Award winning luxury cruise operator APT, along with UK partner Noble Caledonia, has announced the arrival of a third sister to its fleet of luxury small expedition ships. Joining the MS Island Sky and MS Caledonian Sky later this year will be MS Sea Explorer. All three vessels were formerly part of the Renaissance Cruises fleet of eight vessels. With the acquisition of Sea Explorer, APT now has Renaissance vessels 6, 7 and 8.
Commenting on the latest acquisition, APT’s CEO, Chris Hall, said, “We are delighted to welcome the Sea Explorer as the latest addition to our growing fleet of luxury small expedition ships. Demand amongst our guests in Australia and New Zealand for our bespoke one off round the world voyages featured in our Luxury Small Ships program is increasing. This new addition enables us to service this demand.
‘Sea Explorer’, will join the APT fleet in October 2014. Various existing charter commitments will be honoured and in early 2016 she will undergo a refurbishment to bring its standards to the same level as the Island Sky and Caledonian Sky, which are widely recognised as two of the finest Small Ships in the world. She will begin cruising in Scotland, Norway and beyond for APT. Like her sister vessels, she will be equipped with a fleet of inflatable Zodiacs allowing her to offer trips to the more remote places for the 100 or so passengers looking for something different to a regular cruise.
According to Chris Hall, it is the smaller capacity, ‘off the beaten track’ cruise itineraries, and of course repeat APT travellers that is driving the increasing interest in the product:
“Many of our guests who travel on our luxury small ship product have already sailed on one of our river cruises. They are attracted to this different cruise style because they’ve already created an affinity with the intimacy of travelling with an average of 150 people, and our ‘all-suite’ ships hit the right note with these guests who love the comfort and relaxed atmosphere but want to try a cruise aboard a private yacht-like expedition ship.”
APT now has the world covered with the Caledonian Sky exploring the Pacific Ocean whilst Island Sky sails the Indian Ocean and from 2016 will spend the summers in the Mediterranean.
To find out more about APT’s Luxury Small Ship program for 2015 call 1300 196 420, visit aptouring.com.au or see your local business development manager.