Administrators confirm Cruise & Maritime Voyages asset sale

Administrators confirm Cruise & Maritime Voyages asset sale

Christian Verhounig, the former chief executive of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, has bought several assets from the collapsed business.

The Essex-based cruise line entered administration last month after failing to secure additional funding.

Verhounig has established a company called CVI Group Limited (CVI) and plans to restart operations in the future.

A statement on Friday from the administrators confirmed reports of the sale, which completed on August 27.

“Paul Williams, Phil Dakin and Edward Bines of Duff & Phelps, Joint Administrators of Cruise & Maritime Voyages Ltd (CMV), together with sister companies South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd, Independent Coach Travel (Wholesaling) Ltd and Viceroy Ltd (together with the Companies), are pleased to announce that a sale of certain assets of the Companies to CVI Group Limited (CVI),” said the statement.

The assets include customer databases; computer systems, including websites and booking systems; office furniture and equipment; and information technology infrastructure.

CMV’s administration did not include its fleet of six ships, which included Marco Polo and Columbus.

Verhounig, the owner of CVI, said: “The global pandemic had a devastating impact on CMV’s once-flourishing, expanding and profitable business.

“Having developed a much-loved brand over the past decade and the hugely popular value-based niche no-fly cruise product, we have been simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and pleased to re-launch the business.

“This endorsement across the industry and customer base alike has been a rich source of encouragement and together with my previous management team, we are working hard to plug the huge market gap vacated by CMV’s untimely insolvency.

“The acquisition of the UK commercial assets provides a positive first step and we believe demonstrates our firm commitment and optimism to return much stronger and to work alongside our loyal suppliers and creditors to also help mitigate the pandemic impact.”

Paul Williams, a joint administrator at Duff & Phelps, commented: “We have worked hard since being appointed to secure a sale of the business and assets of the companies.

“Regrettably, given the devastating impact of the global pandemic on the entire travel industry, with a focus on the leisure cruise sector, this has not been possible in this instance.

“However, I strongly believe that this asset sale not only represents the best value for the companies’ creditors that was achievable in challenging market conditions, but also provides an opportunity for CVI, through its owner Christian Verhounig, to continue to pursue funding opportunities to potentially relaunch CMV’s unique cruise operations to its dedicated customers at some point in the future.”

Cancelled bookings remain unaffected by the sale and details of how to claim refunds are available on Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ and TransOcean Kreuzfahrten’s local websites.