It now appears that, because of the demise of Happy Cruises, hundreds of passengers have been stranded and many more are affected.
The sudden cessation of operation on September 24th by the Spanish cruise company took many people by surprise. For some their dream holidays are all but ruined. For others, their immediate concern would be how to get home. According to a source inside Spain, a number of unhappy passengers were stranded in the Adriatic region. Most of them have now found alternatives by ways of land and air transportation back to Spain.
Because of the perceived suddenness of the announcement, the plans of hundreds, if not thousands, of passengers who were booked to start their holidays with Happy Cruises were abruptly thrown into disarray. Tour operators and agents all over Spain are now left with the task of informing their customers of the news and refunding their payments. Because of the lateness of the season, not all customers would elect to go on another cruise this year. Most of them simply cannot change their holiday dates.
The news is particularly devastating to the employees of the cruise company, who are now left to deal with the aftermath and to face an uncertain employment future. Happy Cruises’plan of carrying up to 100,000 passengers per year is now nothing more than an unrealised ambition.
Although it is highly unlikely, in the last effort to avoid total liquidation the company is grappling with the possibility of continuing operation from as early as October. It is reported that the partners and the management of Happy Cruises are actively seeking alternative sources of finance, talking with the two ship owners, and negotiating the debt issue with suppliers.
Reported by: Alan Lam
