Sponsored By

Thomson launches Platinum Cruises, plans major refurb

Thomson Cruises is investing in a multi-million pound makeover of Thomson Dream and Thomson Celebration. Once modernized, the two ships will be marketed under the Thomson Platinum collection.

Mary Bond, Editor in Chief

April 4, 2012

2 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Refurbishment of Thomson Dream will take place later this year ahead of the ship’s winter season in the Caribbean. No yard has been selected yet, informs the UK cruise operator. Celebration’s refurb will follow in 2013.

SMC has undertaken  the design of the new interiors.

Platinum Cruises will have a lot in common with Thomson’s Platinum hotels, says the cruise line, with a contemporary look and feel onboard with rich colours, modern furnishings and designer touches.  There will be opportunities to buy cruise and stay packages in the range. Tips and service charges will be included in the price of a Platinum cruise.

Like the hotel range, Thomson’s Platinum ships have to score ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ with at least 90 % of its customers to make the grade, informs Fraser Ellacott, managing director of Thomson Cruises.

‘All the cabins onboard Thomson Dream and Thomson Celebration will be refurbished, with clean-cut contemporary designs and suites that come with extras like iPod docking stations,’ he added.

The bars and lounges will also be revamped, so overall things will be much more modern and minimalist.  The à la carte restaurants will be themed. The spas will be refreshed with Thomson Dream having a new suite of treatment rooms built next to the salon.

Thomson Dream’s first sailing as a Platinum ship will be a Transatlantic  crossing departing Lisbon on December 9, 2012, headed for Barbados. Thomson Dream will then cruise around the Caribbean for the winter season, calling in Dominica, the British Virgin Islands and Antigua. Thomson Celebration will be Platinum from  May 6, 2013 from her home port in Marmaris, Turkey - offering Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea itineraries. Thomson Airways offers fly cruises from 19 regional UK airports.

Ellacott said, ‘We’re very excited about launching Platinum Cruises, which will be on sale to the public from April 25, 2012.  Two of our strongest performing ships have been selected to offer Platinum Cruises, 90% of customers rate the Thomson Dream and the Thomson Celebration as good or excellent in our customer satisfaction questionnaires, so they are the perfect choice.’

In addition to the above mentioned two ships, Thomson operates Thomson Spirit and Thomson Destiny (to be replaced by Thomson Majesty starting from May) and Island Escape under the Island Cruises banner.

About the Author

Mary Bond

Editor in Chief

Mary Bond is Group Director, Seatrade Cruise a division within Informa Markets and responsible for the Seatrade portfolio of global cruise events, print and online cruise publishing.

Mary is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of Seatrade Cruise News and Seatrade Cruise Review magazine.

Mary has worked in the shipping industry for 39 years, first for Lloyd’s Register of Shipping before joining Seatrade’s editorial team in 1985.

The latest cruise news, analysis and more straight to your inbox
Get the free newsletter read by industry experts

You May Also Like