Classic International Cruises has been placed into administration, with significant uncertainty about whether its planned Australian season will operate. IT was to have been the ninth consecutive year of cruising operations from Australia by Classic International Cruises, but the 2012-13 Australian cruise program by MV Athena has been placed under...
Classic International Cruises has
been placed into administration,
with significant uncertainty about
whether its planned Australian
season will operate.
IT was to have been the ninth consecutive
year of cruising operations from Australia by
Classic International Cruises, but the 2012-13
Australian cruise program by MV Athena has
been placed under a cloud of uncertainty due
to financial problems in Europe.
The appointment of Lawler Partners as
voluntary administrators of the company (CW
breaking news yesterday) follows a frantic
scramble to source an alternative vessel to
operate the local season, after an issue with
bankers led to Athena being detained in a
French port for non-payment of bills.
As revealed in Tuesday’s Cruise Weekly,
Classic International Cruises Australia (which
was not associated with the bad debt) had just
days ago confirmed that the season would go
ahead, utilising the German vessel MS Delphin
which had been chartered to replace Athena.
However it now appears that was a vain
hope, with Lawler Partners appointed
yesterday after an apparent hiccup in the
availability of the Delphin.
According to a statement, CIC Australia had
been working with the owners of Athena to
confirm its availability for the 2012-13 voyages,
and had also “been in negotiations to source
an alternate vessel to back up Athena in the
event that it remains unavailable.
“A backup was found, however CIC Australia
was notified on 30 October 2012 that a final
agreement may not be reached because of
delays prior to the scheduled departure of the
cruise from Marseille, France on 12 November
2012,” Lawler Partners said.
Once they received this news, the
management of CIC Australia sought
immediate advice and this led to the company
being placed into administration.
The company said that although “future
bookings have now been placed on hold,” the
administrators intend to continue to try to
source a suitable vessel for the season which is
believed to have as many as 7,000 bookings.
Consumers are being urged to contact travel
agents in relation to their future travel
arrangements, while those wishing to register
a claim with the administrators can complete
an “Informal Proof of Debt Form” which is
available on the Lawler Partners website at
www.lawlerpartners.com.au (CLICK HERE).
