Gib 2015

both majesty and celebration docking GIB 6th november 2015 is celebration going back to barbados about time we heard from SAILAWAY:D

Looks as though it should be the same as this winter, Dream: Montego Bay, Celebration: Barbados, Majesty: Canaries.

Looking ahead for summer 2016, oddly there's been nothing in yet. Usually by now Dream's Palma schedule is put into their cruise timetable, but so far nothing. Nothing appearing for ex-UK again either.

Perhaps a new fleet addition so they've not put any ships into schedules yet?

Thank,s sailaway have been on dream four time,s now all in the carribean i.am looking at celebration now. Giving jamaica a try this year and back to barbados 2016 looking at tui there second new one will be launched may 2016 so you might be right as a change of ship might be on the card,s

 

Looking ahead for summer 2016, oddly there's been nothing in yet. Usually by now Dream's Palma schedule is put into their cruise timetable, but so far nothing. Nothing appearing for ex-UK again either.

 

Perhaps a new fleet addition so they've not put any ships into schedules yet?

Thank,s linda isee you do many cruises from so,ton, i work with a well known cruise parking co there so be carefull i will be watching you, so please tell me about celebration, deck,s 6-8 delux any good cabin,s, thank, howard

Ha ha Howard. Sorry, I haven't been on Celebration since 2008 :rolleyes: and only been on deck 9 and 2 :rolleyes:

We like going from Southampton, just down the road from us :) (unlike Harwich :eek:) Last time we went from Southampton we missed the free parking so we parked at Marchwood. Fine, but the traffic was so bad it took us an hour to get to the ship! OK on the way back though.

I take it that's not who you work for :p

Or perhaps Thomson are not going to do cruises any more :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Well, that would explain this news:

http://m.travelweekly.co.uk/Article.aspx?cat=news&id=50831

Or perhaps the start of the international TUI Cruises to take over?

Well, that would explain this news:

 

http://m.travelweekly.co.uk/Article.aspx?cat=news&id=50831

 

Or perhaps the start of the international TUI Cruises to take over?

Mmm interesting article, not quite sure what to make of it :confused:

Mmm interesting article, not quite sure what to make of it :confused:

Blimey! Nor me Linda. :confused:

Wonder if they are thinking of running down their own cruise business and trying to develop and enhance cruise and stay holidays using their aircraft, resort infrastructure (coaches, reps and excursions) and hotels to tag onto other cruise line itineraries ie selling packages just not their own ships. Would perhaps explain their continued reticence to buy any newer ships - plus what's going to happen when the taxes/green legislation bites in European waters (is that 2020?) Also may widen their net and retain some of their customers and attract others who want newer ships and who may be rejecting Thomson cruises on that basis.

But selling Thomson cruises plus other cruise lines is already being done by their 'other' TUI online agency. And weren't they going to get the chop not so long ago? :confused:

What do you make of it Sailaway?

interesting move? looks like they are thinkin? that if they can sell cruises/rival cruises in their shops then they can do that online too....what would be the markup tho? (some backroom deals going on perhaps?)

ellacott is saying it will add 'rich content online'...so perhaps a way to drive more prospective bookers to their website in the hope that they will book a thomsons offering (also gives them something else to sell if their ships are full up)

cant see their present (flimsy) website/customer helplines/booking system coping too well with that? (coping with what many online bookers from other cruise lines would be expecting to find on a cruise website)

 

ellacott is saying it will add 'rich content online'...so perhaps a way to drive more prospective bookers to their website in the hope that they will book a thomsons offering (also gives them something else to sell if their ships are full up)

 

Ha! Could that be it? Get more on-line business and move to close down the High Street shops?

Don't get why they were within an ace of axing CD though - or is that directly a TUI company not under Thomson Cruises as such? And that website was more versatile than Thomson's imo anyway. So why are Thomson wanting to embrace this facility on their exclusive site? Why not amalgamate the two? I'm totally confused as to the business rationale behind this move. But rest assured, there will be some perceived benefit to them - whether we, the customer get an improved website and service remains to be seen!

