In mid-December it was confirmed that Cruise & Maritime Voyages had purchased the 20,704gt/1987 built and 620-passenger capacity – The Astor – from its insolvent German owner Premicon Hochseeschiff GmbH & Co. KG. The purchase secures the long term charter commitments for the ship and came three days after the Astor arrived in Fremantle on 13th December for her second summer season operating cruises under the CMV brand for the Australian market.

In spring, Astor repositions to Europe and will continue to operate a summer season of ex-Kiel and Bremerhaven German market sailings under the TransOcean brand. On 17th October the Astor will undertake a Round the World voyage from London Tilbury when a choice of destinations including Auckland, Sydney, Adelaide, Freemantle, Acapulco and Capetown, returning to Tilbury on 16th March 2016.