    One thing though, does anyone know if Tui are mainly cruise orientated or do they do 7 night cruises and 7 night stay? I prefer longer trips with a wider range of ports.

     

    A bit of both really. They don't do cruise and stay, and they choose routes that aren't tied down just to those that their airline TUIfly go to which is good.

     

    Currently for next year, they're offering 7 night b2b cruises from Valletta, 10 night cruise from Palma, and then a good range for Northern Europe from Germany. They do Canaries and Caribbean in Winter, and unlike Thomson, the Orient with Dubai and they are just starting the Far East!

     

    If they took essences from the TUI itineraries, such as the range of actual destinations like the Far East, and also the 10 night itineraries, and then matched it with Thomson's port intensive itineraries and ones that go to lesser known ports as well as the big hitters, then they'd win hands down for me.

    TUI to Restructure and Change Thomson Cruises!! - Announcmen & Plans in May

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted · Edited by Sailaway487

    I'm guessing the current improvements they are making with the fleet was planned before the TUI merger was given the go-ahead. It does seem to me that this is the German side of the business trying to make its mark on the newly acquired UK side.

     

    Be interesting if they do go down the joint RCL venture route like TUI Cruises. Particularly as that is what Island Cruises used to be before TUI UK took it over. Talking of which, I wonder what will happen to Island Cruises? My guess is is that it will go within the next couple of years - can't see it fitting this new business model.

     

    I do agree with the point that what keeps many coming to Thomson is the Britishness feel of it. I suppose TUI could go one of two ways - have TUI Cruises and Thomson Cruises merged into one cruise line, or keep them separate and have them tailored towards the specific German/English markets. Although they have mentioned in the past how they want TUI Cruises to become more international.

     

    I hope they keep the more interesting and different itineraries (but at the same time add some more 10/11 night ones instead of just the same 7 night pattern), the current Broadway-style entertainment, and the overall friendliness on board, particularly the fantastic crew.

     

    I hope they change the ships completely, new builds if possible, but nothing over 90,000 GT, better food and drinks, better drinks packages, and overall become a more professional operation with improvements in customer service.

     

    The promises of 'modernisation' in the past have always fallen rather flat. This time though it seems as though change is going to happen finally, and something will become of it - long overdue too in my opinion.

     

    Time scale wise, I think May would mean it would be too late for any impact to happen in summer 2016, as usually the brochure is out in April. Although, it would explain why the cruise schedules I'm looking at keep changing and are rather secretive.

     

    If I had to guess, I'd say Mein Schiff 1 & 2 would transfer over to Thomson once TUI gets another couple of new builds sailings, replacing Majesty and Spirit. While at the same time, two new-builds were commissioned to replace Dream and Celebration couple of years later. Almost follow the same pattern of TUI Cruises formation.

    Thomson return to Ex-UK?

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    Just spotted this on the official Thomson Cruise FB page; possibly just hearsay but it is a member of staff who has posted it. Maybe Thomson are feeling the squeeze with passengers moving to other lines who sail ex-UK?

     

     

     

    " Hi Bronwyn Our cruise trading team constantly review itineraries and destinations so they took the decision for the Spirit to be based in Turkey for this summer. However the team might make a decision in the future where we might sail from the UK so please keep an eye on our website. ^Craig"

     

    There's definitely something odd and secretive going on with the itineraries for 2016.

     

    Celebration is down to be going from Dubrovnik every week, but then also appears on various Tuesday's in Palma Mallorca.

     

    Dream is on Split's and Dubrovnik's schedule, so it looks to be doing Corfu itineraries. It was down to be in Rome (Italian Flavours itinerary), but this has now gone from their schedules.

     

    Majesty is down weekly for Palma's cruises, this seems to be a definite.

     

    Then Spirit is down in Gibraltar at the end of May. Why would it be so far west at this time? Perhaps going up to doing ex-UK cruises? Or maybe it is Spirit that is down for Palma's various Tuesday calls, but Celebration has been put by accident as the two ships have the same specs? These Palma stops come from Malaga, then to Palma where it leaves at 21:00, suggesting it isn't starting/ending in Palma, then onto Barcelona. Perhaps Spirit is doing Malaga cruises for the summer?

     

    Would make sense to move Spirit elsewhere as I wonder whether Marmaris itineraries are selling that well, can't see the Black Sea being very popular at the moment, and the cruises have become limited since not going to Egypt.

     

    They are being more secretive though this time, not adding ships into schedules, adding them in and then taking them out, or not having the name of the ship but the specs match one of theirs.

     

    Can't find any Thomson ship stopping at any ex-UK port though.

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    And I am penciling in the Majesty in the Med in 2016 :D

     

    Happy New Year Sailaway. Glad you are OK, we thought you had "Done a Berwyn" :D:D

     

    No, I'm still here! :D

     

    Just been busy lately.

     

    To add Celebration's itineraries, looks as though it is going to be doing an extended season from Dubrovnik, with cruises sailing into November. Durres in Albania is going to be added to the itineraries.

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    Celebration is definitely back in Dubrovnik. Looks to be doing similar itineraries to this summers, and in the same pattern: 2 itineraries to Venice, 1 around Greece and 1 with Malta; in the pattern of Itinerary 1 > Itinerary 2 > Itinerary 3 > Itinerary 4 > Itinerary 1 > etc.

     

    Dream is definitely in Corfu. Already penciling in my b2b of Adriatic Explorer and Italian Flavours on the Dream for 2016! :D

    Summer 2016

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    Hi, sorry for not posting for a while!

     

    Not got any more info I'm afraid. At the moment it looks like Majesty in Palma, Dream in Corfu, but not sure on the other two. I think Spirit's season may be slightly different as there is a date in Gibraltar for the ship at the end of May, which is unusual. Will post if there is anything else that appears, but they're being a lot more secretive this year.

    Virgin Cruises Confirmed

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted · Edited by Sailaway487

    Are they targeting the UK or American market Sailaway? Any info on size of ships? Will be very interesting to see what market share they will pitch at also where they will slot into the hierarchy from budget to luxury - probably not high end but with new ships they could certainly mix things up a bit. Wonder too where they will base themselves.

     

     

    Head office is going to be based in Miami so I'm guessing they'll be going for an international market like RCL and Carnival.

     

    No info yet on the ships, but there is a quote saying

     

    “They’ll be sailing on the latest ships offering a great quality, a real sense of fun and many exciting activities all delivered with the famed Virgin service.”

     

    Sounds like a cross between Ocean Village, RCL and TUI Cruises. If so, then I think they're probably onto a winner. Plus, I would bet they will use their Virgin Atlantic flights to promote UK cruisers to try them out around the Caribbean.

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