Thomson Cruises has today announced a new addition to the fleet will be named TUI Discovery as part of the re-brand which will see the whole of Thomson transition to TUI over the next eighteen months. TUI Discovery will also be the first of the Thomson Cruises fleet to offer an all-inclusive drinks package as standard from summer 2017, as well as giving customers a wider choice of dining and entertainment included in the price of their holiday.
Reacting to customer feedback for more personalised holidays and the preference for All-inclusive holidays amongst British holidaymakers, Thomson has begun to roll-out a raft of changes that will, they claim, enhance the customer experience.
As the first of the Thomson Cruises fleet to offer all-inclusive drinks as standard, TUI Discovery customers will be able to enjoy the wide range of restaurants and bars on-board alongside a selection of premium drinks, all included in their holiday. From succulent Italian cuisine in the new restaurant, Gallery 47, or laid-back street food from the Snack Shack, families and couples alike will all be able to get the most from their holiday.
TUI Discovery will also see the introduction of innovative new technology to modernise and personalise the on-board experience. Customers will be able to summon their favourite tipple at the touch of a button from their sun lounger on adults-only deck, make dinner, spa and entertainment reservations at self-service kiosks and browse and buy photos of their cruise. A hi-tech holiday and shore excursion shop will showcase what to see in the many destinations the ship will visit, as well as inspiring customers on future holidays.
Nick Longman, Managing Director of TUI UK & Ireland said: “TUI is a recognised and trusted brand in other countries and we want customers in the UK to get to know and love it too as we transition from Thomson to TUI. Investment in our product to enhance and personalise the customer experience is fundamental to the ethos of the TUI brand and what better way to demonstrate this than unveiling our newest addition as TUI Discovery and introducing all-inclusive as standard. The introduction of TUI Discovery marks a new era for our cruise business in the UK which will continue with the introduction of two more TUI ships to the fleet over the next three years.”
The update on TUI Discovery comes as Thomson Cruises also announces it new programme for summer 2017 which will see the fleet based in the western Mediterranean, eastern Mediterranean and the UK for the first time since 2014. With its smaller ships, Thomson Cruises not only offers a more personal service, but is also able to call at some of those regions’ less-visited ports that are often difficult to reach by larger vessels.
TUI Discovery and Thomson Majesty will both be based in Palma, Majorca whilst Thomson Dream will sail from Corfu and offer customers the ultimate island hopping experience. Thomson Spirit will move to Dubrovnik, Croatia and offer adult-only cruising whilst the fifth ship in the fleet, Thomson Celebration, will split its summer between Malaga, Spain in May and October and ex UK sailings from Newcastle between June and September.
This will result in the introduction of 12 brand new itineraries including UK sailings to ports in the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and the Baltics; more choice in the Mediterranean visiting classics like Venice, Italy; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Cadiz, Spain; and a range of durations from four to 14 nights.
New ports of call for summer 2017 will include Wismar in Germany which offers access to the country’s two biggest cities, Berlin and Hamburg; Gdynia in Poland for customer’s to experience the architectural wonders of the region’s capital Gdansk; and Arendal in the Norwegian Riviera to see the inspiration for Disney’s smash hit, Frozen and visit the stunning offshore islands of Merdø, Tromøy and Hisøy.
In the Mediterranean, Thomson Cruises will visit Roses, Spain with its huge bay – endorsed by UNESCO’s Most Beautiful Bays in the World, Blue Flag beaches and secluded coves; Piombino, the gateway to Italy’s Tuscan cities of Siena and Pisa; and Pula, where ancient Rome and modern Croatia collide.
Also new for summer 2017 are the ports of Taranto, Italy; Ciutadella, Menorca; and Zakynthos Town, Zakynthos.