Award winning cruise operator APT is offering two small ship expedition cruise styles and a range of exciting new itineraries in its new Small Ships 2017 brochure.
For the more adventurous, APT continues to offer its popular Expedition Cruises. Accompanied by a 10 member expedition team, guests travel off the beaten track to explore more rugged and remote destinations such as Britain & Ireland, South East Asia and the Kimberley.
New cruise style
A new style is also being introduced for 2017. APT’s new Soft Expedition Cruises will offer guests the choice to be as adventurous and active as they would like through APT’s Freedom of Choice™ options. A five-strong expedition crew accompanies the cruise and while Zodiacs still feature, the ships will mainly be docked in port. This new cruise option will offer a mix of off the beaten track and well known destinations including the Mediterranean, the Baltic regions, Norway and Japan.
Guests can choose from 23 itineraries, many of which feature popular land extensions.
New cruises and land extensions
APT is offering a choice of four new cruises for 2017, all of which are in APT’s Soft Expedition Cruise style:
12 Day Timeless Japan – a circumnavigation of Japan from Osaka to Tokyo, highlights include the chance to explore the 28 acres of the famous Koraku-en Gardens and participate in a tea ceremony, tour the Nagasaki Peace Park and embark on a full day excursion to the World-Heritage listed city of Gyeongju in South Korea. Guests can also participate in some of Japan’s great hikes, all of which are escorted by the APT Expedition team. Two departures are offered on 28 May and 8 June 2017. This cruise is priced from $14,295 per person, twin share.
15 Day Mediterranean Odyssey – cruising from Istanbul to Barcelona, covering the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Guests can learn about the Anzac legend in Gallipoli; take a bird watching tour in Nafplio; enjoy lunch on a traditional Greek farm in Katakolon; take part in wine tasting in Cagliari; or snorkel off the island of Menorca. Priced from $15,995 per person, twin share it departs 18 June 2017.
15 Day Southern Europe Sojourn – three departure dates (2 July, 31 August and 13 September 2017) are available for this cruise which offers the chance to explore the culture, food and wine-rich regions of Southern Spain, Portugal and France as you travel from Barcelona to London. Guests can take part in paella cooking demonstrations in Valencia; explore the Bordeaux wine region; visit a local family estate for lunch and wine tasting in Porto; take a bike tour in A Coruna; or visit Mont Saint-Michel followed by a visit to an oyster farm in St Malo. This cruise is priced from $15,995 per person, twin share.
15 Day Best of the Baltics – APT has seen increased demand for this region and so is revisiting in 2017 with three departures, each taking in 15 cities and eight countries. Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Denmark feature on this cruise, priced from $15,995 per person, twin share. Highlights include sailing through Turku archipelago; spending two full days in St Petersburg with a memorable ballet performance at the Hermitage Theatre on the second day; admiring the architecture in the Latvian capital of Riga; and of course enjoying some gourmet delights on Bornholm Island.
Commenting on the new brochure, Debra Fox, APT Executive General Manager, Global Sales and Marketing, said: “APT’s small ship coastal cruising continues to grow and that’s largely because it offers a level of privilege and access that can’t be achieved when cruising aboard a larger ship. Sailing into the heart of a culture and travelling with a team of experts remains a key attraction for our cruise guests.”
With more guests choosing to book cruise and land combinations APT is also offering new land options in Turkey, France, UK and Ireland, Norway and Scandinavia for 2017.
All cruises sail aboard one of APT’s own fleet of three ‘Sky’ ships, the MS Caledonian Sky, the MS Island Sky and the MS Hebridean Sky and include all tailor made, handpicked shore excursions with local guides.
The APT fleet is unique in that it carries a maximum of just 118 guests, all of who stay in elegant suites with outside views; and due to the size of the ship, they can dock in ports inaccessible to larger vessels. Onboard features include a library, sun deck, alfresco dining restaurant, beauty salon and ten Zodiacs that enable all guests to travel off the ship to shore together.
APT’s Small Ship cruises are fully all inclusive, offering complimentary beverages available all day while on board as well as meals, sightseeing and free Wi-Fi in cabins within one price.
Booking offers
Three SuperDeals are on offer in the new APT Small Ships 2017 brochure. A ‘Fly Free – including Taxes’, ‘Companion Fly Free, including air taxes’ and an ‘Air Credit’.
In addition, APT is offering an Early Payment Discount whereby guests will save $1,000 per couple when they book and pay for their cruise 10 months prior to departure. APT is also offering a Travel with Friends & Save offer – when six or more people book a small ship holiday together on the same date they will save an additional $500 per person.
Both offers are combinable with all APT SuperDeals, which are valid until 31 October 2016.
For further information, please contact APT on 1300 196 420, visit aptouring.com.au or see your local travel agent.
SOURCE: APT