Ambassador Reveals New Dining Experiences Onboard Ambition

Ambassador Reveals New Dining Experiences Onboard Ambition

Ambassador Cruise Line has unveiled a wide range of dining experiences for guests onboard the Ambition, set to depart on its inaugural voyage on May 12, 2023.

Bob McGowan, head of the guest experience at Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “Onboard Ambition, there are dining venues for every mood – from traditional afternoon teas to gala dinners alongside the ship’s Captain – providing ample opportunity for guests to be surprised and delighted throughout their journey.

 “Carefully designed by our Executive Chef Team, the dining concepts and menus have been created with guest experience at the heart. Following a strong food and beverage customer satisfaction score of 92 per cent onboard Ambience we have ensured that we’ve taken on valuable guest feedback and learnings when conceptualizing the offerings on Ambition.

 “We can’t wait to welcome guests onboard to experience our superb dining offering, and we look forward to hearing their feedback.”

On the Ambition, guests can dine at Buckingham Restaurant & Holyrood Restaurant, offering a la carte dining experiences. Buckingham Restaurant will serve breakfast and lunch buffet style, while Holyrood is open for dinner only. Both restaurants will serve popular dishes of British cuisine including Sunday roast and shepherd’s pie.

Among the new dining venues is Borough Market, a self-serve style eatery, featuring flavours from around the world so guests can choose between Italian pasta, Asian stir-fries and more. 

Another new restaurant onboard the Ambition, Lupino’s, will serve Mediterranean specialities. The place pays homage to Ambassador’s colleague Michelle Lupino who passed away in 2022.

Saffron is an Indian dining venue serving dishes such as Thali, curries, specialist bread, and desserts. There is also Chef’s Table, offering an exclusive dinner experience featuring multi-course a la carte dining with nine courses. Here, guests can also look forward to paired wines but reservations are needed.

For guests looking for a casual meal, there is the Alfresco Grill that serves burgers, hot dogs, pizzas and chips.

 

Ambassador Chief Plays Down 'Speculation' on the Lines Finances.

AMBASSADOR CHIEF PLAYS DOWN 'SPECULATION' ON LINE'S FINANCES

The boss of Ambassador Cruise Line, Christian Verhounig, has played down "speculation" about the line’s finances after it cancelled two festive cruises onboard Ambiance, stressing the decision was made "for safety reasons only".

Posting to his public Facebook page, addressing guests, officers, staff and crew directly, Verhounig said the line was left with no option but to cancel its Festive Market Getaway and Christmas and New Year Canary Islands cruises owing to an issue with Ambiance’s lifeboat stations, requiring unscheduled maintenance.

"I am sad we had no option but to withdraw these itineraries, a sentiment shared by my colleagues in the Ambassador management team," said chief executive Verhounig. "Events like these never happen at a good time, but technical issues and challenges are unfortunately part of a cruise company’s day-to-day life – and we, at Ambassador, will never compromise on the safety of our guests or crew, however, low the risk."

Verhounig went on to address the line’s financial health. "As a business, we have never been anything less than transparent, and we will continue to be so in the interests of our valued guests and employees. The recent changes to our operation were made for safety reasons only, and not, as some have speculated online, due to the financial position of the Ambassador.

"I want to reassure you that we are a financially robust business with trust arrangements in place and full insurance cover for incidents of this kind designed to ensure that all our guests are and will remain fully protected."

Verhounig apologised to guests affected by the cancellations, as well as the Ambassador crew and shoreside staff. "It was the last thing we wanted to do. I can only personally say I’m sorry, and I hope one day our guests will offer us the chance to make amends for the inconvenience and disruption caused.

"As well as offering our sincere and heartfelt apologies to all guests affected by these recent developments, I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to the team - from those in the UK, who have been outstanding in coming together at such short notice to do their very best at this difficult time, to the staff and crew onboard, who have been so looking forward to hosting our guests over Christmas and into the New Year."

Explaining the specific circumstances of the cancellations, Verhounig revealed Ambiance had in the months of December and January been due to undergo a planned independent survey to renew its Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.

"The inspection covers hundreds of different safety, technical and operational checks onboard the vessel, which is conducted both at sea and in port across a two-month period," Verhounig continued. "This annual cycle is linked to the anniversary of the ship being built, and is not in any way related to when Ambassador actually started trading."

