Luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises is reported to be closing down, with all crew members being laid off by the end of the week.
The news came in a statement to the crew on board Crystal Symphony which, with sister ship Crystal Serenity, had been arrested in the Bahamas last Friday over unpaid fuel bills.
The closure is the outcome of parent company Genting Hong Kong going into liquidation after running out of cash.
“I have been informed that the entire Crystal Cruises office in the U.S. is closing down,” the ship’s captain told the crew.
It is understood that cruise vessel management company V.Ships Leisure, already appointed by the liquidators, will manage the safe handling of the ships.