Newport Online

Newport, Rhode Island - March, 2008 – On the heels of two earlier announcements of major contracts for charter groups for the 2008 boating season, Jeff O’Brien of Gansett Cruises of Newport, Rhode Island has announced that during the fall of 2008, he and his crew will partner with Viking Tours, Inc., the city’s oldest group tour operator, to offer specialty cruises to guests disembarking in this popular seaport from Crystal Cruises.

Under contract as the shore agents for Crystal Cruises, Viking Tours’ executives added the new harbor tour aboard the M/V Gansett as a replacement for tours which were formerly conducted aboard their own company’s Viking Queen, a vessel that retired from service in 2006. Since 1960, Viking Tours of Newport has been providing groups of all types with a full range of receptive and transportation services for sea and land tours of “America’s First Resort.”

The new harbor tour was created by Viking Tours of Newport in collaboration with O’Brien. It will be a leisurely two-hour excursion with a detailed commentary about Newport harbor and the southern part of Narragansett Bay. “We’ll be taking the Crystal Cruises guests all the way out to Castle Hill Lighthouse, past Hammersmith Farm, which was the “Kennedy Summer White House,” then over towards Jamestown and out around Rose Island Lighthouse,” says O’Brien. “The two-hour format is longer than our usual harbor tours, so the passengers will have more time to enjoy the menu of light refreshments and beverages that we serve during the tour.” On every trip aboard Gansett Cruises, whether it is for VIP passengers or daily ticket-holders, O’Brien’s crew offers complementary beverages and snacks that are favorites of the local cuisine. During their harbor tour, Crystal’s guests will have a choice of sampling a variety of items, such as Yacht Club soda, Warwick ice cream, coffee “cabinets” (a milkshake with coffee syrup), Del’s Lemonade and other “flavors of Rhode Island.”

Gansett Cruises, whose principal tour boat typically circles the harbor on five runs daily, made its mark on the industry in 2007 by offering what it calls “harbor tours with a different view.” That view happens to be up-close and personal, both with the sights and landmarks along the shore and with the friendly, professional service offered by Gansett’s crew. O’Brien, a 25-year veteran of the upscale charter boat industry says, “The crew and I like to give every person the feeling you get from being a guest aboard a luxury yacht, even though they’re only aboard for 90 minutes. We want to make the tour and the boat ride memorable for everyone.”

Crystal Cruises was created in 1988 as a Six-Star luxury cruise line. For the past 12 years, Crystal has consistently received the unparalleled title of World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Today it is wholly owned by NYK, the largest shipping company in the world. The line currently has 4 arrivals scheduled for Newport for 2008 during its popular Canada/New England itinerary. Although nearly one thousand vacationers typically disembark from the Crystal Symphony for a day-long stay in Newport, only a few will be able to pre-reserve the limited seats available. The M/V Gansett, which also offers daily tours and private charters, is U.S.C.G. certified for 49 passengers and provides modern amenities aboard.

www.gansettcruises.com