 

’WE’LL BE BACK STRONGER

Verhounig said one of the required checks involved the safe and secure lowering of the ship’s lifeboats. During an inspection of the lifeboat stations on Sunday 18 December, a surveyor observed a slight movement of one of the sheaves used for guiding the steel wire ropes that move and hold the lifeboats in position.

"When checking on this movement further, the inspection brought to light a hairline crack on the bracket holding these sheaves in position, and more of these were found in a similar position on other brackets," said Verhounig.

 

"While none of these would have interfered in any way with the ship’s safe operation immediately, these cracks could have led to potential issues in the future and needed to be repaired. Therefore, we decided to immediately arrange repairs and not to operate the itineraries."

He added: "Ambassador and Ambience will be back in operation in the New Year, stronger than ever."

Ambassador Cruise Line Is Britain’s New Cruise Operator

Ambassador Cruise Line Is Britain’s New Cruise Operator

Ambassador Cruise Line is launching service with its new Ambience, set to be followed by the Ambition in 2023.

Highlights of the ship’s inaugural season, according to Head of Destination Management Michelle Lupino told Cruise Industry News. Include the 12-night Round Britain and Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration departing May 26; a 34-night Grand Canada, Greenland and Iceland Experience departing on Sept. 12; and the 42-night Escape the Winter Cuba and Treasures of the Caribbean voyage sailing on Jan. 5.

“These destinations have been picked for their diversity, popularity and leaning towards longer duration voyages with a blend of marquee and more remote and less-visited ports of call,” Lupino noted.

‘Careful’

Lupino said that every Ambassador itinerary involves “careful consideration and planning.”

 Itinerary creation includes a variety of elements such as a “balance of ports versus time at sea, destination highlights, destination infrastructure, availability, costs and more.”

Ambassador’s itineraries range from two to 42 nights and cover various regions.

"Sailings closer to home may allow us to include more ports within the cruise duration, however, we must be mindful of the length of stays and if they will give a full guest experience,” she said. “Longer cruises require in-depth review, time zone changes to consider and a variety of regulations and requirements, so they can take more time to plan while we consider all the factors to include established favourites interspersed with new destinations.”

Port Selection

When creating itineraries, Ambassador factors in what ports will appeal to its guests, the availability and suitability for the ships, sailing times, speeds, fuel requirements and the seasons that give the best experience and will create consumer demand.

A successful itinerary offers both a range of destinations and enough time to enjoy the onboard experiences.

"While we recognize destinations are key to our itineraries, we want to ensure our guests also enjoy scenic cruising of rivers and fjords, providing a balance of time at sea and ashore. Successful itineraries create consumer demand for Ambassador, and we look to receive feedback from guests that will confirm demand for our future plans,” Lupino noted.

Ambassador’s first ship, the Ambience, will soon be joined by a second ship, the Ambition in 2023, which is the former AIDAmira.

"The Ambition, like her sister ship the Ambience, will offer no-fly sailings, part of our core brand offering. In addition to London Tilbury, she will also offer a summer 2023 program of regional departures from ports such as Newcastle, Dundee, Belfast, Liverpool, Bristol and Falmouth, enabling guests across the UK to have a shorter distance to travel to the ship,” said Lupino.

Having both the 1,590-passenger Ambience and 1,428-passenger Ambition operate from regional ports will give Ambassador’s guests “a greater choice of sailings and ships on which to enjoy them,” she added.

Lupino told Cruise Industry News that the full 2023-2024 itinerary program for the Ambience and Ambition was expected to be announced in the second quarter of 2022.

Port space as the industry grows is a concern for ambassadors.

“Many regions have limited cruising seasons, and so availability is always something that we are aware may cause us to reconsider our programs. many ports of call are now introducing ‘out of season’ possibilities which we are happy to consider if they fit within our plans.” 

Photo: Ambience in Valletta (Photo: Valletta Cruise Port)

CMV investors are out of pocket by £98 Million.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages went into administration in July 2020 due to the pandemic and has now been dissolved, with creditors owed almost £96.4 million.

 

In its final report to Companies House, administrator Kroll Advisory said there were insufficient funds to pay secured, preferential or non-preferential creditors.

 

An unnamed secured creditor which refinanced CMV in February 2020 has a claim for £78.3 million, but administrators say there will not be sufficient funds to cover this. Unsecured creditors are owed around £18 million but will also not receive payouts.

