No UK based cruises

[bountycat]

Since Thomson started cruising from the UK in 2004, our family has enjoyed 6 cruises – Fjord-land Splendours, North Cape Explorer (twice), Fire and Ice and Baltic Highlights (twice). We have visited interesting ports varying in character from St Petersburg to Eidfjord and cruised through some superb scenery – the sail out of Flam through Sognefjord is hard to beat.

Thomson cruises are affordable with reasonable child prices up to 16 and gratuities included within the basic price. Although ‘Celebration/Spirit’ are over 25 years old, they are comfortable and friendly ships. The flexible dining, (except on weekly formal nights) with no pre-assigned tables and dining companions is a big bonus. For those who want to be completely informal, the Lido restaurant provides an acceptable alternative.

Thomson will not be sailing from the UK in 2010 and now sell only fly cruises. This decision appears contrary to their environmental policy, which advocates sustainable tourism. They claim that cruises from the UK do not sell well – people want warmer climates. I suspect the hidden agenda is that they want to fill their planes.

Surely there is a market for UK cruises? Many people do not like flying or want to reduce their carbon footprint. These cruises also provide opportunities to visit destinations where cheap flights are scarce – many of the Mediterranean destinations are relatively easy to visit independently. Finally, not everyone appreciates hot weather – is August really the best month for visiting Athens or Rome?

I have looked at other cruises from the UK but there seems to be no comparable alternative in terms of cost, dining arrangements and informality.

Thomson had a great product but regrettably no longer run cruises ‘with me (and I suspect a lot of other customers) in mind’.

[tercar]

Hi there,
I have heard that Thomson are not cruising from the UK because the docking fees in some of the ports are very expensive. not only in England but in some of the other ports in Europe. I think that these other countries should look at this as they are losing out on income from the tourism.

[HW tenpin]

Interesting subject and one that I fully endorse, being a firm believer of UK sailings. There are still a good number of UK sailings but they need seeking out. Harwich, Southampton, Dover.to name three.

However bountycat has the answer in the post, almost all the Thomson Cruises go North to Norway, Russia and the Baltic, which in themselves are expensive places to visit, and unreliable weather wise. While Southampton sailings take two days to cross the Bay of Biscay before reaching your cruise destinations.

Like all cruise lines, ships are moved every three/four years for a reason while we love certain ships the majority also like to try out other ships of the same line or different lines altogether. Many cruisers want to start their holiday that day and don’t want ‘Sea Days’ while few enjoy the pleasures of long days a sea like I do. (Hence price drop on Cross Atlantic crossings)
Thomson’s prices are slightly cheaper than most, but that surely is reflected in the age & facilities on board their ships, against the more luxury modern liners offering a greater experience of the good life.

Our last four Costa cruises were cheaper than Thomson’s even putting on the fixed gratuities & the price of drinks, take the X1 drinks package if booking a Costa cruise A1 drinks during Lunch and diner servings, including buffet, which really gives you about three hours lunch time & four hours evening drinking time before paying for your drinks. Thomson cannot match the price of our Costa cruise in Feb, full suite, 12 days, and priority boarding lots of other goodies for just over two thousand two hundred, the Thomson Dream in September costs more if taken over 12 days. Childfree places are also common with many cruise lines.

The carbon footprint maybe slightly lower by cruise ship than the flights, but they make up for that in destroying many of the places now being visited by vast members of visitors to Islands in the ‘Med and Caribbean. And yes I hold my hand up as being one of them that enjoys seeing them. I don’t know but suspect that the four sea days needed to get to the ‘med’ & back maybe close to the flight footprint.

As for dining arrangements, Princess, NSC, MSC, some P&O all have anytime or flexible dining, with great buffets or alternative dining options.

The days of seven-night formality cruising are long gone, your choice, your cruise is the order of the day.

Although I am now promoting Costa as an alternative to Thomson/OV/Island as regards to price, they are certainly not everyone cup of tea. PM me if you have any questions about Costa ships.

[tercar]

Hi Tenpin,
I have got to agree with you on the price of Thomson cruises they are becoming very expensive compared to others I have seen advertised. We are going on the dream and it is rather expensive over £1000.00 each for 1 week in May. I have been on a lot of Thomson cruises but I think the days are drawing nigh now. The only thing that takes me back is the staff who are like friends. Yes I have seen the costa ships for reasonable prices I think I will have to try one of these next time. Carol

[HW tenpin]

Hello Tercar,

With regard to the Dream, we are going in September as we have sailed on her three times with Costa, (Then the Europa) she is a lovely ship just about the right size at 55,000 tonnes, to give you some idea of what to expect.
The Destiny is 37,500 and carries 1450 passengers, the Celebration & Spirit are both smaller and carry 1250 passengers, the Dream is far bigger but only carries 50 more passengers (! 500). So every public space has more room, the Theatre is roomy as are the restaurants. I just hope Thomson do not make too many changes, but as you said, this is just about 2 thousand pound for the seven days, making our Suite on the Costa Serena for 12 days great value at £200 more, x1 cost just £102 each and add the gratuities 72 euros still better than the Dream.
I will send you an e-mail about the down side of Costa plus some Photos of Costa ships sometime.
At the moment I can not figure out the general prices of cruises, Princess offer the Sea Princess 14 day Caribbean at £1400, while at the same time the Grand Princess sailing from SOUTHAMPTON is £1700. With airfares rising how come it’s cheaper to fly to the Caribbean than sail from the UK.