Renaissance Cruises, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based line with eight ships in Europe and the South Pacific, abruptly ceased operations on Sept. 25, leaving an estimated 2,000 passengers in ports, mostly in the Mediterranean.
The company blamed its failure on a sudden drop in business after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy status to allow for reorganization.
Renaissance President and Chief Executive Manfred Urpsrunger cited “the severe, unexpected drop in leisure travel following the terrorist attacks . . . and the immediate and adverse impact on the company’s late-stage recapitalization efforts.”
The company said it would make arrangements to get passengers home, but spokesman Brad Ball said he had no information on refunds.
The company’s eight ships at sea can berth about 4,300 passengers. Two additional ships were idle on the day the cruise line shut down. The company operates eight 684 passenger-ships and two 114-passenger yachts. The line’s customers are primarily U.S. citizens.
Renaissance asked travelers with upcoming bookings to contact their travel agents or call 800-525-5350.
In other cruise news:
– 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.
– Princess Cruises, based in London, is changing some routes that would have taken cruises to the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa region.
