The Shipping News: APT luxury small ships offer new cruise styles

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This was published 8 years ago

The Shipping News: APT luxury small ships offer new cruise styles

By Brian Johnston
Viticulture: Belmond's new itinerary The Wine Academy inspires guests to explore the Burgundy region.

Viticulture: Belmond's new itinerary The Wine Academy inspires guests to explore the Burgundy region.

Three's company

MS Hebridean Sky undergoes major refurbishment in early 2016 before joining MS Caledonian Sky and MS Island Sky in APT's fleet of luxury small ships. The APT fleet carries an average 100 guests, has all-outside cabins and can dock in ports inaccessible to larger vehicles. A fleet of 10 Zodiacs further adds to the variety of destinations that can be visited. From next year, APT is offering guests two cruise styles: "Boutique Collection Cruising" focusing on a particular region or theme, and "Expedition Collection Cruising" for off-the-beaten-track adventures lead by expedition guides and lecturers.

Phone 1300 196 420. See aptouring.com.au.

Linger longer

SeaDream Yacht Club now has two extended 10-day sailings in the Mediterranean, rather than the regular one-week itineraries it has previously offered. The 112-passenger mega motor-cruiser SeaDream II will sail the first of the 10-day voyages round trip from Piraeus (Athens) on 25 July, taking in the Greek islands and Kusadasi in Turkey, with an optional visit to Ephesus. This is followed by a departure from Dubrovnik in Croatia on 12 August through ports in Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Italy to Civitavecchia (Rome), which includes several overnight port stays.

Phone 02 9958 4444. See seadream.com.

Barging in

Belmond Afloat in France, a fleet of five luxury barges, launches The Wine Academy this year, a new bespoke itinerary led by a master of wine. It includes an immersive program of individual, tailored talks to inspire guests to explore Burgundy and its most precious liquid asset. Belmond Afloat in France also offers tailor-made itineraries around Beziers, Canal du Midi, Carcassonne, Provence and the Rhone Valley. The barges accommodate between four and 12 passengers and cruises are offered on an all-inclusive basis with a complete crew including chef, hostess, captain and tour guides.

Phone 1800 000 395. See belmond.com.

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Rosy outlook

German company A-Rosa River Cruises has sailed into the Australian market, selling five of its vessels that use both English and German on board for three- to 11-night sailings on the Danube, Rhone, Saone, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers. Ships carry between 174 and 242 guests, with on-board meals inclusive of wines, all-day bar drinks, gratuities, a 200-euro per person credit towards shore excursions, and port charges, taxes and fees. The five ships also feature gymnasiums and spas, complimentary bicycles, lounge and bar areas; four have open-air swimming pools.

Phone 1300 784 693. See arosacruises.com.

Passage to India

A new India tour hosted by Cruise Express this November is heading to the palaces and forts of Rajasthan and along one of India's holiest rivers, the Brahmaputra. The 19-night cruise-tour includes visits to Delhi, Agra, Udaipur and Jaipur before guests head to Assam and board the 46-passenger river ship MV Mahabaahu for a seven-night cruise from Jorhat to Guwahati along the Brahmaputra, which meanders past tea estates, tribal villages and monasteries. Shore excursions include a tiger and elephant wildlife safari before the journey finishes in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Phone 1300 764 509. See cruiseexpress.com.au.

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