 

Preferential creditors are mainly 131 employees which lost out on holiday pay totalling £84,000. The report said all had otherwise been paid “the majority” of their salary arrears.

 

The administrators also revealed details of the sale of assets to Christian Verhounig, CMV’s former chief executive and chairman, who set up a new company, CVI Group, only a month after the collapse.

 

He paid just £180,000 for computer systems, vehicles and office equipment, including a nominal £1 each for databases and CMV’s intellectual property.

 

CVI Group planned to launch a similar product to CMV, with ex-UK departures, but Verhounig now runs Ambassador Cruise Line, having given up control of CVI to Njord Partners, Ambassador’s owners, according to documents filed at Companies House.

The Alang Fleet: These Five Ships Will Be Scrapped in India

Five cruise ships are in the process of being scrapped in India following the COVID-19 pandemic which has accelerated the retirement of cruise ships.

Karnika
Capacity: 1,578
Tonnage: 70,130
Year built: 1990
Last Cruise Line: Jalesh Cruises

A victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jalesh Cruises was shut down by its owners in October. As a consequence, Karnika, the company’s sole vessel, was sold for scrap in November.

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Ocean Dream
Capacity: 1,022
Tonnage: 36,674
Year built: 1982
Last Cruise Line: Peace Boat

The Ocean Dream was beached on New Year’s Eve, ending its 38-year seagoing career. Previously operated by the Peace Boat Organization, the vessel was replaced by the newer and larger Pacific World, the former Sun Princess. 

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Marco Polo 
Capacity: 800
Tonnage: 22,080
Year built: 1965
Last Cruise Line: Cruise & Maritime

After Cruise & Maritime Voyages went into administration, the Marco Polo was auctioned in October. The new owners planned to use the ship on charter deals, looking into options that even included transforming it into a permanent hotel. None of the deal materialized.

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Grand Celebration 
Capacity: 1,800
Tonnage: 47,262
Year built: 1987
Last Cruise Line: Bahamas Paradise
Operating for Bahamas Paradise since 2015, the Grand Celebration was sold in November. While the cruise line initially denied the sale, the 1987-built vessel set course to India, arriving in Alang on January 11.   

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Satoshi (ex-Pacific Dawn)
Capacity: 1,590
Tonnage: 70,000
Year built: 1991
Last Cruise Line: P&O Australia

Sold by P&O Australia in October, the former Pacific Dawn was set to become a floating tech hub off the coast of Panama. The plan, however, fell through in December and the ship, now named Satoshi, was sold to Indian breakers.  

The Marco Polo Is Getting Scrapped

The classic Marco Polo is heading to the scrapyard in Alang, India, according to a source familiar with the ship.

"The Marco Polo is headed for the beach," they said.

Other sources said potential charter deals included using the ship as a floating accommodation vessel and even converting it to a permanent hotel. None of the deals materialized, however.

Following the demise of Cruise & Maritime Voyages earlier this year, the classic, 1965-built vessel sold at auction for just $2,770,000.

A former ocean liner, the Marco Polo was built in 1965 as the Aleksandr Pushkin for the Leningrad/Montreal route.

After serving its original purpose until the 1970s, the vessel started to sail as a cruise ship under charter agreements.

In 1991, it was sold to Orient Lines and renamed Marco Polo. In Greece, the vessel was rebuilt as a true cruise ship, also receiving new engines.

Liverpool's new cruise terminal delayed again

Liverpool's new cruise terminal delayed again

What Liverpool,s cruise terminal could look like.

Liverpool's new cruise terminal is set to be delayed by another year amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.

The terminal has already been delayed but the council announced a new opening date of 2022 last October. Now, a recently released report indicates 2023 as the aim.

It comes months after a multi-storey car park which originally formed part of the larger plan for the terminal was shelved.

The council has come under renewed pressure from the Green Party to cancel the project in the wake of the pandemic.

They argue it clashes with the city's climate goals and is a risky investment given the suppressed demand in the travel industry.

The council has continuously said it is working to limit the polluting effects of the terminal and that the potential economic benefits are huge.

A report to the culture and tourism select committee said planning for construction continues.

The report said: "The construction planning for the new Liverpool Cruise Terminal continues. We await the Harbour Revision Order from the International Marine Organisation.

