Possibly in an attempt to fill the gap left by the demise of Classic International Cruises, Cruise and Maritime Voyages announced its charter of Premicon’s Astor (1987/20,606gt) for three winter seasons, cruising from Australia. However, the announcement came just days before the Classic International ships found new homes.
It is CMV’s intention to operate a UK to Australia service each November for the next three years, with the ship returning to Northern Europe and her summer role with Transocean Kreuzfahrten in the following April. The first southbound voyage will, however, start in Civitavecchia. The Australian programme is quite ambitious for the 600-passenger vessel, and includes a 35-night round-Australia cruise leaving Fremantle on 28 January 2014.
