Bahamian authorities arrested two cruise ships from the Hong Kong-centered Crystal Cruises, the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity, right after a U.S. courtroom requested their seizure past thirty day period above millions of bucks in unpaid fuel costs, according to cruise marketplace publications.
Following they altered system from Miami to prevent the U.S. judge’s purchase, the ships sailed to the Bahamas and authorized passengers to disembark in Bimini, according to Cruise Law Information, which noted the ships’ arrests on Friday in waters in the vicinity of Freeport.
Only crew users have been aboard all through the seizures.
In a assertion, Crystal Cruises mentioned it is not able to comment on pending authorized issues.
“Subsequent the latest developments of Genting Hong Kong, Crystal’s mum or dad company, Crystal has paused its operations for its Ocean and Expedition Cruises as a result of April 29, 2022, and for River cruises through May possibly 2022,” the corporation reported.
“Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony’s voyages finished past month and there are no guests onboard.
“The officers and crew on board are staying very well cared for and keeping in single lodging some of which are visitor staterooms. We are making certain they are at ease and equipped to delight in the many facilities on board. Crew users have been compensated all wages because of and we are conference and exceeding all contractual obligations,” the cruise corporation wrote.
A recording posted on Twitter allegedly reveals the captain of the Crystal Symphony saying that the ship was currently being seized in the Bahamas by “local authorities,” which they additional explained as “very predicted.”
In a assertion, the U.S. Marshals Service, whose brokers would have seized the ship if it experienced sailed to Miami, reported it experienced no function or expertise of the seizure of the two ships in the Bahamas.
A different trade publication documented that a 3rd Crystal ship, the Crystal Endeavor, was also staying held at Ushuaia, in southernmost Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province Seatrade Cruise Information reported past 7 days that its travellers disembarked with out incident immediately after an Antarctic cruise, and its current status is unclear.
In an emailed assertion, Crystal Cruises mentioned the Endeavor “docked in Ushuaia Thursday as scheduled following a 19-night Antarctica voyage.”
“Company disembarked Friday and those people with chartered air assistance flew to Miami through a earlier scheduled flight and ended up presented with right away resort lodging, all component of Crystal’s Antarctica cruise deals.”
