The State Government, through Tourism Western Australia, is pleased to welcome the newest addition to the Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV Australia) fleet, the premium Vasco da Gama which will be home-ported in Fremantle during the 2019-20 season.
Vasco da Gama’s 1,220 guest capacity more than doubles that of CMV’s Astor, which had been based in Fremantle since 2013.
Tourism WA has also negotiated a landmark marketing partnership to boost the State’s cruise tourism industry.
A co-operative marketing agreement between Tourism WA and the leading UK-based cruise company CMV Australia has supported a new range of WA-focused fly, cruise, rail and stay packages currently on sale.
The packages are being promoted nationally through print and digital media and feature a complete Western Australian holiday experience. The itineraries include extended stopovers at WA ports, allowing for longer shore excursions in Perth metropolitan and regional areas.
Port calls to destinations including Fremantle, Broome, Geraldton and Kuri Bay feature in the new itineraries, along with shore trips to Margaret River, Busselton and Rottnest Island.
It is the first time the State Government has negotiated a co-operative marketing agreement with a cruise industry operator, with the deal reflecting the growing importance of the cruise sector to the tourism industry.
In addition to operating the Western Australian itinerary, CMV will also use Vasco da Gama for a new ‘Grand Voyage’ from Fremantle to London, Amsterdam and Bremerhaven, providing another avenue to promote WA itineraries internationally to new and existing cruise customers.
Cruise shipping is an important part of the State’s tourism industry, contributing $275.9 million to the WA economy in 2017-18 and supporting about 1,130 jobs.
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:
“This partnership acknowledges CMV Australia’s contribution to growing cruise shipping in WA and shows the State Government, through Tourism WA, is serious about pursuing opportunities to market the State as an exciting cruise destination.
“CMV’s new itineraries in WA have achieved an important goal of extending visitor nights in the State.
“This impacts positively on money flowing to tourism businesses and jobs, as well as giving visitors more time to discover the unique landscapes, culture, history and cuisine of our city and regions.
“We’re also delighted that the Vasco da Gama will home-port in Fremantle for the season. Its increased capacity means an even greater economic benefit to the State.
“The exciting addition of the Vasco da Gama comes after Princess Cruises announced the biggest investment a cruise brand has ever made in this State, revealing it would home-port the Sun Princess superliner in Fremantle for a record 141 days in 2019-20.
“The cruise industry employs around 1,130 full-time jobs and injects $276 million into the Western Australian economy annually.”
Comments attributed to Tom Benson, Marketing Manager for Cruise & Maritime Voyages Australia:
“We are pleased to be working with Tourism WA and the State Government on this initiative, which will encourage people from across Australia to consider a cruising holiday in Western Australia for their next trip,” says Tom Benson, Marketing Manager for Cruise & Maritime Voyages Australia.
“This marketing collaboration is a first for the Western Australian government in the cruise sector, and we are looking forward to working on similar partnerships with state tourism bodies in the future.
“Vasco da Gama is perfectly sized to reach both iconic and lesser known destinations along Western Australia’s beautiful coast and we are thrilled to be able to showcase the region with these enticing cruise holidays.”
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