Thomson Cruises to Rebrand to Marella Cruises and Asia Cruises Confirmed

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/289189/thomson-cruises-to-be-rebranded-as-marella-cruises

Thomson Cruises is to be rebranded as Marella Cruises, at the same time that Thomson changes to Tui later this month.

Marella, meaning ‘shining sea’ in Celtic, was selected to give the cruise line ‘stand out in the cruise market’ and to give it its own identity from the company’s European cruise brand, Tui Cruises.

Distribution and cruise director Helen Caron said: “We don’t want British guests to be confused with the group’s cruise business in Europe. Marella Cruises will still have the Tui smile logo, but a new Marella Cruises logo in a blue box, similar to the way we would market Sensatory as part of the world of Tui. The name was chosen to reflect the spirit of exploration and discovery across the seas.”

Confirming Marella cruises would still offer its fully-integrated fly-cruise programme, from 22 regional UK airports, across its fleet of six ships once Marella Explorer enters service in May 2018, Caron added: “Marella Cruises takes us to a cruise brand from a tour operator brand. We expect the new name to open us up to a whole new market of customers who haven’t considered a Thomson cruise before. It’s very exciting and come at the perfect time as we modernise our fleet and add more and more destinations.”

News of the rebrand came as Tui also announced a new homeport in Asia for winter 2018. The newly named Marella Discovery will sail from Lankawi to 18 new ports of call on 14 new adult-only itineraries, with customers also able to join from Bangkok. Ports of call include Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia and Kuala Lumpur, and also to Mumbai, Mangalore, Cochin and Colombo.

Caron said: “Asia is an incredibly diverse part of the world and I have no doubt that our customers are going to love their adventures across countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, India and Oman to name a few.”

For the first time in the company’s history, Tui is also going to base two ships in Barbados in winter 2018. Marella Explorer will be joined by Marella Celebration.

A bit more info on the new Asia cruises:

To celebrate the launch of Marella Cruises, the company has unveiled exciting new itineraries across Asia as part of its winter 2018 programme. The newly renamed Marella Discovery will sail to 18 exotic new ports of call on 14 new adult-only itineraries, including Colours of the Far East, departing from Bangkok, Thailand and Enchanting Far East, setting sail from Langkawi in Malaysia. Marella Discovery’s South East Asian adventure will take it to vibrant destinations such as Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Kuala Lumpur. In addition to this lusted-after corner of the world, Marella Discovery will also sail to India, calling at fascinating ports including Mumbai, Mangalore, Mormugao (Goa), Cochin (Kerala) and Colombo (Sri Lanka), and to the Middle East, with highlights including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat.

Very pleased to see the Far East finally being offered! I am really not too sure on this whole Marella Cruises thing though, particularly if it is going to be rebranded as soon as the end of this month when Thomson moves to TUI. I get that they need to distinguish it from the German TUI Cruises, but still think it is a bit of an odd move. Still, suppose it is just a name.

Very pleased to see the Far East finally being offered! I am really not too sure on this whole Marella Cruises thing though, particularly if it is going to be rebranded as soon as the end of this month when Thomson moves to TUI. I get that they need to distinguish it from the German TUI Cruises, but still think it is a bit of an odd move. Still, suppose it is just a name.

Hi Sailaway 487 nice to have you back and all is well. please quote me if iam wrong Explorer and Celebration home based Barbados,

Discovery 2 Jamaica

Discovery 1 far east

Dream Canary,s.

Hi Sailaway 487 nice to have you back and all is well. please quote me if iam wrong Explorer and Celebration home based Barbados,

Discovery 2 Jamaica

Discovery 1 far east

Dream Canary,s.

Looks to be, yes. Seemed to have moved Celebration over to Barbados instead of Dom Rep.

No mention of the Dream in the press release, her days with Thomson/TUI/Marella must now surely be numbered.

Extremely interesting. Thank you Sailaway.

It is mentioned on Facebook that Marella is an Italian fashion brand. Just checked, it is true

Ooops

My initial though was, what a naff name but if it means shining sea that's OK

Looks to be, yes. Seemed to have moved Celebration over to Barbados instead of Dom Rep.

