Alan Lam reporting

At this year’s International Tourism Fair Latin America (Feria Internacional de Turismo de América Latina), which has just been held in Buenos Aires and attended by all major cruise brands with vested interest in the region, Pullmantur, the Iberia and Latin America focused cruise line, announced two new South Caribbean itineraries.

The eight-day-seven-night South Caribbean itineraries are named as “Antillas y Caribe Sur” (Antilles and South Caribbean) and “Caribe Tropical” (Tropical Caribbean): the former, available from 4 December to 18 March on board the Monarch, will be exploring Aruba, Curaçao, and Cartagena de Indias or Panamá City, including return flights from Madrid to Colón; the latter, available from 5 December to 19 March on board the Horizon, will sail to Dominican Republic, Martinique, and St. Marteen or Margarita, including return flights from Madrid to Santo Domingo.

According to the company, these cruises are aimed at European customers by offering them winter sun during the colder months at home. It will be promoting the sales primarily through its travel agent partners throughout Europe.

Pullmantur is in the midst of a major expansion programme, which has Caribbean and Central America at its heart. Its two other new 2015 itineraries, “Caribbean Maya” and “Mayan Coast”, are both focused on this region.

The fact that the company introduced these cruises so close to the first departure dates reflected its confidence in its own performance and the demand for its products. So far this season Pullmantur has been sailing with 100% occupancy, with the number up by 10% from the same period last year. The company is very positive about the outlook for the remainder of the season.