Thomson Cruises, the third largest cruise company in the United Kingdom, announced it will change its name to Marella Cruises. The company wanted a name that reflected the spirit of exploration and discovery through the seas, therefore it has chosen Marella, which in Celtic language, means "shining sea". The new name will give the cruise line ‘stand out in the cruise market’ and own identity from Tui Cruises. With Marella Cruises still part of TUI, guests will be offered fantastic itineraries, great service and entertainment on board all cruise ships with the friendliest staff at sea.

Distribution and cruise director Helen Caron said: “We don’t want British guests to be confused with the group’s cruise business in Europe. Marella Cruises will still have the TUI smile logo, but a new Marella Cruises logo in a blue box, similar to the way we would market Sensatori as part of the world of TUI.  The name was chosen to reflect the spirit of exploration and discovery across the seas.”

All ships in the fleet will lose the prefix Thomson and will be renamed Marella Dream, Marella Celebration, Marella Discovery, Marella Discovery 2 and Spirit. To celebrate the start of Marella Cruises operations, the company has unveiled the new routes to Asia for winter 2018 of Marella Discovery: 14 new exotic routes for 18 new destinations between Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Sri Lanka. The ship will also reach the Middle East, where it will stop in the ports of the UAE and Oman. 

For the first time in the company’s history, there will be two cruise ships sailing from in Barbados in the winter season 2018. Marella Explorer will be joined by Marella Celebration.