*** 9/10/10 Update:  Cruise West has taken down its website, closed reservations and, according to a Seattle newspaper, fired 65 staff.  I think it’s safe to say that the company is kaput.  For this cruiser, a huge loss.

*** 9/9/10 Update: Cruise West’s new phone message states: ‘Cruise West has not been sold. However, management is in the process of restructuring the company.’

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According to media reports, Cruise West has been sold, suspended bookings and closed its reservation center.   The company, which has been undergoing financial problems for a while, is undergoing reorganization according to sources close to the company.  At this time we don’t know who the new owners are.

In a recorded phone message Tuesday morning, the company announced that it was restructuring with new owners who remained unnamed. The message continued that the company has suspended all new bookings except its sailings on the Spirit of Endeavor and the Spirit of ‘98 will sail as scheduled on Saturday.

Cruise West has been in business for 50 years and is well known operator of cruise ships carrying fewer than 100 people.    Let’s keep our fingers crossed — this small company is one of a very cruise lines offering memorable voyages on small cruise ships.

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UPDATE 8:06 P.M.

Cruise West Continues Restructuring Efforts

SEATTLE, WA (September 8, 2010) – Cruise West, a global leader in small-ship explorations, today announced that they continue to work towards a restructuring of the company and its operations. The first move in this restructuring is the termination of the Spirit of Oceanus’ Voyage of the Great Explorers. Additional assets may be sold and other steps are being pursued towards a restructure. As part of this process, Cruise West has suspended accepting any new bookings.

The Spirit of Oceanus voyage ended at its scheduled port of disembarkation so as to minimize any negative impact to our guests. Cruise West plans to continue to operate its US flag ships and itineraries through October, 2010; Spirit of Endeavour will sail from Seattle on the British Columbia Cruise and the Spirit of ’98 from Portland, OR along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Cruise West will also complete cruises or land tours already underway in Alaska.

For those booked Spirit of Oceanus guests who may be affected by this news and who have not yet travelled, we recommend that you take the following steps:

1. If third-party travel insurance was obtained, a claim should be placed immediately with the insurer.
2. If payment was made by credit card, a claim should be placed immediately with the card issuer.
3. If the payment was made by cash or check, and you have no travel insurance, please send an email to info@cruisewest.com.

Cruise West executives will not respond to media inquiries or accept interviews at this time.