When Thomson Cruises’ Managing Director Fraser Ellacott said in an interview that he would unveil “exciting plans” in the next three to four months, could he refer to the introduction of Pacific Sun that P&O Cruises Australia have sold with delivery to undisclosed buyers in the summer of 2013?

“For the longer term, clearly we have a need to modernise,” he told Travel Weekly earlier this week.

Pacific Sun was built in 1986 as Jubilee of Carnival Cruise Lines and it is of 47,262 gross tons and it has 1,896 lower berths. Thomson currently has four ships thatall cater for the UK market; Thomson Dream, Thomson Spirit, Thomson Destiny and Thomson Celebration - plus one ship branded as Island Escape. These were built between 1982 and 1986 and range in size from 34,000 to 56,000 gross tons.

Thomson Cruises does not own any of the vessels but operates them on long time charters from their owners, such as the Cyprus based Louis group.