Despite the arrest of Athena in
Europe this week, the Australian
season is expected to operate
as scheduled.
THREE Classic International Cruises ships were
allegedly detained on the weekend over unpaid
fuel bills and crew wages, but the company insists
the financial situation will soon be resolved.
CIC’s Australian spokesperson confirmed to
Cruise Weekly today that the 550-passenger
Athena would return to Perth in December for
its four-month season.
The statement from the cruise line said:
“Although Athena was arrested last weekend
for no payment of a fuel account, which the
owners and bank are solving, reports that
Athena’s season in Australia this summer will
not go ahead are incorrect.
“CIC will be operating the full program of
itineraries as scheduled, commencing with the
line voyage to Australia departing 12
November 2012 from Marseille.”
CIC said that Athena is “being prepared for
scheduled dry docking in Marseille”.
According to French newspaper ‘La Provence’, Athena and CIC’s Princess Danae
were held in the Port of Marseilles on Monday,
by order of court, over the unpaid bills.
Princess Danae was also detained three
weeks ago in Dublin due to alleged nonpayment
of 120,000 euros in bunker fees, but
was later released.
Also allegedly arrested, in Kotor,
Montenegro, is CIC’s Arion, rated in the ‘2013
Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising’ as the
world’s worst performing small ship.
Other media reports claim that World Cruises
Agency, which trades as Classic International
Cruises, clarified that Portugese bank
Montepio had decided to cease funding the
ships for the rest of the season.
Athena cruises remain for sale on the CIC
website.
The ship is due to arrive in Australia on 18
December to commence a four-month season
of sailings from Fremantle and Adelaide before
returning to Europe in April 2013.
