Cruise News - April 2008

Industry News; 2009 Itineraries on sale; Solo Travel; Exclusive Garden Cruise Experience

April 2008 ‘Cruise News’ from Mundy Cruising - the leading UK specialist in

international, quality cruising, tailor-making luxury holidays to suit the needs of the discerning customer. Of the comprehensive travel destination features, ship reports, industry news columns and comment from Mundy’s knowledgeable Managing Director Edwina Lonsdale, content highlights this month include:

 

** DID YOU KNOW?  (Cruise News pages 3, 5 and 8)

- the new owners of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Prestige Cruise Holdings, has given the management the go-ahead to make plans for a ‘new-build’ programme. An announcement is scheduled for later this year – with a new vessel likely to come into service in 2010 or 2011.

-  Silversea Cruises’ new expedition ship has been named the HSH Prince Albert II, in tribute to Prince Albert of Monaco; and itineraries through to the beginning of 2009 are now available. Carrying 132 guests and purpose-built for expedition cruising, the inaugural voyage leaves from the heart of London on June 12, sailing on an exciting programme of voyages to the Arctic Circle, Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland, finishing on the Eastern Seaboard of North America.

Also Silversea’s has announced its newest all-suite ship will be named Silver Spirit. With 540 guests, the vessel will join the existing fleet in 2009 and feature a new supper club, an Asian-themed restaurant and an expanded spa facility.

-  In 2010 French cruise line, La Compagnie des Iles du Ponant will add two, new, 130-cabin vessels to its existing fleet of three (Le Ponant, Le Levant and Le Diamant). Currently operating in the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Antarctic and the Chilean Fjords, the new tonnage will open up new cruising areas of Asia,, Alaska, Polynesia, South America, Greenland, Canada and the Great Lakes.

 

** DON’T MISS THE BOAT (Cruise News page 6):

Appealing voyages in the luxury marketplace are already available for 2009. A Mundy selection includes:

From Crystal Cruises:  Crystal Symphony cruises between Hong Kong and Peking in late March and early April; and Canada and New England in September and October.

Both Symphony and Serenity will be in the Mediterranean and the Baltic during a long Summer in Europe.

Seabourn Odyssey commences her inaugural season in June 2009, with a most attractive selection of Mediterranean cruises, varying in length; while for great value the Maiden Transatlantic sailing leaves Malaga on October 31, with fares from just £1,711 per person for 10 nights.

 

** The Invisible Cruisers? (Cruise News page 12):

Having identified the need for river and ocean cruise lines to pursue more strongly the developing single /solo traveller marketplace, this issue of Cruise News introduces several solo sailing offers from cruise lines in a new, dedicated section on page 19.

Cruise-only fares from £1,149 for 7 nights aboard Dresden on The River Elbe in July and August this year.

The results/findings of Mundy’s Focus Group Research will be announced shortly – watch this space!

 

** Exclusive 2009 Mundy Gardening Experience (Cruise News pages 14/15):

Mundy, together with partner Regent Seven Seas Cruises, is offering an exclusive 7-night holiday, ideal for all garden lovers ‘Botanical Gardens of the Mediterranean’.

This fascinating Gardening Experience will be hosted by guide and lecturer Anthea Guthrie, an expert in the gardening world.

With flights to Nice, departing the UK on July 10, 2009, the Seven Seas Navigator will sail from Monte Carlo to Athens and call at Civitavecchia for Rome; Sorrento; Naxos, Sicily; Kusadasi; and Santorini.

Mundy Exclusives featured in the itinerary are: a helicopter transfer from Nice to Monte Carlo to join the ship; an optional private tour of the Orto Botanico of Naples (fossilised plant collection); and a Mundy Carte Blanche private tour of the Marquis Ettore Paterno del Toscano Gardens in Naxos.

Fly-cruise fares, for 7-nights, from £2,995 per person, in a deluxe, sea-view suite, based on twin/double accommodation.

 

For reservations and news of the latest cruise line offers, contact Mundy Cruising

Tel: 020 7734 4404 ; website: www.mundycruising.co.uk

For further press information; or additional copies of Cruise News in

print or pdt format please contact:

Jill Faulds, JF Associates, Telephone: 01795 890100; E-mail: jill@jfapr.co.uk

---