CLASSIC International Cruises’ Fremantle
office has finally confirmed that its summer
cruises will go ahead, but on a different vessel.
The German MS Delphin has been chartered
to operate CIC’s Australian season while the
MV Athena remains under arrest in France for
unpaid bills.
The good news is that the 16,214-tonne
Delphin is younger, more spacious and higher
rated – but the bad news is it carries only 520
passengers and the Athena was made for 640.
In a statement, CIC Australia said it was not
affected by the financial issues that arose in
Europe, and the Delphin was being chartered
by UK-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
The Delphin has sailed in Australian waters
before, as CTC Cruises’ Belorussiya, from 1987
until 1992. The ship is now owned by Visual
Cruises Put Ltd in Mauritius.
A message on the CIC website states that the
new information will soon be updated.
“CIC Australia is currently loading the
reservations system and commencing
reberthing of the 7,000 bookings for the 2012/
13 season.
“Because of the workload we will be
communicating via email and not via our
normal reservation telephone system.
“Additional staff are in the office to handle
your enquiry,” the company added.
