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.”

Thomson brochures to use augmented reality

Thomson brochures to use augmented reality

Cruise operator introduces new technology to its traditional brochure

New brochures introduced by Thomson Cruises for its 2014 and 2015 programme of cruises will utilise new augmented reality technology to allow potential passengers to get a better idea of what their holiday will be like.

According to the company, the augmented reality will be accessible on any handheld device and can be used in conjunction with the traditional paper brochure sent out to interested parties on an annual basis.

The development represents a first for the line, and will allow users to view additional content by holding their smartphone or tablet over a specific page in the brochure.

Fraser Ellacott, Thomson Cruises customer operations director, commented: "Showcasing the true experience of life on a cruise ship will ... go a long way in helping customers considering a cruise make their decision."

He added that first-time cruisers will also have a better idea of what to expect thanks to the new technology.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Avis Budget sign marketing deal

By Tom Stieghorst

Avis Budget Group and Norwegian Cruise Line said they’ve signed a multiyear marketing agreement that will make Avis Budget part of pre-cruise tour packages for Norwegian Getaway, the line’s newest ship.

The packages will be available to guests and travel agents through Norwegian’s call center.

Information about the Avis and Budget car rental brands will be featured in Norwegian's electronic marketing channels, while Norwegian Cruise Line will be featured in communications to Avis and Budget customers.

Norwegian Getaway is scheduled to begin cruises from Miami in February. 

Technology and the shipboard library

By Tom Stieghorst

The ship’s library has always been a small but special part of the cruise experience. But for how much longer?  

The library at sea, like libraries everywhere, is under siege by changing technology. And whether ships need to set aside space for libraries in the future is very much being debated as new ships are designed.

Carnival cruise director and blogger extraordinaire John Heald said in a recent posting that the library on the recent transatlantic crossing of the Carnival Legend was full of books.   

"One thing all those transatlantic crossings had in common was that the library, by the end of the first sea day, sat entirely empty," Heald wrote. “Here on the Carnival Legend, the bookcases are full.

"Yep, the book is dead, long live the Kindle. Every deck I walk on, I see young and old reading their Kindles."

Even on an ocean crossing with presumably few younger, tech-savvy passengers on the manifest, the library remains fully stocked, Heald said: “Wherever I am, I see older people and their parents absorbed in their Kindles.”

Perhaps that’s just Carnival. Maybe the magnificent libraries on the Cunard Line fleet have emptier shelves on their Atlantic trips. But on most ships where space is at a premium, the library is an endangered species.

At the next major drydock nothing prevents a ship’s library from being converted to some other use. Heald suggested perhaps a cigar bar (a suggestion likely made for for comic effect, but maybe not.)

The trend is on display on Carnival Sunshine, the ship Carnival renovated from stem to stern earlier this year. While the library wasn’t eliminated or converted to another use, it now shares space with a bar.
Carnival is in the process of designing the next ship to set sail under its red and blue banner, the Carnival Vista. With Kindles in the hands of passengers young and old, it may well be the first Carnival ship without a library.

In his post Heald referred to a bookstore in Miami that he said was possibly a Borders, which he liked to visit when he comes to Miami. “It would not surprise me that, when I return there in November, it’s become a Walgreens or worse, a gym,” he wrote.

If in fact it was a Borders, it closed two years ago, along with the rest of the chain’s stores.  The Borders on South Dixie Highway in Miami reopened last week as a Trader Joe’s specialty market. 

At least it’s not a gym.

Carnival Corp.’s Arison praises agents in new ‘open letter’ ad

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Corp. is making it personal.

In a new advertisement scheduled to appear this week in several publications, including Travel Weekly, Carnival Corp. Chairman Micky Arison spells out his appreciation for travel agents, citing their crucial role in making Carnival’s brands successful over the years.

The ad takes the form of an open letter and bears a photo of Arison and his signature at the bottom.
It is an unusually direct communication from Arison, who recently stepped down as CEO of Carnival Corp. while retaining the title of chairman. In the letter, Arison also introduces his chosen successor as CEO, Arnold Donald, as someone travel agents can trust.

