A WAR of words has broken out between two big beasts of the bucket and spade package holidays

Thomson Cruises labelled its arch rival Thomas Cook’s move to put reps on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Gem, Jade and Jewel as a: “Waste of time.”

Thomas Cook claim the “revolutionary” plan would change the way people took cruises.

But will it really? Surely NCL has its own meet and greet customer service staff, and any cruise I’ve sailed away on, my arrival at the departure port has been smooth enough.

Thomas Cook equally said the Reps would sell shore excursions – so does this mean NCL will forfeit their slice of profit on these sales – think again!

Unlike a crowded “black-hole” airport departure lounge, UK and Overseas Ports are less of an issue. And, majority of cruise firms seamlessly get their passengers on and off ships in pretty sharp time. Let’s hope NCL keep Thomas Cook’s hands off embarkation process, if their own airline’s On-Time departure figures from the CAA are anything to go by last summer!

I’m with Thomson Cruises’ Director David Selby; they tried this so-called new “revolutionary” Rep on Ships over 12-years ago, and pull the Reps off just less than eight years later, as the Reps became unnecessary.