Three Cruise Lines Take Action

By Associated Press

September 25, 2001, 8:15 PM EDT

MIAMI -- With travel down following the recent terrorist attacks, three cruise companies took actions Tuesday to respond, including one that filed for bankruptcy.

Renaissance Cruises, based in Fort Lauderdale, ceased all operations Tuesday and passengers and crew onboard its vessels already at sea were being removed, according to a message on the company's voice mail and on its Web site.

When reached by phone earlier in the day, spokesman Bradley Ball would not comment and said a statement was forthcoming, but as of 8 p.m. EDT, no further statement was released.

When the same number was called later, a recorded message said: "As of September 25th Renaissance Cruises has ceased all cruise operations. Passengers and crew currently onboard our vessels are being disembarked and travel arrangements are being made to get them safely home."

The message also told customers who had upcoming trips to contact their travel agents to get a refund.

Information on the bankruptcy case would be available on their Web site soon, the message said.

"We apologize for any inconvenience you will experience and thank you for your prior support of Renaissance Cruises," the message said.

Renaissance had offered 7-to-22 day cruises to destinations including northern Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Miami-based Royal Caribbean International will redeploy two of its ships, Rhapsody of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas. Both ships, originally set to cruise in Europe next summer, will instead have itineraries in North America.

Royal Caribbean International President Jack Williams said that Europe was still considered a viable market, "However, with the unpredictable nature of the current vacation marketplace, we think it is prudent to reposition some of our ships."

Princess Cruises, based in London, was changing some routes that would have taken cruises to the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa region.

___

On the Net:

http://www.renaissancecruises.com

http://www.princesscruises.com

http://www.royalcaribbean.com Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Answers

they also told the employees to cash their paychecks today [yesterday] because tomorrow [today] they would be no good. the account would be frozen.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Barefoot, as a side bar, click on the hot link to the story on dengue fever on the other thread about Hawaii. Most interesting information on the hot links on that page about the U.S.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

thread about Hawaii? I don't see one.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Barefoot, here's the LINK

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

link no good.

what is the title of the thread?

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Towards the bottom of the threads: CDC Confirms Dengue Fever Outbreak (Maggie, 2001-09-22) . Click on the hot link on that article and read info and then click on the other hot links.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

thanks!

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001