Premium cruise ship to homeport in Fremantle
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 in Western Australia, starting on December 12.
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 an AUD18.6 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: “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."
CMV will be offering a total of 15 cruises during the Australian 2013/2014 summer.
The vessel will depart Rome on November 5, 2013 on its southbound voyage and will end its Australian season with a northbound around-Africa cruise departing Fremantle on April 1, 2014, arriving in London on May 11, 2014.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026