The premium cruise ship Astor arrived safely into Fremantle this morning, from her 53-night journey that left London on October 17, to commence her third season home ported in Western Australia.
And she docked with the exciting news that CMV is scheduling her to return to Australia for a fourth season – the 2016/17 summer. What’s more, as well as offering quality cruising options from WA, for the first time, the 620-passenger ship will also spend a period home porting in ADELAIDE – between February and March, 2017.
Astor will offer three itineraries from Adelaide, which will include ports of call at Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln and in several towns in Tasmania. The itineraries include a three night cruise visiting Kangaroo Island, a three night cruise with stop at Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln, and a seven night cruise to Tasmania.
The current cruise season for 2015/16 will bring 38 cruise ship visits to South Australia, with 23 visits to Adelaide, 10 to Kangaroo Island, four to Port Lincoln and one to Robe. There is a total capacity of 92,038 passengers and crew. The SA State Government’s cruise ship target aims for 43 cruise ship visits to South Australian ports, generating an estimated $17 million in direct passenger expenditure, by 2020.
But that’s next season. Astor is again offering a variety of itineraries from Fremantle this summer, between now and mid-March, 2016.
“The Astor has been very popular with Australian cruise-goers, with more than 95 per cent of passengers in the first two seasons declaring that they were more than satisfied with their cruise experience on board the ship,” said CMV Australia CEO Grant Hunter. “We have been overwhelmed with how well she has been accepted and supported in Australia. She arrived into Fremantle this week with a sold out cruise from London via Panama Canal to commence what promises to be an exciting summer of cruising. And already there is interest being shown in the 2016-17 summer Down Under.”
The 2015/16 Astor summer
11 Dec – 3 nights (at sea)
14 Dec – 5 nights (Esperance, Albany)
19 Dec – 11 nights (Bali)
30 Dec – 3 nights (at sea)
02 Jan – 8 nights (Esperance, Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton)
10 Jan – 5 nights (Esperance, Albany)
15 Jan – 3 nights (at sea)
18 Jan – 6 nights (Esperance, Albany, Bunbury)
24 Jan – 3 nights (at sea)
27 Jan – 6 nights** (Esperance, Albany overnight)
02 Feb – 1 night (in port event)
03 Feb – 35 nights (SE Asia, inc Bali)
09 Mar – 6 nights (Esperance, Albany overnight)
15 Mar – 1 night (in port event)
16 Mar – 30 nights (return to UK, via South Africa)
Visit www.cmvaustralia.com for more information.
SOURCE: Cruise & Maritime Voyages