I agree with you about the existing Thomson cruise booking facility being poor. I'm a bit of a Luddite but from the Thomson website customers may be able to access other cruise providers externally or able to book through Thomsons via a phone back telephone service.

What benefits are there for not booking directly with the cruise company? Perhaps OBC etc is offered with the agent taking less commission.

Presumably Thomson would charge a fee to match the price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree fully with with you about High Street shops closing. We have two Thomson shops in Shrewsbury. Perhaps we have a high percentage of the population trying to escape.

Neither of these 2 Thomson shops are cruise specialists ones. We have to go to Telford for that. I do not see what services these provide other than to those people who have not cruised before or who cannot be bothered to do any internet research.

Perhaps Thomson will leave high street shops as leases expire.

Interesting times.

I think the article says they are "considering" having other cruise lines on their website (can't open it now!) so not set in stone, but I would be surprised if the shops are still open in 5 years time, at least, not in their present form. There will probably be just a few superstores in selected areas. (not Oxford - our shops are rubbish - they are closing down our BHS and we haven't had it long)

Before I booked the Majesty on Wednesday, I phoned our local TA and asked if they could match the internet price and she said yes BUT they now charge a £25 booking fee, so I said "So you are not matching it then?" and she replied "yes we do match it, but you have to pay the £25 fee" So I said thank you, put the phone down and did it myself (Yes I know I booked the wrong airport :o - lesson learnt :p)

:D:D Yes but you got it corrected Linda so you now have £25 more in your pocket - you can pay for a safe and get some change or book your cabin with it(!) :eek: so you might just as well have it even if it's to pay back to Thomson for something else! ;)

Already booked the cabin Kruzseeka. Booked 426 for the third time. I laughed at my brother booking the same cabin on P&O! Must be getting old :o:D

When I booked just over a week ago the TA (not Thomson) said that Thomson are trying to get everyone booking on line and that if he matched the online price he made no commission on the sale.

Where are you going Sheila?

We are doing a cruise and stay on Dream, Med Secrets and Son Matias Beach in June next year. Really looking forward to it.:)

We are doing a cruise and stay on Dream, Med Secrets and Son Matias Beach in June next year. Really looking forward to it.:)

You are going the day after us :D Did you get the discount?

No!:( I booked just before that appeared! However I got the AI for £10pppd but I would have got both if I'd waited because the Dream AI was still that price yesterday. I panicked slightly because I wanted Son Matias and it was showing only 3 rooms left so we just went for it. Up to yesterday it was still showing 2 rooms left so again I could have waited but you just don't know do you?

I agree with you about the existing Thomson cruise booking facility being poor. I'm a bit of a Luddite but from the Thomson website customers may be able to access other cruise providers externally or able to book through Thomsons via a phone back telephone service.

 

What benefits are there for not booking directly with the cruise company? Perhaps OBC etc is offered with the agent taking less commission.

 

Presumably Thomson would charge a fee to match the price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Agree fully with with you about High Street shops closing. We have two Thomson shops in Shrewsbury. Perhaps we have a high percentage of the population trying to escape.

Neither of these 2 Thomson shops are cruise specialists ones. We have to go to Telford for that. I do not see what services these provide other than to those people who have not cruised before or who cannot be bothered to do any internet research.

 

Perhaps Thomson will leave high street shops as leases expire.

 

Interesting times.

Thomson are reducing hours & pay in 300 of their smaller branches - they are in a Consultation process at the moment. Staff are having to re-apply for their jobs & they are not guaranteed the same hours they are currently on or the same pattern.

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/tui-uk-to-consult-on-cuts-at-thomson-and-first-choice/

Also they will be closing their Coventry office in December this year ...

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/job-losses-expected-as-tui-uk-pulls-out-of-coventry/