Happy Cruises, the Spanish operator of three cruise ships that traded as Quail Cruises until 2009, closed down on Saturday with an abrupt announcement that a board meeting would be held ton Monday to discuss the future of the line. Its problem is said to be “liquidity,” media reports say

The line operated the 19,093-ton, 1992-built Gemini was built as Crown Jewel and later traded as Superstar Gemini, while the 22,945-ton, 1970-built Ocean Pearl had been built as Royal Caribbean’s first ship, Song of Norway, and has traded under a number of names since. The Clipper Group of Denmark now owns both ships and their charters were arranged through International Shipping Partners In Miami. The line’s third ship, the 21,884-ton, 1990-built Happy Dolphin, was built in Japan and formerly traded as Delphin Voyager. It is now on charter from Greek owners and had only been added to the Happy fleet in May. 

Happy Cruises had been competing in the Spanish market with Royal Caribbean-owned Pullmantur Cruises and Carnival-owned Iberocruceros and was the only Spanish cruise line that was in a position to send ships to cruise from Cuba. The Gemini will terminate her present voyage in Valencia, the Ocean Pearl in Malaga and the Happy Dolphin in Venice.

Gemini had been intended to operate a second season in the Caribbean this winter, but this was cancelled in favour of a programme from Barcelona, leaving out an expensive element of flights from the operation, reports say.