Last Friday at The Langham in Sydney, APT introduced new ships, new journeys, special event cruising, new and rebranded sightseeing as well as special booking offers for travel agents.
The award winning luxury travel operator APT has a number of exciting new products for 2016 including Jewels of Persia which will see clients go all the way to Tehran in Iran by train as well as a new ‘Family Christmas Cruising’ package targeting the growing market of multi-generation travellers.
Commercial Manager – Retail, Susan Haberle was excited to announce the new products as well as a new partnership with Better Homes and Gardens’ TV-show which will give APT the opportunity to ‘step into peoples living rooms’ every Friday.
“The Golden Eagle Danube Express ‘Jewels of Persia’ is a new journey for us which gives our clients the opportunity to go to places they would never have contemplating going to”
Susan Haberle, Commercial Manager – Retail, APT
Jenny Rowland – Publisher/Sales Director, TravelTalk and Susan Haberle, Commercial Manager – Retail, APT
APT introduced media to their new products for 2016.
APT’s new ships, new journeys and special event cruising for 2016;
Two new state-of-the-art ships:
Joining APT’s fleet of award winning river ships in 2016 are the MS AmaStella and MS AmaViola. Both Concerto class river ships, the luxury 158-passenger vessels incorporate innovative design features such as Twin Balconies (an APT exclusive) and spacious Owner’s Suite + suites that measure up to 350 sq. feet.
Guests travelling on APT’s Royal Collection cruises aboard the MS AmaStella in 2016 will also enjoy a choice of up to seven dining experiences, including the Chef’s Table Restaurant; unlimited fine wine, spirits and beer served at their discretion; a heated pool with swim-up bar; massage and beauty salon and fitness studio; and complimentary in-room Internet, Infotainment and Wi-Fi. The MS AmaStella also carries a fleet of bicycles on board.
Exciting new journeys:
As well as introducing new Bordeaux river cruising for 2016, APT has announced new rail journeys aboard the privately chartered luxury train, The Danube Express, designed to connect seamlessly with the Magnificent Europe river cruise.
Guests can choose from: the Champagne Express – a 10 night journey from Budapest to Paris via Monaco, Burgundy and the Champagne region; or Jewels of Persia from Budapest to Tehran. Also new is Switzerland by Rail, travelling on a combination of Swiss trains. APT will continue to offer its Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express itineraries.
APT Special Events Cruising:
Vienna City Palace Concert in Austria.
In the coming months APT will unveil a series of new special events cruises for 2016. On offer is ‘Celebration of Wine Cruises’, ‘Sydney Symphony Orchestra’ cruises, ‘Family Christmas in Europe’ cruises, ‘Cycling Cruises’ and gourmet-themed cruises in France in conjunction with Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine.
New Grand Europe itineraries:
Guests will be able to combine popular itineraries, with APT offering a Douro/Bordeaux river cruise combo with its 21-day Douro, Basque Country and Bordeaux itinerary; and a 28-day Grand European land tour with Magnificent Europe covering the very best of the continent’s highlights.
APT Signature Invitations:
Burg Namedy Fronseiteburg, Germany.
APT’s popular Signature Experiences will be renamed Signature Invitations from 2016 onwards. These special and often exclusive sightseeing opportunities deliver once-in-a-lifetime moments that words and pictures simply can’t describe.
New Signature Invitations for 2016 include a visit to a traditional Hungarian farm, including experiencing a daring horse show from Maygar cowboys; and the chance to visit the Schlagkamp Winery and Wine Museum in the Moselle Valley, featuring one of the world’s largest collections of viticulture tools, where guests will enjoy a private tour and tasting.
APT Freedom of Choice™ :
new additions for 2016 include the chance to visit the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam; or in Germany, the Bonn Botanic Gardens, the Faber-Castell Old Lead Factory in Nuremberg or the Fragrance Museum in Cologne.
New offers:
APT will continue to offer a range of market leading SuperDeals for 2016, including Fly Free, Solo Traveller and Business Class deals (for peak from $4,595, and off peak from $2,995 per person including taxes of $1200 per person).
In addition, APT is introducing a new Early Payment Discount whereby guests will save $200 pp on seven night cruises and $400 pp on 14 night cruises when they book and pay 10 months prior to departure.
APT is also offering a new Travel with Friends & Save offer – guests who travel with five friends on the same date will save $400pp on cruises of 15 days or more. Both new offers are combinable with all APT SuperDeal 1 Offers, which are valid until 31 July 2015.
“Travel agents know that an APT client is a loyal client who will book with them time and time again”
Debra Fox, APT Chief Marketing Officer
Commenting on the new program, APT Chief Marketing Officer Debra Fox said, “Travel agents know that an APT client is a loyal client who will book with them time and time again. That’s because as well as offering the most exceptional river cruise ships on Europe’s waterways and a truly all inclusive price structure, at APT we always go the extra mile to ensure our service levels, sightseeing and land touring programs continually exceed guests expectations. In 2016 we will continue to deliver the most outstanding product available and we look forward to another successful year working together with our travel industry partners to attract even more new and repeat clients for our Europe River Cruising.”
For further information, please contact APT on 1300 196 420, visit aptouring.com.au or see your local business development manager.