Golden Horizon, the world’s biggest sailing ship, postpones her Aussie debut
Tradewind Voyages has been forced to postpone the long-anticipated Australian summer season of its newly-launched sailing ship, Golden Horizon.
The line said it plans to replicate the 2021/2022 season in the summer of 2022/23.
The move is good news for the hundreds of adventurous Australians who had booked one of the 14 domestic sailings planned from December 2021 to February 2022 aboard the 272-guest sailing ship, with Tradewind Voyages offering guests the opportunity to book the same itinerary in 2022/23 in the same cabin and at the same price.
The UK-based cruise line ruled the change up to continued uncertainty about the resumption of cruising in Australia.
“We are saddened to delay our arrival but the Australian government has paused the operation of cruise lines with no clarity regarding the possible resumption of cruising,” said Mark Schmitt, head of sales in the UK at Tradewind Voyages.
“However, we fully intend to sail the beautiful Golden Horizon to Australia in December 2022 and are now working as fast as possible to reframe the planned 2022/23 season to offer very similar itineraries to those we had planned for this summer in Australia.
“We hope to have our revised 2022/23 Australian season confirmed by the end of October, 2021. Our priority is to look after our affected booked guests so we trust this opportunity to automatically transfer bookings to the new dates at the same fares on similar itineraries in 2022/23 will provide some certainty and give them something to look forward to next year.”
As the exclusive Australian representative for Tradewind Voyages, Cruise Traveller has already contacted all affected Australian guests and travel agents, notifying them of the planned offer to automatically rebook in 2022/23.
Designed to recapture the golden era of sailing ships, the brand new, 162-metre-long Golden Horizon has already commenced its inaugural season in the UK and Europe, boasting golden masts 64 metres above the sea and support 6,300 square metres of billowing sails.
The majestic square-rigger boasts a gourmet cuisine restaurant, three pools, gym, library, spa sanctuary, four bars and a marina platform.
Golden Horizon, was reportedly detained ahead of its maiden voyage on 15 July when Monaco-based rival Star Clippers claimed it was owed around $20 million by the shipyard that built the vessel.
Star Clippers had originally ordered the ship to be built in 2015, but cancelled the order in 2019 after numerous delays and construction difficulties.
On 14 July, the courts allowed the establishment of a court deposit to pay ‘buyers supply’ after the mortgage was taken out rendering it non-existent, and Golden Horizon was able to make her maiden voyage on 24 July with a series of cruises around the UK, before embarking on a world tour.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Cancellation cruise traveller Golden Horizon Tradewind VoyagesLatest News
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