| Classic International Cruises appoints administrators

Bookings “on hold” as CIC administrators seek to source alternate vessel.

The planned upcoming Classic International Cruises season in Australian waters is under a cloud, after the company appointed Lawler Partners as voluntary administrators.

The move comes just days after CIC assured agents that it had sourced an alternative vessel to the previously planned MV Athena which has been impounded in France due to non-payment of bills.

According to a statement just issued by the admiistrators, the management of Classic International Cruises Australia was notified yesterday that a final agreement for the other ship may not be reached because of “delays prior to the scheduled departure of the cruise from Marseille, France on 12 November 2012”.

Accordingly CIC sought advice in relation to the company’s financial affairs, and placed the company into administration.

“Whilst future bookings have now been placed on hold, the Administrators intend to continue the task of sourcing a suitable vessel for the 2012-13 cruises,” the statement said.

Travel agents will be provided with regular updates, with customers encouraged to contact their agents in relation to their future travel arrangements.

More information in tomorrow’s issues of Travel Daily and Cruise Weekly.