German firm Transocean Tours declares insolvency
Ferry Online Travel News 14/09/2009
Cruises scheduled for the rest of the year to remain unaffected
The German cruise operator, Transocean Tours, filed for insolvency yesterday early this month. The company, which operates Astor and Marco Polo is based in Bremen.
The German media has reported that the firm will spend the next few weeks restructuring its operations.
Cruises scheduled for the rest of this year will remain unaffected, including Marco Polo's 32-day Treasures of the West Indies voyage, which has several British passengers booked on it. The cruise, departing on October 6 is the only one aimed at UK customers for the rest of 2009.
The majority of Marco Polo's bookings for year constitute charters within the German market. Cruises on Astor are only available in Germany.
The media reports cite a number of reasons that led to the company's demise, including huge insurance payouts that followed the cancellation of Astor's 2008-2009 world cruise.
Meanwhile, Cruise & Maritime Services International has announced that it will charter the Marco Polo and the Ocean Countess to offer tourists cruises to the Amazon, West Indies and Orinoco during the winter, and destinations in northern Europe and the Mediterranean during summer months.
Offered through the company's new cruise operation, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, these cruises would be ex-UK, and are unrelated to Transocean Tours. The new operation has just released its 2010 programme, with mini-cruises starting at £199.
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