Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the 21,000grt, 620-passenger cruise ship Astor.
Astor joined the CMV fleet in December 2013 under a bareboat charter arrangement from Premicon Hochseekreuzfahrt GmbH & Co. KG MS Astor, with full ship management services provided by its parent company Global Maritime Group, who today has acquired the vessel.
It has also signed a long term charter of the vessel to CMV.
The timing of this announcement coincides with Astor’s arrival into Western Australia (Saturday, 8am) to commence her second summer of cruising from Fremantle Port.
Christian Verhounig, CEO and Chairman of the British-based cruise operator CMV commented, “The acquisition of the Astor is another important milestone in the strategic development of the Group’s presence in the international market. Astor has a fine pedigree and provides an important smaller ship premium option within our cruise portfolio.
“This acquisition shows our strong commitment not only to the UK market, but also to our well established Australian and German operation.”
Astor arrives in Fremantle following a 38 night re-positioning voyage from London Tilbury and will continue to operate a dedicated program of cruises from the WA port under the CMV brand for the Australian market during summer.
Astor will then re-position to Europe via a 38-night northbound cruise departing Fremantle on March 16, 2015, arriving into London Tilbury on April 23, where she will continue to operate a summer season of ex-Kiel and Bremerhaven German market sailings under the TransOcean brand.
Grant Hunter, CEO CMV Australia added, “Astor‘s first season in Australia proved her to be a firm favourite, with very high levels of customer satisfaction and repeat business being achieved and her second year sales are very positive also.
“We have already committed to returning for a third summer and are delighted to announce Astor‘s voyage in 2015 from London to Fremantle, departing October 17, 2015, will be via the Caribbean, the iconic Panama Canal, Acapulco, Tahiti and Sydney, before arriving back into Western Australia.”
For more information on the Astor and her itineraries, visit: www.cmvaustralia.com
SOURCE CMV