All Leisure Group has ceased trading after offloading a number of its brands in recent weeks.
The collapse affects All Leisure’s cruise lines Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic, both of which cancelled new-year cruises at short notice over the festive period.
The lines currently have 400 passengers overseas, all of whom will be repatriated by the CAA. The lines also have 7,000 forward bookings with 13,000 passengers affected, according to Abta.
Of those overseas, the CAA confirmed that some have already finished cruises and have tickets issued for their return flights. Others who were due to join cruises are to be flown back to the UK, but the cancellations mean no passengers are currently on board ships.
Those with forward bookings for flight and cruise packages will be able to make claims to the CAA for full refunds.
Approximately a third of the future bookings are UK departing cruises that are financially protected by Abta.
Abta is advising all customers to check on the Abta.com/allleisure or Atol websites to obtain the relevant claim form and advice on how to secure a refund.
If customers have booked through a travel agent, they should contact the agent in the first instance for assistance with their claim and help in possible rebooking.
All Leisure’s other cruise brand, Hebridean Island Cruises, was sold to a consortium of trade buyers before Christmas, while the Page & Moy tour operator brands Travelsphere and Just You were acquired by G Adventures earlier this week. A source said that All Leisure’s management team led by chairman Roger Allard had ‘worked tirelessly’ to save the company and was now working closely with the CAA to mitigate the impact of the collapse.
Other assets including tour operator Discover Egypt and Hebridean’s cruise ship Hebridean Princess were sold in late 2015 and during 2016.
Andy Cohen, head of Atol at the CAA, said: “We understand this will be concerning news for anyone who had booked to travel with either of these two cruise operators. However, the Atol scheme exists for exactly this kind of situation and we are making immediate arrangements so that all Atol-protected customers can claim full refunds as soon as possible.
“We are also arranging for a small number of people currently overseas to return home at no extra cost, meaning that no-one will be left stranded abroad. So, while this situation is very disappointing for the customers affected, it serves as a timely reminder of the importance of looking for Atol protection while booking holidays. Making sure customers receive an Atol certificate will give them peace of mind.
See also:
G Adventures confirms acquisition of Just You and Travelsphere
Allard apologises for All Leisure failure
All Leisure administrator blames loss-making cruise operations
CAA and Abta issue advice for All Leisure Group customers and agents