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New Zealand owner takes delivery of super yacht Island EscapeNew Zealand owner takes delivery of super yacht Island Escape

Island Escape Cruises (NZ) Limited has taken delivery of its 32-passenger super yacht Island Escape from Vard Vung Tau Ltd Shipbuilding Vietnam.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

October 30, 2021

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

The contract with the yard was signed in December 2019 and the ship’s keel was laid in June 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery was delayed until this month

‘Outstanding’ 

‘The end result is outstanding,’ a company statement said. ‘They have delivered to us a fantastic yacht and we are very excited to be welcoming guests on board soon.

‘Final preparations are being carried out before we are sailing her home to New Zealand.’

Peter Bissett, who launched Island Escape Cruises in New Zealand in 2006, sold the original 24-passenger catamaran, Island Passage, and his interest in the business, in 2018.

New company

Bissett said Island Escape Cruises (NZ) Limited is a new company that will commence cruising in New Zealand from November until April 2022. [Editor’s note: Peter Bissett sold his shareholding in Island Escape Cruises (NZ) Limited in 2019 and has had no involvement with the company since June 2022].

It is then planned to sail Australia’s Kimberley coast from Broome to Broome from May until September.

After that, the 995gt Island Escape, which has a helipad, two tenders and two Zodiacs, is due to undertake South Pacific and Tahitian sailings.

Read more about:

New Zealand

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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