Topic: Carnival UK severs ties with Gill's Cruise Centre

Friday 15th Update: Gill's Cruise Centre ceases tradingGill’s Cruise Centre has ceased trading. The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the collapse after Abta announced this afternoon that it was treating the company as a financial failure.

It is understood that Gill's had informed Abta that it could not meet its liabilities.

The association said any cruise booked through Gill's would be fully financially protected and cruise companies would "honour all paid-for cruises as normal".

Abta said: "Customers should expect to hear from their cruise line shortly. Customers who wish to contact their cruise line can do so using the contact details on their confirmation invoice."

The association added: "We understand a very small number of customers may have booked their flight and cruise directly with Gill's under its Atol licence. Customers whose invoice references ATOL 10178 should contact the CAA.

"If the cruise has been booked with the cruise company, and a flight with another supplier, customers should contact the cruise company."

The Civil Aviation Authority said it was aware of only three forward bookings with Gill’s where customers would be unable to take their holiday as planned. All other bookings would be protected on an Atol-to-Atol basis.

The three customers in question will be entitled to refunds from the Air Travel Trust fund.

The company's failure comes after Fred Olsen Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Carnival UK stopped accepting bookings from Gill's Cruise Centre over the past few days.

The company trades as Gill's Cruise Centre, Gill's Travel and Cost Kutters and has branch offices in Rhiwbina, London and Llanishen, Cardiff.

Source Travel Weekly

Thursday 12:00 update Gill's Cruise Centre stops taking bookings as more lines cut ties

Gill's Cruise Centre stops taking bookings as more lines cut tiesGill’s Cruise Centre is no longer taking new bookings following news Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises have joined Carnival UK in putting the agency on stop-sale.

A customer announcement posted on the cruise agency’s website today reads: “Gill's Cruise Centre regrets that it is currently unable to accept new booking enquiries.”
Existing clients with any queries have been told to telephone the agency’s client services department on 0845 460 6094.

Travel Weekly broke the news this morning that Carnival UK had severed ties with Gill’s Cruise Centre.

Royal Caribbean associate vice president and general manager Jo Rzymowska said the move had been agreed with the retailer as it was now “the best thing to do for customers”.
She said: “We have pipeline monies outstanding that we are owed. We have been collecting money direct from customers for a couple of weeks as we didn’t want that debt to increase. Now the priority is our customers and to assure them our holidays are safe.”


10:40am update: Royal Caribbean have confirmed that they have terminated their agency agreements with Gill’s Cruise Centre.

Carnival UK terminated its agency agreement with Gill's Cruise Centre on Tuesday afternoon. The cruise giant's sales and customer services director Giles Hawke confirmed Carnival had served notice on the agency.

Hawke said: "We have terminated our agency agreement with Gill's. We made a decision that we needed to do the best thing for our customers and assure their bookings and peace of mind." Carnival UK, along with Royal Caribbean and Fred Olsen Cruise Line, moved to take money direct from Gill's customers two weeks ago as they were concerned at the agency's level of debt.

Hawke declined to comment when asked how much Carnival UK is owed by Gills. He said other agents could step in to fill the resulting gap in the cruise company's distribution strategy.

"Gills have a good model and have sold a high number of cruises for us," Hawke said. "[But] there are other agents who can choose to fill any gap in terms of routes to market if they feel it fits their business model."

He said he did not have concerns about other agents Carnival works with. "Every business is unique. Well-run, well-managed businesses which operate with good customer service, a focus on the bottom line and offer customers unique reasons to book with them, will continue to thrive and be strong business partners for us."

Hawke added: "Gills has been a strong family business for many years and this is not a decision we have taken lightly."

Source: Travel Weekly

10:40am update: Royal Caribbean have confirmed that they have terminated their agency agreements with Gill’s Cruise Centre.

QUOTE:

Carnival UK terminated its agency agreement with Gill's Cruise Centre on Tuesday afternoon. The cruise giant's sales and customer services director Giles Hawke confirmed Carnival had served notice on the agency.

