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Thomson to add 'adults only' ship in 2007
April 27, 2006

Thomson Cruises is adding a fifth ship to its fleet for summer 2007. The Calypso (owned by Louis Cruise Lines and chartered by Thomson summer-only for an undisclosed number of years) will be aimed exclusively for adults, and will offer cruises out of Greece and Cyprus.

Peter Rothwell, Thomson md said: 'This latest addition to the Thomson fleet is perfect for those who have a real passion for discovery. Its smaller size will enable her to venture off the beaten track and cruise to lesser-known gems around Greece and the Crimea. '

Rothwell added, Thomson's strategy over the last three years 'was to increase fleet size, offer a diverse range of cruise itineraries and also have a ship cruising from UK ports.'

The 486 passenger Calypso will be Thomson's first adult only ship, offering cruises out of Cyprus visiting Turkey, Egypt and Isreal during April and October and three itineraries from Greek port of Thessalonika from May to September, with cruises around Greece and the islands, Turkey, Black Sea and Albania. She will be able to sail through the Corinth Canal, making a variety of destinations easily accessible.

Flights will operate from seven UK airports and Thomson will offer a cruise and stay programme with an extra week in a selection of hotels in the Halkidiki region of Greece.

Also new for the UK's second biggest cruise operator in 2007, Thomson Spirit will be based in the UK for the first time, offering cruises from Southampton, Port Of Tyne and Harwich. Iceland will be a new destination for Thomson and will be featured from Harwich next July. Thomson Celebration (presently UK based) and Thomson Destiny will home ported in Palma, each offering four different itineraries and the Emerald will continue to offer cruises out of Corfu, sailing the Adriatic one week and the Greek islands and Turkey the next.

Seatrade Insider

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The following is the official anouncement of Louis Cruises Lines at Cyprus Stock Exchange:

Louis plc is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with the leading British tour operator, Thomson, a subsidiary of TUI AG, for the chartering of an additional cruise ship, namely M/V Calypso. The charter will be for a three year period commencing in 2007. Calypso is the fourth cruise ship of Louis Cruise Lines that is chartered by Thomson Cruises

The Calypso will be conducting cruises for Thomson Cruises out of the ports of Limassol and Salonica.

This new charter agreement is indicative of the intentions of both parties to further expand and strengthen their cooperation and business relationship.

The Louis fleet currently consists of twelve cruise ships. During the 2006 season, three of the vessels are chartered to Thomson Cruises and another one to Transocean of Germany. The rest of the fleet is operating cruises out of the ports of Piraeus (two vessels), Genoa & Marseille (two vessels), London Tilbury (one vessel) and Limassol (three vessels).

[ 04-27-2006: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

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Pam wrote:
MSC?? an Italian Line?? no way Italians would never consider leaving behind the children. Children are not locked behind doors or treated with disdain, they are seen and heard and loved for it. Grannies sail with children and grandchildren and probably wouldn't want anything else.

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I agree wholeheartedly. A family-run Italian business like MSC adding an AO ship and not having kids on it, it's like having pasta without sauce.

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Still room for smaller ships
April 27, 2006

Thomson Cruises' summer-only charter of Calypso from Louis Cruise Lines from next summer (see separate story) shows there is still room in the market for smaller ships, according to the line's head of cruising, David Selby, in an interview with Seatrade Insider.

In making a case for smaller ships versus mega-ships, Selby says, 'they offer a more intimate atmosphere allowing passengers the opportunity to make more lasting friendships that may be lost on the huge metal carcasses.'

The 11,162 gt ship, a former ferry built in 1968 but extensively re-built since, has eight passenger decks and a 486-passenger capacity. This summer it is being operated by owner Louis on its first ever ex-UK cruise programme.

At 135mtr long and just over 19mtr breadth, the vessel can sail through the Corinth Canal and, linking in with the tour operators' ex-UK flight programme into the area, 'affords us the opportunity to create a set of itineraries in the region that cannot be copied by any other UK cruise operator,' says Selby. The May to September Thessalonika sailings dove-tail into Thomson Holidays' regular flights into the area from seven UK airports, enabling the line to offer a two-week cruise and stay programme with an extra week in a selection of hotels in the Halkidiki region of Greece.

The decision to introduce an adults-only ship results from passenger feedback says Selby. 'Family cruising is becoming increasingly popular in the summer months and some passengers just do not want to sail with children around. We've have trialled adults-only sailings in our programme and these have proved there is a demand but we wouldn't dedicate one of our bigger ships which is why we have chosen Calypso, as she is a smallest ship in our fleet,' he adds.

Thomson's debut Red Sea winter cruise programme using Thomson Spirit out of Sharm el Sheikh on seven-night sailings to ports in Egypt and Jordan is just finishing. The vessel leaves tonight on a re-positioning cruise to Palma for the start of her summer cruise season in the Med. Selby says he is happy with the inaugural season and the line will return next winter using Thomson Celebration. 'Overall security was tight and whilst prices on post-Christmas sailings were not quite what we would have liked, passengers spent a lot on shore excursions with Petra, the pyramids and Luxor all big draws.'

Will Thomson stop at five ships? 'Not necessarily but it's important not to grow volume for volume's sake but better to grow steadily and profitably,' Selby comments. He already knows where he would position a sixth ship if he got the chance, although that is the only detail he is revealing for now.

Seatrade Insider

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Originally posted by PamM:
Italians would never consider leaving behind the children. Children are not locked behind doors or treated with disdain...

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Just go outside school holiday periods

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Originally posted by Cambodge:
A calm and deliberate way to accomplish this objective is to offer cruises without sitters, nannies, playrooms, children's programs, and similar embelishments aimed at to attract the family market.

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Originally posted by Cambodge:
(and note I did not say "adult entertainment!)

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J.S.S.Normandie wrote:
Although that will probably be soon to come.

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I think the 'adult entertainment' cruises are already available.

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