Classic Athena comes back for more
SYDNEY – Classic International Cruises has announced that due to the popularity of the maiden 2008/2009 Australian summer programme for its flagship, Athena, the 600-passenger liner will return in 2009/2010 for the line’s sixth successive season sailing from Australia, with Fremantle and Adelaide her bases.
Strong support for Athena’s inaugural sailings from Adelaide this summer will also see her 2009/2010 Adelaide season grow from four to six cruises to and from the South Australian capital, while Athena will also offer the first-ever cruises from Fremantle and Adelaide to Tasmania in 2009/2010.
And to help introduce more West Australians and South Australians to Classic International Cruises’ style of traditional cruising, Athena will also offer new two-night ‘sampler’ cruises from Fremantle and Adelaide, starting at A$435 per person, twin-share.
The season from November 2009 to May 2010 features 16 cruises from 2-37 nights, including voyages between Europe and Australia, itineraries to Asia/Bali, West Australian coastal cruises and the second season of round-trip sailings from Adelaide.
This includes two cruises to Kangaroo Island and a new five-night round cruise from Adelaide to the Tasmanian ports of Devonport, Port Arthur and Hobart, which can be combined with a five-night itinerary from Fremantle to Adelaide to create a 12-night cruise from WA to Tasmania.
Said Classic International Cruises managing director for Australia, Grant Hunter, “The cruise market is certainly getting more competitive with more ships basing themselves in Australia but despite the economic slowdown – or maybe because of it – cruising continues to attract record numbers of Australians chasing a value-for-money holiday.â€
Originally a transatlantic liner, the 16,200-ton Athena features a wrap-around promenade deck and traditional wooden deck chairs. The onboard currency is Australian dollars.
Ian Jarrett
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