Page 8 - CIN 2019 European Report
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}EUROPEAN MARKET Cees Bustraan
The Marella Discovery heads to Asia for
the line’s debut in the region next winter.
MARELLA
Expanded Map with 6 Ships
AFTER a month long drydock, the “We’ve always had a cruises to the Greek Isles, Turkey and
Marella Explorer will start her service strong program in the also in the Adriatic.
life for Marella Cruises (rebranded from Mediterranean in the
Thomson Cruises) on May 19, spending summer and the Carib- Next winter the big shift happens as
the summer cruising week-long voy- bean in the winter, and the Discovery then moves to Asia for the
ages to the Western Mediterranean from Asia is a natural exten- line’s first ever Far East program.
Palma. sion of that.”
Sailing adults-only 14-night cruises,
“We have two ships based in Palma The ship will head north, offering the ship will homeport in both Bangkok
this summer and the forward sales are re- Baltic highlights, Norwegian fjords and and Langkawi, backed up by the com-
ally encouraging,” said Chris Hackney, even Iceland. pany’s airlift from the UK.
managing director.
“It just gives our customers that extra After years of looking at the program,
That will allow the company to build choice,” he added. the expansion of the fleet to six ships
its ex-UK program during its second combined with airlift capabilities gave
season of homeporting in England. Confidence the TUI-owned brand the confidence to
Back in the Mediterranean, the pull the trigger on the new region.
“Last summer, we had our first operation
out of the UK, with the Celebration sail- Discovery 2 moves to Corfu for her “We go to speak to customers about
ing from Newcastle. We are able to do that summer program, sailing week-long what they want, and that is different itin-
this season with the (bigger) Discovery, eraries and experiences,” Hackney said.
and we are also adding some cruises out of “We’ve always had a strong program in
Southampton for the first time,” Hackney the Mediterranean in the summer and
told Cruise Industry News. the Caribbean in the winter, and Asia is
a natural extension of that.”
46 Cruise Industry News: 2019 European Regional Report
