Thomson Cruises rebrand gets lukewarm response
Thomson Cruises has received a lukewarm response from the travel trade to its plans to rebrand as Marella Cruises later this month.
The cruise line announced the rebrand last night at this year’s ABTA Convention in the Azores, when it also announced plans to add new destinations – to the Middle East, Far East and India – for winter 2018/19.
The move comes at the same time as Thomson changes to TUI later this month, and agents were quick to question why the cruise division didn’t stick to the TUI brand.
Posting their views on the Facebook forum Travel Gossip, agents said it seemed a ‘random’ choice.
One agent said it was a ‘complete exercise in futility, wasting money and resourses on what could be spent…erm I dont know…improving their product’.
Another said: "Tui cruises would have made more sense! Who comes up with these ideas!" and another commented: "What a weird name. Why not Tui Cruises??"
Thomson had already started attaching the TUI name to its cruise ships, starting with the launch of TUI Discovery last year.
Marella is also the name of a women’s clothing line, launched in 1976 and part of the Max Mara Group.
Thomson said the word Marella, which means ‘shining sea’ in Celtic, was chosen by customers and reflected its ‘spirit of exploration and discovery’.
The rebranded line will have new additions to the fleet, such as Marella Explorer, which joins next year.
To celebrate the launch of Marella Cruises, the company has unveiled new itineraries across Asia as part of its winter 2018 programme.
The newly-renamed Marella Discovery will sail to 18 new ports of call on 14 new adult-only itineraries, including Colours of the Far East, departing from Bangkok and Enchanting Far East, setting sail from Langkawi in Malaysia.
Marella Discovery’s South East Asian adventure will visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Kuala Lumpur, while it will also sail to India, calling at ports including Mumbai, Mangalore, Mormugao (Goa), Cochin (Kerala) and Colombo (Sri Lanka), and to the Middle East, with highlights including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat.
For the first time in the company’s history, two ships will be based in Barbados for winter 2018.
Marella Explorer will sail its first-ever winter season from the island and will be joined by Marella Celebration.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026