The international ban on cruising due to the coronavirus crisis has claimed another victim with Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) entering administration.
The company halted operations in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and like many cruise companies battled with housing various ships around the globe as the panic kicked in about disembarking cruise passengers and staff. The company did, however, manage to get all six of its ships back to home ports in the UK without any reported virus cases.
It emerged last week that CMV was struggling to stay afloat under the amount of debt and lost revenue caused by the pandemic and potential takeover talks started, but earlier this week the company announced that these had fallen through and they were left with no other option but to enter administration and cease operation.
All outstanding and future bookings were cancelled with immediate effect on Tuesday.
CMV isn’t the first cruise line to go down due to the pandemic.
Royal Caribbean repossessed three cruise ships from Pullmantur Cruises when it announced it was insolvent a month ago and cruise operator Birke Cruises, which is based in Sweden, also announced that it was going out of business earlier this month.
The CMV website is advising customers who have booked a cruise through a travel agent to contact the travel agent in the first instance for further advice and assistance as they may have made or be able to make alternative arrangements.
Customers are also advised to contact their bank or credit card provider to advise of a failure and non-supply of service to establish any rights to a refund and to also consider travel insurance policies as a means of recovering the cost of any cruises booked.
CMV chief executive Christian Verhounig said in a statement he was ‘truly sorry’ for how the situation had unfolded.
“Only last year, CMV was celebrating a record trading year and our first decade in cruising, but the CMV journey has tragically been cut short by this unprecedented global pandemic,” he said.
“Prior to the onset of COVID-19, we had sold nearly 90 per cent of 2020 capacity and we had bullish prospects for the future having sold nearly 50 per cent of 2021 UK capacity.
“Despite this positive forward booking position, we could just not get the financing deal over the line in time to save this wonderful business.
“We are truly sorry to our loyal and hard-working shoreside staff and seafarers, travel trade partners and suppliers who have all patiently stood by us and to our valued passengers for the disappointment and further disruption to their cruising holiday plans.
“On behalf of the CMV family, directors and shareholders, I would like to thank everyone for their great support and sincerely apologise for these circumstances which are directly related to COVID-19 and beyond our control.”
More refund information available here.
Have you ever cruised with CMV? Did you have any future travel booked with the company? Are you confident of claiming a refund?
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