Look no further than Thomson Cruises when it comes to excellent holiday experiences. The company provides vessels that sail passengers away to adventurous ports of call around the world. Because the first ship that Thomson Cruises chartered was named after a gemstone, this article is dedicated to the three Thomson cruise ships also named after gemstones:

1) The Sapphire

This Thomson Cruises vessel was the first ship chartered by the company when it reopened in 1995. After the ship Mermoz joined the Louis fleet, this Thomson Cruises workhorse replaced her. First known as the Ocean Princess, she had a good run from 1990 to 1993 when she unfortunately collided with a submerged wreck. The ship was renamed the Sea Prince, sold to the Sunshine Cruise Line, and was about to return to service in May 1995 but then caught fire. After being sold to Thomson she was renamed and refitted as the Sapphire.  This ship has helped put Thomson in the forefront of the British cruise market.

2) The Topaz

This is Thomson Cruises’ third chartered ship, formerly known as the Empress of Britain. She was an ocean liner built for transatlantic travel for the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, moving back and forth between Canada and Europe, completing 123 voyages.

3) The Emerald

This Thomson Cruises ship is the fourth charter in Thomson’s line-up. First known as the Santa Rosa of the Grace Line, the Emerald was refurbished and refitted to transform it into the Regent Rainbow, courtesy of the Regency Cruise Line.

These “gems” are the most popular Thomson Cruises vessels in the company’s history.