A Ten-Ship Weekend At Southampton – Mascot, Pathfinder or Ambassador? – Crystal Cruises Back In Dover

The Cruise Examiner for 21st August 2017

The 688-berth Pacific Princess has served as Princess Cruises’ flagship, mascot and its 50% Anniversary ship

This weekend at Southampton was one of the busiest of the season seeing five cruise ship visits on each of Saturday and Sunday, including the -ton Queen Mary 2,for a total of ten ships over the weekend, plus the -ton passenger-carrying container ship CMA CGM Corte Real on Sunday. Elsewhere, we look at fleets that feature one smaller ship in addition to their main fleet of larger cruise ships. Finally, Crystal Cruises has returned to Dover after a two-year absence.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                            (See previous columns)

Why We Can No Longer Offer A Passage To India: Cargo Ship Passengers Are Banned By The Indian Authorities

Terrorists seized a small fishing boat in 2008 to be able to land at Mumbai’s Gateway of India

ing GIntending passengers often ask if they can book passage to India. And we have plenty of container ships with passenger accomodation sailing there, from American, European and Australian ports. But unfortunately we can no longer accept passengers in any of them.  The traditional “Passage to India” is no longer possible.

The closest we can offer is sailings to and from Sri Lanka on CMA CGM’s Columbus Jax route that runs: Halifax – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – (Suez Canal) – Port Kelang – Singapore – Jakarta – Laem Chebang – Vung Tau – Los Angeles – Oakland – Hong Kong – Yantian – Vung Tau – Singapore – Port Kelang to Colombo. The return voyage is then directly via Suez to Halifax and US ports. The quickest transits from and to North America are 26 days Oakland – Hong Kong – Yantian – Vung Tau – Singapore – Port Kelang – Colombo and 20 days Colombo to Halifax. But one must fly the section between Sri Lanka and India as there has been no ferry service between Colombo and Tuticorin since the Scotia Prince was withdrawn in 2011..

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As to why sea passages are no longer possible, in an overabundance of caution, Indian authorities reacted to the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai by banning all commercial cargo ship passengers. This was because some of the Mumbai attackers seized a small fishing boat, the m.v. Kuber (right), to make a landing at the Gateway of India. But compare the Kuber to the typical Indian trade container ship below and the difference will be obvious.

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Ask yourself how a 5,700 TEU container ship could possibly get anywhere near the Gateway of India, which was built to commemorate the 1911 arrival of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay, as it was then known, on board the P&O passenger liner Medina. Opened in 1924, the structure later provided ceremonial welcomes to Viceroys of India and Governors of Mumbai.

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Since this spring, Australian trade ships returning to Europe can only carry passengers as far as Singapore, where passengers must change ships because the ships then call at two ports in  India, Chennai and Cochin, on the way back to Europe. Passengers can no longer sail straight back. In this case, it actually works out as the Asia trade ships are much faster getting to Europe than the Australia trade ships. Passengers just have to be content with a few days in Singapore or Port Kelang between ships.

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Passages to and from India are still possible when booked on seasonal cruise ships, however, although frequency of service is a problem and one must sail when they sail. Ask for details.

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For details of booking a cargo ship voyage with CMA CGM or any other cargo-passenger service please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail PassageEnquiry@aol.com.

 

CMA CGM Tosca Offers Short Western Med Cargo Ship Cruises From Malta (17 nights) And Genoa (11 nights)

Spend 11 or 17 nights afloat in the Western Med on board the 8,500 TEU 7-passenger CMA CGM Tosca

New Western Med cruising possibilites are offered by CMA CGM’s Medex service, which serves the Middle East and Sub-Continent. As passengers are not allowed beyond Suez on this route, the CMA CGM Tosca is able to offer a choice of two shorter round voyage itineraries from Malta and Genoa.

Boarding at Malta, a 17-night itinerary is offered to seven ports, La Spezia, Genoa, Barcelona, Valencia, Tangiers, Fos sur Mer, and Genoa, then back to Malta. From Genoa the 11-night itinerary runs to four ports: Barcelona, Valencia, Tangiers amd Fos sur Mer before retirning to Genoa.

The CMA CGM Tosca is equpped with two Twin cabins and three Single cabins and can carry a total of seven passengers. Passenger amenities include a gym, swimming pool and recreation room.

Fares for the 17-night voyage from Malta are €1,700 per person double and €1,870 single and for the 11-night voyage from Genoa €1,100 per person double and €1,210 single. Additional charges are €45 per person for helicopter evacuation insurance and a €70 booking fee.

For details of booking a voyage with CMA CGM or any other cargo-passenger service please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail PassageEnquiry@aol.com.

