Thomson announce latest addition to the Fleet!

Thomson Cruises have recently revealed the name and details of the next new ship to hit the Thomson Fleet, Thomson have grown significantly not only in size but in quality over the past couple of years, with the Tui Discovery in 2016, the Tui Discovery 2 in 2017 and now we know that the next ship is the Tui Explorer debuting for Thomson in 2018, and then the Tui Explorer 2 in 2019. These ships are to a much higher standard than the current ships in the Thomson fleet, and with that Thomson have said that the Thomson Majesty and the Thomson Spirit will both leave the fleet, I am surprised though as the Majesty was built in 1992, and the Celebration and the Dream which are older ships that will remain under the Thomson name, but as I always say, if you look after a ship it can operate for years – look at the Astoria in the Cruise and Maritime fleet – 1946 she entered service!

Thomson Explorer will be the biggest ship in the Thomson fleet in Gross tonnage although the Tui Discovery ships carry more guests.

Discovery Class – 69,130 Gross Tonnage – 2,076 Passengers – Previously – Splendour and Legend of the Seas in the RCI Fleet under the Vision Class.

Explorer Class – 77,130 Gross Tonnage – 1,924 Passengers – Both ships currently – Mein Schiff 1 and 2 in the German part of Tui Cruises.

Tui Discovery Class Ships

So what will she be about? Well following the Tui Discovery ships – the Explorer will be All Inclusive – I imagine this is most likely going to be rolled out across the older ships not before long, but at the moment the older ships are Full Board unless they are doing a promotion you have to pay for the upgrade.

She will feature a new bar which will be found at the top of the ship and house the casino and a nightclub for those late owls.

Aperitif will be the ideal place for pre-and post-dinner drinks

Not quite sure on the theme here, but Scoops will be the Ice-cream parlour with Bicycle themed seating – definitely need to see more before I can comment on this!

She will have 10 different dining venues – yet to know which are included but for a ship of this size choice is immense – she will have a snack shack, Surf and Turf and Kora La – all sound very exotic don’t they, and for those who are a little more daring she will have Umi Sushi which will showcase Sushi!

She will also have ‘The Mediterranean’ after all this is going to be the home to Explorer she why not name not one but two of the inclusive dining venues, this will be inspired by the Mediterranean way of life – Open air terraces and local tavernas, this will feature a Pizzeria and a Tapas restaurant, and for the kids and the child in you – the Hotel Stone Grill which is completely free – but hey your on holiday – who wants to cook!

Mein Schiff 1 as Mein Schiff 1

Thomson have also extended the Spa on board with 11, yes 11 different areas, from a Finnish Spa with the typical floor to ceiling windows, two treatment rooms and a couple’s room for the more romantic guests amongst us. Following in line with some of the other cruise lines she will also have The Veranda which is an adults only sunbathing area with sun loungers, day beds and big relaxing chairs.

Staterooms on board are very much as the norm, but she will have 14 family balcony rooms, that measure around 20 square meters, with the larger balconies of up to nine square meters, these rooms are able to sleep 5 passengers in one room – fairly rare to do outside of getting a suite on board some other lines.

Explorer will also feature the biggest Inside rooms across the Thomson Fleet – 16 square meters each, enough room to swing five cats!

Managing Director of Thomson Cruises, Richard Sofer, said: “I’m delighted to unveil the name of TUI Explorer, our biggest and most exciting ship yet. As part of our continued modernization and transformation strategy, and our commitment to offering choice and flexibility, we’ve created a whole host of new spaces onboard to meet our customers’ needs. We’ve got ten restaurants and ten bars, as well as more onboard activities and spaces for families including an indoor cinema and a fantastic new Kids’ Club with children’s pool and slide.”

However, you will have to wait a little longer as the TUI Explorer will not join the Thomson fleet until May 2018, she will however sail from Palma around the Med so you won’t have to fly to far to sail on her! Are you planning on joining her?