Club Cruise
Club Cruisewas aNetherlands-basedcruise shipcompany, that chartered vessels to other operators, includingTransocean ToursandPhoenix Reisen.The company had also operated ships under its own brands, first in 1999 on short cruises from theNetherlands[1]and during 2008 in theUnited Kingdomcruise market under the banner ofVan Gogh Cruises.[2][3]
Club Cruise was reportedly seeking to list itself in theLondon Stock Exchange.[4]
History
[edit]Club Cruise was founded in 1999 to operate short cruises out ofRotterdamwith one ship,MSClub 1.The service was not a success, and the company ceased operations after the 1999northern hemispheresummer season. Subsequently, theClub 1was renamed MSVan Goghand chartered to theFrance-basedNouvelles Frontieres.[1]In 2002 the ship was chartered to theUnited Kingdom-basedTravelscope.[2]Two additional ships were acquired in 2006.MSAlbatroswas purchased from aBahamas-based company and continued under charter to her previous operator, theGermany-basedPhoenix Reisen.[5][6]MSWalruswas purchased fromSeaContainers.She was renamedMSJules Verneand chartered to theSpain-basedVision Cruises.In 2008 she was renamedMSAlexander von Humboldt IIand also chartered to Phoenix Reisen.[6]
In 2007, Club Cruise acquiredMSAstoriafromSovcomflot.Sovcomflot had chartered her to theGermany-basedTransocean Tours,and Club Cruise continued this charter.[3]During the same year Club Cruise were reported to be planning an ambitious new building programme of six 20,000GTships.[7]In early 2008 the company were reportedly negotiating with aSouth Koreanshipyard about ordering three 20,000GTships.[8]In late 2007, Club Cruise purchased thecruiseferryGTSFinnjetfrom SeaContainers. She was renamedGTSDa Vinciwith plans to convert her to a cruise ship, but due to higher-than-anticipated costs of the conversion the plan was abandoned and the ship was sold for scrap in May 2008.[3][9]Around the same time it was reported that Club Cruise were experiencing financial difficulties and as a result were looking to sell theAstoria.[3]This was realised in June 2008, when theAstoriawas sold toSaga Cruises,with delivery in April 2009, following the end of her charter to Transocean Tours.[10]
Van Gogh Cruises
[edit]Van Gogh Cruiseswas established in January 2008, following the collapse ofTravelscopewho had previously charteredMSVan Goghfrom Club Cruise. Due to the popularity of the ship in the UK cruise market, Club Cruise decided to establish a new subsidiary to operate her, staffed mostly by ex-Travelscope employees. Van Gogh Cruises was planned to tale over most of the existing 2008 and 2009 itineraries Travelscope had planned for theVan Gogh.[2][11][12]Due to difficulties in acquiring membership of theAssociation of British Travel Agents,the company were unable to sell any cruises. Due to this the company have chartered theVan Goghto the Russia-basedMetropolis Turfor the 2008northern hemispheresummer season.[13]Originally Van Gogh Cruises planned to restart operations in 2009 after ABTA membership had been acquired, but the company has ceased operations.[3]
Fleet
[edit]Ships chartered out
[edit]- MSAlbatros
- 2004 - 2008
- under charter toPhoenix Reisen.[6]
- MSAlexander von Humboldt II
- 2008
- under charter to Phoenix Reisen.[6]
- MSAstoria
- 2002 - 2009
- under charter toTransocean Toursuntil April 2009. Following the end of the charter she will be sold toSaga Cruises.[10]
- MS Club 1 / Van Gogh
- 1999 - 2008
- under charter toMetropolis Turfor the 2008northern hemispheresummer season.[13]
M.S Van Gogh as Club 1.
Former ships
[edit]- GTSDa Vinci(2007–2008) – Originally thecruiseferryFinnjet.Purchased by Club Cruise to be rebuilt into a cruise ship, November 2007,[14]but sold for scrap in May 2008.[9]
GTS Da Vinci as Finnjet.
References
[edit]- ^abAsklander, Micke."M/SGruziya(1975) ".Fakta om Fartyg(in Swedish).Retrieved2008-05-08.
- ^abcNewman, Doug (2008-01-21)."New Club Cruise Subsidiary to MarketVan Goghin UK ".At Sea with Doug Newman.Retrieved2008-01-27.
- ^abcdeNewman, Doug (2008-05-07)."Trouble at Club Cruise?Van GoghUK Plans Axed;Da VinciScrap Rumors;AstoriaSale Imminent? ".At Sea with Doug Newman.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-07-19.Retrieved2008-05-08.
- ^"Van Gogh's 2008/2009 Itineraries Intact ".Cruise Critic News. 2008-01-23.Retrieved2008-01-27.
- ^Asklander, Micke."M/SRoyal Viking Sea(1973) ".Fakta om Fartyg(in Swedish).Retrieved2008-05-08.
- ^abcdDoug Newman (2007-09-04)."The NewAlexander Von Humboldt".At Sea with Doug Newman.Retrieved2008-01-27.
- ^Newman, Doug (2008-02-02)."Rumors: Club Cruise, Fred. Olsen, Saga to Order in Korea?".At Sea with Doug Newman.Retrieved2008-02-02.
- ^Newman, Doug (2007-08-16)."Club Cruise Seeks LSE Listing, Newbuilds".At Sea with Doug Newman.Retrieved2008-05-08.
- ^abTukkimäki, Paavo (2008-05-06)."Finnjetmatkalla kohti romuttamoa ".HS.fi Kotimaa(in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat.Retrieved2008-05-07.
- ^abNewman, Doug (2008-06-30)."Astoria Goes on a Quest for Adventure with Saga".At Sea with Doug Newman.Retrieved2008-07-02.
- ^"Club Cruise Paints Brighter Future ForVan Gogh".Maritime Matters. 2008-01-25. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-25.Retrieved2008-01-27.
- ^Newman, Doug (2007-08-16)."Club Cruise Seeks LSE Listing, Newbuilds".At Sea with Doug Newman.Retrieved2008-01-27.
- ^abNewman, Doug (2008-03-31)."Van GoghCruise Line Cancels Summer Cruises;Van GoghChartered to Metropolis Tur ".At Sea with Doug Newman.Retrieved2008-04-01.
- ^Mathias Saken (2008-01-20)."It's official:FINNJETis sold! ".Finnjetweb News.Retrieved2008-01-27.