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Corazul Cruceros is scheduled to make its Mediterranean debut in early July with the Buenavista, but concerns are mounting that the new brand may not enter service on time, or at all.
The company announced its intention to start a summer cruise program earlier this year, operating on a unique business-to-business model, where cruises will only be offered by travel agents and cannot be booked directly.
Sources familiar with the situation told Cruise Industry News the deal to move the ship from China to Europe is off with the company failing to come up with the required financing and a sluggish commercial response to the product offering.
The ship is currently in Asia and just wrapped up its final sailing from Hong Kong, where it was operating as the Piano Land.
Following its summer season in the Mediterranean, plans called for a short Caribbean program followed by a winter season sailing in Brazil.
The ship was slated to be managed by BSM Cruise Services, according to a LinkedIn post from the vessel management company.
What happens next remains a mystery, with a tight timeline of just over five weeks to get the ship to Europe, apply a new livery and make other changes to adapt it to European demographics.
Cruise Industry News understands the ship, which is the former Oriana, will soon restart operations from Hong Kong and crew members are being asked to sign contract extensions to stay on.
Corazul company executives have not responded to repeated requests for comment.
Fuente: Cruise Industry News
