The WA 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.
Source: WA Government