Belmond Has Surprises on Track for 2015

PHOTO: The Venice-Simplon train will be headed to Scandinavia this year on two departures. (Courtesy of Belmond)

Bravofly Makes Offer to Acquire Lastminute.com from Sabr…

<!— Travel Technology —>
Travel Technology

Southwest Airlines Workers Protest Workload, Stalled Neg…

<!— Airlines & Airports —>
Airlines Airports

South China Sea Fishermen Express Gratitude to Costa Cru…

<!— Cruise —>
Cruise

SeaWorld Releases Five New Mobile Apps for Children

<!— Destination & Tourism —>
Destination Tourism

Survey: Travelers Want More Day-of-Travel Info From Airp…

<!— Airlines & Airports —>
Airlines Airports

Since it opened in 1976 under its former name of Orient Express, Belmond has been ahead of the pack in marketing a style of travel that for many travelers is appealing as the destinations being traveled to. Unlike most luxury companies, which trend toward product complacency, Belmond is perpetually reviving and redefining its product line.

In 2015 Belmond is once again revitalizing its offer of hotels as well as luxury rail and river cruising experiences. In 2014, Belmond introduced the Orcaella on Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River where the company’s Road to Mandalay has been cruising since 1995. Earlier this year, Belmond announced the coming of the Grand Hibernian, a luxury rail product for Ireland due in 2016.

In 2015, Belmond’s trains will be headed down some unusual tracks in two separate parts of the globe. The Eastern Oriental Express will operate the five-night “Fables of the Peninsula” from Singapore to Bangkok on March 29 and the two-night “The Ancient Temples of Lanna” (Bangkok to Chiang Mai) departs on its inaugural journey on Oct. 15 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Over on the European continent the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is returning to Scandinavia in 2015 for the first time since 2013 on the new “Nordic Adventures” on June 1 (Venice to Stockholm) and June 6 (Stockholm to Venice).

The Ancient Kingdom of Lanna is an overnight journey departing from Bangkok for Chiang Mai. The Lanna kingdom was a small kingdom located between the two powerhouse kingdoms of Siam and Burma. Its capital Chiang Mai now finds itself as a gateway between Thailand and the emerging destination of Myanmar, where the Road to Mandalay will celebrate its 20th anniversary with an impressive list of photography, wildlife and military history experts (prices start from £1,640 for a three-night cruise). The Orcaella will also cruise the temple-studded Chindwin River.

The Ancient Kingdom package also visits Lampang for a tour in horse-drawn carriages, originally imported from England for use by Thai nobility. The guided Chiang Mai tour includes explorations of thoroughfares and side streets as well as Thai cooking demonstrations; shopping in markets for arts and crafts that represent Chiang Mai’s Lanna heritage such as decorative mulberry-paper parasols; and a visit to the Dhara Dhevi Tea House.

The Fables of The Peninsula “land-cruise” starts with an overnight at Raffles Singapore followed by a journey through Malaysia and Thailand. The train’s observation car gives passengers a rich visual experience of Southeast Asia. Daily excursions to stops in such destinations as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Huay Yang and the Cameron Highlands, with a night at the Cameron Highlands Resort located on a tea plantation. The journey also offers some beach time and a beach BBQ at Koh Chaan before heading on to Bangkok.

The Eastern Oriental Express has en-suite accommodation for up to 132 guests; three dining carriages serving European and Asian cuisine and a Bar Car with nightly entertainment. Prices start from £1,580 for the Ancient Kingdom of Lanna journey per person double sharing a Pullman cabin and including all table d’hote meals. Prices start from £4,800 per person double for the Fables of The Peninsula experience. That includes all beverages and table d’hote meals.

Venice, Copenhagen and Stockholm are at the center of Venice-Simplon’s four-night, five-day Scandinavia journeys. The packages are from £4,500 per person double. The route moves through Italy, Austria and Germany with two nights’ in Copenhagen at the Marriott before arriving in Stockholm. The journey includes two days and one night travelling on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. In Copenhagen, the program includes sightseeing and a gala dinner at an exclusive venue before re-joining the train for an overnight journey to Stockholm.

Recently Belmond became a Silver Member of the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association. Last week, Belmond launched a microsite on its website for LGBT travelers looking to experience the full product line from the Belmond Maroma Resort Spa on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera to the luxury rail cruise aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman. The new microsite is a one-stop portal where LGBT travelers can explore the collection’s holiday, celebration, honeymoon and group offerings. Regularly updated, the new microsite is broken down into different sections such as “Celebrations” and “Groups.”

Belmond’s collection includes 45 hotels as well as rail and river cruise experiences. The hotels include Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg; Belmond Maroma Resort Spa, Riviera Maya; and Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara.