Dick West said his new cruise and tour company will launch operations in the Galapagos by the end of this year, and will start taking bookings this summer.
West’s new company, Explor Tours, would clearly have strong echoes of Cruise West, his family cruise line that went bankrupt last September.
"In the last three years, Cruise West began offering tours and cruises with other operators around the world," West said. "We found there are a number of very good operators who are virtually unknown, offering our kind of 'Up Close, Casual and Personal' (the Cruise West motto) experiences in great destinations — and our guests really enjoyed these programs and the new destinations.”
He also said, "This is not mass market tourism. It is bringing people closer to the destination in smaller groups so they can meet the people, get close to the wildlife and natural wonders. It is about creating unforgettable memories, just as we did at Cruise West."
West introduced the idea for his new company in March.
To begin selling the product, West said he plans to work with a select number of travel agents who "understand and appreciate the value" of small-group exploration travel.
"I will not be going out to all travel agents," West said. "Rather, [I will] limit it to those who really understand the niche market we are addressing. It will be a self-selecting group. I will not have agent sales reps going out to try to educate the masses.
"I have received communications from several former Cruise West agents who want to work with me," he added. "I am going to wait to reach out to others until I finalize the program and pricing."
West said that he has itineraries in place and a commitment from an operator in the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador, but that he cannot currently reveal the company's name.
One itinerary will visit Quito and Cuenca in Ecuador before flying to the Galapagos for a six-day cruise. West said all tours would have add-on options for Peru and Machu Picchu.
West said the plan is to expand to southern Patagonia after the initial start-up in Ecuador and the Galapagos.
To "allay concerns about booking travel with a start-up," West (who is also presumably aware of his reputation after Cruise West's demise) said all payments will be accepted by credit card and that money will go into an escrow account until after travel is completed.