"Once we have this, works will commence on site. Completion date is anticipated for 2023 if all time-lines on the critical path are not compromised due to Covid."

COVID-19 Claimed These Cruise Brands

Big thanks to https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/ 

With COVID-19 taking its toll on the industry and with some ships and brands still out of service, the lack of income has claimed a handful of smaller cruise brands since the global pandemic started.

Pullmantur Cruceros
June 22

Madrid-based Pullmantur Cruceros was the first cruise line to be claimed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A joint venture between the Royal Caribbean Group and Cruise Investment Holding, the brand filed for reorganization under the terms of Spanish insolvency laws on June 22.

At the time, Pullmantur’s board of directors claimed that the unprecedented impact of the pandemic made the action necessary. While the website of the Spanish cruise line is still online, two of its ships are being scrapped in Turkey. The third was withdrawn from DNV GL's database in August and is anchored off Greece, awaiting its fate.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV)
July 20

In the United Kingdom, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) was placed into administration on July 20. On the same day, all future cruises were cancelled, including those of the sister-brand TransOcean Tours, which was also placed into administration in Germany.

In the weeks prior to the announcement, CMV was reportedly negotiating a rescue financing deal, which did not pan out. The Essex-based brand operated a fleet of six vessels, which were returned to its owners or auctioned off over the last weeks.

FTI
July 28

FTI Cruises was shut down by its owners on July 28. The one-ship cruise brand was part of the German-based FTI Group, which has other assets in the travel and hospitality sector.

Operating for FTI since 2012, the 420-guest Berlin used to offer cruises in the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. In September, the FTI Group sold the vessel to new owners, who plan to convert it into a private yacht. 

Blount Small Ship Adventures
August 24

Blount Small Ship Adventures ceased operations in late August. The US-based cruise line operated a fleet of two small 100-passenger coastal ships and was a subsidiary of the shipbuilder Blount Boats.

While a message on the cruise line’s website says it "hopes to be sailing again in 2021," all future cruises were cancelled, and its two vessels were spotted on Blount Boat’s website as available for sale.

Jalesh Cruises
October 9

Jalesh Cruises announced its shut down on October 9. The brand had started operations in 2019, operating the 1,590-guest Karnika. With ambitions to grow, Jalesh targeted the Indian source market, sailing around the country and also in the Middle East.

In a statement, it blamed the future uncertainty for the situation, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "The owners of MV Karnika states that it is not in a position to start the operation as the ports in India has not given the date by which cruise ships can start its operations", Jalesh said.    

Cruise Ship Fleet Headed to Auction Block

CMV Vasco da Gama built originally for Holland America Line.

Five ships from Cruise & Maritime Voyages will be auctioned off via CW Kellock & Co in October as five separate lots.

Up for Auction
- 1993-built Vasco Da Gama (Bid Deadline October 8)
- 1989-built Columbus (Bid Deadline October 12)
- 1985-built Magellan (Bid Deadline October 19)
- 1987-built Astor (Bid Deadline October 15)
- 1965-built Marco Polo (Bid Deadline October 22)

All ships are in Tilbury and can be inspected by arrangement, with the exception of the Marco Polo, which is tied up in Avonmouth and can also be inspected. 

In accordance with various court orders following the insolvency of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, each vessel is to be sold by separate sealed tender, "as is where is" at the time of sale, on the Admiralty Marshal’s Conditions of Sale, with a clean title and free of encumbrances.

"Offers may be submitted in sealed envelopes marked with vessel’s name, or by email, and should be received by the EXCLUSIVE BROKERS, CW Kellock & Co Ltd, latest by 1200 hours midday on the dates indicated above," said a statement from CW Kellock & Co.

Fred Olsen’s small ship ethos ‘could appeal to ex-CMV passengers’

Fred Olsen’s small ship ethos ‘could appeal to ex-CMV passengers’

The boss of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines believes the line’s small ship ethos means it is well-placed to appeal to former guests of Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

Speaking before it emerged that former CMV boss Christian Verhounig had acquired a number of the assets of the failed line, Fred Olsen managing director Peter Deer said it remained to be seen if a “CMV2” would emerge.

But in the meantime, he said Fred Olsen had already seen interest from former CMV passengers.

