APT Travelmarvel has expanded its small ship programme into a brand-new destination for 2025, Greece. With two sailings operating in May 2025, Travelmarvel’s eight-day Greek Island Explorer voyage has been created to showcase the ‘real Greece’ at a leisurely pace. It takes guests through the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands aboard the MV Belle de l’Adriatique Newly renovated, Belle de l’Adriatique was chosen for her intimate size, which can dock at smaller ports without disembarkation queues or tenders. Over eight days, the Greek Island Explorer cruise visits Athens, Rhodes and Santorini as well as the lesser-known islands of Syros, Milos and Amorgos. Optional tours connect guests with the culture, history, and local insights of each island. The ship has 90 staterooms arranged across four decks. Travelmarvel is also offering an extended, 13-day itinerary, combining the week-long small ship Greece cruise with a five-day tour of the mainland. Authentic Greece (from £4,995 per person) visits the classical history of Thermopylae, Kalambaka, Delphi, Nafplion, and Mycenae. There will be 25 places on each extension, so places are limited. Brad Bennetts, Head of Sales & Business Development for APT & Travelmarvel, said: “Following the incredible reception of our inaugural small ship and yachting programme, we have been working to expand the range of destinations" "Greece cruises are the perfect addition to the portfolio, combining fascinating local culture and history with some of the world’s best cruising.”

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  As it approaches its centenary, APT continues to innovate its touring product with the launch of a brand-new Small Group Journeys travel style.   Designed by the operator’s specialist tours division, led by product expert, Laura Hughes, who joined APT as its first dedicated Touring Product Manager in December 2023, this collection of itineraries will offer groups of up to 16 guests a deeper immersion into the culture, food and local experiences in some of the world’s most exciting destinations.   Initially, APT is launching Small Group Journeys with three distinct itineraries in India. Operating between October 2024 and December 2025, the new trips will showcase India’s most incredible sights in comfort and style.   Guests can watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal, hand select ingredients for a cooking lesson on a chef-led tour of spice-scented markets, and search for tigers in Ranthambore National Park. Adventurous experiences are complemented by local dining experiences; luxurious, boutique and unique accommodations; and free time to explore.   APT’S INAUGURAL SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS:   The 15-day Southern India – Quest of the Senses itinerary, from Chennai to Kochi, costs from £3,995 per person and includes accommodation, transport, 27 meals, sightseeing and expert local guides. Highlights include a dive into ‘Pondi’ culinary history with a chef-led market visit where guests will select fresh local produce to prepare in a Creole cooking class, an Ayurvedic massage in Kumarakom, and cruising Kerala’s beautiful backwaters on a traditional houseboat.   The 16-day Northern India - West to East Odyssey itinerary, Delhi return, costs from £4,495 per person, and includes accommodation, transport, 23 meals, sightseeing and expert local guides. Highlights include crafting a personalised fragrance in Delhi, enjoying homemade food in a local family’s home in Jaipur, the atmospheric changing of the guards at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, and the sights and sounds of an Aarti from the banks of the Ganges.   The 14-day Northern India - Sensory Marvels of Rajasthan itinerary, Delhi return, costs from £3,995 per person, and includes accommodation, transport, 24 meals, sightseeing and expert local guides. Highlights include a ‘Pink City Rickshaw Co.’ tour of Jaipur, an environmentally friendly e-rickshaw tour of the city as part of a project that is creating sustainable livelihoods and economic independence for 200 local women; a local immersion in Jaipur on a visit to a local family’s home, where you can share a meal in traditional Indian dress; and a romantic evening boat cruise in Udaipur.   Laura Hughes, APT’s Touring Product Manager, said:   “Unveiling the first itineraries from our new collection of Small Group Journeys is the proud culmination of months of work to bring APT’s exciting new travel style to market. Complementing the investment that our owners are making to elevate our river cruises, we’re delighted to reveal that touring is getting the same treatment. Almost a century ago, APT was founded on the quality of its guided holidays. For nine decades the brand has remained a global leader in touring by balancing product innovations with a consistent, gold-standard level of service. We continue this legacy with the launch of our Small Group Journeys, keeping APT’s touring product as fresh and appealing as it was 100-years ago.”   For more information please visit www.aptouring.co.uk.   Agents can access more information from the APT Agent Club at www.APTAgentClub.co.uk.

