anfarnay: All Hands on Deck as Australia Prepares for Astor

The owners of the 620-passenger cruise ship Astor have left Australia confident in their decision to base the premium vessel in Fremantle for the next three summers.?Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) UK announced early last month that it will be sending Astor to Fremantle for the 2013-14 Summer, the first of three seasons that it will be based Down Under. There are 15 itineraries being offered during her inaugural season.

MS Astor

After a week-long visit that included Sydney, Perth and Fremantle, Mr Christian Verhounig (Chairman and MD of CMV UK) said: ?We are genuinely encouraged by the positive response that we received from members of Australia?s travel industry of our decision to bring Astor to Australia. There appears already to be much anticipation surrounding her arrival in December.

?Our visit has left us more confident than ever in our decision to base a premium vessel in Fremantle for the next three Australian summers.

?Our discussions with key industry stakeholders also confirmed our belief that Australia?s growing number of cruise-goers are ready to have a greater standard of vessel than they have ever seen based in their waters.?

Mr Nicolas Tragakes (Chairman of Global Maritime Group), Mr Verhounig and Mr Alexios Tsokos (CEO CMV USA) also oversaw the launch of operations of the CMV Australia office, in Sydney.

The purpose of the visit was to:

- Launch CMV Australia?s website, www.cmvaustralia.com which includes information about everything you need to know about Astor;

- Deliver Astor?s 2013-14 summer brochure to travel agents;

- Open CMV Australia?s sales office in Sydney;

The national sales office for CMV Australia is located at:

Suite 206, Level 2, 506 Miller Street, Cammeray, NSW.

Phone: Reservations ? 1300 307 934.

Media wanting a copy of Astor?s 2013-14 Australian summer brochure can contact Brad Elborough on 0417 175 434 or be.comm@yahoo.com.au .

SAVER FARES:

** For a limited introductory period, CMV Australia is offering generous early booking deals for Astor?s inaugural 2013/14 summer cruising season. Saver Fares offer discounts of up to 25% on full published fares, applicable to a limited number of twin and single cabin bookings made prior to May 15, 2013. This discount is not applicable to the New Year?s Eve celebration cruise.

Visit: www.cmvaustralia.com

About ASTOR

Length ? 176.5m / Width ? 22.61m / Draught ? 6.1m

Gross tonnage ? 20,606 tonne

Cabins / suites / premium suites ? 247 / 39 / 3

278 international officers and crew

- The ASTOR was built in Germany in 1987 and underwent an AUD$18.6 million refurbishment in 2010 to the cabins and public areas. She has cruised in Europe for the demanding German market for the past 10 years.

- The ASTOR has seven passenger decks and is a premium, fully stabilised and air-conditioned cruise liner with a maximum capacity of 620 guests.

- The ASTOR boasts the impressive Waldorf Restaurant, which offers traditional cruise two sitting, fixed-time dining options. Alternatively, passengers can opt for the more informal experience of the sun-drenched ?bersee Club Bistro.

- The ASTOR has five lounge areas ? the theatre style ASTOR Lounge, for some truly sparkling entertainment from the highly acclaimed show-team; the elegant Captain?s Club, a perfect venue for pre-dinner cocktails with the resident pianist; the intimate Hanse Bar which leads onto the stylish Sonnen (Sun) Terrace Bar, with wonderful panoramic ocean views; and the Poolside Bar.

- A popular feature of the ASTOR is the Sports Deck, with a volleyball court, half court tennis, jogging track, golf practice facility, big board chess and space for yoga.

- Other facilities include the ship?s Library, the Card Room, an internet caf?, a shopping arcade featuring a boutique, jeweller, perfumery and the Wellness Centre, which offers hairdressing and beauty treatments, an indoor swimming pool, ocean view fitness and exercise equipment, and sauna and massage facilities.

- There is an outdoor, plus an indoor swimming pool, two whirlpools and, in keeping with her heritage, a traditional walk around promenade deck.

There is a very good selection of comfortable modern cabin accommodation from Standard to De Luxe with 70% of cabins having an ocean view and with individually controlled air-conditioning.

ASTOR 2013-14 Australia highlights

4 nights Wine, Food and Fitness Cruise

Sails from Fremantle on Monday, December 16, 2013. Routing ? Fremantle, Albany, Bunbury, Fremantle.

35 nights Grand Round Australian Circumnavigation

Sails from Fremantle on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. Routing ? Fremantle, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Hobart and Port Arthur, Melbourne, Eden for Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Lombok, Komodo Island, Broome, Fremantle.

About CMV

CMV is an established UK-based independent cruise line and is part of CMV Holdings London Ltd with as associate North American sales office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. CMV Australia will be structured as a sales office to support the new Australian cruise operation in conjunction with the Global Maritime Group, CMV?s majority shareholders.

With an annual program capacity of 45,000 passengers, CMV specialises in operating traditional smaller ship cruises of distinction. Serving the British and international English-speaking cruise markets, the renowned passenger flagship MARCO POLO operated alongside the popular 800 passenger OCEAN COUNTESS from six UK ports to mainly European destinations over the past three years. In 2013, Ocean Countess will be replaced by the upgraded 700 passenger DISCOVERY under a long-term charter arrangement as a joint venture partnership will All Leisure Holidays Ltd, part of the highly respected All Leisure Group PLC.

Marco Polo and Discovery are operated under charter by CMV, who has a wealth of cruise industry expertise spanning almost four decades and is a member of the prestigious Passenger Shipping Association and ACE ? the Association of Cruise Experts. CMV?s international head office is based in London in Purfleet Essex, close to the port of Tilbury.

All holidays featured in all CMV?s brochures are financially protected by South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd trading as Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Cruise arrangements not including air travel are financially protected with the Association of British Travel Agents 9ABTA Number: V9945) and cruise arrangements including air travel are financially protected with the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL No. 4619)

For more information, visit Cruise & Maritime Voyages at www.cruiseandmaritime.com

March 7, 2013 ? Posted?in:?Australia, Cruise Ships