New Ship Rumours?

[Sailaway487]

Was just on the Thomson Cruises Facebook page (not the fan one, but the actual one), and I was looking at the new 'Life Onboard' magazine there promoting, and I noticed a comment by someone asking if the rumours regarding a new ship coming were true or not.

 

Not heard any rumours myself, but has anyone else? Perhaps something that is being discussed on the fan Facebook page that we are missing out on. :D

 

Anyone heard of anything at all? :confused:

[pressy]

I have been on all the Facebook pages and heard nothing other than the usual speculation

[geomagot]

these rumours pop up every now and then...would be nice...just a dream

 

if it does happen it will probably happen all of a sudden (as it did with dream & destiny)

[davecttr]

I now reckon there won't be a new ship, ever. Why? because Thomson cruises is not a cruise line it is a travel company that arranges holidays in hotels and ships. Do they own any of their hotels? The business model of chartering old ships had advantages as they don't have to raise the capital for a new build. The model will work as long as they can keep filling the ships but the problem will be what happens when the market has large numbers of ultra modern vessels and there are not enough passengers to go around? P&O has modern ships and good prices. Their disadvantage is they are too Southampton centred with those long hauls to the sun. If they expand their med fly cruises Thomson beware.

[geomagot]

yes absolutely...eventually thomsons will run out of smaller ships to charter....they will never be able to fill up a big ship in the thier current market

 

and i agree thomsons are a holiday company that also sell cruises....p&o/cunard/etc are a traditional cruise line

 

what will happen to thomsons cruises in the future...who knows....imo it wil probably get swallowed up by tui and fade away

[lovecruise22]

Saw something on there today from someone who works for Thomson and apparently they are having 2 new ships ?? But then the could be TUI?

 

 

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[lyndatimberlake1]

Thomsons arent buying new ships as they do not own the ones they have just lease them as far as i know, they are also not sailing out of the YK for the foreseeable future aft the end of this season. which is not good for those of us who do not like the american ships. the tips are 10% on them which is scandelous, beside i personally dont like ships that carry over 1,200 people, you wouldnt get to see the same person twice with 3.500 on a ship.

[Julessmiles]

Thomsons arent buying new ships as they do not own the ones they have just lease them as far as i know, they are also not sailing out of the YK for the foreseeable future aft the end of this season. which is not good for those of us who do not like the american ships. the tips are 10% on them which is scandelous, beside i personally dont like ships that carry over 1,200 people, you wouldnt get to see the same person twice with 3.500 on a ship.

 

Have a look at Fred Olsen - the ships are similar sizes to Thomson; they offer some excellent deals including drink packages, they use Peel for their entertainment & they sail from many different UK ports.

[lyndatimberlake1]

Thank you. I always think of the as the floating nursing home as the passengers all look over 75. yes i watched the programme about the vicar who sailed with them for 4 months. It was on tv couple of years ago and there didnt seem to be anyone under the age of 75. What is your experience of them? They sail from Newcastle which is about 10 minutes from where i live and i can actually see the ships from my window.

[geomagot]

if more younger people go on fred...yet more younger people will go....just needs someone to start it off

 

not so long ago all cruises were considered floating nursing homes, not anymore, the cruising demographic/experience is changing rapid.....dunno why but Uk always seems to be the last to catch up??

[clive and anne]

Whilst there are more over 60's on Fred than Thomson there are still a good few 40+ passengers.

I have done 3 Thomson and 2 Fred cruises and I must say that although the ship goes quiet after 11pm there are still plenty of bars open till 2am.

We did Fred in October last year from Dover to Tenerife and the guest artist was Des O'Connor. The bar and wait staff are just as friendly as with Thomson. AI at £10 per day, No problems with sunbeds even on sea days.

I would say that the Ports of Call with Fred are more, lets say unusual than Thomson, (Gambia, Senegal and Cape Verde on the first cruise with them).

That is personal choice of course, but for me Thomson have to up their game.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Hi Clive and Anne, I see you liked the Braemar then, as you went on her again :):)

 

Lynda - we have been on the Braemar three times - my favourite ship actually (sorry Thomson :o). Don't take any notice of that programme, it should have been called A Parish at Sea. There are all ages on Fred. In fact if you go in school holidays, there will be families too. There is even a children's club. If you like the Spirit, I think you would like Fred. Good entertainment (same agency as Thomson), lovely friendly passengers and crew, reasonable drink prices (£10 pp per day AI and better choice than Thomsons!) and fabulous food. My only moan about Fred is the dining times - more like a hotel with set times BUT free room service if you arrive back late from a trip and the buffet is closed. Having said that, apart from breakfast, lunch and dinner there is also aftenoon tea and nibbles and late night buffet - so you wouldn't starve:)

[Julessmiles]

Thank you. I always think of the as the floating nursing home as the passengers all look over 75. yes i watched the programme about the vicar who sailed with them for 4 months. It was on tv couple of years ago and there didnt seem to be anyone under the age of 75. What is your experience of them? They sail from Newcastle which is about 10 minutes from where i live and i can actually see the ships from my window.

 

 

I haven't been with them yet but we have booked to go with them next year with our teenagers - it is half the price of what we have paid for this year's cruise with Thomson!!

[Julessmiles]

if more younger people go on fred...yet more younger people will go....just needs someone to start it off

 

not so long ago all cruises were considered floating nursing homes, not anymore, the cruising demographic/experience is changing rapid.....dunno why but Uk always seems to be the last to catch up??

 

We are starting it lol! Have booked to go next year at half the price we are paying for this year's Thomson cruise; Fred offer 75% discount for 3rd & 4th occupants sharing a cabin!

