Travel agents will not be hit financially as a result of river cruise cancellations in Europe caused by recent floods. DESPITE a number of river cruise departures not proceeding due to widespread flooding in Europe, five of the largest river cruise operators selling in Australia have declared agents will still...
Travel agents will not be hit
financially as a result of river
cruise cancellations in Europe
caused by recent floods.
DESPITE a number of river cruise departures
not proceeding due to widespread flooding
in Europe, five of the largest river cruise
operators selling in Australia have declared
agents will still receive commissions from
affected bookings through insurance claims.
Avalon Waterways, Uniworld, APT, Scenic
Tours, Travelmarvel and Tauck have all advised
Cruise Weekly that a number of cruises in
operation were affected by the Europe floods –
described as the worst in 100 years.
Christian Schweitzer, marketing manager
for Avalon Waterways, said alternate cruise
itineraries had been offered to pax affected
by the floods, with coach tours, hotel stays
and sight-seeing tours made available where
possible to minimise holiday disruptions.
Two Travelmarvel and seven APT departures
operated by three vessels in late May and early
Jun were either disrupted or cancelled, with all
three returning to service from 20 Jun.
Alternate accommodation was arranged for
one affected Tauck voyage, while five voyages
were cancelled between 30 May and 14 Jun.
Uniworld reservations staff have been in
frequent contact with agents and passengers
to reaccommodate where possible, with one
cancellation and two ship changes taking place
on a pair of voyages between Vienna and
Belgrade, and all else operating as normal.
No cancellations were experienced by Scenic
Tours, with only three ship-swaps, with the
company saying the consistency on its vessels
meant guests were unaffected by the changes.
Agents with affected pax are advised to look
for updates via individual company websites.
