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APT to deploy new vessel on the Douro in 2024

Australian Pacific Touring Travel Group plans to put new custom-built Estrela on Portugal’s Douro River for her maiden voyage in 2024.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

July 4, 2023

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

This key investment for the APT Travel Group follows the launch of three Travelmarvel ships — Polaris, Capella and Vega — currently cruising the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. 

Both brands

Estrela will operate river cruises for both APT and Travelmarvel brands.

APT’s CEO David Cox said the company has been operating cruises in Portugal for many years and is ‘very excited’ to have Estrela join the fleet.

Cox said Estrela, which means ‘star’ in Portuguese, is small, carrying just 120 passengers, but will be ‘grand in stature,' featuring a sun deck with one of the largest pools on the Douro River.

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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