Cruise & Maritime Voyages To Add More Ships – Other Cruise News: Crystal Endeavor’s Japan Itineraries – Star Clippers Sailing Holidays With UK Flights
by Kevin Griffin
This week, The Cruise Examiner reports on indications that Cruise & Maritime Voyages will be acquiring three new ships for its mid-size cruise fleet, two to join its UK-based fleet and a third to be based in Germany. And while Crystal Cruises’ 200-berth Crystal Endeavor had been designed for exotic expedition itinerary we have a look at three cruises planned to operate from Tokyo in 2020. And we look at a trio of tall ship cruises from Star Clippers in the West Indies and in Thailand.
THIS WEEK’S STORY
Cruise & Maritime Voyages To Add More Ships
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has revealed that as many as three new ships, the first as early as 2020, are likely to join its fleet. The first and second ships, introduced in 2020, would be aimed at the UK and German markets, and a third ship for 2021 at the UK market again.
Columbus and Vasco da Gama at Singapore, April 2019
Speaking at a gala event held for the newly-acquired 1,260-berth Vasco da Gama in Tilbury, Christian Verhounig, CMV ceo and chairman, indicated: “I know this might seem like we are teasing you,” with Vasco da Gama earmarked for Germany, but he indicated that CMV could well have a new ship for the UK “very soon, possibly by 2020.”
Vasco da Gama debuted in April and was visiting the UK before sailing to join the line’s sister brand, Trans Ocean, through a summer season from Bremerhaven.
Vasco da Gama, which began life as Holland America’s Statendam, last sailed for Carnival Corp & plc as Pacific Eden under its P&O Cruises Australia brand. Sister ship Pacific Aria is still Down Under with P&O Australia, while Maasdam and Veendam still sail for Holland America Line.
Vasco da Gama
Chris Coates, CMV commercial director, said that the line’s continued growth is testimony to the popularity of small to mid-size ships in the UK, bucking the trend of mega ships.
The Vasco da Gama will return to the Southern Hemisphere on a 50-night voyage from Amsterdam and Tilbury to Auckland on October 8, where she will then spend the season sailing out of Australia, New Zealand, Bali and Singapore.
OTHER CRUISE NEWS
Crystal Endeavor’s Japan Itineraries
The luxury expedition ship Crystal Endeavor has been designed to cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, Ross Sea, Adelie Coast, South Georgia, Macquarie Island, the Falkland Islands, Greenland, Svalbard and the Canadian Arctic, amongst other destinations, but she will also make three Japan-based cruises from Tokyo in 2020.
The Crystal Endeavor (Artist concept, courtesy Crystal Cruises)
The first, a Tokyo Round Voyage to the Russian Far East, sails August 10-27 (17 nights) from Tokyo to Hakodate, Rishiri and Wakkanai and then to Russia for calls at Korsakov, Tyuleniy, the Yankicha and Srednego Isles, the Paramushin and Atlasova Islands, Russkaya, Cape Kekurnyy, the Zhupanova River, Morzonaya Bay, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Chipoy Islands and Korsakov before calling at Otara and Tokyo back in Japan.
The second Tokyo round voyage concentrates on Japan, sailing August 27-September 13 (17 nights) for Muroran, Hakodate, Ryotsu, Ogi, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato, Pohang in South Korea, Hamada, Sazaki, the Inland Sea, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Kobe, Hamajima, Shimizu and Tokyo.
Finally, a Tokyo to Taipei voyage sails September 13-29 (16 nights), leaving Tokyo for Shingu, Osaka, Himeji, Tamano, Uwajima, Kagoshima, Anbo, Amami, Yoronjima, Motobu, Naha, Kerama, Shotu Islands, Iriomote Island, Isihgaki Island and finishing at Taipei in Taiwan.
From Taiwan the Crystal Endeavor will sail for Bali and then Australia.
Star Clippers Sailing Holidays with UK Flights
Star Clippers is offering three tall ship departures in January and February 2020 to the West Indies and Thailand, with flights from the UK.
Star Flyer
First off, is a January 3, 2020, “Treasure Islands” departure from the UK with fares starting at £2,589 per person for even nights on board the 170-berth Star Flyer, visiting Philipsburg, Anguilla, Gorda Sound, The Bight, Soper’s Hole, White Bay, Basseterre, South Friar’s Bay, Gustavia and return to Philipsburg.
Fare includes flight from London Heathrow, one night pre-cruise at the Grand Case Beach Club, all non-UK transfers, seven nights on board and port charges.
Next, on January 30, 2020, is a “Southern Thailand” departure on the 170-berth Star Clipper, starting at £2,469 per person. This cruise package visits Phuket, Ko Butang, Penang, Ko Adani, Ko Rok Nok, Phang Nga Bay, Ko Hong, Ko Similan and back to Phuket.
Around Royal Clipper
Fare includes flight from London Heathrow, one night pre-cruise at the SALA Phuket, all non-UK transfers, seven nights on board and port charges.
Finally, on February 21, 2020, follows a “Windward Islands” departure from £2,479 per person on board the 277-berth flagship and square rigger Royal Clipper. Departing from Barbados, this cruise visits Bridgetown, Rodney Bay, Cabrits, Falmouth Harbour, Basseterre, South Friars Bay, Terre de Hart, Martinique and Bridgtown.
Fare includes flight from London Heathrow, one night pre-cruise at the The Sugar Cane Club, all non-UK transfers, seven nights on board and port charges.
(Kevin Griffin is managing director of specialist cruise agency The Cruise People Ltd in London, England. For further information concerning cruises mentioned in this article readers can visit his blog)
