CRUISE CONTROL UK - STOP SELL

[Tboyo]

Well the perils of discounting have caught up with the #1 Cruise Agency in the UK, please read this news article.

Sales ban slapped on Cruise Control

30 September 2005 - Travel Trade Gazette

The UK’s largest cruise retailer, Cruise Control, has been banned from selling any of the Complete Cruise Solution brands, which include P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Ocean Village and Cruise Asia. As TTG went to press, the Romford-based call centre agency had been on “stop-sell†for the Carnival UK-owned lines for 10 days, a move believed to have been prompted by delayed bill payments. Carnival sales and marketing director Lynn Narraway also confirmed that her three brands, Carnival, Holland America and Windstar Cruises, went off-sale through Cruise Control on Tuesday. Costa Cruises has also imposed a “stop-sell†order. Rival agents said being unable to sell the UK’s leading brands would be extremely detrimental. One said: “It is a real problem if you’re the top cruise specialist and you’re not dealing with P&O and Complete Cruise Solution brands.†When TTG called Cruise Control to book a P&O cruise, the agency blamed its inability to book on the P&O system being down. Complete Cruise Solution confirmed it had “temporarily suspended trading with Cruise Control†and said all customer enquiries should be referred to a dedicated team on 02380 655571. Head of sales Giles Hawke said: “We work with all our agents within Abta terms and we take steps to secure our financial security. “If an agent has a debt with us that is outside of Abta terms, we would have to review that relationship, including going to ‘stop-sell’ until that money was paid.†It is understood that Royal Caribbean International is also experiencing problems with Cruise Control. It is known to have given the agency a deadline for its owed money of 4.30pm last Thursday, which Cruise Control met with 15 minutes to spare. It was required to meet a second deadline at the same time yesterday. Cruise Control managing director Paul Moore said: “From time to time, with the growth we have experienced, there will be some growing pains. We endeavour to resolve disputes as quickly as possible.†Abta confirmed Cruise Control was a fully bonded member.