Cruise ship swap after vessel impounded over debts

PASSENGERS booked on cruises on the MV Athena in Australia this summer will be forced to travel on another ship.

escape athena

SIX thousand passengers booked on cruises on the MV Athena in Australia this summer will be forced to travel on another ship instead after the vessel was impounded in France over debts.

German ship MS Delphin has been chartered to replace the Athena, which was due to operate seven cruises out of Fremantle and four out of Adelaide over the coming months.

Three of the five passenger ships in the Classic International Cruises fleet have been stranded overseas for unpaid debts and crew wages while negotiations continue with the Montepio Bank in Portugal.

Classic International Cruises Australia is not affected by the events in Europe, and the Delphin is being chartered by UK-based cruise line Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

As the Delphin has 30 less cabins than the 640 passenger Athena the company will operate an extra three cruises to accommodate those who can't fit on the cruise they have booked.

Travel agents would contact passengers who have booked on cruises over the next few days.

CIC Australia managing director Grant Hunter said the company had spent weeks trying to find a ship to replace the Athena.

"It's been very, very tough getting a comparable ship which is at least as good  - if not better,'' he said.

"It's been extremely difficult to get a ship that's available, in good condition and can accommodate a similar number of guests and can do like for like cruises.''

The Delphin, which usually operates in Europe, was only available because it is winter in the northern hemisphere and less people are cruising there because of the economic downturn.

Mr Hunter said the ship is newer than the Athena, has a similar gross tonnage, a greater space per passenger ratio and has the same Berlitz star rating.

While the Delphin does not have a casino, it has a pool with a pool bar, two other bars, a restaurant with a sea view, a disco, a lounge, internet facilities, fitness centre and sauna.

Mr Hunter said that the lack of a casino will not be a major drawback for the type of customers booked on the Athena.

"The Athena only has eight slot machines and a card table,'' he said.

Mr Hunter said the company would work with customers who do not want to travel on the new ship on a case by casis basis.

"Classic have not made this decision lightly, however having explored all avenues, we together with Government authorities and industry partners felt it prudent to substitute Athena now rather than hold out to the last minute and which may have seen some of our guests stranded in Europe,'' he said.

The Athena has been operating out of Western Australia for nine years and has a strong repeat passenger rate.