Luxury NZ cruise line with new craft
Ahigh-end boutique ocean cruising business — which comes complete with new 44-metre luxury yacht — is in the market for sale. Island Escape Cruises has operated in New Zealand waters and across the South Pacific, building up loyal international patronage over the past 12 years.
The business specialises is delivering intimate cruises to a niche clientele seeking highly personalised sailing experiences.
The company’s previous twin-hull catamaran, Island Passage, was retired in 2016 — while a replacement vessel, Seasons, was being built.
Now, with a firm delivery date for the new craft set, both company and vessel are for sale, with an asking price of $16 million plus GST.
Both cruise business and assets are to be sold as a going concern, by Bayleys’ tourism and business division.
Salespeople Paul Dixon and John Greenwood say that, having both both new liner and well-proven selection of voyages, the high-end business seems truly on the threshold of a new era.
On board the new yacht, the selfcontained suites range in size from
13-15sq m, all with their own stereo systems, television sets and individual access on to the decks.
The Cook Islands-flagged Seasons can be self-sufficient with a full complement of guests for up to 30 days.
Dixon points to a varied programme for the 2019/20 season, including:
● A seven-night return jaunt from Auckland to the Bay of Islands, via Waiheke and Great Barrier islands.
● An eight-night sojourn around the sounds of Fiordland National Park.
● Seven and 10-night voyages around the islands of Tahiti.
● A 12-night exploration of the Pacific Islands taking in Fiji, Tonga, Niue and Rarotonga.
Multiple departure dates are locked in for Seasons’ New Zealandbased summer schedule, ahead of steaming north to the Pacific Islands between June and October.
The Tahiti leg has been configured to link up with international flights connecting from the US, Australia and New Zealand, thus removing need for guests to book additional on-shore accommodation ahead of, or at the conclusion of their trip.
Dixon says the new ship has been surveyed to accommodate up to 18 passengers in luxurious surroundings, with a crew of nine, including a chef, two stewardesses, engineer, and captain.
The ship has a pair of cranelaunched 7.5m aluminium landing craft, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling kit, and fishing equipment.
The three-level-craft also has a helicopter landing pad above the alfresco dining area.
“Island Escape Cruises targets a mature clientele wanting to relax on board and take in the scenery.
“It isn’t there to compete with the likes of P&O, Carnival and Princess style operations,” Dixon says.
“For example, dinner is an intimate affair, whether indoor or outdoor, and afterwards guests tend to mingle at the bar and talk, rather than party the night away at the disco. Traditionally, 80 per cent of passengers market come from Australia and New Zealand, with the US, UK and Europe accounting for the rest.”
Revenue projections, based on the company’s last two full years of trading, forecast turnover of $7m for the 2019/2020 cruise season beginning in August. This is expected to deliver an operating profit of $3.5m.
Greenwood says the boutique and exclusive nature of Island Escape Cruises is an advantage that “will be enhanced by servicing the routes with a brand new vessel.”
“Reinvigorating interest among former cruise guests is well under way, plus re-establishing relationships with travel agencies nationally and right across the East Australian seaboard. “Promotional activity is gathering pace as the launch date for Horizon draws closer.”
Greenwood says a full-time administrator has been retained by the company over the past 18 months.