TUI Discovery to be based in the UK next summer

Thomson Cruises will base TUI Discovery out of the UK for the first time next year.

The ship, which joined the Thomson Cruises fleet last summer, will be moving to new homeport Newcastle from May 2018 where it will visit the Norwegian fjords and cities including Stockholm, Tallinn and Reykjavik.

In September 2018, TUI Discovery will move to Southampton where it will finish its summer sailing four itineraries: Fantastic Fjords, Baltic Treasures, European Experience and Seeking the Northern Lights.

The new European Experience itinerary visits Germany, Belgium and France, with an overnight onboard stay in Amsterdam.

Seeking the Northern Lights will take customers to the northernmost city in Norway to spot the spectacular natural phenomenon.

Unveiling its summer 2018 programme today, Thomson also confirmed the addition of 15 new ports of call, including Monaco, Ancona and Skiathos Town, and 10 other brand new itineraries.

Thomson Celebration will move to Dubrovnik for summer 2018 where it will operate an adults-only programme, which includes a no-sea day itinerary.

Venetian Vistas now offers customers the chance to wake up in a new destination every day, spending full days in Bar, Montenegro; Korcula, Croatia; Zadar, Croatia; Venice, Trieste, and Split.

Thomson Celebration will also sail two new itineraries – Sail Three Seas and Greek Mystique. Sail Three Seas will visit Valetta, Malta; Messina, Sicily; Kefalonia; Igoumenitsa, Greece and Kotor, Montenegro.

Customers choosing Greek Mystique can explore Chania, Crete; Piraeus (for Athens), Kalamata, Corfu Town, Corfu and Kotor, Montenegro.

TUI Discovery 2 will homeport in Corfu Town in summer 2018, sailing four itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean, while Thomson Dream will be based in Palma.

Thomson Cruises’ newest ship, which is currently sailing as Mein Schiff 1 for TUI Cruises, will also be based in Palma.

Customers choosing these ships, along with Thomson Celebration, will be able to team their holiday with a beach break as part of the Cruise and Stay programme.

Thomson Cruises managing director Richard Sofer said: "The move to bring TUI Discovery to both the north and the south of the UK shows our commitment to offering choice and flexibility to our customers, giving them the opportunity to sail from a region close to home, as well as offering flights to other destinations from local airports."

TUI Discovery, TUI Discovery 2 and the newest ship, currently Mein Schiff 1, will offer all-inclusive packages as standard.

The summer 2018 programme will be on sale from April 20.