Summer 2016

[Jakanne1]

So this is step 1 then of the transformation. According to TTG this is to replace Island Escape, with Island Cruises brand going by the looks of it.

 

Explains these odd schedules then. So there's step one for summer 2016. Newer ships, island cruises brand goes, then new builds to follow Id guess.

 

Do you mean new builds for Thomson?

[laura Bra]

Do you mean new builds for Thomson?

 

Hello,

really ? New Builds or new ships ?

Thanks Bud

[Sailaway487]

Do you mean new builds for Thomson?

 

Eventually I'd guess that would be the plan. Follow the TUI Cruises model of couple of older (but new for Thomson! :rolleyes:) first then invest in new builds after. Only a guess though...

[davecttr]

I read on Wiki that thomson will operate the ship under the Island cruises brand!

 

wonder where they will locate the single cabin ghetto :rolleyes:

[Grez]

I read on Wiki that thomson will operate the ship under the Island cruises brand!

 

wonder where they will locate the single cabin ghetto :rolleyes:

 

But anyone can put anything on Wikipedia, doesn't make it true. Thomson have already said several times that Island Cruises is going after this year. Splendour will operate as Thomson.

[geomagot]

as far as i can see? it appears in several press releases that thomsons is to be a (modernised?) 5 ship fleet all ships sailing under the thomsons product

 

a sad but inevitable demise of island cruises and their army of fans

 

thomson are also plugging the climbing wall, mini golf and 7 resturants available on the new(er) thomson splendour/my ship/bliss/macaroni cheese?? in various press releases to be found around the web

Edited March 4, 2015 by geomagot

[Grez]

as far as i can see? it appears in several press releases that thomsons is to be a (modernised?) 5 ship fleet all ships sailing under the thomsons product

 

a sad but inevitable demise of island cruises and their army of fans

 

thomson are also plugging the climbing wall, mini golf and 7 resturants available on the new(er) thomson splendour/my ship/bliss/macaroni cheese?? in various press releases to be found around the web

 

For the avoidance of further doubt, the official press release is here - http://press.thomson.co.uk/thomson-cruises-modernises-fleet-purchase-royal-caribbean-internationals-splendour-seas/

 

As Geo says, it will sail as Thomson, and the rock climbing wall is also mentioned.

 

Unless of course there is an exclusive to be revealed!

[laura Bra]

a sad but inevitable demise of island cruises and their army of fans /quote]

 

Hello geomaggot,

I am sure that there are many fans of island Cruises saddened to hear of this.

 

I hope that you will find another cruise line that you will enjoy..

 

Thanks

Your Bud

Edited March 4, 2015 by laura Bra

[davecttr]

For the avoidance of further doubt, the official press release is here - http://press.thomson.co.uk/thomson-cruises-modernises-fleet-purchase-royal-caribbean-internationals-splendour-seas/

 

As Geo says, it will sail as Thomson, and the rock climbing wall is also mentioned.

 

Unless of course there is an exclusive to be revealed!

Yup! another example of corporate talking out of their ****sides.

 

what use is a climbing wall on a ship which is moving, you will fall off and sue the company. As mentioned elsewhere golf is not a good idea on a windy ship which could better use the space for sun loungers. Thinks - 18 holes times 4 people per hole means all that space is being used by only 72 people.

 

Look, i hope the ship succeeds and I will probably try a short cruise on her but i really think HQ have to do some work tailoring the ship for the british market. It appears that they have the ship but don't want to spend the money to make it attractive.

[Lucy The Rabbitt]

Yup! another example of corporate talking out of their ****sides. .

 

Agree with you dave C.

its all Corporate now isnt it.

[geomagot]

Yup! another example of corporate talking out of their ****sides.

 

what use is a climbing wall on a ship which is moving, you will fall off and sue the company. As mentioned elsewhere golf is not a good idea on a windy ship which could better use the space for sun loungers. Thinks - 18 holes times 4 people per hole means all that space is being used by only 72 people.

 

Look, i hope the ship succeeds and I will probably try a short cruise on her but i really think HQ have to do some work tailoring the ship for the british market. It appears that they have the ship but don't want to spend the money to make it attractive.