“Together, we will continue to work hard to exceed guests’ expectations and to position Carnival brands as your customers’ cruise lines of choice,” Arison writes.

Roger Frizell, vice president for corporate communications at Carnival Corp., said of Arison, “This is something he wanted to do as a way to reach out to the travel agent community to personally thank them for their support over the years, while also using the opportunity to introduce Arnold as our new CEO.”

The letter carries the logos of all 10 Carnival Corp. brands, clearly differentiating it from initiatives announced recently by Carnival Cruise Lines under the Carnival Conversations banner.

“The fact that it comes from the chairman says a great deal,” said Stewart Chiron, a Miami-based travel agent and a regular commentator on broadcast and cable networks.

Chiron said the letter sends a message of stability, direction and continuity at the top during a period of corporate transition.

It also reflects Arison’s genuine sympathy for agents, he said, adding, “I know his support for travel agents has been unwavering over the years.”

Meanwhile, the Carnival Cruise Lines brand continues to roll out changes built on the feedback it received in Carnival Conversations.

The latest volley is the reinstatement of a printed brochure, which was announced by Mike Julius, Carnival Cruise Lines’ senior managing director of U.S. trade sales, at the end of September.

“Travel agents have told us loud and clear that they want a printed brochure,” Julius said when making the announcement. “We’re thrilled to introduce one that is customized with the information that matters most to them.”

Although the number of pages is still being decided, the brochure will be printed in an 8½-by-11-inch format and will contain enough content to be more like a catalog than a brochure.

It will include deck plans, which agents complain are hard to share with clients in an online format, and detailed itineraries by destination as well as cabin photos, a Frequently Asked Questions page and an At-a-Glance ship-deployment grid.

Travel agents can pre-order the free brochures beginning Nov. 15 through GoCCL.com. Carnival Cruise Lines said it expects to begin shipping them late in the year, in time for the start of Wave season on Jan. 1.

Cruise lines working with authorities over Venice lagoon debate

By Hollie-Rae Merrick 

Cruise lines are working with Italian authorities to look at the option of moving the port in Venice to another part of the canal after concerns over the ships' impact on the city.

Speaking at a Clia press conference earlier today, Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said the industry was working with officials to find a solution and was looking at different canals to establish which would be the best alternative.

His comments came just days after protesters delayed a procession of cruise ships for over an hour by leaping into Venice's Guidecca canal. The demonstrators believe the cruise ships are threatening the city's foundations and want the port moved to an island away from the city.

Vago said the issue was "deeply emotional" for some Venetians, however the majority support the cruise lines calling at the destination.

He said there was no environmental impact on Venice by the vessels as cruise lines had already agreed to have a low sulphur admission on entering the city.

Vago said lines and authorities were looking at the ecosystems in the waters surrounding Venice to establish whether there was an alternative and appropriate route.

He added: "We (the cruise industry) are important to the city of Venice, everybody understands that.

"One shop out of six lives because of the cruise industry, 33% of the hotel industry lives because of the cruise industry. It is an emotional impact."

Howard Frank, Carnival Corporation's vice chairman and chief operating officer said he agreed that the issue was not a environmental one.

He said the industry needed to do a better job in getting the message out about how environmentally friendly cruise ships had become. 

Behind the scenes, creating a new river cruise

By Michelle Baran

I'm not on your traditional river cruise. And I don't just say that because I’m sailing along India’s Ganges River, a waterway that generally conjures up images of people bathing in its brown waters and of spiritual ceremonies along its banks, not a of luxury river cruiser gliding past its shores.

The cruise I'm on is unusual because it is an inspection cruise for Haimark Ltd.’s 56-passenger Ganges Voyager, slated to set sail here in 2015. A group of representatives from various river cruise and tour companies are scouting the experience using the slightly older 56-passenger Bengal Ganga, operated by Indian company Heritage Cruises. 

