News

Cruise & Maritime Voyages enters administration

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 20 July 2020 20 July 2020

Cruise & Maritime Voyages, the UK based destination focused cruise line, said it has entered administration after failing to secure funding to carry it over the Covid-19 crisis.

“We are sorry to inform you that South Quay Travel Limited (“SQTL”) – which traded under the name Cruise & Maritime Voyages – was placed into administration on 20 July 2020. Paul Williams, Phil Dakin and Edward Bines of Duff & Phelps Ltd. were appointed Joint Administrators of SQTL. At present the Administrators are evaluating SQTL’s financial position,” the company said I a statement posted on its website.

The company started business in 2009 and it has operated its fleet of ships on charter from a Greek company.

At the time of its collapse, its fleet comprised of the following vessels:

Columbus, built in 1989, 63,786 gross tons

Vasco da Gama, 1992, 55,819 gross tons

Magellan, 1985, 46,052 gross tons

Marco Polo, 1965, 22,080 gross tons

Astor, 1987, 20,606 gross tons

Astoria1948, 16,844 gross tons

It was due to introduce next year two additional ships:

Amy Johnson, currently Pacific Dawn, 1991, 70,285 gross tons

Ida Pfeiffer, currently Pacific Aria, 1994, 55,819 gross tons

In addition to the UK market, the company operated in Germany, where it used the Transocean Kreuzfahrten brand, plus in Australia, Mexico and the US.

CDC extends No Sail Order through September 2020

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 17 July 2020 17 July 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today the extension of a No Sail Order for cruise ships through September 30, 2020. This order continues to suspend passenger operations on cruise ships with the capacity to carry at least 250 passengers in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

CDC supports the June 19th decision by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA to extend voluntarily the suspension of operations for passenger cruise ship travel until September 15, 2020. In line with CLIA’s announcement of voluntary suspension of operation by its member companies, CDC has extended its No Sail Order to ensure that passenger operations on cruise ships do not resume prematurely.

Cumulative CDC data from March 1 through July 10, 2020, shows 2,973 COVID-19 or COVID-like illness cases on cruise ships, in addition to 34 deaths. These cases were part of 99 outbreaks on 123 different cruise ships. During this time frame, 80 percent of ships were affected by COVID-19. As of July 3, nine of the 49 ships under the No Sail Order have ongoing or resolving outbreaks. According to U.S. Coast Guard data, as of July 10, 2020, there are 67 ships with 14,702 crew onboard.

This Order will remain in effect until the earliest of:

– The expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency,
– The CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or September 30, 2020.

On cruise ships, passengers and crew share spaces that are more crowded than most urban settings. Even when only essential crew are on board, ongoing spread of COVID-19 still occurs. If unrestricted cruise ship passenger operations were permitted to resume, passengers and crew on board would be at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and those that work or travel on cruise ships would place substantial unnecessary risk on healthcare workers, port personnel and federal partners (i.e., Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard), and the communities they return to.

Celestyal Cruises acquires Costa NeoRomantica

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 16 July 2020 16 July 2020

Celestyal Cruises, the Cyprus based cruise operator, said it has acquired the 1993 built Costa NeoRomantica from Costa Crociere, the Italian unit in the carnival Corporation & plc group.

The ship that was extensively refitted in 2012 can accommodate 1,800 passengers in 789 cabins, of which 132 have private balconies.

Itineraries of the ship would be published later, the company said in a statement.

The sale is part of Carnival group’s disposal programme that will comprise 13 ships. Earlier today, two Holland America Line ships were reported as sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.