 

yes it'l be down to thomsons and their corporate thinking ... I can just see how the conversation right now at thoms towers is going:

 

'hey guys! we're getting a wall! and a golfing thingy?... that'll look good in the brochures ... i'll fetch the printer while you lot go and add up how much we can get away with charging for it'

 

'hey great idea boss....we could call it an extreme climbing golf thingy with luxury new wall/sheer drop over the ocean vip package!':D

 

tbh i think they will probably get rid of the wall and the golf eventually (when lack of demand outstrips supply).... but it took them 5 years of begging and pleading before they got rid of the sports nets:(

Edited March 4, 2015 by geomagot

[P&O Lynn Knickers]

yes it'l be down to thomsons and their corporate thinking ... I:(

 

Yet again, I agree with you geomagot.

 

 

 

 

.

Edited March 4, 2015 by P&O Lynn Knickers
Lynn just done some exercises.

[BaggersCruising]

Yup! another example of corporate talking out of their ****sides.

 

what use is a climbing wall on a ship which is moving, you will fall off and sue the company. As mentioned elsewhere golf is not a good idea on a windy ship which could better use the space for sun loungers. Thinks - 18 holes times 4 people per hole means all that space is being used by only 72 people.

 

Look, i hope the ship succeeds and I will probably try a short cruise on her but i really think HQ have to do some work tailoring the ship for the british market. It appears that they have the ship but don't want to spend the money to make it attractive.

 

I must be in the minority then who think that Thomson would benefit from these features. It'll help them attract new customers, who probably look at their current ships and think they're a bit boring as all they have on them are sunbeds and bars.

 

Royal Caribbean seemed to have been operating these rock climbing walls and golf courses without many incidents so I don't think Thomson using them would be a problem either!

[Sailaway487]

Just done a blog post summarising summer 2016 findings:

 

https://sailawaycruiseblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/thomson-cruises-summer-2016-what-to-expect/

 

Think that will be it for now, can't see I'll find any more out.

[BaggersCruising]

Just done a blog post summarising summer 2016 findings:

 

https://sailawaycruiseblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/thomson-cruises-summer-2016-what-to-expect/

 

Think that will be it for now, can't see I'll find any more out.

 

As usual, a very good blog and very thorough!

 

Thanks Sailaway!

[happy v]

Thanks Sailaway.

 

Can I ask some of you knowledgeable people how old/young will a ship have to be to meet the requirements of Northern Europe.

 

In other words will one of the new ones be able to do ex UK?

[BaggersCruising]

Thanks Sailaway.

 

Can I ask some of you knowledgeable people how old/young will a ship have to be to meet the requirements of Northern Europe.

 

In other words will one of the new ones be able to do ex UK?

 

Quite possibly.

 

Although newer ships will meet the new requirements probably already, older ships can be upgraded to meet them, bu Thomson quite rightly don't want to spend that sort of money on ships they don't own!

 

Fred Olsen have spent the required money needed, but they own their ships so was an easy option for them.

[okavango]

Quite possibly.

 

Although newer ships will meet the new requirements probably already, older ships can be upgraded to meet them, bu Thomson quite rightly don't want to spend that sort of money on ships they don't own!

 

Fred Olsen have spent the required money needed, but they own their ships so was an easy option for them.

 

age of ship does not come in to it, all down to fuel economics, the emission regs are going to have a big cost effect on all ships either cruise or general merchant. there is suitable fuel for all young or old at a price.

[Sailaway487]

Now been confirmed on Cruise Deals itineraries go on sale 23rd April.

 

Oddly, it says Splendour will join in April 2016, and will be sailing in the Mediterranean from June. :confused:

 

So is it going into a long dry dock, or sailing elsewhere for a couple of months? Perhaps it might do some different cruises before starting its main summer season from Palma.

[BaggersCruising]

Now been confirmed on Cruise Deals itineraries go on sale 23rd April.

 

Oddly, it says Splendour will join in April 2016, and will be sailing in the Mediterranean from June. :confused:

 

So is it going into a long dry dock, or sailing elsewhere for a couple of months? Perhaps it might do some different cruises before starting its main summer season from Palma.

 

I've read somewhere that it will start sailing for Thomson in June 2016, but the last cruise on RCI is departing 4 April, but presumably it will have to have some work done on it before starting for Thomson as some things will be incompatible with the Thomson brand (I understand that the casino is quite large at present). They may also be using that time for some mechanical work, rather than having to take her out of service later on?!?!

