Thomson Cruises reveals new home ports and two ship revamps

By Phil Davies

Dubrovnik is to be the new home port for Thomson Cruises in 2015 as part of an expanded programme including 28 new destinations, including Albania.

Thomson Celebration will be based in the Croatian port running four new itineraries from May 7, 2015.

Thomson Spirit and Thomson Majesty (pictured) will join the Platinum fleet next summer, with an interior makeover and 28 balcony cabins on Majesty and 19 on Spirit.

Thomson Spirit will also be based in the new home port of Marmaris in Turkey.

Thomson Celebration will go child free on its four itineraries from Dubrovnik with new ports of call including Sibenik, Korcula, Rovinj, Split, and Hvar in Croatia; Trieste, Bari, and Brindisi in Italy; and Corinth and Itea in Greece.

New regional airports are being added to serve the Dubrovnik sailings, giving 50,000 seats across the summer from Glasgow, Newcastle and Bristol, as well as Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick.

New destinations for Thomson Dream incude Elba, San Remo (for Monaco), and La Spezia (for Portofino) in Italy, Sete (for Carcassonne) in France and Tarragona, Spain.

Thomson Majesty will be visiting six new ports, including Ravenna and Lipari in Italy, Durres in Albania, Rijeka in Croatia, Chania in Crete and Kalamata.

The cruises go on sale on April 24.

Thomson Cruises managing director Helen Caron said: “Summer 2015 will be a record year for Thomson Cruises as we introduce a total of 28 new ports of calls, 13 new itineraries and an exciting new home port of Dubrovnik for Thomson Celebration.

“Listening to our customers is at the heart of all our planning, which is why we’re offering more choice and variety of destinations in our some of our favoured locations, and providing our guests the flexibility on their holiday to cruise and stay, with even more hotels introduced to our collection.

“We hope the investment to modernise our ships and give Thomson Spirit and Thomson Majesty the Platinum seal of approval, along with the introduction of balcony cabins, will enhance the overall experience for everyone we welcome on board.”