STAR Cruises claims it is picking up business from rival Sun Cruises of Singapore following the sinking of its only ship Sun Vista off the coast of Malaysia last month.
Malaysian-owned Star Cruises is now the only cruiseline selling Far East itineraries out of Singapore to the UKmarket.
UK director of sales Michael Dupont said: “Most of the passengers booked on future Sun Vista cruises have tried to rebook with us rather than cancel and we have accommodated most of them.”
Immediately after the sinking, Star Cruises mailed the 12 UK tour operators featuring its itineraries with details of its fleet’s safety record and Dupont claimed there had been no cancellations.
He said the incident would not damage the booming Asian flycruise market. According to UK Passenger Shipping Association, more than 21,000 Far East cruises were sold to UK passengers in 1998, up nearly 150% on 1997.
Last year, Star Cruises carried 14,000 UK passengers and is on target to book a similar number this year.
It was expecting a substantial increase in 2000 even before the Sun Vista sinking.
Dupont said: “We were already negotiating with more tour operators before this happened and we will be featured by Kuoni next year and probably British Airways Holidays and Premier too.”
Star Cruises is adding two ships to its fleet this autumn. The new Superstar Virgo and the former German cruise ship Europa which will be renamed Superstar Europe.
“All three will be packaged in the UK and Europe,” said Dupont. “We expect a lot of interest in the Superstar Europe cruises from Bangkok as they include a call in Vietnam.”
Sun Cruises of Singapore’s spokeswoman Judy Choo said: “We are still involved with the aftermath of the sinking and will not make decisions on the future until this is resolved.”
All 472 passengers and 632 crew were evacuated safely following an engine room fire which led to the ship capsizing and sinking off the coast of Malaysia. The reasons for the sinking are still not clear and currently the Malaysian authorities are demanding the wreck be raised.