After a few slow news days things seemed to have picked up dramatically. Even better, we’ve got news from Cruise West, a company we don’t get to talk about to much.
Cruise West, which features smaller cruise ships has announced this past week that they have acquired the Yankee Clipper and Nantucket Clipper from Clipper Cruise Lines. These coastal cruise ships will sail the 2006 itineraries on the East Coast, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico and Central America previously published by Clipper Cruise Line, but under Cruise West ownership and management.
More information about the new ships and Cruise West’s announcement about their new ships after the jump. If you’d like to book a Cruise West cruise or get more information about Cruise West, be sure to contact Cruise Planners at www.mycruiseplanner.net
CRUISE WEST ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF NEW SHIPS AND ITINERARIES Yorktown Clipper and Nantucket Clipper to Expand Line Operations Seattle, WA, January 17, 2006 - Cruise West, the preeminent American-owned and operated small-ship cruise line, announced today that it has acquired the Yorktown Clipper and the Nantucket Clipper, previously part of the Clipper Cruise Line fleet. With the increasing success of Cruise West and the projected profitability over the course of upcoming years, this planned expansion comes at an ideal time to again raise the bar of small-ship cruising experiences, as Cruise West has often done before.
The 138-guest Yorktown Clipper and the 102-guest Nantucket Clipper have officially joined the Cruise West family today. Both ships are U.S.-flagged coastal cruise ships joining Cruise West’s fleet of American-owned vessels, and will significantly enhance the company’s operational reach. The new ships will sail the 2006 itineraries on the East Coast, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico and Central America previously published by Clipper Cruise Line, but under Cruise West ownership and management. Guest programs and amenities will offer the comfortable and modern accommodations of these former Clipper small ships with the distinguished exploration approach that Cruise West has so successfully pioneered.
Chairman and CEO Dick West said, “We are delighted to expand our operations to the East Coast and to offer our guests novel itineraries in the up-close, casual, and personal style of cruising that have branded our ships for over 60 years. Cruise West’s fleet, now consisting of 10 diverse ships, will completely circle North and Central America and the entire Pacific Rim.”
President and COO Jeffrey Krida said, “Over the past four years, Cruise West’s careful management has allowed us to steadily strengthen our balance sheet and market position. We have already projected 2006 to be the strongest financial year in our company’s history. This consolidation with Clipper Cruise Line’s domestic vessels into an already impressive fleet will allow Cruise West to scale new heights. We appreciate the dynamic sales support from the travel community and we look forward to continued work with our travel partners in creating strides in the small-ship cruising industry.”
Cruise West is the largest American small-ship cruise line and will now be operating 10 vessels accommodating 70 to 138 guests on itineraries in Alaska, Mexico, Costa Rica, on the Columbia River, in California Wine Country, the South Pacific, and Japan. This expansion will also increase the destinations that Cruise West guests can travel to with the new vessels’ previously scheduled itineraries to the East Coast of the Americas, Great Lakes and Caribbean.
Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business – offers the opportunity to explore remote locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. The casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike.
The emphasis for all Cruise West destinations is outward on the history, local cultures, shoreside attractions, and on personal service. The cruising style offers flexible schedules allowing intimate encounters with wildlife, scenery and with like-minded guests. Zodiacs and other excursion crafts offer access to wilderness shorelines. Each ship features Cruise West Exploration Leaders who are experts in the natural history, biology and lore of the destination. For more information call toll-free 1-800-888-9378.
Cruise West is a family-owned small-ship cruise line based in Seattle and headed by Richard G. West, chairman and CEO. The company was founded in 1973 by Charles B. (Chuck) West, whose legacy in Alaska travel stretches back to 1946.
Destinations served: Alaska and the Bering Sea, British Columbia, Columbia and Snake Rivers, California Wine Country, Baja Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, and Costa Rica/Panama.
The emphasis for all Cruise West destinations is outward on scenery, wildlife, history, local cultures, and shoreside attractions. The cruising style is up-close, casual and personal, with flexible schedules allowing intimate encounters with wildlife. Zodiacs and other excursion craft offer access to wilderness shorelines. Each ship features Cruise West Exploration Leaders who are trained in the natural history and lore of the destination.
Ships: The company owns and operates eight small ships–seven cruise ships, with capacities ranging from 78 to 114 guests, and a 90-foot touring yacht. Each of the overnight vessels has a comfortable forward lounge, substantial outside deck space, private facilities in all cabins, and a dining room that seats a full complement of guests at a single sitting. Open seating in dining rooms helps travelers meet and come to know one another. Dining is more sophisticated than is typically associated with small-ship expedition cruising. The motoryacht Sheltered Seas has two carpeted lounges and a beverage bar. The lower-deck lounge converts into a dining room. All ships have bow thrusters for maneuvering close to shore. Passengers are welcome on the bridge. Most ships are American-built and registered and are crewed by Americans, except for the line’s flagship, the Bahamas-registered Spirit of Oceanus, and the Honduras-registered Pacific Explorer in Costa Rica.
Filed under: Cruise West
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