Costa Allegra

[The Dieselduck]

From Lloyd's List... - martin

Costa Allegra to be sold or scrapped
Monday 12 March 2012, 13:57

Repairs to the Costa Allegra would be costly.
Costa Cruises mulls salvage options for Costa Concordia

THE Costa Allegra will not return to service with Costa Cruises and the compensation package for passengers following the fire on board the vessel last month has now been finalised, according to the company.

The cruiseship will be sold or scrapped as it is in need of costly repairs, Costa Cruises said. The Costa Allegra is one of the oldest and smallest ships in the Costa fleet, and had been for sale for some time before the fire in one of its engine rooms in late February.

Costa Cruises has redeployed the Costa Voyager to take the Costa Allegra’s place in coming months. Those passengers who choose to cancel their Costa Voyager cruise will receive a full refund and future cruise credit worth 30 % of the original cruise fare paid, the firm has decided.

More than 70% of the Costa Allegra passengers chose to stay on in the Seychelles for a one- or two-week all-expenses-paid holiday on the islands of Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette and Cerfs. Passengers flights home following their stay were also arranged as part of the package.

The remaining passengers stayed in hotels on Mahé and the cruise line paid for their flights from Seychelles International Airport. These passengers will also receive a voucher for the same value they paid for their unfinished Costa Allegra cruise, to apply to any Costa cruise departing in the next two years.

All passengers received a full refund of the fare paid for the cruise and associated travel expenses; a full refund of onboard expenses incurred during the cruise; and an indemnity equivalent to the amount of the fare paid for the cruise and associated travel costs.

At the same time, the beleaguered cruise firm is deciding on the next steps to take in the salvage of the Costa Concordia.

It said six of the 10 salvage companies asked to bid on the contract had sent in their plans. Three companies declined, due to previous commitments, while two joined forces to present a combined project.

Costa Cruises has predicted the salvage will take at least 10 to 12 months to complete and experts have argued it will be one of the most complex and costly salvage operations recorded.

A shortlist following technical assessments of the six plans is expected by mid-March. Costa Cruises said the final decision will be made public in late March or early April.