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Liz Pereira · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:51 pm Post subject: Cruise Line Comes To St. Kitts

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 10TH 2007 (CUOPM) - Thomson Cruises has included St. Kitts on one of its seven-night itineraries for the 2008/2009 cruise ship season.

The line will return to the Caribbean next winter after an absence of eight years while continuing to maintain a presence in the Red Sea.

The line’s largest ship “Thomson Destiny” which carries a maximum of 1450 passengers and a crew and staff of 540, will sail from the Dominican Republic on two different seven-night itineraries taking in a total of 10 islands each fortnight - unlike a number of cruise lines that only feature 14/15 night itineraries.

Islands featured include Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, and St. Maarten.

The Caribbean fly-cruise programme for winter 2008-09 will feature a full 14-night voyage, the itinerary split into seven-night sailings, as well as a variety of cruise and stay options.

The 37,584 gross tonne Thomson Destiny has 725 cabins, two restaurants, three bars, two lounges and 11 decks.

The return to the Caribbean follows Island Cruises, Thomson's sister line under the TUI Travel umbrella, previously announcing its first Caribbean sailings from December 2008 offering three 15-night itineraries from Barbados.

David Selby Programme Director for Thomson Cruises, which carries approximately 170,000 passengers a year, said: “The question I am asked more than anything else by agents and customers alike is ‘When is Thomson returning to The Caribbean?’

“Well, I can now say that the answer is next year just in time for Christmas. Thomson Destiny is our largest ship and the array of facilities and sun-deck space make it the perfect ship for the operation. I think the 14-night cruises and cruise and stays will be particularly popular.”