Cruise firm All Leisure Holidays in administration

Cruise operator All Leisure Holidays, parent company of Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery, has stopped trading and called in administrators.

The collapse saw around 150 staff laid-off, left 400 holidaymakers stranded and forced the cancellation of 13,000 future bookings.

The first holidaymakers have since started receiving refunds totalling £2 million under a scheme by Abta, the travel organisation.

All Leisure provided holidays on two cruise ships, the Minerva and the Voyager. Administrators Grant Thornton is now handling the firm’s affairs, as well as those of three other travel firms.

Two of All Leisure’s tour operating brands, Travelsphere and Just You, were sold to Canadian tour operator G Adventures in a pre-pack administration, saving 200 jobs. But 50 other All Leisure employees were made redundant along with 100 of its maritime staff.

“Regrettably, and due to the adverse financial position of All Leisure Holidays, the business has ceased to trade resulting in the majority of employees being made redundant and the cancellation of all future voyages,” Grant Thornton said in a statement.

The company’s other cruise brand, Hebridean Island Cruises, was sold to a consortium of trade buyers before Christmas and tour operator Discover Egypt and Hebridean’s cruise ship Hebridean Princess were sold in late 2015 and during 2016.

Grant Thornton’s Eddie Williams told the BBC: "The cruise operations have been significantly loss-making over a number of years and the ongoing cost of funding these operations by the tours operations has created significant cash issues for the entire group, which has ultimately led to the administration of all businesses."


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