Gill’s Cruise Centre is no longer taking new bookings as cruise lines put the agency on stop-sale.
Fred Olsen Cruise Line is the latest operator to confirm it has ceased trading with Gill’s, following earlier announcements from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Carnival UK.
A customer announcement posted on the cruise agency’s website today reads: “Gill’s Cruise Centre regrets that it is currently unable to accept new booking enquiries.”
Existing clients with any queries have been told to telephone the agency’s client services department on 0845 460 6094.
Royal Caribbean associate vice president and general manager Jo Rzymowska said the move had been agreed with the retailer as it was now “the best thing to do for customers”.
She said: “We have pipeline monies outstanding that we are owed. We have been collecting money direct from customers for a couple of weeks as we didn’t want that debt to increase. Now the priority is our customers and to assure them our holidays are safe.”
No new bookings – the announcement on the Gill’s Cruise Centre website
Royal Caribbean has implented a dedicated team, phone line and email address for concerned Gill’s customers: gills@rccl.co.uk.
Rzymowska added: “The good news is that Gill’s very much operated as a pure retailer which means pretty much all their business is fly-cruise or cruise-only so customers are protected.
“We are very sorry about Gill’s situation. They have been in the industry for over 45 years and it is a family buisness and we have enjoyed a good relationship with them for many a year.”