Thomson names newest cruise ship
Thomson revealed yesterday that its new cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s former Splendour of the Seas, will be renamed Thomson Discovery.
The 915-cabin ship will be based in Palma, Majorca, for summer 2016.
Billed as a ‘family friendly’ ship, it will boast an outdoor movie screen, rock climbing wall, nine-hole mini golf course, three a la carte restaurants and eight bars and lounges.
It will offer four itineraries around the Mediterranean next summer and Saturday sailings with flights from 19 regional airports across UK and Ireland.
Thomson Spirit will home-port in Malaga for summer 2016, Thomson Celebration will remain in Dubrovnik and offer adults-only cruising for summer 2016.
Thomson Majesty will be based in Palma alongside Discovery, offering cruises around the Western Mediterranean. New for next summer are no sea days evening stays in Ibiza and Barcelona to allow guests to make the most of the nightlife offered in both destinations.
A new weekly flight from Liverpool to Palma will make it easier for those living in the northwest of England to join the ship.
Thomson Dream will be based in Corfu for summer 2016 from where it will offer four itineraries, including Syros for the first time. Customers on the Dream will also be able to combine a cruise with a trip to Istanbul for the first time.
Cruise and stay options will also be available for the first time, in Corfu Town, Palma and Malaga.
For winter 2017, Thomson Cruises is inviting its Facebook fans to suggest an itinerary for one of its ships to be based in Barbados. Once the votes are in, the cruise, to start on January 15, 2017, will go on sale in November.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt