APT new river ship inventory on schedule

APT World Discoveries has released timetables for the introduction of its third, fourth and fifth European river ships, with Managing Director of Australian Pacific Touring, Barry Matters saying the ship production and service entry schedule was reassurance for agents that APT would meet its commitment to additional ships in 2008 and 2009.

“We understand there is a backlog in ship building, but we got our orders in early,” he said. “This, coupled with the expertise and experience of our business partner there, means our ships are confirmed and in production.”

MS Amalegro was christened this month in Vienna and is in service, operating alongside MS Amadagio which entered service last year.

[Pictured at the MS Amadagio christening in Vienna were left to right, Jetset Travelworld GM Marketing, Monique Ponfoort, APT Company Secretary, Graeme Stubbs, Rita Stubbs, APT chairman Geoff McGeary, Karen Hall and APT general manager sales and marketing, Chris Hall.]

Mr Matters said the christening of MS Amalegro provided an appropriate platform to bring agents up to date with APT’s shipbuilding progress.

Mr Matters said work on the third ship MS Amacello had commenced and was on time to enter service in March next year. Its first sailing has been sold out.

“By the time our fourth ship ms Amadante enters service in June 2008, we will have had 22 APT-exclusive sailings on the Amsterdam-Budapest itinerary to start our 2008 season,” he said. “Inventory for these, plus another 28 APT-exclusive sailings for the rest of the season, are set and available to agents and we have confirmed bookings across all sailings.”

Construction of MS Amadante has also commenced while work on a fifth ship, due for service in April, 2009, begins early next year, he said.

“We have a proven track record with delivering the first two and the others are on track too, so agents can be assured they will have access to our ships as promised,” said Mr Matters. “They can confidently sell cruises on our new ships for 2008 and beyond because they will be delivered on time. We have also proven ourselves in the marketplace with the marketing and operation of our first ship last year.”

The ships are built by our partners Amadeus Waterways to APT agreed specifications.

The ownership of the ships is a joint venture of APT and Amadeus whose Managing Director Rudi Schreiner is one of the world’s foremost experts on European river cruising ship design and operation.

Mr Matters said that when entering the European river cruise market eight years ago, rather than create its own independent operation, APT sought a partnership with a local expert, given APT had no direct experience in ship design and river cruise operation.

“APT’s business development policy is to partner with experts who at a local level have a vested interest in guaranteeing product quality and delivery, add value and minimize risk, a policy our board has applied successfully to many new ventures, to the benefit of agents, their customers, and the bottom line of participating business partners,” said Mr Matters

Report by The Mole