CRUISE NEWS
The latest news for your next cruise
CMV goes under
BRITISH cruise line Cruise & Maritime Voyages ( CMV) went into the administration this week, leaving a big hole in small-ship cruising.
The cost of repatriating passengers and seeing five of its ships detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency over crew welfare concerns meant the firm had to seek new finance. With no offers from lenders, chief executive Christian Verhounig was forced to put the company into administration.
Fred’s new ships
FRED OLSEN Cruise Lines has added two new ships to its fleet. The firm bought Bolette and Borealis, formerly Amsterdam and Rotterdam, from Holland America Line. Both ships carry 1,400 passengers. Chairman Fred Olsen Jr says that, ‘over 170 years of seafaring history, the company has sailed through difficult periods’.
Think tulips
BOOK before August 31 to save £382 pp on a sevennight Tulips & Windmills Amsterdam round-trip departing April 5, 2021. The cruise on Crystal Debussy features a night in Amsterdam and calls at Hoorn, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ghent and Middelburg.
Prices from £3,508 pp ( crystalcruises. co.uk, 020 7399 7604).
Underwater view
APT has released its 2021 Kimberley Expedition cruises, with navigations around the Western Australian coast aboard the newly launched Le Bellot. The 90-cabin ship features an underwater lounge for viewing sealife. Flycruise from £7,895 pp, departing July 5, 2021 ( aptouring.co.uk, 0800 012 6686).
Return to Egypt
SEABOURN’S new 2021/22 itineraries mark its return to Egypt after nearly seven years.
The 18-night Arabian Gems & Holy Land trip departs on April 8, 2022, and includes a stay in Safaga, for Luxor (left), a day in Sharm el-Sheikh and transit of the Suez Canal. Seabourn is offering 10 per cent off bookings paid for by September 30. From £6,999 pp ( seabourn. com, 0344 338 8615).
Festive price
CHRISTMAS shopping might not be at the top of your to-do list right now, but a £699 pp deal could make an very nice present. MS Charles Dickens’ Enchanting Rhine & Yuletide Markets four-night round-trip river sailing from Cologne on December 16 calls into Bonn and Rudesheim’s Christmas markets ( rivieratravel.co.uk, 01283 888 711).