Consequently, I’m getting a rare glimpse into the world of river cruise product development. Representatives from Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Scenic Cruises and Travel Indochina are here to see what Haimark could offer their clients in terms of land experiences and food and beverage, Since the hardware is still being built, they can’t experience the new ship, but Haimark has brought its culinary director onboard to produce the exact menus that would be served on the Ganges Voyager, and the itinerary we are sailing is the exact itinerary the Ganges Voyager will sail in 2015.

The result is an evolving dialogue about what Western visitors might want and expect from a cruise in India. The hope is that a river cruise vessel with upscale accommodations and a first-class culinary experience (minimizing the risk of severe stomach issues India is notorious for), coupled with the rich culture and history of West Bengal will appeal to river-cruise veterans who are looking to extend their experience in Europe or Asia to another destination.

What is interesting is the nonstop discussions on the passenger experience: Is there a better way to see Kolkata than through the windows of a tour bus? Is it better to visit Delhi at the end of the trip when travelers are more rested? Are there different interactive experiences or onboard lectures and classes that could enhance the learning opportunities?

Some of it is guesswork, and some of the ideas are developed from experience and feedback gathered from river cruises and tours elsewhere in the world.

Do people want to see poverty in India? Well, that’s part of the India experience, right? How much Indian food versus Western food should be on the menu? Well, there should be a bit of both on offer, right?
 

It’s an evolving process, but getting a behind-the-scenes look at the amount of thought and effort that goes into the product development offers, at the very least, a certain degree of confidence that planning and executing an itinerary is not something that is taken lightly. It’s an intense and difficult task, and I've gained additional respect for it now that I've gotten to witness it firsthand.

Royal Caribbean cuts 100 jobs, including Bauer's

By Tom Stieghorst

About 100 people in Royal Caribbean's Miami offices have been let go this week, and the departures include sales executive Lisa Bauer.

Royal Caribbean spokesman Rob Zeiger said Bauer will be leaving by the end of the week. She is currently executive vice president of global sales and marketing, but has held roles in numerous departments at the company over the course of her career.

"She was a terrifically effective executive," Zeiger said. "She made her mark wherever she went. We wish her well."

Zeiger said Bauer's role is being eliminated. Managers who now report to Bauer will report to Royal Caribbean International CEO Adam Goldstein.

The other layoffs were spread across disciplines and up and down the position ranks, Zeiger said.

"This isn't a signal of a shakeup or a restructuring. There are simply ways to make the company run more effectively," Zeiger said. 

Sunsail rebrand to broaden appeal

By Phil Davies

Yachting specialist Sunsail is seeking to encourage more holidaymakers onto the water with a brand revamp.

The new brand identity is being unveiled this week in an effort to appeal to a wider customer base.

Research by the Tui-owned operator found that potential customers find it difficult to engage in sailing holidays due to a long list of perceived barriers to entry – it’s expensive, it’s too hard, it takes too long to learn, it’s cramped and uncomfortable and it’s “not for me”.

The company’s priority is to cater for the needs of ‘new to sailing’ consumers by helping them to more easily discover and experience the range of activities and holiday options available in destinations.

Sunsail provides a fleet of more than 800 yachts in 27 locations worldwide and runs a Beach Club in the Mediterranean.

The new brand identity reflects that “whoever has an experience with Sunsail has a sense of personal fulfillment,” the company said.

Head of global marketing Simon Conder said: “It is important that Sunsail retains its established values but at the same time develops a new and modern identity.

“The rebranding exercise will ensure that we get the right message out there. We feel it’s important to let people know what Sunsail stands for and ultimately make it easier for our current and potential clients to choose our brand and products.

“The brand identity now reflects and supports the leading position and landscape for Sunsail.

“Sunsail shares with its customers an incredible enthusiasm for sailing and its holidays offer zest, vitality and, above all, fun for all”.

