They have gone out of business. The line went bankrupt and has cancelled the rest of their season. For an alternate small ship cruise line in Alaska, contact Cruise West, which is still up and running, and doing well enough to add two ships to their fleet. (Not Glacier Bay's.)
Posts: 1361 | Location: Illinois | Registered: June 19, 2002
I guess we are just out of luck. We had a cruise scheduled with Glacier Bay for late last summer. We had to cancel due to my husband's landing in the hospital. We had purchased trip insurance but the carrier that Glacier Bay sent me to has no record of me. I can only conclude that no policy was actually purchased. Live and learn - but I am not sure what I have learned!
That is truly a shame. It's one of the reasons why a lot of travel professionals don't like to purchase travel insurance through the cruise lines, as coverage for default may not be offered. Looks like in your case, the insurance company was one of those that Glacier Bay failed to pay (there was a problem with unpaid obligations before the line ceased operations.) Just curious - what insurance carrier was it?
Posts: 1361 | Location: Illinois | Registered: June 19, 2002
Sling, if you paid for your cruise and insurance with a credit card, I would call the credit card company and explain what is going on, and ask them if there is anything you can do.
FYI, Ambassadors International aquired one of the Glacier Bay Cruiseline boats a couple of days ago (the Executive Explorer). Ambassadors International has also bought American West Steamboat Company (in January) and Delta Queen Steamboat Company (in April). And they acquired a mortgage on the MV Columbia Queen from MARAD. The MV Columbia Queen was operated in 2005 by Great American River Journeys. They have ceased operation for 2006 but haven´t filed for Chapter 11 yet. The owners of Great American River Journeys also own Glacier Bay Cruiseline.
I know it won´t help in your case but maybe the information is of interest.
