NEWS APT EXPANDS ITS OPTIONS IN ASIA


River cruise line APT has added three-day stopover packages in Bangkok and Singapore, as well as two Myanmar itineraries. The stopover packages include two nights’ B&B, return airport transfers and a half- day city sightseeing tour. The Myanmar sailings are being sold in the UK for the first time. The 17 and 20- day itineraries on the 60-passenger Samatha feature menus from Australian TV chef Luke Nguyen. Prices start at £4,345. The line’s agent training programme has also been revamped, with the four-module


course including a section on Asia. APTOURING.CO.UK


CRYSTAL REBRANDS YACHTING DIVISION


Crystal is rebranding its planned Crystal Yacht Cruises as Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises. The offshoot will feature three new expedition mega-yachts, including the previously announced Crystal Endeavor. The purpose-built polar-class vessels will navigate


‘first-year ice’ and feature submarines, helicopters and remote-operated vehicles. The luxury expedition ships will cruise in the Arctic and then follow the route of migrating whales along the coast of the Americas and Europe to Antarctica during winter. Crystal is due to take delivery of Crystal Endeavor in mid-2019, with the expedition vessels arriving in the following two years, according to the company. There are also plans to “heavily invest” in “massive enhancements” to Crystal’s two ocean cruise ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, in 2017 and 2018.


The main change will be the introduction of full open-seating dining on both ships, and the introduction of additional suites. The revamp will be similar to past refurbishments, such as the $52 million ‘extreme makeover’ of Crystal Serenity in 2013 and the $20 million redesign of


Crystal Symphony in 2014, according to the company. CRYSTALCRUISES.COM/YACHT


14 — aspire december 2016


BRIGHTMAN TO NAME SEABOURN ENCORE


Renowned singer Sarah Brightman will name Seabourn Encore in January and will serve as the godmother. The ceremony is being held in Singapore on January 7, ahead of the ship’s 10- day maiden voyage to Indonesia. Seabourn Encore will be followed by a fifth new ship for the line,


Seabourn Ovation, which will launch in spring 2018. SEABOURN.CO.UK


NEWS


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