APT acquires stake in UK cruise firm

APT acquires stake in UK cruise firm
By admin


APT has acquired a near-50% stake in a UK cruise company as owner Geoff McGeary signalled his intention to keep expanding through strategic partnerships.

The Melbourne-based operator paid an undisclosed sum for an interest in Noble Caledonia which owns and operates two small ships and charters five others.

McGeary, whose father Bill founded APT, said Noble Caledonia “fitted perfectly” with APT’s product and would particularly appeal to its past river cruising customers who are looking for new experiences.

APT will begin marketing the product in Australia with vessels already featuring in its 2013 botanical garden tours, European river cruise program and its Canada and Alaska brochure.

APT will also produce a small ship ocean cruising brochure containing new itineraries, which are in the planning stage.

Noble Caledonia’s two wholly-owned ships are the 116-capacity Island Sky and the newly-acquired 114-passenger Caledonian Sky – previously the Hebridean Spirit – which underwent a US$6 million overhaul prior to joining the fleet.

It has now embarked on a sailing around Britain before heading to the Arctic, South America, Australasia and the Pacific Rim.

An APT 85th anniversary cruise departing in September 2013, to be hosted by McGeary, will begin in the Philippines and sail to Indonesia and on to Darwin.

McGeary likened the vessels, which were both built around 20 years ago, to the Orion and to “country hotels”.

He said the investment will not only provide new product for APT in Australia but help strengthen APT’s distribution in the UK.

McGeary told Travel Today he would explore “other opportunities” as they arose and said the acquisition of a third vessel for Noble Caledonia was a possibility.

Latest News

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]