Very sad news, the classic cruise ships ARION, PRINCESS DANAE and ATHENA were seized in Kotor for the first and Marseilles for two others for unpaid bills.

Is this the end of CIC Cruises whose founder, George Potamianos, died a few months ago ?

Very very bad... I hope not, what loss would be this one for shiplovers !!

Princess Daphne has not long left Tenerife, as scheduled, so hopefully whatever is going on does not affect the operations of Ambiente Kreuzfahrten. [Haven't they just agreed a charter with Athena too for next summer?]

Looking at All Ways' website, it is interesting to note that they seem to have chartered VOYAGER for a series of cruises next year from the end of June to the end of August. Here.

quote:

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Originally posted by adriana & norway lover:
Hi all !

Is this the end of CIC Cruises whose founder, George Potamianos, died a few months ago ?

Mickael

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Athena in Olden this summer

and

quote:

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Originally posted by desirod7:

I guess the next of kin or the remaining management was not up to the task. If this has been a long decline, was GP ill and not in control?

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The children took over to run the firm but I suspect they were left (or discovered) a financial mess. The firm seems to always have been run on a shoestring. The Funchal conversion ran out of money a while ago and they were talking about needing US$6 million for her alone.

Even in the best of circumstances it is hard to run a small independent firm especially with old ships that need a lot of TLC and gulp oil and don't carry a lot of people.

No, apparently the DAPHNE is still in service, bills can be paid by the charter by Ambiente Kreuzfahrten.

I didn't know that Stockholm/Athena was the first transatlantic liner build after WWII.

It was in the newspapers here in Antwerp. In fact the famous in flanders cruise entertainment couple "Nicole & Hugo" were on board the "Athena". Passengers could return by plane or by TGV (which is a very convenient way from Belgium to Marseille, lots less hassle than the plane, and only a short taxi to the docks).

All Ways regularly charters ships for its owc cruises, and makes a lot of publicity, eg little leaflets together with your creditcarrd monthly accounts. In fact, I booked several of my cruises through them (though not their own charters)

Banks will have lost confidence after the death of the owner...

mv Athena is advertised as sailing from Marseilles on the 12th November 2012, after a visit to the drydocks, and due to arrive in the Australian port of Fremantle on the 18th December 2012.

Princess Daphne is shown on the AIS ship position maps today as still cruising around the Spanish Canary Island and arrived in Arrecife this morning.

They have also stated in Cruise Weekly's mews letter that she is “being prepared for
scheduled dry docking in Marseille”.

She is not in dry dock and All Ways passengers would not have been sent home after one night on a cruise that was not due to end until 26 September to prepare a vessel for a scheduled dry docking.

Maybe all will be sorted out for Australia - maybe not, but making statements which are obviously not correct does not give booked passengers much confidence.

According to the AIS ship position maps she is now berthed in front of the laid up Spanish Pullmantur Cruises ship ' Atlantic Star ' , on the harbour breakwater berths.

The court order states the ships can be held until the end of November and if the debts are not paid by then, there can be a forced sale of ATHENA.

Leaving Puerto del Rosario in the early hours of Thursday, September 20, she made her planned call at Arrecife the same day and then left Casablanca on Saturday, September 22, for Malaga, where she was due this morning. That three ships have been arrested while the fourth continues to sail seems to indicate that some sort of arrangement has been made as far as the Princess Daphne is concerned.

After anchoring off Malaga this morning, Princess Daphne sailed at 12:46, headed east southeast, and was last seen off Torre del Mar steaming at 14½ knots on a course of 100 degrees, her destination Ibiza. So will she finish her present voyage without arrest?

The Ambiente web site continues to operate, listing her next cruise as a Black Sea sailing from Istanbul on October 6.

As well as the "planned" Australian season for the Athena, Ambiente has charters on Athena and Princess Daphne for next summer, but whether any of this goes ahead will depend on whether financing is put into place for an ongoing operation.

[ 09-24-2012: Message edited by: Kevin Griffin, London ]

Princess Danae and Athena are still in Marseilles, Arion has moved to Bar [her captain left ship before she went]. News reports say the crew were paid for July and hoped to be paid by the end of last week for August and September - however nothing further has been stated. Princess Daphne continues to sail as planned, probably thankful for whatever the terms and conditions of her charter are, or additional funds from Ambiente Kreuzfahrten? This will soon come to the end for this season, then what? Funchal I am afraid is lost for good - no-one is going to take her on in a part finished state with a further €6m required to complete.

So many questions, 5 ships and not a word from anyone!

http://www.bairdmaritime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13423:classic-international-cruises-ships-under-arrest&catid=96:cruiseferry&Itemid=116

Ambiente Kreuzfahrten has just issued a press release, stating they are going to terminate their collaboration with Classic International Cruises immediately as a result of "Princess Daphne" being arrested in Crete.

Best,

I'd love to see "Gemini" on the German market, but I guess her capacity might be too high for Ambiente.

Ambiente has issued another press release today, claiming they're looking for a new partner for the 2013 season.

Best,

They are expected to go into liquidation on the 10th October 2012.

The company has been operating since 1872 and first operated trips from Marseilles to the Holyland.

They have recently operated round the world cruises on the ' Princess Danae ' with last years voyage being for 127 days.