Prices start at £399 per person for a seven-night Beach Club holiday on a half board basis at Sunsail Club Vounaki in Greece including flights from Gatwick, transfers and watersports.

New mobile app and tech-laden concept store for Thomson

By Travolution

Leading European tour operator Thomson has launched a new mobile app ahead of the summer holiday period as it prepares to unveil its next generation hi-tech store of the future.

The MyThomson app will allow customers to access information about their trip while on the go including destination guides, weather updates and flight times.

It will also be integrated into social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Johan Lundgren, deputy chief executive of Tui Travel, said: “Tui Travel is an online driven business and we will continue to enhance our mobile offering.

“The launch of the MyThomson app is an exciting new way of connecting our customers with Thomson anytime, anywhere, anyway.

"Innovation is at the heart of our strategy to deliver future growth, and the launch of the MyThomson app reflects our position as market leader.

“The annual summer holiday is a significant purchase for our customers and we know that they not only spend time choosing and planning their holiday but also looking forward to it.

“The app is a fantastic way to get customers more excited about their holiday and will help them keep up to date with all the information they need in one place, just a tap away.”
 
Meanwhile, Tui will announce next month which location has been chose for its new concept store that it promises will harness the latest technology to drive customers in.

The firm hopes to have refitted 10 of its 700 UK stores by Christmas and as many as 100 in coming years.

Tui said  a key strategy is “selling directly to our customers through multiple channels, and so our retail network remains important to us”. It added "the emphasis of these new shops will be on service in a modern environment". 
 
Kathryn Ward, director of retail and financial services, said: “Our next generation store recognises the importance of people when it comes to choosing and booking a holiday, whilst integrating technology into the whole experience to really bring it to life.

“Customers will be able to immerse themselves in stunning, rich and evocative content as they research and browse our unique holidays in-store.”
 
 Key features of the next generation Thomson shops include:  
 
- The shop front will have a giant immersive video wall (2m x 3m) to showcase new video content and imagery of the holidays combined with evocative sounds and  aromas

- At the entrance an interactive map and interactive table will entertain customers and help them research holidays and find out more about the broad range of product available

- The Advice Bar will give customers the chance to browse the Thomson and First Choice websites on self-service laptops with staff on hand to answer any questions

- Free customer WiFi will also enable customers to use their own devices to research in store and check out review content

- High definition screens and booth projections around the store will feature changing images and videos to inspire customers and give them a feel of what to expect from their holidays before they book

- The store will be zoned to meet the needs of all customers and staff will join them to help with their holiday decisions.  Customers can choose from sitting around a laptop in the pool area, self-serving at the Advice Bar or have a more personalised experience in the booths where images of their chosen holiday will be projected on the wall

- All customers will be served with barista style coffee to further enhance the booking experience 

Carnival Triumph publicity could deter first-time cruisers

Carnival Triumph publicity could deter first-time cruisers

By Juliet Dennis 

Agents fear the Carnival Triumph blaze that left more than 3,000 passengers stranded could make it harder to attract first-time cruisers.

The company confirmed last week’s fire on the ship in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by a fuel leak from a generator. Passengers went without electricity, working toilets and air conditioning for five days.

Agents said the widespread negative publicity generated could make cruises more difficult to sell.

The incident happened on the same day five crew died during a safety drill on board Thomson Majesty and just over a year after the Costa Concordia tragedy.

Andrew Earle, of Andrew Earle’s World of Travel in Hull, had one first-time cruise customer due to go on one of the cancelled Triumph departures next month.

He has now switched the booking to a four-night New Orleans land tour and believes the customer may never consider cruising again.

“Getting more new-to-cruise customers into the market will be that much more difficult. We have had a lot of families telling us the kids don’t fancy it,” he said.

Andy Tomlinson, managing director of Sutton Travel in Sutton Coldfield, said a couple who were considering a cruise had sought his reassurance in the wake of the Thomson tragedy.

He said: “For customers who are faltering a bit and planning their first cruise you have to emphasise how many sailings there are and how many go off without problem; it’s just getting that message out.”

