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Thomas Cook collapse latest: Cruise lines rally to help holidaymakers

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Leading cruises lines are lending their support and offering advice to holidaymakers following the news that Thomas Cook has gone into administration.

Following the collapse of Thomas Cook early this morning (23 September 2019) due to failure to secure a rescue deal, cruise lines connected with the travel giant have issued statements to its customers.

Thomas Cook, collapse

Despite hundreds of thousands of customers having been left stranded abroad with flights and holidays cancelled, many cruise lines are reassuring customers that cruises booked through Thomas Cook will still go ahead as planned.

This includes Princess Cruises, which has stated that it will now handle all Thomas Cook bookings directly and is “in the process of contacting all affected guests”.

P&O Cruises has said that it will contact all P&O guests booked through Thomas Cook and assured customers that all holidays that are ABTA/ATOL protected will go ahead as planned.

The British cruise line has promised to contact guests booked on a Thomas Cook aircraft on Caribbean or Mediterranean holidays once it has confirmed an alternative aircraft.

Royal Caribbean has extended its sympathies to Thomas Cook and is in the process of contacting all guests affected by the news, in sail date order. If you’ve booked a cruise through Thomas Cook, the cruise line has advised customers to hold tight and they will get hold of you as soon as they can, or for more information, to visit its FAQ page.

Sister company Celebrity Cruises will also be contacting customers booked, in sail date order.

On Twitter, Wendy Wu Cruise has issued the following statement:

“We are very saddened by the news that Thomas Cook have ceased trading. If you have Qs or concerns regarding your Wendy Wu Tour booking, then please see our FAQs on this matter or call us on or call us on 0800 630 0888 where a member of our team will be happy to help.”

Along with updating customers on its website, Tui Group has expressed its sympathies to Thomas Cook employers on Twitter and may be able to offer vacancies to agents who have lost their jobs.

“We are sorry to learn of the Thomas Cook news. We really feel for everyone affected by this announcement – customers on holiday, anyone due to travel with them and of course their employees. We will be holding a recruitment fair at our Luton Office for people who are impacted.”

The Cosmos Trade Team similarly sent out a heartfelt message on Twitter, saying how its “thoughts are with our friends and colleagues at this difficult time” and is “working to support agents and passengers affected.” The travel company has also assured customers that all Cosmos holidays are fully protected and will go ahead as planned.

Giles Hawke, CEO of Cosmos and Avalon Waterways, UK, has issued the following statement. “We are sad to learn that Thomas Cook has entered compulsory liquidation, our thoughts are with all the staff and customers affected.

“A number of Thomas Cook customers are booked on tours and cruises with Cosmos Tours Ltd – Cosmos, Globus and Avalon Waterways – and we can confirm that every booking with us, via Thomas Cook, is safe and customers’ holidays will go ahead.

“Over the coming days we will work with all our customers affected to confirm their bookings and travel plans. If customers have a Cosmos, Globus or Avalon Waterways holiday booked via Thomas Cook, we advise them to get in touch with our team on 0208 315 4611.”

Brian Young, managing director of G Adventures EMEA, tweeted: “Such sad news to wake up to this morning. Thomas Cook was an iconic UK travel company, and its people are amazing, they were passionate about their company, feeling for them all this morning.”

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “Today is an incredibly sad day for the travel industry. Our thoughts are with all Thomas Cook employees, who have been strong supporters of the cruise industry and CLIA for many years, and to all of those affected at this difficult time. We’d like to send praise to everyone who is working to ensure those who booked through Thomas Cook are still able to get their holiday.”

Outside the world of cruising, other travel companies have been lending their support, including Lanzarote Retreats, which is gifting available accommodation to families left stranded in the region.

Repatriation begins

Thomas Cook, Britain’s oldest travel company, ceased trading today after it failed to pay £200 million owed to creditors by 11:59 pm last night. This has subsequently triggered one of the UK’s biggest repatriation efforts in history to bring back tens and thousands of customers affected.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has been called on by the government to organise flights following Thomas Cook’s crash.

Flights carrying the stranded Thomas Cook customers have already begun arriving home, with the first of the rescue planes having landed in Manchester, Glasgow and London Gatwick this afternoon.

The final ever Thomas Cook flight landed this morning in Manchester and according to Sky News, staff and passengers were “quite emotional and crying”.

As thousands of Thomas Cook customers have been left stranded with flights and holidays cancelled, many have taken to Twitter, including Thomas Cook customers Brian and Linda from Glasgow, who told Sky News that check in was not operational at Majorca Airport.

While many customers will reportedly have a while to wait before refunds are issued, some have already been compensated, including @EdRollsOff who tweeted:

“Well our entire holiday got cancelled (we get a full refund) so we’ve just booked a new one. Looks life we’re off to Magaluf tomorrow, should be interesting! #ThomasCook.”

For more information and advice, visit thomascook.caa.co.uk.

This article will be updated.

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