 

I for one, with the Casino, would still like one that's bigger than on their current ships, with some proper Poker tables kept behind for some proper poker tournaments to be played, as the Texas Hold 'Em tournaments that they currently offer in their casinos are a very poor offering. With some proper tables, they could offer tournaments every night to run alongside the usual table games.

[Sailaway487]

I've read somewhere that it will start sailing for Thomson in June 2016, but the last cruise on RCI is departing 4 April, but presumably it will have to have some work done on it before starting for Thomson as some things will be incompatible with the Thomson brand (I understand that the casino is quite large at present). They may also be using that time for some mechanical work, rather than having to take her out of service later on?!?!

 

I for one, with the Casino, would still like one that's bigger than on their current ships, with some proper Poker tables kept behind for some proper poker tournaments to be played, as the Texas Hold 'Em tournaments that they currently offer in their casinos are a very poor offering. With some proper tables, they could offer tournaments every night to run alongside the usual table games.

 

Yeah, its last cruise ends in Venice on 20th April, then will probably go to Hamburg or somewhere for a dry dock. Will be quite a long dry dock then (I hope!). Don't want another Dream scenario of take over the ship, paint the TUI smile and off it goes. Maybe they've learnt from the past this time.

[BaggersCruising]

Yeah, its last cruise ends in Venice on 20th April, then will probably go to Hamburg or somewhere for a dry dock. Will be quite a long dry dock then (I hope!). Don't want another Dream scenario of take over the ship, paint the TUI smile and off it goes. Maybe they've learnt from the past this time.

 

Fingers crossed they have!

 

We were on the Dream post it's wetdock in December, when there were still a lot of workmen on board all the way to the Caribbean. The new sun lounge wasn't open until we nearly finished the crossing.

 

With 6 days at sea, that was bad planning on Thomson's part, as that was the time it was really needed!

[FIFE1]

Hi Sailaway

Any further news for Summer 2016. I think last year someone manged to advance scan a brochure and post. Looking forward to any news sailaway.:):):):)

[mjsshipboy]

I would imagine after Splendour finishes its final cruise for Royal, she will go and dry dock in Cadiz. This has been used for big ship renovations by Royal Caribbean (amongst others). I would imagine a 28 night dry dock. Splendour won't need THAT much work as she just had a huge renovation.

 

The branding will need to be changed, UK square pin sockets involved in cabins and casino changes.... Unless TUI want to completely reinvent the ship as they did with the ex-Celebrity ships for Germany. I don't think we are in any fear of just having a red smiley face on the funnel and sailing her out, if TUI are serious about changing the image of Thomson Cruises.

 

An inaugural sailing out of Southampton sailing down to Palma might be nice.

 

Splendour would be a great ship to do Northern Europe. She did that run for Royal for many years and is modern enough to meet eco requirements. She also has an indoor lounge and lots of glass-filled lounges to sit and watch the world go by.

 

All will be revealed in due course, I suppose!

[Sailaway487]

I would imagine after Splendour finishes its final cruise for Royal, she will go and dry dock in Cadiz. This has been used for big ship renovations by Royal Caribbean (amongst others). I would imagine a 28 night dry dock. Splendour won't need THAT much work as she just had a huge renovation.

 

The branding will need to be changed, UK square pin sockets involved in cabins and casino changes.... Unless TUI want to completely reinvent the ship as they did with the ex-Celebrity ships for Germany. I don't think we are in any fear of just having a red smiley face on the funnel and sailing her out, if TUI are serious about changing the image of Thomson Cruises.

 

An inaugural sailing out of Southampton sailing down to Palma might be nice.

 

Splendour would be a great ship to do Northern Europe. She did that run for Royal for many years and is modern enough to meet eco requirements. She also has an indoor lounge and lots of glass-filled lounges to sit and watch the world go by.

 

All will be revealed in due course, I suppose!

 

Plug sockets will remain the same as all other Thomson ships have a mix of US and EU sockets.

 

Cadiz would make sense. It does seem quite a long dry dock, certainly for Thomson's standards. But, if there plan is to eventually get Mein Schiff, then it would make sense to give Splendour a big refurb to these standards now.

 

I think the TUI merger could be the best thing that happened to Thomson Cruises. I hope I'm not disappointed...