Robert Broad Travel director Oliver Broad said: “It’s a chance for us to show our expertise because clients are asking more questions.”

Miles Morgan, managing director of Miles Morgan Travel, said most customers understood the nature of the Carnival Triumph incident, adding: “This needs to be put into context.”

Meanwhile, UK and Ireland managing director of Carnival Cruise Lines Adolfo Perez has written to agents to thank them for their support and to apologise for the conditions onboard the ship.

“All of us at Carnival deeply regret the hardship our guests had to face during their days on board the ship,” said Perez. “Our number one concern was to ensure the safety and welfare of our guests and crew and to get them home as soon as possible.

“Our shipboard and shore side teams worked tirelessly to take care of them and minimise their discomfort and inconvenience. We also focused on making sure their loved ones had a direct link to our Family Support Centre where they could obtain round the clock information on their family and friends on board.”

Perez continued: “Now that all the guests are safely home, our efforts are firmly focused on the ongoing investigation into the root cause of the fire and what measures we can take to ensure this does not happen again.

“These efforts are taking place in collaboration with the US Coast Guard and other independent parties. We know, however, that preliminary investigations indicate the cause of the fire was the result of a leak in the fuel return line for the number six diesel generator.”

He reassured agents that “all our ships are safe and secure”, and that all of them meet, and in many areas exceed, all regulatory standards.

“I promise we will continue to investigate in order to understand what took place and to learn what steps we can take to improve going forward,” said Perez.

“We know that holidaymakers can choose from a vast variety of options, and that they – and you – expect a fantastic cruise holiday from us. We are very sorry that this time we did not deliver."

He added: “I really value your support for Carnival Cruise Lines, and in encouraging British holidaymakers to select a cruise on our ships. We hope you will continue to do so in the future, and we will endeavour to do everything we can to make our experiences as memorable and fun as possible for your customers.”

Five dead on Canary Islands cruise ship

La PalFootage shot from the cruise ship showed the lifeboat in the water

Five crew members have died after a lifeboat they were in fell from a cruise ship docked in the port of Santa Cruz de la Palma in the Canary Islands.

The accident happened on the Majesty, operated by UK-based Thomson Cruises, during a routine safety drill.

Those killed include three Indonesians, a Filipino and a Ghanaian. Three people were also hurt as the boat reportedly fell more than 20m into the sea.

The MS Thomson Majesty is believed to sail under a Maltese flag.

About 2,000 people were on board the cruise ship when the accident occurred around 12:00 GMT on Sunday, local media say.

Two of those injured are said to be Greek, and a third Filipino.

The UK Foreign Office said it was aware of the incident and was "urgently looking into it".

No passengers were involved, local reports say.

Thomson Cruises said in a statement that it was "aware of an incident involving the ship's crew on board Thomson Majesty, in La Palma, Canary Islands this afternoon".

"We are working closely with the ship owners and managers, Louis Cruises, to determine exactly what has happened and provide assistance to those affected," the statement added.

All of our thoughts and prays are with the crews family and loved ones, and the remaining crew who will be devastated by this accident. All Thomson's  Cruise ships should be safety checked before any sailings, and the ship owners Louis Cruise need to step up to the plate and compensate the family of the crew members, and pay for some needed repairs and up-dates. 

Tui reduces losses and grows share in Q1

By Phil Davies

Tui Travel’s underlying operating loss was cut by 15% in the three months to December as the group’s ‘unique’ holidays continue to drive increases in UK market share.

The operating loss reduced by £16 million to £93 million to give an underlying first quarter operating loss of £116 million.

Issuing first quarter results for the period ending December 31, Tui Travel reported “significant” continued growth in UK cumulative market share with summer 2013 up 4% and the key January booking period up 2%, gaining on the 7% increase in the same period last year.

Unique holiday bookings in the UK, Nordics and Germany increased by 15%, 10% and 6% year-on-year respectively for summer 2013.