 

Getting my first 1 night Taster cruise with them in 2 weeks time from Avonmouth; did you ever book?

Edited June 12, 2014 by Julessmiles

[Jakanne1]

We are starting it lol! Have booked to go next year at half the price we are paying for this year's Thomson cruise; Fred offer 75% discount for 3rd & 4th occupants sharing a cabin!

 

Getting my first 1 night Taster cruise with them in 2 weeks time from Avonmouth; did you ever book?

 

Lol, Julie. See the post I have just typed on Loyalty thread. Must look out for a taster cruise from "up here"! :)

[Little Nell]

We are starting it lol! Have booked to go next year at half the price we are paying for this year's Thomson cruise; Fred offer 75% discount for 3rd & 4th occupants sharing a cabin!

 

Getting my first 1 night Taster cruise with them in 2 weeks time from Avonmouth; did you ever book?

 

You are a trail-blazer, Jules :D

 

I think we will be following you in the future. With no Spirit sailing northwards, the thought of sailing out of Rosyth, under the Forth Bridges, is enticing to say the least and is about 20 minutes from our house!!

[lyndatimberlake1]

Thank you guys, i wont have a choice but to go with Freds if i want to sail from Newcastle so its nice to know its not as bad as i thought. We like the informal dining, go as you please type of dining, like the Lido on the Spirit, does Freds have a buffet dining room like that on their ships? Also do they have a casino on board as we dont really like watching the entertainment shows and prefer to do our own thing in the evenings. We do prefer the more casual type of holiday and dont 'do' the formal dinner or anything like that. Also do Freds allow mobility scooters now the EU regulations have changed? I know the american liners dont let you take them and as i need one i dont want to resort to being pushed around in a wheelchair again and lose my independence.

[Jim The Scot]

You are a trail-blazer, Jules :D

 

I think we will be following you in the future. With no Spirit sailing northwards, the thought of sailing out of Rosyth, under the Forth Bridges, is enticing to say the least and is about 20 minutes from our house!!

 

Nell,

 

We must live near one another

 

Sailing from Rosyth certainly attracts me

[geomagot]

We are starting it lol! Have booked to go next year at half the price we are paying for this year's Thomson cruise; Fred offer 75% discount for 3rd & 4th occupants sharing a cabin!

 

Getting my first 1 night Taster cruise with them in 2 weeks time from Avonmouth; did you ever book?

 

no jules we never booked the taster that we had planed.... ms magot was deployed abroad at short notice until november so i am stuck at home trying to be efficient:confused: :( we are booked on dream this winter and that is all so far:( ....i was hoping to do ex uk this year but thats off the menu also

 

but yes...the 75% for 3/4th person discount on fred is attracting me a lot currently tracking prices for something in november...it'll be either that or sharm

 

I seem drawn to the dream t/a too:confused: (i thought i didnt really like it last time? seems i did?)

[GM0NJl]

I sailed out of Rosyth with Fred, and as it is only twenty minutes from Falkirk it was fantastic. It was a lovely sail out under the two bridges, and then on down the Forth with plenty to see.

Both my wife and I enjoyed the cruise, friendly staff, good food, good entertainment. You will not be disappointed, over sixty's can be as much, and in some cases more fun than some of the younger set I have come across while sailing with Thomsons.

Give them a try as you must have done with Thomsons at one time.

 

Ron

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Fred do have a buffet dining room. It is laid out with tablecloths and flowers at night, so is really nice. The waiters will take your soup to the table and also bring your coffee.

 

There is a small casino on the Braemar, but as we aren't gamblers, not sure what it is like :rolleyes:

 

I think they do take mobility scooters, if they are not too big, as there was a lady using one, when we went to the Caribbean. You would have to check with Fred though, as there may be a limit on the number due to their ships being quite small :)

[Julessmiles]

no jules we never booked the taster that we had planed.... ms magot was deployed abroad at short notice until november so i am stuck at home trying to be efficient:confused: :( we are booked on dream this winter and that is all so far:( ....i was hoping to do ex uk this year but thats off the menu also

 

but yes...the 75% for 3/4th person discount on fred is attracting me a lot currently tracking prices for something in november...it'll be either that or sharm

 

I seem drawn to the dream t/a too:confused: (i thought i didnt really like it last time? seems i did?)

 

 

Oh, dear; sorry to hear that - that seems a long time to be away :(. At least you have a winter cruise to look forward to. I will report back on my first mini experience on the Fred Summerball.

[Little Nell]

Nell,

 

We must live near one another

 

Sailing from Rosyth certainly attracts me

 

West Lothian, Jim, Junction 4 of M8, so easy access to most places.

Where are you?

[Little Nell]

I sailed out of Rosyth with Fred, and as it is only twenty minutes from Falkirk it was fantastic. It was a lovely sail out under the two bridges, and then on down the Forth with plenty to see.

Both my wife and I enjoyed the cruise, friendly staff, good food, good entertainment. You will not be disappointed, over sixty's can be as much, and in some cases more fun than some of the younger set I have come across while sailing with Thomsons.

Give them a try as you must have done with Thomsons at one time.

 

Ron

 

Can't be a lot wrong with that then, GMONJI.

 

I've always wanted to do that sail out.

 

You aren't John, are you that I met at bridge on the TA and then at the opening of the Kelpies?

[geomagot]

Oh, dear; sorry to hear that - that seems a long time to be away :(. At least you have a winter cruise to look forward to. I will report back on my first mini experience on the Fred Summerball.

 

yes it is a long time jules but hopefully the last time ...we are used to it.....dw has finally made the decision to retire (from the reservists) and further her career a little bit at home

 

hopefully that will mean a few more more cruises;)

 

have a fab time on fred:cool: