NEW YORK --
Although Paul Gauguin, the Parisian stockbroker-turned-painter,
stayed in Tahiti until his dying day, the Radisson Seven Seas
cruise ship named after him will leave Tahiti in 2006 and sail
South America, the Mediterranean, the Baltics and Antarctica.
The migration
will be the result of a joint acquisition of the ship by Grand
Circle Corp. and Vantage Deluxe World Travel, both tour operators
that exclusively sell directly to consumers.
The ship
previously was owned by Centre Group Holdings, a subsidiary of the
Zurich Insurance Group, and operated year-round in French Polynesia
by Radisson.
Radisson will
continue to operate the ship next year. Cruises can be booked
through Radisson or through its new owners. In 2006 it will be
taken over by Grand Circle and Vantage.
Radisson CEO Mark
Conroy said Radisson considered buying the ship, but acquiring the
320-passenger vessel would not have been in keeping with the
evolution of the company.
The ship was for
sale for quite a while, said Conroy. Its a great product. But we
didnt acquire it because our fleet has evolved since 1998. We are
moving toward the larger ships with larger suites and
balconies.
Does the Paul
Gauguin departure mean that Radisson will abandon Tahiti? Conroy
said hes not sure.
Were considering
whether or not to deploy our 350-guest ship, the Radisson Diamond,
in 2006, he said. Were just trying to figure out the logistics and
whether or not it makes economic sense.
To contact
reporter David Cogswell, send e-mail to [email protected].