Direct distribution sales in the UK for summer 2013 grew to 90% from 89% with online sales accounting for 37%, up by 1% over the same period a year earlier.

Tui claims its accommodation wholesaler business “continues to build a global leadership position” with total transaction value up by 9% for this summer, driven by Latin America and Asia where TTV is up by 23%.

The group reported strong current trading with winter 2012/13 83% sold with higher margins and average selling prices in key source markets.

Summer 2013 bookings in the UK and Nordics are up 9% and 10% respectively with margins ahead of the prior year in key source markets.

Chief executive Peter Long said: “We are pleased to report that our strong trading momentum has continued with particularly encouraging growth in the UK and Nordics.

“Our leading position in the UK has further benefited from increased market share as a result of higher demand for our unique holidays. Across all our key markets demand for the overseas holiday remains strong, despite the overall economic environment.

"We are confident that our customer focused strategy is driving performance and based on current trading we expect to be towards the top end of our roadmap guidance of 7 to 10% underlying operating profit growth for the 2013 financial year.”

Tui said: "Positive trading momentum continues for summer, with a third of mainstream summer holidays sold to date.

"Customer demand for our unique holidays has allowed us to increase capacity in the UK, Nordics and Germany. In the UK we have again increased our market share year on year as a result of increased demand for our unique holidays."

Tui Travel will issue a pre-close trading update on March 27.

Top 10 Family Cruises

January 8, 2013 By Liz Jarvis

From on-board water parks to rock school, and storytelling sessions to pizza parties, family cruises offer a dizzying array of non-stop fun

“The beauty of a cruise with children is that you can fall asleep having savoured the sites of one magical destination and wake up in another, with no stress — no need to panic about getting from A to B, and no listening to repeated pleadings of ‘are we nearly there yet?’ in the family car.

“With prices covering accommodation, childcare, food and entertainment, a family cruise really can be excellent value.”

Here, in no particular order, are Cruise International’s Top 10 Cruises for families.

