Another Cruise Line Files for Bankruptcy

Yet another cruise line has fallen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South Quay Travel & Leisure Limited, which traded under the name Cruise & Maritime Voyages, was placed into Administration today, July 20. Duff & Phelps Ltd. were appointed Joint Administrators of the company, and are currently evaluating its financial position. All future bookings with the company have been canceled.

In the UK, a company being placed into Administration is a government filing that’s similar to bankruptcy in the US. The company is placed with an insolvency company (in this case, Duff & Phelps Ltd.), who will now manage all aspects of the company. 

This advice varies depending on which type of trip has been booked and how it was paid for, but here is what travelers who booked in the UK with Cruise & Maritime Voyages should do now:

1. Those who booked a vacation package through a travel agent should contact the travel agent as soon as possible. The travel agent may already be making alternate arrangements for you.
2. Those who booked a cruise without flights directly with Cruise & Maritime Voyages are protected by ABTA or by your credit or debit card issuer. Visit abta.com/failures for information on how to submit a claim.
3.  Those who booked a cruise with flights (UK customers only) will need to contact the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) as the booking is protected by the CAA’s ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) protection scheme. For more information on how to claim, visit caa.co.uk/ATOL-protection/Make-an-ATOL-claim/Latest-ATOL-holder-failures/.

In recent years, Cruise & Maritime Voyages had been actively acquiring older Carnival Corporation ships, and just earlier this year had entered into a contract with P&O Cruises Australia to buy two of their vessels.

Since Cruise & Maritime Voyages was just placed into Administration, it can take up to 8 weeks to know the final fate of the company, and we will update this article as more information becomes available.