He told a Travel Weekly webcast: “It was really sad about CMV. They’re not located very far from where we are, and we’re pretty sad for the teams that worked so hard to grow the brand over the last 10 years.
“They’ve grown the brand, which really focused on a more budget style cruising – they were known to sell cruises at a lower price level than ourselves and many other UK operators, so I suspect there will be customers who have sailed with CMV who are still looking for a budget style of cruising.”

Deer added: “What we find when we talk to our customers, one of the reasons they come with us is it’s all about going on smaller ships and being known as a name rather than a number. So I really don’t know if the customers of CMV are more thinking about budget or it’s all about small ship cruising.

“I suspect it’s a combination of both and for sure, we’re going to see some transfers over from CMV for people who say we’re a cruise line which has a similar itinerary style as CMV did, it’s still small ship cruising.”

He said: “I’m sure all the other cruise lines will see the reflection of the demise of CMV in their bookings going forward. We’ve seen a few so far, but it’s all early days at this stage.”

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.

Former Cruise & Maritime Voyages boss plots course for a relaunch

Former Cruise & Maritime Voyages boss plots course for a relaunch

The former boss of Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has bought the collapsed cruise line’s customer database and booking systems in a bid to relaunch it, reports Sky News.

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

Sky News reports that “a number of assets” belonging to CMV have been sold to a new vehicle established by Christian Verhounig, its former chief executive.

The deal is expected to be announced on Friday.

Sources told the broadcaster that Duff & Phelps, the administrator, had sought to sell the business and wider assets of CMV and several sister companies but this had proved unsuccessful in an industry devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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

There are no passengers onboard any CMV ships when it collapsed, although the suspension of its programme as a result of the pandemic affected 50,000 passengers.

Paul Williams, the joint administrator at Duff & Phelps, told Sky: “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.”

Verhounig told Sky: “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 insolvency 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.”

Sky News reported that a source said CMV customers whose bookings were cancelled as a result of the company’s administration would have to continue to seek compensation through the existing claims process.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages enters administration

Cruise & Maritime Voyages enters administration

Cruise & Maritime Voyages has entered administration after failing to secure additional funding.

The cruise line has ceased trading with immediate effect, as has its international sales offices in Australia, France, the United States and Germany.

There are no passengers onboard any CMV ships, although the suspension of its programme as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, from March 13, 2020, to August 25, 2020, has affected 50,000 passengers.

CMV was based in Essex and operated six ships with a seventh, Amy Johnson, due to join the fleet in 2021.

The US extends cruise ‘No Sail Order’ to end of September

In June, the line confirmed it was in talks with a range of financial institutions and banks to “improve its liquidity position” during the shutdown of cruising and said it was confident of reaching an agreement.

However, last week it declined to comment on reports that it was in talks with investor VGO Capital Management on a last-ditch deal to secure its future.

Chief executive Christian Verhounig said: “The directors have all worked tirelessly with CMV’s financial advisors, investment bankers, lawyers, and numerous private equity and hedge fund investors to try and secure the funding required to enable CMV to weather the storm.

“Only last year CMV was celebrating a record trading year and our first decade in cruising but the CMV journey has tragically been cut short by this unprecedented global pandemic. Prior to the onset of Covid-19, we had sold nearly 90% of 2020 capacity and we had bullish prospects for the future having sold nearly 50% of 2021 UK capacity.

“Despite this positive forward booking position, we could just not get the financing deal over the line in time to save this wonderful business. We are truly sorry to our loyal and hard-working shoreside staff and seafarers, travel trade partners and suppliers who have all patiently stood by us and to our valued passengers for the disappointment and further disruption to their cruising holiday plans.

“On behalf of the CMV family, directors and shareholders, I would like to thank everyone for their great support and sincerely apologise for these circumstances which are directly related to Covid-19 and beyond our control.”

When the coronavirus pandemic struck earlier this year CMV repatriated crew, passengers and six ships from around the world back to their home ports in the UK without one Covid-19 case.

Paul Williams, Phil Dakin and Edward Bines of Duff & Phelps have been appointed joint administrators, who said it is likely the administration will result in the redundancy of UK employees and an “uncertain future” for those employees in the wider group.

Williams said: “The travel, tourism and wider hospitality industry has been engulfed with a devastating and unprecedented global pandemic of seismic proportions impacting very hard on CMV’s once-thriving cruise business compounded by last week’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advisory against cruise travel.”

He added: “Unfortunately, despite the collective very best efforts and being very close to securing the long-term finance needed, CMV was unable to conclude the funding within the timescales required which has led to the administration of the business.”