 

• Three new cruises, created exclusively for the UK & Ireland, increase and protect capacity, so agents can capitalise on growing demand for Travelmarvel’s flexible holidays
• Launch includes a value-added Early Booking Offer, with free Business Class flight upgrades, free onboard drinks packages, and low booking deposits*
• Agents will receive £100 for every 2025 Europe booking made before 17 March 2024^

  APT & Travelmarvel has launched its 2025 Europe River Cruise programme, unveiling a series of new Travelmarvel itineraries that are exclusive to the UK & Ireland. Creating bespoke products in this way for the first time demonstrates the company’s commitment to this market, and recognition of the sales opportunity the UK & Ireland represents for the company’s flexible, four-star brand.   Helping agents to maximise early 2025 sales, the launch is supported by a generous Early Booking Offer, including free Business Class flights, drinks packages, and a low booking deposit of £99 on Travelmarvel bookings made before 30 April 2024*. Agents will also earn £100 of Love2Shop vouchers for every APT and Travelmarvel 2025 Europe booking they make before 17 March 2024, as part of a special incentive^.   TRAVELMARVEL’S UK & IRELAND-EXCLUSIVE CRUISES   Following the launch and ongoing success of its five-star rated^^ Contemporary River Ships in Europe, the UK has become one of Travelmarvel’s most commercially important markets. As awareness of the brand’s outstanding value, flexibility and quality grew, so too did demand. Strong bookings from domestic customers competed against those from APT’s international markets. Global interest outpaced availability and many sailings sold out quickly.   With interest in Travelmarvel showing no sign of waning, the operator has adapted its product so that the UK & Ireland can achieve its full sales potential in 2025. Region-exclusive cruises have been designed to ensure agent partners have access to maximum availability and can convert as many leads as possible. By ring fencing capacity from international markets, agents will have greater opportunity to secure clients’ first choices of dates, destinations and cabin types.   Travelmarvel has also increased the capacity by extending the 2025 sailing season from March right through to the end of December – its longest ever. More sailings, particularly in the ever-more popular shoulder seasons, provide guests with more options to choose from, and agents with more cabins to sell.   NEW TRAVELMARVEL ITINERARIES  

• The eight-day Highlights of the Danube (from £1,895 per person, based on 22 April departure) transports guests between Munich and Budapest. The immersive itinerary includes sightseeing in all major destinations along this stunning river, plus a traditional Bavarian night, where guests can enjoy local beers, folk music and dancing.

 

• The eight-day Christmas on the Danube (from £2,095 per person), sails from Budapest to Munich on 22 December 2025. Christmas Eve is spent in beautiful Vienna, and Christmas Day exploring the town of Durnstein – a fairytale festive cruise.

 

• The eight-day New Year’s Eve on the Danube (from £2,095 per person), sails from Munich to Budapest on 29 December 2025. Guests will ring in the New Year in Regensburg, at a traditional Bavarian evening of beer, food, music and dancing.

  Travelmarvel’s 15-day Best of Balkans cruise will sail April to September for the first time in 2025, an extended season that adds more capacity to be sold on this popular Lower Danube River cruise.   The brand-new MS Estrela, launching later this year on the Douro, will operate its first full season in 2025, sailing though Northern Portugal between April and October on the eight-day Douro Discovery itinerary.   TRAVELMARVEL EARLY BOOKING OFFER – DISCOVER THE NEW IN 2025   To help agents drive early bookings of Travelmarvel’s 2025 European cruises, the operator has launched an Early Booking Offer, Discover the New in 2025. On all new and applicable bookings made before 30 April 2024, guests will receive free Business Class flight upgrades, free onboard drinks packages, savings of up to £1,000 per person, and low booking deposits of £99*.   £100 AGENT BOOKING INCENTIVE   For a two-week period, the operator will also be rewarding agents with £100 of Love2Shop vouchers for every APT or Travelmarvel 2025 European booking that they make before 17 March 2024. Love2shop vouchers can be spent with most major retailers and a range of attractions and restaurants – including Foot Locker, River Island, The London Bridge Experience, and Pizza Express – allowing agents to spend their rewards on the things that matter most to them. To claim, agents can register their bookings on the APT Agent Club (www.APTAgentClub.co.uk). Terms and conditions apply^.   Brad Bennetts, APT & Travelmarvel’s Head of Sales & Business Development, said: “Travelmarvel, with its flexible travel style, contemporary-designed fleet, and APT gold standard of service delivery, continues to draw travellers from the UK & Ireland with levels of demand that exceed the allocation given to our market. We know that our partners are eager to sell more, so we are creating new cruises, exclusive to this market, maximising the volume of inventory available and helping agents to close more sales than ever for the 2025 season.”   APT & Travelmarvel has prepared a toolkit that will help its agent partners to build momentum and drive forward sales. The suite of assets includes a 103-page brochure, which agents can access digitally (here) or request in print via the APT Agent Club.

