As Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on global industry, CMV has become the third cruise line to go out of business in the space of a month, joining Pullmantur Cruises and Birka Cruises. Those who retain reservations with CMV have been informed that they should be protected by either ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) or the Civil Aviation Authority’s Air Travel Organisers’ Licence scheme.

“We are sorry to inform you that South Quay Travel Limited (SQTL) – which traded under the name Cruise & Maritime Voyages – was placed into administration on 20 July 2020,” read a statement from the operator. Duff & Phelps Ltd has been appointed as administrator: “At present the Administrators are evaluating SQTL’s financial position.”

CMV had been suffering from well-publicised financial difficulties for a little while before the announcement, having suspended operations in March, like much of the rest of the industry. In June, five of its six ships were detained by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency; investigators found, among other things, invalid Seafarers Employment Agreements, late wage payments and seafarers who had been on board ship longer than a year, all of which placed the operator in breach of the Maritime Labour Convention.

As with many of the travel operators that have shuttered during the pandemic, it is an ignominious end for a company that enjoyed a rapid phase of expansion of the past few years, with new offices opening for bookings in the US, the UK, Australia, France and Germany, and agreements made for the purchase of two additional ships next year.

Another statement from the company thanked its employees and customers, and stated: “The directors have all worked tirelessly with CMV's financial advisors, investment bankers, lawyers, and numerous private equity and hedge fund investors to try and secure the funding required to enable CMV to weather the storm.”

Unfortunately, as has been the case with many other venerable businesses, the storm proved too ferocious.