Topic: Thomson Cruises director admits need to modernise fleet

Cruise holiday firm Thomson Cruises is set to modernise its current fleet with upgrades to its vessels along with the potential addition of new liners.



The plans come after the firm  undertook a strategic review around nine months ago.



Managing director Fraser Ellacott revealed that the move was afoot during a recent interview with Travel Weekly in which he admitted "exciting plans" were in the offing.



Though Mr Ellacott remained cryptic in his responses, he did suggest that "for the longer term, clearly we [Thomson Cruises] have a need to modernise."



He went on to suggest that an overhaul of the current fleet was in the works, while Thomson Cruises was also considering the Middle East and North Africa for summer cruises in 2013.



The cruise chief explained that the firm felt trips to Lebanon, Libya, Algeria and the Dead Sea could prove particularly appealing to UK passengers following the Arab Spring.



Thomson Cruises is the third largest cruise holiday company in the UK, with tours operating across its four ships the Thomson Dream, Thomson Destiny, Thomson Spirit and Thomson Celebration.



The company made headlines recently with the unveiling of a new taster trip offering holidaymakers a 16-hour trip along the British coast.

Do you agree with this assessment of Thomson Cruises? What improvements do you think they should make?

 

I quite agree..We have been on the Thomson Dream twice now but i think it will be the last time.We have been lucky with our Cabins,,,But Many have not.The Bathrooms badly need doing in them all.There is also terrible smells about the ship.Particularly near the library.Lots of complaints when we where on at Christmas.Pity really as it is a lovely ship otherwise.We have no other complaints at all.great food/shows/trips.

I agree with this as the ships are beginning to be a bit worn. What they don't need to change is the wonderful, friendly staff they have on board.

Never been with them, but have heard some great reports about the food and the entertainment and staff.

Yes. Update your ships, add balconies if possible and I'm sure you would get many more willing to try.

When on Fred in December 2011, we saw T Dream in Funchal; then in Gran Canaria saw a Tui ship (could not see name); very modern, lots of balconies, all announcements being made in German. On that comparison I think they definitely need to modernise the fleet!

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I agree with this as the ships are beginning to be a bit worn. What they don't need to change is the wonderful, friendly staff they have on board.

Yes they are all wonderful.Smiling faces everywhere you go.All very helpful and pleasant.

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When on Fred in December 2011, we saw T Dream in Funchal; then in Gran Canaria saw a Tui ship (could not see name); very modern, lots of balconies, all announcements being made in German. On that comparison I think they definitely need to modernise the fleet!

There is no German announcements on the Thomson Dream...

Leslie posted
When on Fred in December 2011, we saw T Dream in Funchal; then in Gran Canaria saw a Tui ship (could not see name); very modern, lots of balconies, all announcements being made in German. On that comparison I think they definitely need to modernise the fleet!



Tui and Thomsons are part of the same company, Tui Mein Schiff would probably be the ship you saw, with all the announcement's in German.
Notice the Thomson Logo on the funnel of this German Tui ship.




The ship with the C on its funnel is the Costa Atlantica, here is a photo higher up showing both ships, together with Thomsons Spirit in Bergen Norway

Originally Thomson ships were (and some probably still are) Luis Cruises of Limassol in Cyprus under full charter, much as you would do with an aircraft. The Dream is an ex Holland and America ship which has been lengthened by about 30' and refurbished. I have friends who have just been on her and they were more than happy with the food, the service etc. etc..
We have cruised with quite a few different lines over the years and on the Thomsons Destiny. I wasn't expecting much but the ships interior was excellent; the rooms a bit tired to say the least but all made up for by the staff who were amongst the best of all.
One advntage of Thomsons is that there are no gratuities payable when you buy a drink or when you leave the ship. You can tip of course but it's not 'obligatory' as on many other cruise lines.
When Thomsons (TUI of course are a major European holiday group based in Germany and have seperate 'german' ships etc.) get their act together with their ships, they will be a formidable force in the cruise industry and the other operators had better be more competitive with their bar prices!!

We have been on about five Thomson cruises, not recently though. Although we had no complaints about the staff, food etc we had to stop cruising with them as their lack of stability affected my husbands balance badly. This has never happened on the othe ten cruises we have had with different companies. We always had an outside cabin, but on one cruise the noise from what appeared to be pipes or metal rolling about down below when the ship was moving was unbearable. On another cruise the toilet door lock was faulty and although it was supposed to have been fixed I got stuck in the toilet twice for over half an hour, it was only by banging on the outside wall to the corridor that someone came and rescued me. The smell on one ship was disgusting and made us feel sick. Smoking was every where and there were many drunk and abusive passengers. Not for us I'm afraid.