Thomson Cruises
Thomson Cruises
Independent Expert Reviews by Professional Travel Journalists
Thomson Cruises runs informal fly-cruises and departures from UK ports to the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Norwegian Fjords, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Red Sea.
The line operates itineraries to almost 100 ports of call from Iceland to Egypt, including departures from Southampton, Harwich and Newcastle. Liverpool sailings have been introduced for the first time in 2008.
The company, with its fleet of five ships, is currently the UK’s second largest cruise line behind P&O Cruises.
Entertainment across the friendly fleet ranges from full production shows to live bands, pianists and comedians.
Sister ships, Thomson Celebration and Thomson Spirit, each carry 1,254 passengers, while the largest vessel in the fleet – Thomson Destiny (the former Airtours Sun Cruises’ Sunbird) – carries 1,450 passengers.
Thomson Celebration boasts a restaurant from celebrity chef Aldo Zilli with cuisine based on Italian-inspired ingredients. Everything on the menu has been designed by Aldo including his signature seafood spaghetti.
Thomson Cruises also has two ships, 1,198-passenger Emerald and compact 486-passenger Calypso, in the Aegean and Black Seas operating nine itineraries.
Adults-only Calypso is the newest and smallest of the Thomson fleet and offers four lounges and bars, a show lounge, two restaurants, casino, library and card room with internet café, shopping arcade and boutique, hair and beauty salon, fitness centre with sauna, gym and massage.
Cruises from Thessaloniki in Greece sail through the Corinth Canal to Corfu, Albania and Parga. The Black Sea has become a regular itinerary, including ports of call in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania and Turkey.
From December 2008, Thomson Cruises will be featuring the Caribbean with Thomson Destiny running fly-cruises from the Dominican Republic. Flights from eight UK airports will be used to serve the two seven-night itineraries covering islands such as Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, St Kitts and St Lucia.
Thomson Spirit will be taking over winter sailings in the Red Sea from Thomson Celebration in winter 2008-09. This will allow Thomson Celebration to undergo refurbishment in November 2008 before operating Canary Islands and North Africa itineraries.