 

Continuing investment into its fleet elevation, APT’s architect-designed Solara and Ostara usher in a new era, redefining the brand ahead of its centenary

  Entering its latest phase of investment, product innovation and fleet elevation, the leading luxury river cruise operator, APT has announced the forthcoming launch of two new vessels, the APT Solara and APT Ostara, for the 2025 season.   Designed in Australia by multi-award-winning, world-renowned architects, Hecker Guthrie, the sister ships will be masterpieces of modernity, drawing inspiration from Europe’s waterways and harnessing the unpretentious ease of Australian-style luxury. Cutting edge technology and the structural optimisation of space and light artfully balance the elegant design and meticulous attention to detail. These ultra-luxury floating hotels will redefine the brand, cementing APT’s elevation into the ‘ultra-luxury’ category. Solara and Ostara will be deployed on APT’s most popular European itineraries from Spring 2025, transporting guests along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in unprecedented comfort and style.   The new luxury river ships proudly set a new standard in sustainability, ensuring greater emphasis on saving fuel, energy optimisation, and waste reduction. With only 154 guests on board serviced by 60 dedicated crew, guests can also be assured of outstanding service and care.   Each ship will feature six world-class, all-inclusive dining options: a main restaurant, an intimate wine cellar, a relaxing conservatory, a casual dining option, an exclusive aft restaurant, rooftop dining, plus the additional option of in-suite dining. Up on the sun deck, guests will find a heated pool, alfresco dining, and a lounge area in which to relax. A choice of three expertly designed, elegantly appointed suite options include Twin Window Suites, Balcony Suites, and Owner’s Suites.   APT Travel Group CEO, David Cox, was excited to introduce the new fleet: “With two brand-new river ships in Europe for 2025, this is another momentous milestone in APT's near 100-year history. The APT Solara and APT Ostara will redefine luxury river cruising, thoughtfully designed with our valued guests in mind.”   APT Travel Group’s CEO, David Cox, introduced the brand-new fleet to the Rhine, Main and Danube programme: “With two brand-new river ships in Europe for 2025, this is another momentous milestone in APT's near 100-year history. The APT Solara and APT Ostara will redefine luxury river cruising, thoughtfully designed with our valued guests in mind.”   Paul Hecker of Hecker Guthrie captures the essence of the design, stating, “One of the particularly lovely things in this design is there are lots of places to go to. Guests don’t just have to head to the ‘main lounge’. We are creating many opportunities for guests to find their space, be it reading nooks or spaces where you can observe the action and engage as and when you choose. We want guests to have as many options as possible.”   SAMPLE PACKAGE: APT's luxury, eight-day Highlights of the Rhine & Main will sail from Amsterdam to Munich between April to November 2025. The itinerary includes a private cocktail reception and recital at Namedy Castle, and a private performance at the Lichenstein’s City Palace in the heart of Vienna. The cruise costs from £2,995  per person, including return home to airport transfers, flights, onboard accommodation, sightseeing in seven destinations, 20 meals and a wide range of onboard beverages, the services of an APT Cruise Director, transfers, port charges and gratuities.

APT & Travelmarvel has appointed travel industry marketeer Darren Birch to the role of Marketing & CRM Manager, UK & Ireland. Birch joined APT this month, and is the latest in a strategic recruitment campaign. It has grown its UK headcount by 30% in recent months as investment in trade support continues. Reporting to Katie Elson, Head of Marketing, Birch will oversee APT & Travelmarvel's marketing and CRM team. He will bring the operator's B2B and B2C campaigns and new product to market in 2024. Birch has a wealth of travel cruise agent-facing industry experience. He held Sales Manager positions with Virgin Holidays, an eight-year stint at Emerald Cruises as UK Brand Manager and Global Brand Manager, and, most recently, an interim position with Travel Counsellors as Customer Marketing Manager. His initial priorities are to optimise campaigns, incentives, tactical offers, assets, and training to helping cruise agents boost their sales. Birch and his team will populate the APT Agent Club with sales, marketing, digital and training materials, as well as keeping the Club's community of agents informed about fam trips, incentives, and special offers. Birch said: "The Marketing & CRM team has done a stellar job, and we have another exciting year ahead of us, thanks to the significant investment."