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Silly me different day

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I'd only just got used to saying TUI and now this - Marella sounds like an underwear brand it's awful. And a blue box logo along with the TUI smile - too much.

So pleased hubby can now cruise to Asia for his 70th winter 2019 where we've always wanted to go - but on an all British ship - fantastic

Am I the only one of the mindset - it it ain't broke, don't fix it !!!

Am I the only one of the mindset - it it ain't broke, don't fix it !!!

Overpaid administrators looking to be seen to earn their wages:D I am pleased that they are expanding their itineraries.

Thomson was to cruising what C & A was to the High Street. Cheap and Cheerful and well suited to the British clientele. When C & A started to re-brand by changing their Logo and moving over to European buying, the customers didn't like it. The buyers were stocking the stores with garments more suited to Angela Merkal than the more fashion conscious British customer. Sales plummeted and they eventually closed every store in the UK. They blamed competition on the High Street. Hmmmm !

Now the Germans are at it again.

There have been many cutbacks over the past few years. Most noticeably in the reduction of staff. Waiters in the past always had time to stop and chat at your table, make flowers and do little tricks and still manage to serve five courses efficiently. Now they and bar staff are run off their feet. Dinner is now three courses and you will be lucky to leave the restaurant in less than two hours and usually without coffee. It's all about selling now...... All Inclusive ? You will be lucky to find a waiter.

I can see many loyal customers jumping ship especially with some of the new itineraries being adult only and cruises being more expensive due to becoming AI, which doesn't suit everyone.

The new itineraries look exciting. Just hope the company keep passengers well informed about visa requirements etc. for the new destinations as after you have booked and they have your money they won't be interested. Their after sales service is abysmal.

I hope it all goes well even if I think the new name is awful.

Thomas Cook have not been slow to get a dig in at Thomsons rebranding - see video !!!

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/289011/thomas-cook-facebook-and-twitter-ad-takes-swipe-at-rival-tuis-rebrand

Apart from the visas will we need to take Marella tablets as well?

I thought I was still watching once upon a time - it sounds like a name that came from a new realm !!

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Marella, either Star of the Sea or Shining Sea in Celtic.

Apparently it is pronounced Marel-la, just like Kora La? Or it could be Ma-rel-la

As a laddie I vaguely remember a chocolate spread of that name (or similar ?) - nice on toast !!!

Oh, Asia itineraries will be very tempting, always wanted to tour SE Asia on a ship and now we will be able to with our favourite cruise line.

As for the name change, well that's a bit weird if I'm honest. I'd rather say we cruise with Tui than "Marella", which according to Google is already a women's clothes company in the UK (which also sells through John Lewis): https://gb.marella.com/. Someone at marketing didn't do their homework!

As said previously it's an Italian clothing company. Why in the world would they want to name a cruise line with the same name If Marella is a trademark won't they be in trouble?

Perhaps it was intended to be Marbella - but a letter dropped off, just like a recent political party conference goof ?

Apparently it is also a girls name, can you trademark a girls name?

Anyway a question for the moderators. Are you going to rename and move the Thomson forum?

edit - just googled it and it appears to be a trademark of Marella S R L plus Marella design designs door furniture and there is a Marella wines in the USA. It is either a big oops or maybe calling it Marella cruises is OK if confusing

Apparently it is also a girls name, can you trademark a girls name?

 

Anyway a question for the moderators. Are you going to rename and move the Thomson forum?

 

edit - just googled it and it appears to be a trademark of Marella S R L plus Marella design designs door furniture and there is a Marella wines in the USA. It is either a big oops or maybe calling it Marella cruises is OK if confusing

Perhaps it's OK that it's a sub brand i.e. TUI Sensimar, TUI Marella, and does not market anything like the products that the other Marellas do.

E.g. we have a Smith's Travel, not to be confused with Smith's Crisps.

If it was a major brand name such as TUI Coca Cola, it would likely be different.

According to a Google hit - "Copyright protection does not extend to titles, names, slogans or short phrases" - so, presumably, Marella does not infringe the intellectual property of any other commercial user of that name ?