Despite the announcement yesterday that hundreds of thousands of Thomas Cook customers across the world have been left stranded abroad with flights and holidays cancelled, many affiliated cruise lines are reassuring customers today that holidays will still go ahead as planned.
The collapse of Thomas Cook yesterday (23 September 2019) due to failure to secure a rescue deal, has effectively grounded customers currently travelling and caused a ripple of panic for hundreds of thousands of travellers with pending holiday bookings.
But in a bold rescue mission today, leading cruise lines connected with the travel giant have issued statements to their customers.
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’s 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.
For more information and advice, visit thomascook.caa.co.uk.
It is a great loss, such a huge travel company who has been going for such a long time to go down like that so quickly, I feel so sorry for the staff who have most probley have worked for them a very long time and now have nothing, and the customers they have let down and abandoned and taken there money, surely they new this was coming for a while, you don’t let yourself get that much in det, the big bosses of the company should be a shame of yourself for letting it get into this situation, gready, now, other people have to come over and help to get people home,