The Legacy Lines 50 Years Ago – Older Costa Ships Cascading – Ocean Adventurer Has A Remake

The Cruise Examiner for 14th August 2017

The m.v. Franca C, converted in 1959 into Costa Line’s first dedicated cruise ship, cruised from Port Everglades

Continuing on the theme of fifty years ago that we started a couple of weeks ago with Cunard, this week we look at the legacy lines that survive today. The names of these lines, Cunard, Holland America, Costa and P&O, are all historic, and as it happens they are all owned by Carnival Corp & plc. The only lines outside these direct links are Celebrity Cruises, formed by Chandris Cruises, which is now owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Lauro Lines, which became the foundation of today’s MSC Cruises. Elsewhere, we look at recent fleet announcements from Costa Cruises. And another veteran expedition ship, Ocean Adventurer, gets a remake in Norway and Denmark.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                      (See previous columns)

Two Asia – South America Cargo-Passenger Routes Reinstated After Recent Ship Changes At CMA CGM

The newly-delivered 6-passenger CMA CGM Carl Antoine trades between Asia and East Coast South America

With all the ship and route changes occurring at CMA CGM this year two South America-Asia routes that had not recently been available have now been revived.

One route (ACSA2) connects Chinese ports, Hong Kong and Taiwan with Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Peru and Chile while the other route (SEAS) connects Singapore, Hong Kong and Chinese ports with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

The ACSA2 service is now being offered by two ships, the CMA CGM Hydra and CMA CGM Thalassa, while the recently-delivered (2017) CMA CGM Carl Antoine has been placed onto the SEAS service. Each ship can carry up to six passengers in three double cabins.

Each route offers a full round voyage of 84 days, but by crossing the Andes between Argentina and Chile, one can also construct a full round-the-world itinerary via Asia and South America. The actual port rotations follow:

ACSA2: Hong Kong – Kaohsiung – Pusan – Manzanillo – Lazaro Cardenas – Balboa – Buenaventura – Callao – San Antonio – Coronel – Lirquen – Puerto Angamos – Callao – Lazaro Cardenas – Manzanillo – Pusan – Shanghai – Xiamen – Shekou – Hong Kong.

SEAS: Hong Kong – Singapore – Itaguai – Santos – Paranagua – Navegantes – Montevideo – Buenos Aires – Rio Grande – Navegantes – Paranagua – Santos – Singapore – Hong Kong – Shanghai – Ningbo – Yantian – Hong Kong.

Typical transit times on ACSA2 are Hong Kong – Manzanillo in 21 days, Hong Kong – Callao 35 days, Callao – Shanghai 26 days, and Manzanillo – Shanghai 18 days, and on SEAS Singapore – Itaguai in 23 days and Santos – Singapore in 25 days.

For details of booking a voyage with CMA CGM or any other cargo-passenger service please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail PassageEnquiry@aol.com.

“Great Time Aboard CMA CGM Andromeda” – A Cruise People Client Enjoys A 24-day Voyage Between Malta and Malaysia

The 10-passenger CMA CGM Andromeda sails between Med ports and Asia in the Mediterranean Club Express service

Passenger Duane Bailey-Castro has just written to Miri in our office about his 24-day voyage from Malta to Port Kelang, Malaysia. Under the heading “Great time on board CMA CGM Andromeda,” he wrote us as follows:

I want to thank you and your agency for all that you did to arrange my travels aboard the CMA CGM Andromeda.  It was an amazing and unforgettable 24 day experience.  The captain, officers, crew, and other passengers were warm and welcoming.  I couldn’t have asked for a better group. 

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Duane’s passage took him from Malta to Beirut and then through Suez to Jebel Ali, Dubai, and Port Kelang.

The CMA CGM Andromeda and sisters are fitted with two Twin and three Double cabins rated at €110 to €130 per person per day double or €120 to €150 per day for sole occupancy. While Malta to Port Kelang is 24 days, the weekly ANL Asia Australia Express sailings take just 8 days from Port Kelang to Fremantle, allowing a good connection and a frequent service from Europe.

For further details on booking a voyage with CMA CGM or any other cargo-passenger service please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on +44 (0)20 7723 2450 or e-mail PassageEnquiry@aol.com.

One Ocean To Acquire Hanseatic – Other Cruise News: MV Werften Delivers First Ship – TUI Discovery To Be Based At Newcastle

The Cruise Examiner for 7th August 2017

One Ocean Expeditions has taken a long-term charter on the 146-berth RCGS Resolute, to enter service in November 2018

Last week, Canadian-based One Ocean Expeditions announced the acquisition of a third ship for its expedition fleet, while indicating that it would probably be doing more business in non-polar regions as well as in the Nova Scotia port of Sydney. Meanwhile, the Baltic shipyard MV Werften has delivered the first vessel under its new ownership by Genting Group of Hong Kong. The 106-berth Crystal Bach, which will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube, will be the second ship in the Crystal River Cruises fleet, following the 154-berth Crystal Mozart on the Danube. Finally, Thomson Cruises has confirmed that it will base its 1,830-berth TUI Discovery at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 2018.

FOR THIS WEEK’S STORY                                                                                                         (See previous columns)