 

Operator marks landmark date by launching special Vietnam & Cambodia Winter Sale offers

  APT has confirmed that the maiden voyage of its hotly-anticipated newbuild ship on Asia's Mekong River, the Mekong Serenity, is underway, as she makes her first sailing of the luxury 15-day Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights river cruise from Hanoi to Siem Reap.   To celebrate, APT & Travelmarvel has launched a new Vietnam & Cambodia Winter Sale, allowing guests to secure a Q4 2023 or Q1 2024 Mekong adventure with a low deposit of just £99, and outstanding introductory savings on all December to February departures, when booked before 30 November 2023*.   The Winter Sale deals include:   - The 12 January 2024 departure of APT’s 15-day luxury, five-star Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights river cruise, from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, which costs from £4,995 per person, saving £2,050 per person. The price includes return flights, seven-nights of accommodation aboard the new Mekong Serenity, luxury hotel accommodation, luxury dining with 31 meals and onboard beverages, unique cultural experiences in up to 11 destinations, the services of an APT Cruise Director and expert local guides. Highlights include a special sunrise experience at Angkor Wat, dining at Vietnam House in Ho Chi Minh City, and experiencing a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony at a monastery in Oudong.   - The 20 January 2024 departure of APT Travelmarvel’s 14-day, flexible, four-star Essential Vietnam & Cambodia river cruise, from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, which costs from £3,195 per person, saving £2,000. The price includes return flights, seven nights aboard the RV Apsara, which has moved from APT to sail under the Travelmarvel banner and offer a five-star ship at a four-star price; hotel accommodation; 27 meals and select complimentary beverages served with lunch and dinner on board; the services of a Travelmarvel Cruise Director and expert local guides. Highlights of the trip include meeting with underprivileged children at Opportunities of Development thru Art (ODA) in Siem Reap and getting a glimpse into the organisation that supports them by providing a creative, educative and loving environment; a tuk tuk ride in Koh Pen; and seeing an authentic Apsara dance performance.

APT has marked the maiden voyage of its newbuild ship on the Mekong River. The maiden voyage of the Mekong Serenity is sailing a 15-day Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights river cruise from Hanoi to Siem Reap. To celebrate, APT & Travelmarvel launched a new Vietnam & Cambodia winter sale, offering a low deposit of £99 for a Q4 2023 or Q1 2024 Mekong cruise. Plus, there are introductory savings on all December to February departures, when booked before 30 November 2023. The winter sale deals include: The 12 January 2024 departure of APT’s 15-day luxury, five-star Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights river cruise, saving £2,050 per person. It is inclusive of return flights, seven-nights aboard the new Mekong Serenity, luxury hotel stays, and unique experiences in up to 11 destinations. Highlights include a special sunrise experience at Angkor Wat. The 20 January 2024 departure of APT Travelmarvel’s 14-day Essential Vietnam & Cambodia Mekong cruise, saving £2,000. The price includes return flights, seven nights aboard the RV Apsara, hotel accommodation; and select complimentary beverages served with lunch and dinner. The Mekong Serenity has been custom-built for the brand, with a maximum capacity of 88 guests. It boasts some of the largest entry-level suites of any vessel cruising the Mekong River. There is a spacious Sun Deck, the Serenity Spa and Wellness Centre and an onboard swimming pool. Dining options include the Horizon Bar & Grill, and the Indochine restaurant. The Harmony Lounge and Bar offers nightly entertainment such as Apsara dance performances.  

 

Recruitment underway for a new National Sales Manager & five customer service agents

  APT & Travelmarvel, the river cruise and touring operator, has announced plans for further growth to its already significantly expanded Agency Sales Team. Recruitment is currently underway for a newly created National Sales Manager role, plus it will make five new appointments to bolster its phone-based Trade Support and Customer Service (CSC) team.   Brad Bennetts, APT & Travelmarvel’s Head of Sales & Business Development, explained his vision for the expanded team:   “Since joining APT & Travelmarvel fourteen months ago, we have been driving an aggressive new sales strategy for the business. At the heart of this was the desire to work even more closely with our trade partners, so we set about assembling the industry’s best trade sales team to deliver our new retail and B2B strategy. The results to date have been phenomenal, and we are so appreciative of the support that our trade partners offer us.   “It’s time to enter the next phase of our sales strategy and I am pleased to announce that we will be making further expansions to our team. We will be recruiting a National Sales Manager who will report directly to me. From day one we have said further investment and support for the trade is coming and we are delighted to demonstrate this commitment with the addition of this new role. Working alongside myself, the new hire will be responsible for our key partners, exploring new sales opportunities, driving sales initiatives, and elevating our sales for 2024 and beyond.   “We will also be adding five new customer service agents to our office-based support team, to ensure that our partners are getting the best possible service when they call APT. We know that travel agents are extremely busy so this will enable us to deal even more efficiently with the trade’s questions, bookings, documentation processing, and aftercare support.   “The trade accounts for over 75% of our sales and we remain committed to supporting our partners with an industry-leading standard of service, making the selling and promoting of our luxury river cruise and touring holidays easier and more profitable for them than ever.”

