#DublinDebut – Cruise & Maritime Voyages newest flagship Columbus departed Dublin Port late last night and was followed by the arrival of predecessor Magellan in the early hours of this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The maiden call of Columbus to the capital was part of 12-nights ‘Grand British Isles Discovery Cruise’ which continues with a visit today to the Isles of Scilly. The 63,000 gross tonnage flagship however made a first ever cruise earlier this month of a 3-nights ‘Amsterdam & Antwerp Break’.

This North Sea mini-cruise followed the Columbus christening ceremony by TV celebrity Angela Rippon at Tilbury, London Cruise Terminal. This is where the 1,400 passenger flagship will be based year-round from her new UK homeport following a previous career with P&O Cruises in Australia.

Across the UK last year, nearly 1.9 million people took a cruise and now with the arrival of Columbus the market is set to grow even further.

Speaking at the flagships’ naming ceremony in Tilbury, Chris Coates, Commercial Director at CMV said “When we introduced Magellan to our fleet just over two years ago, I suggested that it would be a game changer for us. Indeed it has been, and now we begin a new chapter as we proudly introduce our new flagship, Columbus, enabling us to respond to growing customer demand for traditional style cruising on board mid-sized cruise ships. The arrival of Columbus means we are on course to carry 100,000 passengers in 2018 cruising from the UK, which is 10% of the market.”

Magellan’s return call to Dublin, cannot simply be ignored given the completion of two of five sold-out ‘home-ported’ cruises that embark Irish passengers directly in the capital. These cruises were a 9 nights ‘Fjordland Splendour’ and 12 nights ‘Fjords and Iceland.

This evening a new cruise departs Dublin, this time it’s an 11-night ‘Spain, Portugal and France Cruise’.

Due to the success of these cruises, CMV are to repeat the Dublin home-porting in 2018 but with an additional 11 cruises departing and returning to the capital.

#NewFlagship- The latest addition to Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet of new flagship Columbus as previously referred on Afloat was named at a glittering ceremony held at the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury.

The Godmother to Columbus, who named the ship at the ceremony was TV personality Angela Rippon CBE. Whilst naming the ship, within the splendid Palladium show lounge, she told a delighted audience of the media, travel trade and VIP customers “I look forward to offering Columbus the same respect as my own godchildren.” Angela reminded the audience that Columbus discovered the New World of America on the 12th October 1492. “12th October is my birthday” she said.

The 64,000 tonnes ship will carry up to 1400 people and will be cruising year round from London – Tilbury. The cruise industry saw nearly 1.9 million people sail from a UK port last year and now with the arrival of Columbus, a new cruise ship for Britain, this is set to grow even further.

Chris Coates, Commercial Director at CMV said “When we introduced Magellan to our fleet just over two years ago, I suggested that it would be a game changer for us. Indeed it has been, and now we begin a new chapter as we proudly introduce our new flagship, Columbus, enabling us to respond to growing customer demand for traditional style cruising on board mid-sized cruise ships. The arrival of Columbus means we are on course to carry 100,000 passengers in 2018 cruising from the UK, which is 10% of the market.”

Mr Coates also announced that “Thanks to the support of our travel trade partners, we have sold over 95% of our 2017 Columbus cruise programme and an incredible 40% of 2018 capacity. Our Buy One Get One Free deals offer the best possible value and our customers recognise that it pays to book early.”

Columbus set sail from the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury yesterday, Sunday 11th June, on her maiden three night cruise to Amsterdam and Antwerp. In glorious sunshine, a brass band and confetti cannons bid her bon voyage!

The season continues with cruises to the Norwegian Fjords, British Isles & Ireland (later this month), Iceland, Baltic Cities, Canary Islands & Madeira, Scottish Highlights & Faroes, Spain, Portugal, France & Gibraltar. In addiiton to a spectacular 46 night voyage to Cuba, Central America & the Caribbean.

#NewFlagship - Columbus, the latest addition to the fleet of Cruise & Maritime Voyages that will also become their new flagship, arrived in Rotterdam just before mid-May for a three week dry dock at the Damen Ship Yard.

A delivery voyage of the Columbus is to take place next month when the 63,000 gross tonnage cruiseship sails to London. At the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury a naming ceremony is to take place by TV presenter Angela Rippon and a Launch Party on Thursday 8th June. The double event will mark the beginning of Columbus maiden summer season of ex-UK no fly cruises.

As Afloat previously reported, the current flagship Magellan is to call to Dublin early next month. This will be followed by her successor when the 775 passenger Columbus is to make her debut Irish call to the capital but later that same month.

Chris Coates, CMV’s Commercial Director, who visited the ship this week in Rotterdam said, “After over a year of meticulous planning this impressive traditional cruise liner is coming back home to British waters where she was once adored by many passengers and proved a firm favourite with the UK cruise market. The extensive upgrade words are taking shape nicely and we are confident that our passengers will like what they see and the upgrades that we have implemented and Columbus will prove to be a great addition to our fleet”

A lot of the refurbishment and modification works have already taken place during her ballast voyage from Singapore. These ongoing works include re-livery and painting of the ship’s hull and superstructure and the adaptation of the existing child and teenage areas. These areas will be converted to suit CMV’s more mature market. They include a maritime themed Columbus Observation Lounge affording splendid aft ocean views, Trumps & Aces, a spacious Card and Bridge room, a Ship’s Library with a traditional country house style feel and a Crafter’s studio too. The casino has been scaled down and renamed Captain’s Club & Casino while the previously named Captain’s Lounge has been renamed Taverner’s Pub offering a selection of 4 popular draught beers and ales plus 15 other beers and a wide selection of wines and spirits.

After the initial days of welcome onboard events in Tilbury, Columbus will embark on a short three nights cruise 11 June, to Amsterdam and Antwerp, followed by a six nights voyage 14 June to the Norwegian Fjords.

Columbus joins the CMV fleet that includes Magellan, Marco Polo, Astor and Astoria taking CMV’s lower bed ocean fleet capacity to almost 5,000 berths.