*A seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on Oasis of the Seas (royalcaribbean.co.uk; 0844 493 2061) costs from £1,334pp (two sharing), including return flights to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from London. It departs on 26 October.	Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean International has been flying the family holiday flag for years, and has the zipline, rock climbing walls and on-board surf simulators to prove it. There are high diving acrobatic shows in the AquaTheater, ice skating, a carousel and the chance to meet movie characters such as Shrek. The 5,400-passenger ship has a Youth Zone with free age-group clubs for children from six months to 17, as well as babysitting services. The Oasis of The Seas is sailing from Florida’s Fort Lauderdale to tropical ports in Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico, so children can cool off in the H2O Zone mini water park.
*A four-night Mediterranean Cruise on Disney Magic (virginholidayscruises.co.uk; 0844 573 4398) costs from £749pp (two sharing), including return flights from London. Departs from Barcelona on July 9.	Disney Cruise Line Each of Disney Cruise Line’s four ships have a whole deck just for clubs, for children from 12 months to 12 years, 11 to 13 and 14 to 17 (with lots of cool space for teens). There are family-sized staterooms with baths, complimentary Wave Phones so you can all keep in touch on board, free soft drinks all day and night, and even rotational dining so everybody can visit the three themed restaurants and still keep their waiter. As well as a kids-only pool and family pool there’s the AquaDuck water coaster, plus fireworks for the Pirates In The Caribbean celebration. And the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic is back in Barcelona for four to 12-night Mediterranean cruises next summer, the perfect opportunity to introduce children to history and culture in Nice, Rome and Naples.
*An 11-night Canary Islands cruise on Crown Princess (princess.com; 0843 373 0333) departs from Southampton on 1 June, costing from £899 per adult, £450 per child.	Princess Cruises Most of Princess Cruises’s large fleet have innovative programmes – not only are there free clubs for three to 17-year-olds, split into three age groups, they also have junior enrichment programmes. The California Science Centre provides ‘edutainment’ lessons in subjects such as coral reef studies, while pre-teens can sign up for the Chef at Sea programme with hands-on cookery lessons in the ships’ galleys to make pizza and sushi rolls. The older children get lectures on life lessons, relationships and fashion. There are even excursions especially for children: the Princess Adventures Ashore team takes youngsters to areas on the company’s private Princess Cays beach in the Bahamas.
*A 12-night Mediterranean Tapestry cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam (hollandamerica.co.uk; 0843 374 2300) costs from £1,868 per adult, £768.39 per child, including return flights from London.	Holland America Line Holland America Line’s newest ships, the 2,106-passenger Nieuw Amsterdam and 2,104-passenger Eurodam, are ideal for families. Both have a free Club HAL for children aged three to 12 with arts and crafts plus camp-out night, candy bar bingo, pyjama parties and more. Teenagers from 13 to 17 have a New York loft-style club equipped with sofas and games, where they can join in dance and sports or watch movies and have hot tub parties. There are also events such as Family Olympics so parents can join in. Paid-for babysitting is available after 10pm. HAL is known for its excellent food, and children’s choices are available.
*A 10-night Canary Islands cruise on Ventura (pocruises.co.uk; 0843 373 0111) costs from £1,249 per adult, £937 per child (2-16 years) and £249 per infant (under 2) for a Vantage Fare (four sharing). The return trip from Southampton departs on 8 August.	P&O Noddy and Mr Bump entertain children on P&O Cruises’ family-friendly Ventura, where children’s activities include cookery classes and mini Olympics as well as organised games, pool parties and talent shows. The free Reef kids’ club has sections for two to fours, five to eights, nine to 12s and 13 to 17-year-olds with daily activities so parents can take a break. There’s a children’s dip pool outside their club area and paid-for trapeze and tightrope walking workshops plus bungee trampoline. Teenagers can join the Rock School, and there’s a special play area for under-twos which doubles as a night nursery, as well as four pools – one with a retractable roof. And all children love Frankie’s Diner for its pizzas and ice cream. Ventura is in the Caribbean this winter, but sails from Southampton in the summer – as do the family-friendly sister ships Azura and Aurora.
*A six-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Breeze (carnivalcruises.co.uk; 0845 351 0556) costs from £396.71pp cruise only.	Carnival Carnival’s 23 ships are dedicated to fun and its newest, Carnival Breeze, is best for families. Launched last June and based in Miami for Caribbean and Bahamas cruises, it has so many children-friendly features they may never want to get off. The free Camp Carnival programme covers three groups for organised play plus Wii and Play Station. It stays open until 10pm for slumber parties, and babysitting is available. Tweens (12 to 14), have a club with Internet stations, while 15 to 17s have their own night club-style space. This 3,690-passenger ship has family-sized staterooms plus activities to enjoy together, such as the Waterworks Aqua Park, SportsSquare miniature golf, SkyCourse rope bridges and the Interactive Thrill Theater.
*A seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Epic (ncl.co.uk; 0845 201 8900) costs from £1,134pp (two sharing), including return fares to Spain from the UK. Departs on 7 July.	Norwegian Cruise Line When Norwegian Breakaway launches in April it will feature the free new youth programme for children aged six months to 17 years introduced by Norwegian Cruise Line on its 13 other ships in 2012. The Cirque du Jour will teach juggling, spinning and tumbling to youngsters up to 12 so they can join in a family circus show, while teenagers can take part in sports tournaments or chill out in the teen lounge with PlayStation3. Paid-for group babysitting in the children’s clubs is also available. The Nickelodeon characters SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer are on board 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic, where you can have breakfast with SpongeBob, get slimed by Team Nick’s Splash Mobs or just have fun playing 10-pin bowling on the Wii screen. Epic’s Aqua Park with water slides, three pools including one for children and five hot tubs is another winner.
*A 10-night Northern Europe cruise on MSC Opera (msccruises.co.uk; 0844 561 1955) costs from £1,009 per adult and £120 in port taxes per child under 18 (four sharing). The return trip from Southampton departs on 16 July.	MSC Cruises Children under 18 sharing a cabin with their parents cruise for free with MSC Cruises, although flights, transfers and port taxes must be paid for – which makes its Southampton-based MSC Opera cruises all the more attractive. MSC’s children’s clubs are also free, offering supervised activities for three to six-year-olds, including sports tournaments and pizza parties for seven to 12s, and sports or dance classes for teenagers, plus karaoke parties. All MSC ships have children-only pools and play areas, and flagships MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida have a disco just for teenagers. MSC’s 13 ships have wifi internet connections plus the traditional nightly shows, a spa and gym. MSC Opera also offers mini golf, shuffleboards and a power walking track.
*A seven-night Ancient Wonders cruise on Celebration (thomson.co.uk; 0871 231 3243) costs from £564 per adult, £349 per child, including return flights to Dalaman, Turkey, from Stansted. Departs on 3 June.	Thomson Cruises Thomson Cruises is a bright and breezy choice for families who want fun at package holiday prices, including children’s fares for under-16s. Each of Thomson’s five ships has free kids clubs where there is storytelling, team games and mini discos. Thomson Majesty, its newest ship, has a paddling pool and children’s outdoor area as well as the usual two pools. All have sports courts for games like basketball except the Island Escape, where cruises have an emphasis on relaxation. Most itineraries also include family-friendly paid-for excursions, such as trips to Tenerife’s Rancho Texas conservation zoo and camel trekking on Gran Canaria. This summer the Thomson Spirit has UK departures from Harwich and Newcastle for hassle-free holidays, and the Dream and Celebration have had major refurbishments to include new interiors and extras such as iPod docking stations and flatscreen TVs.
* An eight-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Celebrity Eclipse from Southampton, costs from £939 per adult and £301 per child (four sharing). Departs on 31 August.	Celebrity Cruises Celebrity offers free clubs for all ages: Toddler Time (under threes), Ship Mates (3-5), Celebrity Cadets (6-8), Ensigns (9-11) and Admiral Teens (12-17). They start at 9am (or half an hour before arriving in port if there are early excursions), allowing youngsters to stay on board and play. The only rule is that parents must stay if their children aren’t potty trained. The children’s area, Fun Factory, for ages 3-11, is open until 10pm. As well as computer games, there are crafts, music, karaoke, treasure hunts, theme parties, movies and more. Teenagers get their own (supervised) hangout and, for $6 an hour, children aged 3-11 can take part in the Afternoon Party (noon-2pm on port days) and the Slumber Party (10pm-1am). There’s also in-room evening babysitting.

