Travelbiz E-Zine
7
June
2025

APT Travelmarvel Launches Europe 2026 in Cork

#Traveltradetogether

APT Travelmarvel hosted the launch of their Europe 2026 product while overlooking the lovely River Lee in Cork City.

The lunch event, hosted by Michelle Ryan, Country Manager for Ireland and Brad Bennetts, Head of Sales & Business Development, welcomed key partners from around Cork City and county to the renowned Montenotte Hotel. Over a decadent lunch, the local agents were given an inside look into the incredible offerings for 2026, including all new itineraries and, specifically, itineraries that work for the Munster region, with direct connections from Cork Airport to Amsterdam to meet the Rhine, Main and Moselle, and Shannon Airport to join the brand-new MS Estrela setting sail from Porto.

APT Travelmarvel Launches Europe 2026 River Cruise and Small Group Journey Collection Operator unveils a new Travelmarvel Contemporary Ship, new river cruises and Small Group tours, an early booking incentive of up to €1,000 per person, and up to €200pp Free Onboard Credit on select itineraries.

APT Travelmarvel has launched its 2026 Europe Collection, featuring enhancements to its premium River Cruises on the continent’s most iconic waterways, and new Small Group Journeys in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Building on this year’s exciting fleet elevations – which included the introduction Travelmarvel’s MS Estrela on the Douro River – the brand will be introducing a fourth Travelmarvel Contemporary River Ship in 2026, the Rigel, named after the brightest star in the Orion constellation. Sister to the five-star Trustpilot rated Polaris, Capella and Vega vessels, the Rigel will be built to the same design, offering the same modern, state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding service.

Also new to APT Travelmarvel’s 2026 Europe portfolio are:  • To meet agent demand, more capacity has been added to Travelmarvel’s key German river cruises with the introduction of a new itinerary, The Rhine & Moselle (from €2,595 per person) will take guests from Basel to Amsterdam over eight-days, between July and September 2026. Explore the land of the Brothers Grimm fairytales in the magical Black Forest, tour the narrow alleyways and Castle of Cochem, and glide along Amsterdam’s impressive network of canals.

These itineraries will also offer direct flight options from Cork Airport as well as Dublin Airport, giving Munster region agents additional package opportunities.  • Three new Small Group Journeys in Europe: Travelmarvel’s immersive new travel style for up to 24 guests enjoyed such a successful first season that the operator has added three new Small Group itineraries in Spain, Portugal, and Italy for 2025/26:  o Essence of Portugal – this seven-day tour from Lisbon to Porto can be booked as a standalone itinerary, or as an extension to Travelmarvel’s Douro Discovery River Cruise.

Highlights include a Pastel de Nata baking class in Lisbon, a Port wine tasting at a private quinta, a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage area of Sintra, and exploring the beautiful towns of Óbidos, Nazaré, Coimbra, and Cascais. Departures run March to October 2026, and cost from €2,495 per person (was €2,695*).  o Flavours of Iberia – this ten-day culinary and cultural discovery of Spain and Portugal takes guests from Madrid to Lisbon.

Highlights include visiting the art museums and Europe’s largest palace in the vibrant capital of Madrid, soaking up the Renaissance architecture and peppery-tasting olive oil of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Úbeda, enjoying an authentic flamenco show in Grenada, and visiting Córdoba’s mesmerising Mezquita, one of the world’s greatest Islamic buildings. This gastronomic journey serves up tapas in Seville, wine tastings in Évora, and baking Pastel de Natas in Lisbon.

Departures run March 2026 to October 2026, and cost from €3,395 per person (was €3,695*).  o Tastes of Italy – over ten days, this journey explores the gastronomy of Italy, as guests travel from Rome to Venice. Taste limoncellos during an immersion into lemon cultivation in Sorrento, and order full-bodied reds through the wine windows of Florence. Guests will meet a family who run a vineyard in the sun-kissed Tuscan countryside, before sitting down to a farm-to-table lunch paired with local wines; take a dawn tour of Rome; a visit to Pompeii; and see how iconic gondolas of Venice are made. Departures run March to October 2026, and cost from €3,695 per person (was €3,995*). The Europe 2026 launch includes an Early Booking Offer*, helping agents to capitalise on early demand with savings of up to €1,000 per person and a Free Onboard Credit of up to €200 per person on selected 14-night cruises and €100 per person on 7-night cruises for new bookings made by  31st July 2025.

Brad Bennetts, Head of Sales & Business Development for APT Travelmarvel, said: “By adding more ships to our newly elevated fleet, creating more capacity to sell with extended sailing seasons for our most popular itineraries, and creating exciting new touring products, we have ensured that our 2026 Europe Collection is the most comprehensive to date. Offering incredible savings and added value benefit of Free Onboard Credit, which can be used at the bar or on additional excursions, until the end of July equips our valued agent partners with all the tools to capitalise on every early sales opportunity.” APT Travelmarvel’s 2026 Europe packages include return regional flights from Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Shannon, expertly crafted excursions, stylish accommodations, gourmet dining, the services of expert Cruise and Tour Directors, and all tipping, port charges and transfers, ensuring a seamless and fully inclusive holiday experience for guests. For more information visit www.travelmarvel.com and view the new Europe 2026 brochure here. Agents can access training, marketing assets and offers via the APT Agent Club at APTAgentClub.co.uk.

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