Hawke said: "We have terminated our agency agreement with Gill's. We made a decision that we needed to do the best thing for our customers and assure their bookings and peace of mind." Carnival UK, along with Royal Caribbean and Fred Olsen Cruise Line, moved to take money direct from Gill's customers two weeks ago as they were concerned at the agency's level of debt.

Hawke declined to comment when asked how much Carnival UK is owed by Gills. He said other agents could step in to fill the resulting gap in the cruise company's distribution strategy.

"Gills have a good model and have sold a high number of cruises for us," Hawke said. "[But] there are other agents who can choose to fill any gap in terms of routes to market if they feel it fits their business model."

He said he did not have concerns about other agents Carnival works with. "Every business is unique. Well-run, well-managed businesses which operate with good customer service, a focus on the bottom line and offer customers unique reasons to book with them, will continue to thrive and be strong business partners for us."

Hawke added: "Gills has been a strong family business for many years and this is not a decision we have taken lightly."

Source: Travel Weekly

It would appear that there is a lot of it about Grant.

Our local Travel Agency 'Davis World Travel, who have a number of outlets in Hampshire folded over Christmas...

BBC News - Job losses as Hampshire's Davis World Travel folds


And of course even the mighty Thomas Cook is feeling the pinch...

Thomas Cook Loses £20m From Unrest | Compare Away

10:40 UPDATE

Royal Caribbean have confirmed that they have terminated their agency agreements with Gill’s Cruise Centre.
Royal Caribbean terminates its contract with Gill's | News | Travel Trade Gazette

For those who have bookings with Gills Travel, especially P&O customer, please see this note I have posted on another thread relating to this subject.

http://www.cruises.co.uk/109-cruise_...tml#post282804

QUOTE:

For those who have bookings with Gills Travel, especially P&O customer, please see this note I have posted on another thread relating to this subject.

Thanks Delboy, things look to be moving fast today with RCCL now severing Agency Ties as well

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises amd Azamara Club Cruises have joined Carnival UK in terminating their agreements with Gill’s Cruise Centre.

Travel Weekly broke the news this morning that Carnival UK had severed ties with Gill’s Cruise Centre.

Associate vice president and general manager Jo Rzymowska said the move had been agreed with the retailer as it was now “the best thing to do for customers”.

She said: “We have pipeline monies outstanding that we are owed. We have been collecting money direct from customers for a couple of weeks as we didn’t want that debt to increase. Now the priority is our customers and to assure them our holidays are safe.”

The cruise line has implented a dedicated team, phone line and email address for concerned Gill’s customers: gills@rccl.co.uk.

She added: “The good news is that Gill’s very much operated as a pure retailer which means pretty much all their business is fly-cruise or cruise-only so customers are protected.

“We are very sorry about Gill’s situation. They have been in the industry for over 45 years and it is a family buisness and we have enjoyed a good relationship with them for many a year.”

Gill’s Cruise Centre is no longer taking new bookings following news Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises have joined Carnival UK in putting the agency on stop-sale.

A customer announcement posted on the cruise agency’s website today reads: “Gill's Cruise Centre regrets that it is currently unable to accept new booking enquiries.”

Existing clients with any queries have been told to telephone the agency’s client services department on 0845 460 6094.

Travel Weekly broke the news this morning that Carnival UK had severed ties with Gill’s Cruise Centre.

Royal Caribbean associate vice president and general manager Jo Rzymowska said the move had been agreed with the retailer as it was now “the best thing to do for customers”.

She said: “We have pipeline monies outstanding that we are owed. We have been collecting money direct from customers for a couple of weeks as we didn’t want that debt to increase. Now the priority is our customers and to assure them our holidays are safe.”

Source: Travel Weekly

Interesting that on the day Gills Cruises enters it's biggest crisis P&O are advertising for Personal Cruise Consultants on Facebook and Twitter. Coincidence, bad timing or other ? You decide......

I'm off sick today (someone seems to have sandpapered my throat!). I got a message from a friend in the office. P&O had phoned early this morning about a booking that she has in November, and appears to have told her that Gills had gone into liquidation. I don't know the full details, but would suspect that P&O were asking for their payment direct.

It certainly looking very ominous if the company is taking no new business.....