APT drops Russia, postpones multimillion-dollar refit of Anastasia

The company issued a statement saying it has been monitoring the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia and has decided to cancel its 2015 Russia itineraries.

 

APT also announced that, due to ‘ongoing uncertainty’ in the region it has postponed plans for a multimillion-dollar refit of an existing ship called Anastasia.

 

A company spokeswoman said the existing Anastasia is owned by APT’s Russian partner and has not been used either as a passenger ship or ferry.

 

It was to have kept its name after the proposed ‘rebuild’ and was to have commenced operations next May as ‘Russia’s most luxurious ship.’

 

Passengers booked to sail in Russia next year are being contacted through their travel agents and APT said ‘suitable alternatives have been found.’  

 

APT’s decision to bypass Russian ports comes on the heels of an announcement by partner AmaWaterways that it has cancelled cruises in Russia aboard AmaKatarina in 2015.