Thomson plots casual cruise concept with Island ship
TUI is to create a new “casual cruise†offering from next summer after buying out its half share of Island Cruises.
And there is the prospect of existing Thomas Cruises tonnage joining the ship Island Escape within the new set-up.
This would provide Thomson with its existing contemporary offering and a new casual cruise alterative based on the Island Escape.
Full details are due to emerge with the publication of the next Thomson Cruises brochure for summer 2009 and winter 2010 in December.
The move will allow Thomson Cruises to attract more third party agency sales and bring in the business Island attracts through in-house First Choice agencies.
In the meantime, first time cruisiers’ favourite Island Cruises is working to re-accommodate between 7,000 to 10,000 passengers booked on its second ship Island Star which is to move to former half shareholder Royal Caribbean’s Spanish Pullmantur arm next April.
A range of options are being outlined to agents by Island Cruises including transferring passengers to a like-for-like Thomson cruise at a protected price in the Mediterranean or Black Sea. Discounts of between £75 and £150 are being offered depending on cruise duration for passengers opting to switch to Thomson Spirit ex-UK departures to the Norwegian fjords and Baltic.
Full refunds will be available for those not wishing to switch cruises.
The Island Cruises brand remains under review as part of the integration process by TUI director of cruising David Selby. Island employs 27 staff at its head office in Brighton and 35 at a dedicated Manchester call centre.
Island Cruises sales director Leslie Peden said the new Thomson Cruises casual product would run alongside the current Thomson fleet and there was the possibility of ships moving across.
Thomson Cruises ship Emerald was already leaving the fleet, so the addition of Island Escape will maintain the size at five ships.
Peden said that overall response from the trade to the changes had been positive.
“The uncertainty has gone away and the business can now move forward,” he said at the ABTA Travel Convention in Gran Canaria.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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