News from TravelInco & ProMag: Island Passage, the luxury vessel currently operating in the waters of Vanuatu, is likely to be cruising in Fiordland this spring. The ship, operated by Island Escape, was on show to delegates at the recent Tok Tok tourism exhibition in Port Vila, having travelled down from Santo especially for the event. Mike Hogan, of Hogan and Associates, who represents the product in New Zealand, says the vessel would definitely return to Vanuatu in the winter of 2010. Too much has been invested in this and the feedback is too positive to not come back, he says. Meantime, however, Island Passage is expected to do a short stint in the Marlborough Sounds, before heading to Fiordland for a series of cruises from late October through to January (subject to Department of Conservation approval). Island Passage will then head back to Auckland and cruise the Hauraki Gulf in the New Zealand summer.
This has been a successful season considering it is probably the worst year to launch a high end luxury cruise product. In saying that, the feedback is as good as for any property I have ever represented. Hogan says the vessel has already had repeat business, particularly in Auckland, and has had a number of corporate and fishing charters both in Auckland and Vanuatu -
www.islandescape.co.nz 