APT & Travelmarvel have launched a Mekong cruise sale for the 2023 season, offering savings of up to 45% off. The deal is valid for Mekong River cruise departures between September to December. It is available on bookings made until 31 July. In addition to savings of up to 45%, there is a low deposit of £99pp. Full payment is due 100 days before departure. APT’s new luxury ship, the Mekong Serenity, has been custom-built for the brand with a maximum capacity of 88 guests. It has some of the largest entry-level suites of any vessel on the Mekong River. Dining options include the Horizon Bar & Grill, and the Vietnamese Indochine restaurant. The Harmony Lounge and Bar offers nightly entertainment such as Apsara dance performances. The ship features a spacious sun deck, spa and wellness centre and swimming pool. APT's 15-day Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights, cruises from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. It costs from £3,895 and includes return flights, seven nights on the Mekong Serenity, hotel accommodation, and meals and beverages. Travelmarvel also welcomes a new ship to its fleet for 2023: the RV Apsara. The ship previously sailed under APT and houses 54 all-balcony suites. The Apsara has a maximum capacity of 108 guests. Onboard facilities include a sun deck, a spa, the Mekong Restaurant and the Saigon Lounge & Bar. It sails the 14-day Essential Vietnam and Cambodia with savings up to 40%. It sails from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap from £2,895 per person  

Exclusively for homeworking agents, APT & Travelmarvel will be hosting a series of educational coffee mornings at various locations across the UK In April and May, agents can chat about APT & Travelmarvel and find out about fam trips and trade incentives. They are led by Business Development Manager for Homeworkers, Becky Baumbach. Homeworking agents will also learn about the line’s new Contemporary River Ships in Europe and new ships launching on the Mekong this summer. They will get a deep dive into yachting in Croatia, and hear more about newly launched itineraries such as Antarctica in 2024. Agents will also receive a goody bag and the chance to win a prize. The events take place from 10:30 to 12:00 at:   18 April Bristol – The Bristol Hotel 19 April Cardiff – The Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel 20 April Birmingham – Radisson Blu Hotel 25 April Southampton – Novotel Southampton 26 April Manchester – Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre 27 April Colchester – Holiday Inn Colchester 3 May Newcastle – Holiday Inn Express City Centre 4 May Glasgow – Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Central   To sign up, homeworkers should email [email protected] with their preferred date and location. Places are limited and will be confirmed by email.

APT is expanding its expedition programme with a one-off Antarctic cruise, now open for bookings. APT's 14-day Antarctic Voyage will depart on 3 February 2024, with three nights in Buenos Aires and a 10-night cruise to Antarctica aboard chartered vessel Le Boreal. The Antarctic Voyage cruise costs from £14,570 per person including all internal flights within South America. In Buenos Aires, guests enjoy a guided city tour, as well as the choice to explore the city’s street art culture. The Antarctic cruise includes daily naturalist guide-led Zodiac expeditions to visit penguins, seal colonies and to view orca, humpback and minke whales. Guests also visit Deception Island, an active volcano and once home to a whaling station. In Ushuaia guests can take a tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park. Brad Bennetts, Head of Sales & Business Development, said: “We are thrilled to be offering guests and agent partners a one-off sailing.”

APT & Travelmarvel  unveiled plans for more than 70 agent fam trips and ship visits in 2023. It represents its largest ever programme of fam trips. It says having travel agents aboard is a pivotal part of APT & Travelmarvel’s sales strategy. “We’re putting serious investment behind the trade in 2023,” said Brad Bennetts, Head of Sales & Business Development. “Getting agent partners aboard is the best way to increase their knowledge and understanding of our product.” The ships will include Travelmarvel’s three Contemporary River Ships, Polaris, Vega and Capella. The brand will be inviting trade partners to participate in ship visits. However, agents wishing to express their interest can email [email protected]. APT & Travelmarvel is currently recruiting for a newly created Sales Executive to expand its trade sales team.