It has just been revealed that three UK cruise operators have been forced to step in to help guests that have been a victim to the failure of firm, All Leisure Holidays (ALH).
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), Fred Olsen and Cosmos are now offering discounts to passengers who have had their cruise cancelled on all Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery voyages, operated by ALH.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is now offering those ALH guests affected a 25% discount off the cruise fare for any 2017/18/19 Fred Olsen cruise currently on sale.
Head of Sales for Fred Olsen, Neil Herbert, has stated: ‘We are saddened to hear the news that All Leisure Group has ceased trading. However, we want to help affected Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic guests by giving them a Fred Olsen cruise option.’
‘Fred Olsen is renowned for its more intimate, small-ship cruising, which is very much in keeping with that of the affected cruise brands, and we are looking forward to welcoming new guests to try out the Fred Olsen experience, maybe for the first time’.
Passengers wishing to take Fred Olsen’s proposed option can make new bookings or enquire about availability through all booking channels. A promotional code must be quoted at time of booking, VJAN25 for Voyages of Discovery-affected guests and SJAN25 for Swan Hellenic-affected guests.
CMV, which operates four small ships- Magellan, Marco Polo, Astor and Astoria- is offering a 5% discount on inside cabins, and 10% on ocean view cabin categories on its current Saver fares. The offer will cover all published sailings featured in the 2017/18 programme.
The line is also offering £50 per person deposit on most cruises. Some of CMV’s ex-UK sailings closely match both the Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery cruises. Cruise & Maritime also have availability on Magellan’s Far East, Asia and Indian World Cruise sectors later this year.
CMV have even set up a special booking customer helpline (0844 998 9502) and the offer stands until January 16th this year.
Cosmo, meanwhile, which operates Cosmos Tours & Cruises, Avalon Waterways and Archers Holidays is offering a discount of £50 per person as well as a low deposit offer of £50 per person. Any passengers who were due to travel with either cruise brand can re-book the cruise of their choice.
In other news, as another consequence, Portsmouth is to lose more than 40% of its cruise ship trade.
According to the port’s website, the two affected ships- Minerva and Voyager- represented 19 of the ports 46 cruise bookings for 2017.
ALH’s vessels were the port’s most frequent cruise visitors; Minerva was due to call at Portsmouth 11 times in 2017 and Voyager eight times. Various other operator’s vessels are each due to visit one to three times this year.
Portsmouth’s council leader, Donna Jones, has stated that the council will be putting in a claim to the company’s administrators for loss of revenue, having signed a three-year contract with All Leisure Holidays in 2016.
Rupert Taylor, Port harbourmaster, has stated: ‘The port remains committed to establishing and developing its cruise business. With its first-class facilities, great transport links and reputation for excellence we are confident it will remain a popular choice for cruise companies and passengers’.
In total, 400 passengers about to depart on cruises on Swan Hellenic’s Minerva and Voyages of Discovery’s Voyager were left with no cruise. This additionally leaves another 7,000 passengers who were booked to travel with both brands with no cruise.
What are your thoughts on today’s news? Did you see these consequences coming? Are you a passenger let down with the failure of ALH? How would you feel if you were? Leave us your thoughts and comments below…
