Coronavirus crisis claims another small cruise line — the third in a month
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Another small cruise line has shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic.
FTI Cruises, a German brand with just one ship, has operated its last voyage, according to several German cruise sites.
While little known in North America, FTI Cruises offered voyages in Europe and the Caribbean that catered to English speakers as well as Germans. Both English and German were spoken on board its one vessel, the 412-passenger Berlin.
For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s new cruise newsletter.
FTI Cruises is a subsidiary of FTI Group, one of the largest tour operators in Europe. In addition to FTI Cruises, it owns multiple tour companies, a rental car company, a hospitality company with five hotel brands and the flight booking portal fly.de.
FTI Cruises is the third small cruise brand to fold this month as the coronavirus-caused halt to most cruising worldwide takes a growing toll on the industry.
Just last week, U.K.-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages shut down after days of scrambling to find emergency funding.
Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles
Catering mostly to British travelers, the six-ship brand was the U.K.’s second-biggest cruise operator after Carnival Corporation’s P&O Cruises.
Cruise & Maritime’s collapse, in turn, came just two weeks after Sweden-based Birka Cruises went out of business, citing the financial pressures of the coronavirus pandemic. Birka Cruises offered two- to four-night Baltic cruises out of Stockholm, Sweden, as well as day trips around the Stockholm archipelago.
The coronavirus crisis also has led to the insolvency of Spain-based Pullmantur Cruises. The three-ship operator, which is partly owned by Royal Caribbean Group, announced last month that it had filed for reorganization under Spanish insolvency laws.
Pullmantur blamed headwinds from the coronavirus pandemic that were “too strong … to overcome.”
Related: Cruise giant Carnival to be a smaller line when cruising resumes
It is unclear whether Pullmantur will return to operations. Two of Pullmantur’s three ships in recent days have sailed to ship-scrapping town Aliaga, Turkey, for dismantling.
A spokesperson for FTI Cruises did not immediately respond to questions from TPG about the fate of Berlin, the line’s one ship. Dating to 1980, the seven-deck vessel is now 40 years old.
English speakers may recall Berlin as the former Spirit of Adventure at U.K.-based cruise line Saga Cruises. The vessel has been sailing for FTI Cruises since 2012.
Berlin originally was built for the now-defunct Peter Deilmann Cruises.
Berlin is a well-known ship in Germany, where it starred for more than a decade on a popular television show called Das Traumschiff (“The Dream Ship”). The show is sort of a German equivalent of American television’s “The Love Boat.”
The coronavirus-caused halt to most cruising around the world has taken a financial toll on many cruise brands, but so far the only lines to shut down are based in Europe.
Related: Why the scrapping of Sovereign of the Seas is so heartbreaking
The big, publicly traded cruise companies that control many of North America’s biggest cruise brands, including Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group, have said they have enough liquidity to stay solvent well into 2021 — even if cruising doesn’t resume in a meaningful way.
Carnival Corporation is the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Seabourn and five overseas brands.
Royal Caribbean Group is the parent company of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea.
While many major lines have pushed back their return to operations until at least October, a few lines are hoping to resume sailings in select areas around the world earlier. Indeed, a handful of lines — mostly river lines — already have restarted sailings in Europe. For now, the trips only are available to local travelers from select European countries.
Additional resources for cruisers during the coronavirus outbreak:
- When will cruising resume? A line-by-line guide
- Why you shouldn’t expect bargain-basement cruise deals anytime soon
- How to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus
- Expecting a refund for a canceled cruise? Here’s how long it will take
- Some of the year’s hottest new ships could be delayed
- Stream these 13 movies, television shows to get your cruise ship fix
Featured image by Piergiuliano Chesi
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/10/2021.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.