Details of former Orient Lines’ ship Marco Polo’s cruises from London next summer have been released.
The 824-passenger ship will sail from the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury on 14 itineraries between April and October.
Marco Polo, which has been secured on a long term charter by Transocean Tours from 2008, will run a series of six-night Norwegian fjords cruises, round-Britain, Baltic Capitals and Iceland and North Cape voyages. A new 11-night Celtic Explorer cruise around the west of Ireland will include new stops in Glangariff and Killybegs.
The vessel will end the season with a 32-night sailing to the Caribbean visiting 13 islands, at a lead-in price of £2,299. Fjords sailings start at £379 per person and 12-night Baltic cruises start at £849.
The use of the ship through an extended season gives the UK general sales agent Cruise & Maritime Services International 40% more capacity at 11,000 berths than larger ship Arielle which is operating this year.
Speaking on the release of a 24-page preview brochure, Cruise & Maritime’s Chris Coates said: “We have really been encouraged by the amount of trade support that the Transocean product received this season and our new programme, which bases the ship in Tilbury for a longer season, makes upwards of £1.5 million available to agents and tour operators in 2008.”
by Phil Davies
