Regal Empress woes. (F.Y.I.).(cruise line behind in bill-paying)(Brief Article)

Travel Agent, April, 2003

Many agents were surprised April 18, when U.S. Marshals "arrested" the Regal Empress. An engine repair vendor reportedly owed $750,000 obtained a lien against the ship, resulting in the cancellation of two cruises. Regal is providing those guests with future cruises and appealing the court action, saying the bill was only 60 days old and it has insurance to cover that bill.

But another vendor claim surfaced last week. Port Manatee, Fla., the ship's winter home port, sent Regal a letter on April 9 asking for more than $322,000 in back lease payments, security fees, dockage and other port-related charges incurred between Sept. 2002 and March 2003. The port, which says Regal always paid on time until last September, hopes the matter can be resolved.