It’s all go at Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), as it welcomes Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria to the fleet. The line’s group commercial director Chris Coates explains why now is the opportune time to expand.

Why is now the right time to increase the size of the fleet?

We continue to experience growing demand for our traditional brand of cruising on our small to mid-sized ships. With almost 70 per cent of 2020 capacity sold and the last new ship, Vasco da Gama, joining the fleet in 2019, we feel that summer 2021 is the perfect time to introduce new capacity.

How will the new ships elevate the CMV brand?

Additional capacity is projected to increase CMV’s market shares in 2021 within the UK and German markets. With increased capacity and sales and marketing expenditure, we expect brand visibility to be significantly elevated.

Is this the end of your expansion or do you expect to acquire additional ships in the near future?

We are still reviewing new market opportunities and looking to expand our presence in existing markets. Continued expansion and growth is very much on the agenda.

Why are Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria the right fit for the fleet?

Aria (ex- S Class), carrying around 1,200 passengers, will operate year-round ex-Germany, perfectly complimenting her fleet mate and sister ship, Vasco da Gama. Vasco da Gama will continue to serve the German market on a summer-only basis. operating in Australia in the winter.

We are also experiencing increased demand from the Southeast of England through our growing distribution, so Pacific Dawn will homeport year-round from London Tilbury, supporting Columbus and providing a much-needed capacity boost.

What upgrades do you intend to make on the ships?

This is still under review, but as Pacific Dawn will be positioned as an adult-only product, the teen/child centres will be changed into new public areas. Other upgrades for both vessels are currently under discussion.

How will you wow passengers on the new ships?

We will continue to offer a traditional, value-based and destination-focused cruise experience for the adult-only market, complete with convenient regional departures.

Our smaller to mid-sized vessels – carrying 500-1,500 passengers – continue to prove a great attraction to a growing number of guests in the mature demographic and grey market.

You’re also renaming Astor, as Jules Verne, and redeploying the vessel to the French market – why?

Based on extensive research and our experience of operating Astoria in France on a summer-only charter for the past five years, we believe that there is a strong market opportunity in France waiting to be exploited.

Jules Verne will be exclusively dedicated to the French-speaking premium cruise market, offering a stylish and elegant modern vintage cruise experience for discerning guests seeking attentive and exemplary service standards, fine culinary French cuisine and a more traditional voyage experience. She will target the adult-only market, apart from selected three-generation family cruises operating during the school holidays.

Why is small-ship cruising proving so popular?

CMV firmly believes that our clientele prefers cruising with like-minded passengers, seeking friendships with a more relaxed ambience, friendly camaraderie and more intimate and personal levels of service.

This can be hard to achieve on the growing breed of mega-resort ships. Sometimes there can be just too much choice, which can become rather daunting. More passengers can also invariably mean more queuing, especially during port visits and embarkation.

For more information, visit cruiseandmaritime.com.