p11 News July10 8/7/09 21:17 Page 11
ttglive.com
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2010 SAILINGS.
Thomson Cruises
Dream to operate
adds a sixth ship
out of Majorca
THOMSON Dream will join Destiny
and Island Escape based in Palma,
Majorca, next summer offering
Lee Hayhurst.
undoubtedly feel the seven-night cruises from £729.
THOMSON Cruises looks space and comfort.” The size of the ship means it
set to tighten its grip Selby said little will offer a more informal cruise
on the three-star cruise needed be done to experience than Destiny, which
market having secured Europa to transform it has traditional two-sitting dining,
a 10-year lease for into a Thomson ship. but more formal than Island.
Costa Cruises’ 1,500- Europa, like Thom- The itinerary will include calls
berth Europa. son’s existing ships at ports for Rome, Florence and Barcelona, while
The line claims its Spirit and Celebration, La Goulette, Tunisia, is added for the first time.
business model means was formerly owned A quarter of Thomson Cruises customers opt
it is able to operate at a by Holland America for seven-night cruises packaged with a land stay.
considerable commer- Line and retains many The ship has five restaurants, as well as one
cial advantage to rivals of the same fittings. swimming pool with a roof, potentially allowing
due to synergies with its Selby hopes to the ship to sail closer to the UK in the winter.
tour operating parent. David Selby: “This ship will be fabulous; it is very exciting” agree with Tui bosses Dream will be Thomson’s largest ship, offering
David Selby, Tui’s plans for an official 753 cabins, 501 with outside views, six with pri-
director of cruising, claimed Thomson was able naming ceremony in Barcelona and short famil- vate balconies and four with wheelchair access.
to prosper in a sector that had seen Carnival iarisation cruise for agents next April. Summer 2010 cruises go on sale on July 16
opt to withdraw Ocean Village before 2011 and Thomson is constantly on the lookout for new with £729 lead-in prices including flights based
capacity reductions by Island Cruises and Fred tonnage, Selby said. on two people sharing a cabin. The ship’s winter
Olsen Cruise Lines. Although he would not disclose the value of 2010-11 deployment has yet to be revealed.
He said bringing in Europa, which will be the 10-year deal, he said: “We go for comfortable
renamed Thomson Dream, for summer 2010 ships with lower book value so the finance costs ■ Thomson customers booked on another ship
would plug a gap left in the three-star market are more reasonable. for next summer are being offered the
rather than add capacity. “That allows us to invest more in our chance to swap to Thomson Dream for free.
“This is a replacement for what’s been lost,” entertainment, service, our crew, dining and soft
he said. “We bought Island Cruises and Carnival furnishings, which are as good as anybody’s.”
decided there were better returns for the Ocean Selby said passenger satisfaction scores were
Village ships elsewhere. soaring, claiming its small adult-only Calypso was
“This ship will be fabulous; we are very currently operating 150 points above its official
excited about it. It is a ship in which people will Berlitz guide rating.
LAUNCHPAD.
P&O Cruises Fred Olsen Cruises P&O Cruises
World Voyages Worldwide 2010
2010-11 2010-11 P&O Cruises has launched a
The launch of P&O Cruises and Advance bookings for Fred Olsen new-look brochure for 2010.
Cunard’s 2011 world voyages Cruise Lines are ahead of last As well as product information
programme has seen all previ- year. Bookings for the week to the magazine-style publication
ous first-day sales records smashed. On July 1, June 29 saw the second-highest level in the features destination articles. The programme
2,044 people booked a trip – 47% more than company’s history. Marketing director Nigel includes Azura’s first full season, two round
last year’s launch day. P&O Cruises is offering Lingard said: “Our 2010-11 brochure was Britain cruises, free child places and eight new
its largest world voyage programme in 2011, launched on June 22 and we have been enjoying itineraries. Managing director Nigel Esdale
with four ships sailing to 89 ports. Cunard’s exceptionally good booking trends. Many of our said: “The new P&O Cruises 2010 brochure has
new ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, will sail on target market have also finally decided to take blurred the boundaries between brochure and
its maiden world cruise, while Queen Mary 2 the plunge for this year, so we are seeing a magazine to give our passengers an inspira-
will be making its fourth voyage. surge in late bookings.” tional insight into the ships and destinations.”
■
pocruises.co.uk;
cunard.com ■
fredolsencruises.co.uk ■
pocruises.co.uk
10.07.2009 11
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