18 CRUISE NEWS Discovery joins
Thomson team T
homson Cruises recently welcomed a brand new addition to its fleet of ships, with TUI Discovery joining existing ships Dream, Celebration, Majesty
and Spirit.
Northern Ireland Travel News joined a large group of UK and Irish media and agents for the lavish christening ceremony, which took place on June 9 in the port of Palma, Majorca.
Discovery is now Thomson’s largest vessel, with 915 cabins arranged over eleven decks, capable of carrying up to 1830 passengers and 761 crew. Unique features include a climbing wall, a jogging track, mini golf and an outdoor movie screen.
Formerly operated by Royal Caribbean as Splendour of the Seas until April this year, TUI Discovery underwent a six-week refit, in which the ship had a number of tweaks, such as reducing the size of the casino in favour of more spacious bar, as well as numerous cosmetic upgrades to the public spaces and cabins. I was able to sample some of the new additions, including the main dining venue, 47 Degrees, overseen by ex-Gilgamesh chef Ian Pengelley, which offers a contemporary Italian menu. Other dining options include Snack Shack, with fast food including hamburgers and fish finger sandwiches served from colourful British-style beach huts, while Islands restaurant serves a breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. More discerning diners will enjoy the cuisine at Discovery’s signature restaurants – Kora La, a pan-Asian experience, or Surf & Turf Steakhouse with its top- quality steak and seafood options, both subject to a small cover charge.
Following dinner, guests were invited to a champagne reception in the Atrium, with speeches by Thomson Cruises’ MD, Helen Caron, TUI UK/Ireland MD Nick
BY PATRIC BAIRD
Longman and ship’s captain John Westgarth-Pratt, while the ship’s godmothers Mimi Kasomwoshi Ragui and Hazel Ceguera, both Thomson Cruises staff members, were on stage during the show to formally christen the ship. Everyone then headed up on deck for a stunning live show, produced by Dan Shipton and Ross Nicholson, organisers of opening and closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Performers represented the different countries which Discovery will be sailing to, including a gigantic Spanish bull puppet, Caribbean carnival dancers in full costume, Middle Eastern whirling dervishes and belly dancers, with colourful and energetic dance displays involving numerous costume changes, pyrotechnics and sound effects. The show’s highlight, Grammy Award-winning artist Jess Glynne, treated the audience to some of her big hits, rounded off by an impressive fireworks display prior to the ship setting sail for Barcelona.
Discovery will be offering a variety of Mediterranean cruises from its home port of Palma, Majorca until the end of October 2016, when it repositions to the Caribbean island of Barbados before returning to Europe in May 2017, when all cruises aboard the TUI Discovery will be all-inclusive.
Cruises on offer this summer are Magic of Spain, Highlights of the Mediterranean, Cosmopolitan Classics and Mediterranean Secrets, with stops at a wide variety of destinations including Corsica, Gibraltar, Sicily, Malaga, Lisbon, Naples, Ibiza and Southern France. FACT BOX
To book a cruise, or to find out more about cruising with Thomson, visit
www.thomson.co.uk/cruise, telephone 0871 230 2800, or visit your travel agent.
Grammy Award-winning singer songwriter Jess Glynne (pictured above) wowed special guests with a medley of number one hits at the christening of Thomsons new Discovery in Majorca
Cruise world on your doorstep...
FRED. Olsen Cruise Lines has released a new brochure, entitled ‘The World at Your Doorstep’, which highlights 24 sailings in 2017/18 that are available to book with free door-to-door transfers, for up to 90 or 250 mainland miles, from June 22 to July 31, 2016. Guests can choose from cruise holidays to the Mediterranean, Norway, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, Canada, or even a fantastic 108-night ‘Wonders of the World’ voyage in January 2018.
Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We know that our guests appreciate the ease of cruising with us ‘from right on their doorstep’, and we are making it even more convenient for them to take a Fred. Olsen cruise in 2017/18. We
have also included 11 ‘adult-only’ cruises within our new brochure, which are ideal for those parents and grandparents who would like the chance to enjoy a holiday within a ‘grown-up’ environment, amongst ‘like-minded’ people.” Fred. Olsen’s new ‘The World at Your Doorstep’ brochure includes Boudicca’s 26-night D1713 ‘Bermuda, Azores & the America’s Cup’ cruise, ex-Liverpool on June 9, 2017 (adult-only); Balmoral’s 14-night L1715 ‘Scandinavian Capitals & St. Petersburg’ cruise, ex- Newcastle on July 16, 2017; Braemar’s 28-night M1724 ‘Islands of the Aegean’ cruise, ex-Southampton on September 11, 2017 (adult-only); Black Watch’s 18-night W1722 ‘Sun, Souks & Siestas’ cruise, ex London Tilbury on November 13, 2017 (adult-only).
July/August 2016 Travel News
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