Affected customers can make a claim for a refund of their cruise fares can be found on Cruise & Maritime Voyages and German brand TransOcean Kreuzfahrten’s websites.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages was a trading name of South Quay Travel Limited, which sold mainly cruise packages which are protected by Abta. The company also sold a small number of flight-inclusive packages which are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL scheme.

Sister companies Independent Coach Travel (Wholesaling) Ltd and Viceroy Ltd have also entered administration.

CMV declines to comment on reports over financing talks

CMV declines to comment on reports over financing talks

Cruise & Maritime Voyages has declined to comment on reports that it is in talks with investor VGO Capital Management over financing to allow it to navigate the shutdown of the cruise sector.

Sky News reported that the talks were critical to a package being agreed, and a CMV spokesman said: “Financing discussions involving several parties are still ongoing and we are not prepared to make any further comment at this time.”

Last month, CMV confirmed it was in talks with a number of financial institutions and banks to secure additional financing “to improve its liquidity position until sailing will resume again” and said it was confident a deal would be reached.

At that point, Sky said talks with private equity firm Novalpina Capital and existing creditors were halted following a decision by Barclays not to offer a £25 million loan under the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

CMV Suspends Cruises Through August 25

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has announced the further the suspension of all worldwide cruises from July 1 to August 25, 2020, citing the continued global pandemic outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus, government advisories still in force and the lockdown of many countries and ports around the world.

There were no reported cases of Covid-19 coronavirus on any of CMV’s small to medium-sized ships, according to the company.

CMV continue at present to employ shipboard officers and crew members throughout this suspension period and they are looking forward to welcoming back on board all their passengers just as soon as this pandemic is over, the company said, in a press release. 

All affected adult fare-paying passengers are being offered an attractive future cruise credit of 125% of the amount paid for the cruising holiday valid until March 31 2021.

For families booked on one of the affected summer holidays three multi-generation sailings a 50% discount will be applied to the 2021 or 2022 teenage and children fares (under 16 years) for booking transfers and to help facilitate affected passengers wishing to transfer their bookings, the 2021 Buy One Get One Free early booking offer has been extended to July 31. 

CEO Christian Verhounig said: “Due to the continued global pandemic, we are still unable to perform our scheduled itineraries and to deliver the travel experience normally enjoyed by our valued passengers. We have therefore taken the decision to temporarily further suspend all cruises until 25th August 2020, when we very much hope to be able to resume service. We are extremely proud to see that 70% of our passengers affected by the cancellation of their cruise have either re-booked and transferred onto a future 2021 cruises or require more time with the peace of mind of a refund credit note. Many passengers are also waiting until the release of our 2022 cruise program later this year. This is a great sign and we know that passengers are looking forward to travelling with us in the near future.”

CMV Has Booking Momentum for Baltic and St. Petersburg for 2021

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) is seeing growing interest in cruise holidays sailing to the Baltic cities and St. Petersburg in 2021, according to a press release.

CMV’s fleet of smaller to medium-sized cruise ships sail from a range of UK ports including London Tilbury, Newcastle, Portsmouth and Harwich to Baltic destinations, according to the company, with a nine-night cruise departing October 17, 2021, from Portsmouth is available from just £699 per person, included in the buy one, get one free offer the company is pushing.

The Baltic cruises include "Hidden Baltic Treasures" sailing from London Tilbury April 11 for 12 nights onboard CMV’s Marco Polo visiting Holland, Denmark, Germany with an option to see Berlin, Lithuania and Poland. 

A number of CMV cruises to the Baltic include an overnight stop in St. Petersburg. The Columbus sails June 5, 2021, from London Tilbury on a 14-night Baltic Cities and St. Petersburg itinerary. This itinerary also includes Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm. Fares are available from £1135pp. The Columbus sails on a similar itinerary on September 16 2021.

CMV's Amy Johnson Heading to the Arctic for 2021 Summer Cruises

CMV's Amy Johnson Heading to the Arctic for 2021 Summer Cruises

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) is offering three cruises to the Arctic, Greenland and Iceland on the Amy Johnson in 2021.

The Amy Johnson will explore the arctic on three voyages in Summer 2021 sailing from London Tilbury on June 20, July 22 and August 7.

