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Tui currently own/operate ships as follows:
Hapag - 4 shipsThomson in the UK - 5 shipsIsland Cruises - 2 ships (joint venture with RCI obtained as part of First Choice merger/purchase)
Were they to introduce a couple of mass market ships one wonders whether HL is the right brand, I mean already it has the ultra luxury Europa, the 2 "expedition ships Bremen and Hansantic and the Columbus C, I suppose HL is very well known in Germany as a brand but having allsorts of different type of ships under one name might end up confusing the potential customer, makes it difficult to market as well.
Thomson very much fill the niche left by Airtours departure from the Cruise market, although they did of course have their own customers too.
Maybe the Hapag Llyold connection is purely aimed at expanding their German presence?
Hapag Lloyd - Luxury line with a diverse fleet of expedition ships, and small cruise ships.
Thomson Cruises - Mainstream line aimed at an older audience. They have 2 former HAL ships and couple classic ships from Louis already. Island Cruises - Mass market targeted at a younger audience. Something along the lines of Ocean Village. They could transfer the THOMSON DESTINY to this brand.
THOMSON DESTINYTHOMSON SPIRITTHE EMERALDTHE CALYPSO
and the fifth, THOMSON CELEBRATION, is owned by Carnival.
I don't think TUI will get involved with either Thomson or Island!
Tony
quote:Originally posted by ahrpd:Oops, re my last, I meant TUI will probably not get involved with Island or Ocean Village!
No doubt both Island and Thomson will expand in the future, Thomson by either chartering or purchasing more tonnage of a similar type to Celebration and Spirit and Island will no doubt receive some older RCI ships at some stage as required. I don't believe TUI will sell their stake in Island as it does not compete directly with Thomson.
There does seem to be a gap in the German market, they have luxury, they have Aida etc but there is no large mass market traditonal product dedicated to the German speaking market, given the size of the market a German Princess or Costa would do well. Seems Carnival identified this and now TUI is determined to go it alone - will probably just take them a bit longer.
Elad
quote:Originally posted by elad:I can not understand how the hell a ship like Thomson Celebration and Europa can be both a part of a same fleet??[...]
Well, they are not in the same fleet. It's like Seabourn being part of Carnival. (There is nevertheless Columbus which is in the same fleet as Europa) Nobody would ever have the idea (and hardly anyone knows) that Thompson is somehow affiliated to Hapag Lloyd. They are also in very different markets - Thomson is not know in Germany.
quote:Originally posted by Ernst:They are also in very different markets - Thomson is not know in Germany.
But in Germany they do know what the stupid Smile is. Can you imagine that being added to Europa's funnel! Ward would have a hey day and the rating would immeditely drop to 3* Of course it never would, thank goodness.
Pam
quote:Originally posted by PamM:But in Germany they do know what the stupid Smile is.
But in Germany they do know what the stupid Smile is.
Oh yes! But the ships are not marketed in the German speaking world.
quote:Originally posted by PamM:Can you imagine that being added to Europa's funnel!
I tend to say that quite any change can only improve this ship. And the Hapag Lloyd livery is not really on the elegant side either.
On another note, Ernst, I am curious - what is so bad about the current EUROPA? She does not look all that special, but certainly not bad either.
quote:Originally posted by dougnewman:[...]On another note, Ernst, I am curious - what is so bad about the current EUROPA? She does not look all that special, but certainly not bad either.
She is not nearly on the same league as her predecessor. It was of course the perfect time to get a new ship - the fifth Europa just started to show her age (no balconies, no 'buffet restaurant' etc.) - but the present ships is not nearly as outstanding as the Europa of 1981 was for her time.
There are many major deficits:
First, the Europa of 1981 was an elegant ship - and she was elegant because her 'decor' was very discreet. Not so the present ship which is just another cruise ship (maybe a bit refined but still) AND she features an unavoidable cheap looking atrium - they even use it for receptions and concerts.(!)
Second, there are some features missing which made the Europa of 1981 a fantastic ship. The promenade deck aboard the fifth Europa was not a wrap around (one of her flaws) but it was wider than usual - this can not be said about the narrow (!!!) passage which has been declared 'promenade' on the new ship. (it extends over several decks passes trough the lido area and even has some 'teakless' sections - a joke for a ship of her 'status')
The large indoor pool filled with portable water was a very nice appreciated feature not found on the new ship either which has only one (!) pool - and this is a rather strange pool area due to this indoor/outdoor separation. (a lame compromise)
Another thing I am missing is the theater/cinema which was very nice aboard the Europa V. (sadly removed) Actually, a proper theater (AND a ball room) would have made more sense than the hybrid show lounge giving the kind of entertainment offered aboard. (I admit that this was the same on the old ship - this is a missed chance)
The biggest flaw for me is the missing observation lounge. The Club Belvedere is a nice lounge but it is not an observation lounge. This is made worse by the fact that the only (!!!) forward facing deck space is right in front of this lounge. I admit that the open bridge compensates a bit for that. (I know, there was open deck space in front of the Blevedere aboard the 'old' Europa too - but this was not the only forward facing deck space - and it was a different time - back then it was one of if not the best observation lounge)
I still think that Europa is by far the best ship out there - BUT especially in the case of 'an' Europa I expect more - MUCH MORE. Whereas some things certainly have been improved compared to the older ship (balconies etc.) it is in may respects a step backwards - she is just another cruise ship.
Sorry for the long posting (and it's old news too), it just makes me mad that they have replace my favorite ship with that 'thing'.
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