United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
CMV to launch cruises to Australia and South Africa
Cruise & Maritime Voyages is to operate twice yearly voyages between the UK, Australia and South Africa on the 600 passenger Astor after opening a dedicated sales office in Sydney.
It will also launch summer cruises from Fremantle, Perth, starting on December 12.
The 20,606 gross ton Astor joins the CMV fleet in November and will operate alongside the 800 passenger flagship Marco Polo and 700 passenger Discovery, both operating ex-UK sailings from eight British ports.
Astor’s inaugural 10,000 capacity programme will increase CMV’s overall 2014 global capacity to almost 62,000 passengers.
Astor is currently operating European summer cruises for the German market. The ship is managed and marketed by the Munich-based Premicon Group.
Astor was originally launched on the British market in 1987 as a five-star luxury ‘soft adventure’ product and since her inception has undergone a number of refits including a £14 million upgrade in 2010.
She will be positioned as a premium four-star product and has 289 cabins including 42 suites with 70% of accommodation comprising an ocean view.
Chris Coates, CMV commercial director, said: "We believe that Astor will become a firm favourite alongside Marco Polo and Discovery and a perfect match for the mid-sized more traditional business model we have developed since CMV’s launch in 2009.
"Despite the continued growth of mega resort style mass market vessels, the success and growing interest in the CMV product demonstrates that this niche sector has a significant role to play not only in the UK but also in the wider international English speaking markets and global arena.
"This new initiative also offers the travel industry an exciting new niche premium cruise product that lends itself to packaging opportunities".
The opening of a sales office in Sydney follows the establishment in 2011 of a dedicated US sales office in Fort Lauderdale.
Coates added: "Britain’s historic and cultural ties with both Australia and South Africa and the feedback received and research undertaken has inspired us to introduce interesting voyages between the UK via the Cape to the Antipodes recreating the bygone halcyon days of long distance sea travel as a serious alternative to the aviation option."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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