The Amy Johnson sails on her first 22-night Arctic Voyage Greenland & Iceland Experience on June 20 with an overnight stay at Iceland’s capital Reykjavik. There are also six port calls in Greenland, highlighted by an overnight stay in Ilulissat. The Amy Johnson will sail on a very similar itinerary in August, without the overnight stay in Reykjavik, but with the bonus of a call in Rotterdam for the CMV Fleet Parade and Regatta on August 28.

The Amy Johnson sails to the top of the world on a 38-night Grand Arctic Voyage to Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland from London Tilbury July 22, highlighted by a visit to Spitsbergen.

CMV Targets French Market with New Brand

Launching a new French brand, Cruise & Maritime Voyages is targeting 10,000 guests per year aboard the Jules Verne which currently operating as the Astor. Service is set to begin in early 2021 following a recent announcement at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Clement Mousset and Cedric Rivoire-Perrochat are at the helm of the new French brand which will operate under Croisières Maritimes and Voyages banner.

The timing may be ideal, as there is no current mainstream French cruise brand following the demise of Croisières de France.

Mousset has been named general director and was previously heading up Celestyal Cruises’ efforts in the French market. Rivoire-Perrochat has been named marketing and operations director and is the former director of France for CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association).

The brand will build a 10 to 15 person team based in a Marseilles office, according to the company executives.

The plan is to offer a premium product to the French market on a year-round basis on the 550-guest ship.

"On our ship, you will find no shopping complex, no climbing wall, no circus. You will feel like you’re on a ship,” Mousset said.

The French product will also feature select adults-only departures, while six per cent of staterooms will be for the solo traveller market.

Cruises will run an average of 12 nights with a target price of 190 euro per person per day. 

The ship will arrive in Le Havre for a two-night preview cruise next April, while an inaugural cruise will sail from Le Havre to Marseilles with stops in various French ports.

Other itineraries will be far-ranging, including sailings to the Baltic, Black Sea, Mediterranean, and a long world cruise in early 2022. Sales are expected to open in early 2020. The first revenue sailing is scheduled for May 1, 2021

Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria Bought by CMV

Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria Bought by CMV

Pacific Aria in her new livery for CMV, (Ex Holland American Line Ryndam)

Cruise & Maritime Voyages today confirmed it purchased the Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria from Carnival Corporation.

A sales price for the 1994-built Pacific Aria, with capacity for 1,258 guests, and the 1991-built Pacific Dawn, with capacity for 2,020 guests, was not announced.

The ships will join the Pacific Eden, the Aria's sister, at CMV, along with other ex-Carnival Corp. vessels the Columbus and the Magellan. 

CMV will take delivery of P&O Australia’s Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria in Singapore on the March 2 and May 2, 2021, respectively, increasing lower bed fleet capacity to 9,000 berths and passenger capacity by 30 per cent in 2021.

Pacific Dawn in her new livery (Ex Regal Princess - Princess cruise)

The duo will be officially re-named in summer 2021 following a drydocking, some minor upgrade and re-livery works in Singapore before embarking on CMV maiden positioning voyages via the Suez Canal to Northern Europe.

The Pacific Dawn will be deployed for the UK market year-round from Tilbury, while the Pacific Area will sail for the TransOcean brand targeting the German market, cruising alongside the Vasco da Gama (the former Pacific Eden) and replacing the 580 passenger Astor. She is being re-named Jules Verne and will be re-deployed to the French market in May 2021.

Christian Verhounig, CEO commented: “The introduction of two more ships to the global ocean fleet is the next exciting chapter of our strategic growth objectives. This will enable us to service increasing market demand for our traditional brand of cruising generated by our expanding international network of in-house sales offices and developing source markets. We have now acquired five cruise ships in just five years and are firmly on course in carrying 200,000 passengers in 2021."

Chris Coates, Group Commercial Director added, “As the CMV brand continues to evolve, the growing popularity of our traditional product, classic ships and destination-focused cruise programs has encouraged us to accelerate plans to add capacity to the two top European cruise markets in the UK and Germany, which represent 85 per cent of our business.

"These two fine cruise ships perfectly complement our existing fleet providing trade partners and consumers alike with much needed extra capacity. For 2020, we expect close to 70 per cent of capacity to be sold by the year-end, in line with expectations. This provides an ideal platform for the early introduction of new tonnage and opportunities for summer 2021 with the focus very much on higher yield business.