CMV to offer a better deal to solo cruise passengers on Magellan

Cruise and Maritime Voyages' Magellan

Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) have made a commitment to offer more cabins for single travellers on-board Magellan during 2015, and at more affordable prices.

The cruise line has set aside 150 superior inner and ocean view twin cabins exclusively for single occupancy. These are priced with just a 25 per cent single supplement on their Superior Category 3 and 9 twin prices.

Mike Hall, Head of Marketing at CMV said “We recognise the growing need for single cabins. By introducing Magellan to our fleet we have been able to address the demand. In many cases, cruise lines will charge anything up to twice the per person price on the basis that the same cabin could be sold to two people. CMV plan to make more cabins available and at better prices in 2015 for single travellers on board Magellan.”

Furthermore, the company will also introduce a programme of events for solo travellers including a welcome aboard cocktail party and get-togethers. These events will enable solo travellers to meet like-minded individuals and help to foster new friendships on-board.

Steve Newman reported last month on the addition of Magellan (formerly known as Grand Holiday) to the CMV fleet. The 46,052 gross tonne vessel has a capacity of around 1,250 passengers and will become the flagship of the CMV fleet, sailing alongside Marco Polo, Astor and Azores. The vessel, built in 1985, is owned by Carnival Corporation and will be operated by CMV from 2015. For the last five years the ship had been operated by the now defunct Iberocruceros.

Magellan will sail out of London Tilbury, Newcastle and Dundee. Her maiden voyage under the CMV brand will be from London Tilbury on 15 March 2015 to witness the Solar Eclipse on 20 March. Other itineraries on offer include sailings to the Norwegian Fjords, The Netherlands, Iceland, around the British Isles as well as to Scandinavia and The Baltics.

(Photo credit to Cruise and Maritime Voyages)

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Cruise & Maritime takes on 1,250-passenger Magellan as its new flagship

British-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has acquired Grand Holiday which will begin ex-UK operations under the CMV livery in spring 2015.

She will be re-named Magellan and at 46,052grt will carry about 1,250 passengers becoming the new flagship of the CMV ocean fleet operating as an adult-only (16 years plus) ship alongside Marco Polo (800 passengers), Astor (600) and Azores (550). 

The ship originally entered service in 1985 as Holiday, sailing under the Carnival Cruise Line flag, and she still has the trademark Carnival whale-tail funnel - although CMV plan to carry out major surgery as the artists's impression (above) shows. More recently, she sailed for the Spanish operator Iberocruises, and earlier this year was used to provide hotel accommodation at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Chris Coates, Commercial Director, said: “We are delighted to have secured this excellent addition to our fleet which we believe will be very well suited to our core British market. The introduction of Magellan will increase UK capacity by 40 per cent to 74,000 passengers. Having already sold 65 per cent of capacity for next year we remain confident that Magellan will help satisfy the growing demand for our product”.

Christian Verhounig, CEO and Chairman of CMV added: “The introduction of Magellan to our growing ocean fleet is another important milestone in the expansion and strategic development of the group’s presence in the UK and wider international markets which will increase overall capacity to 115,000 passengers. The CMV brand is now creating much wider recognition and we remain confident that our medium to longer term growth objectives will be achieved”.

A new 2015 special launch edition brochure will be released tomorrow (4 November) detailing Magellan’s inaugural CMV summer 2015 and winter 2015-16 programme. Special introductory fares with savings of up to 50 per cent plus a 25 per cent single supplement deal for the solos market will be on offer to launch the programme. The maiden CMV voyage will be a 12-night cruise to Iceland and the Faroes for the Solar Eclipse and Northern Lights sailing from London Tilbury on Sunday 15 March. She will also be sailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Other programme changes include an Azores ex-Liverpool summer season and an 11 night Autumn Mediterranean fly cruise series plus a second Marco Polo 34 night Autumn Commemorative voyage to Canada. Magellan will be cruising to the Amazon in winter 2016 while Marco Polo will embark on a new 54 night voyage to Brazil, Argentina & Chile and Tierra del Fuego. 

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Cruise ship Marco Polo runs aground

Cruise ship Marco Polo ran aground in soft mud off the Norwegian port of Leknes yesterday. No damage was caused, and passengers were taken ashore by tender for their scheduled excursions.

The ship was later re-floated and continued on its 14-night voyage in search of the Northern Lights.

Operators Cruise & Maritime Voyages said: "There has been no oil pollution arising out of the incident and none of the 763 mainly British passengers or crew have been injured. 

"Passengers wishing to go ashore were transferred by tender and the local tour programme continued as scheduled.”

On the other side of the Atlantic, Bahamas Celebration – a ship which operates 2-night  cruises from Florida – is out of service after being holed by an unidentified object.

Passengers were ordered to wear life jackets but they remained on the vessel until it returned to Freeport on Friday night.

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Gonzalo blows cruise off-course

High winds and heavy seas caused by the remnants of ex-hurricane Gonzalo have created havoc for a cruise ship in the Irish Sea.

MV Funchal, on charter to Cruise & Maritime Voyages, was returning from a 15-night voyage to Norway. Having seen the weather forecast, the operators decided it would be unwise to follow the original schedule, which would have meant sailing through the worst of the weather to reach port at Avonmouth, Bristol.

Plans were made to berth in Liverpool on Monday evening, and to transfer the 414 passengers by coach on Tuesday morning.

However, sea conditions made it impossible for a pilot to board the vessel and the local authorities decided it was unsafe for the ship to enter port.

Funchal took shelter off the Isle of Man to ride out the worst of the storm, and waited until calmer seas allowed her to enter the Mersey this morning (Wednesday).

Arrangements have also been made to transfer passengers joining the ship’s eight-night cruise to the Canary Islands later today.

Chris Coates, Commercial Director of CMV said: “In liaison with our agent and port authorities we have done everything we can to expedite Funchal’s arrival into Liverpool with the comfort and safety of our passengers our top priority. 

“We took the decision yesterday to re-route Funchal and finish the cruise in Liverpool to seek shelter and avoid the very heavy seas on our final passage to Avonmouth. Our passengers have been fully updated of the situation.”

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