APT acquires stake in UK cruise firm
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.
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