Thomson Cruises director admits need to modernise fleet

1. Thomson Cruises director admits need to modernise fleet

   Cruise holiday firm Thomson Cruises is set to modernise its current fleet with upgrades to its vessels along with the potential addition of new liners.
   
   The plans come after the firm  undertook a strategic review around nine months ago.
   
   Managing director Fraser Ellacott revealed that the move was afoot during a recent interview with Travel Weekly in which he admitted "exciting plans" were in the offing.
   
   Though Mr Ellacott remained cryptic in his responses, he did suggest that "for the longer term, clearly we [Thomson Cruises] have a need to modernise."
   
   He went on to suggest that an overhaul of the current fleet was in the works, while Thomson Cruises was also considering the Middle East and North Africa for summer cruises in 2013.
   
   The cruise chief explained that the firm felt trips to Lebanon, Libya, Algeria and the Dead Sea could prove particularly appealing to UK passengers following the Arab Spring.
   
   Thomson Cruises is the third largest cruise holiday company in the UK, with tours operating across its four ships the Thomson Dream, Thomson Destiny, Thomson Spirit and Thomson Celebration.
   
   The company made headlines recently with the unveiling of a new taster trip offering holidaymakers a 16-hour trip along the British coast.
   
   Do you agree with this assessment of Thomson Cruises? What improvements do you think they should make?