Thomson Cruises, which is part of TUI AG, may own all its ships in the future and TUI Cruises could be launched in the UK with Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2, spokesman for TUI told Cruise Business Online.
“Thomson Cruises ships are popular with British customers many of whom return year after year to experience the fantastic range of destinations and renowned on-board service,” said Kuzeyn Esener, Head of Media Relations at TUI AG in Hannover, Germany.
“Over the last three years we have significantly invested in upgrading our Thomson ships, and we continue to modernise our fleet. However, it is important not only to look at successes of the past but also to identify new trends and to develop the vessels further accordingly,” he continued.
“Besides, we only own one of the vessels of the Thomson fleet whereas the German cruise operations are run with an asset heavy business model, which is more cost efficient in the long run. In future, the Thomson cruise operations may be run with a similar business model,” Esener said.
Thomson Cruises owns the 1986 built Thomson Dream, which is of 55,764 gross tons, through its TUI UK subsidiary. The other four units of the fleet are chartered.
In June, the second newbuilding (Mein Schiff 4) of the TUI Cruises fleet will be commissioned and two more vessels, the Mein Schiff 5 and the Mein Schiff 6, have been ordered. As soon as we also decide for the optional seventh and eighth vessel we will think of marketing the first two ships of the fleet (Mein Schiff 1 & 2) to an international clientele. The British market may then be favourite choice,” Esener concluded.
Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 were originally built for Celebrity Cruises, which is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL) group, which also owns 50% of TUI Cruises. .
