A subsidiary of Aurora Expeditions has acquired the assets from US small ship and river cruise operator Vantage Deluxe Travel after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 29.
Vantage Travel operates two 162-passenger expedition ships under charter – Ocean Explorer and Ocean Odyssey – which are similar in design to Aurora Expedition vessels Greg Mortimore and Sylvia Earle.
The Boston-based company also runs three vessels on European rivers.
Pacific Travel Partners, an arm of Australian company Aurora Expeditions, said it had agreed to take on “obligations to unsecured creditors” including clients who had paid for but not received travel services by way of a credit to be used on future travel.
However, Pacific Travel Partners added that it “did not acquire the Vantage Deluxe Travel business or company or agree to employ former management”.
Pacific Travel Partners has agreed to apply credits to future travel and will allow customers to use theirs to pay for up to 50% of an Aurora voyage.
The company said: “Going forward, Pacific Travel Partners will trade under a new business name and intends to start communicating with passengers to explain the process and their options over the next few weeks.
“A team of customer service agents will be put in place to deal with enquiries from all affected passengers.”