Corazul Cruceros is preparing the Buenavista for its maiden season in Brazil, according to COO Camille Appeldoorn.
In a video message to the eighth CLIA Brasil Forum, Appeldoorn said the vessel is expected to start its crossing to South America soon.
Appeldoorn said he was unable to attend in person because the company’s teams were busy getting ready for the start up.
“Getting to this point has been an exciting journey. As anyone in the industry knows, preparing for a new cruise operation always comes with a few twists and turns along the way,” he explained.
“Plans evolve, circumstances change, we adapt. That’s simply part of the game. For us, it has only made our team stronger, more focused and even more eager to bring something new to the market,” Appeldoorn added.
Corazul initially planned to launch service in the Mediterranean, with cruises departing from Spanish ports in early July.
The inaugural season in Europe was cancelled earlier this year, as the company announced a new focus on Brazil and South America.
“We strongly believe in the potential of Brazil as a cruise market, including its customers, the cruise lines, the destinations and most importantly, the enthusiasm for cruising. As a new operator, we are extremely proud to become part of this chapter,” Appeldoorn said.
He said the company will offer guests a “different cruise experience with more choices and new options.”
With the brand’s first cruise scheduled for early November, Appeldoorn also hinted at an earlier arrival.
“We are incredibly excited about coming here and, actually, you may see Corazul cruising in Brazil’s waters a little earlier than you may have expected,” he said.
Local sources previously reported that the company could start service in Brazil as early as late September.
Corazul plans to operate the former Oriana, which was built for P&O Cruises in 1995 and more recently sailed as the Piano Land for Astro Ocean Cruises.
The 1,806-passenger ship is currently anchored off China after completing a series of short cruises from Hong Kong in late May.
