At Sea with Doug Newman

*Updated 19 June with revised press release*

As you can see, there is no longer a question mark in the headline of this post. At long last, we have definitive confirmation that Orient Lines‘ lovely Marco Polo will be joining the Transocean Tours fleet in 2008.

Here is a brief statement from Transocean:

“Cruise: »Marco Polo« with Transocean Tours

•    Cruise ship MS »Marco Polo« sails from 2008 exclusively for Transocean Tours
•    »Marco Polo«: one of a few cruise ships from the German market with ice class
•    In the future favourable prices also on offer for cruises to the Antarctic

From the coming year the cruise ship »Marco Polo« will sail exclusively for Transocean Tours. The flag of the   Bremen operator will therefore fly on three extremely famous ocean cruisers: MV »Astor«, MV »Astoria« and MV »Marco Polo«. In the strongly growing cruise ship sector »Marco Polo« will in future and for convenient prices also head with their passengers for the Antarctic and Greenland.

With the «Marco Polo« Transocean Tours as of 2008 will replace MV »Arielle«. For Transocean Tours the change from the »Arielle« to the slightly smaller »Marco Polo« at the same time means an increase of capacity: because unlike the »Arielle« the »Marco Polo« will be operated on different routings on a year-round basis.

Managing director Peter Waehnert: The »Arielle« in her first season has been well accepted by our customers and travel agents. But now with the »Marco Polo« we have the advantage of a third deep-sea-going vessel being operated on a year-round basis and in addition the technical possibilities to also sail on exciting routes to Greenland and to Antarctica.

Apart from these rare cruise ship destinations the 176 meter long classic will also sail on attractive and interesting routes to Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea or through the Mediterranean Sea. „Altogether the »Marco Polo« offers a mixed bag of travel with expedition flair and classical cruises“, says Managing Director Peter Waehnert. As one of the few ships on the German cruise ship market the »Marco Polo« has an ice class on offer.”

While I am sad to see Marco Polo leave Orient Lines (and indeed it seems this means the death of Orient Lines), it is good to see that she has a bright future with a well-respected brand in a market that should appreciate her.

Seatrade Insider reports that according to Transocean’s UK GSA, Cruise & Maritime Services, Transocean will operate Marco Polo on 14 cruises from Tilbury for the British market. This is up from nine operated this year with Arielle.

This is extremely welcome news for me - indeed it is something I have had in mind since Transocean was first mooted as a possible charterer of Marco Polo and it is nice to see that this lovely vessel will continue to have a presence in the English-speaking market, as well as the German market where I am sure she will be very successful.

The article also confirms that, as alluded by Transocean’s press release, Arielle will return to her owners, Louis Cruise Lines, after only two seasons with Transocean. She always struck me as a probably temporary addition to the fleet, not being of the same class as Astor and Astoria, and it is great to see that Transocean has indeed now found a more suitable third ship.

So, all in all, a pleasant ending to the Marco Polo mystery, and undoubtedly very welcome news for many German cruisers.

What still remains to be seen, however, is just who the new owner of the ship is. I am sure we will be finding out more about that in the coming days, and I am looking forward to seeing this final question answered.