Thomson Cruises recently launched its newest ship, TUI Discovery, at a ceremony in Palma, Majorca.

The evening began with keynote speeches from; Managing Director of Thomson Cruises, Helen Caron, TUI UK & Ireland Managing Director Nick Longman and TUI Discovery Captain, John Westgarth-Pratt.

On board deck 9 there was a production of performers from the destinations visited by the Thomson fleet, Caribbean carnival dancers in full costume, Middle Eastern whirling dervishes and belly dancers.

The ship’s godmothers Mimi Kasomwoshi Ragui and Hazel Ceguera, both Thomson Cruises colleagues, were welcomed on stage during the show to formally christen the ship.

Grammy Award winning artist Jess Glynne then performed for special guests with a hits from her album, ‘I Cry When I Laugh’.

The move to name the newest addition to the Thomson Cruises fleet TUI Discovery is part of the re-brand which will see the whole of Thomson transition to TUI over the next eighteen months. Thomson Cruises recently announced the expansion of its fleet with the acquisition of “Legend of the Seas” from Royal Caribbean International (RCI). Thomson Cruises will operate the vessel, to be renamed “TUI Discovery 2”, from May 2017.

With a range of onboard facilities, the family-friendly ship has an outdoor movie screen, rock climbing wall and eight bars and lounges. In addition to the dining choices, TUI Discovery will be the first in the fleet to offer all-inclusive drinks packages as standard from summer 2017.

Managing Director of Thomson Cruises, Helen Caron, said: “The launch of TUI Discovery marks an exciting time for Thomson Cruises, so it was an honour to have Jess Glynne join us to celebrate what has been a fantastic night for everyone involved.

“TUI Discovery is a real game-changer for us and shows our commitment to delivering unforgettable holidays that are personalised for each of our customers. We’re incredibly proud of being able to offer truly memorable experiences in some of the world’s most exciting and exotic destinations and tonight has given a real taster of that.”

TUI Discovery and its 758 crew members set sail on its maiden customer voyage on Saturday June 11, visiting ports in the Mediterranean for destinations such as Rome, Barcelona, Corsica and Florence.