The easyCruiseTwo, the
river cruise ship that operates as a franchise of easyCruise, will
cease operations this month, six weeks earlier than the seasons
original end date of Sept. 28.
In making the
announcement, EasyCruise blamed the financial condition of the
vessels operator, Boonstra Riverline, for the decision. Boonstra,
which is headquartered in the Netherlands, was not immediately
available for comment.
EasyCruiseTwo had
been sailing three-, four- and seven-day trips from Amsterdam,
visiting Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Antwerp and Brussels,
Belgium.
EasyCruise said
that it is in contact with all passengers that are booked to travel
on a future easyCruiseTwo sailing and is offering a full refund for
their cruise and travel arrangements as well as a complimentary
cruise on easyCruiseOne to be taken by the end of 2008.
Paul Ellerby,
director of sales and marketing for easyCruise, said that the
decision does not affect easyCruise's own ship, easyCruiseOne,
currently sailing in Greece, and that easyCruise continues to
actively seek new vessels and new itineraries to expand its
brand.
EasyCruise is part
of Chairman Stelios Haji-Ioannou's EasyGroup brand of products.
EasyGroup commonly franchises out its simple, no-frills
concept.
To
contact reporter Johanna Jainchill, send e-mail to [email protected].