Regal Empress News

In an unpublished decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that internet communications equipment is an essential part of a cruise ship and is to be included when the ship becomes subject to a maritime lien. In the instant case, petitioner leased telecommunications and internet equipment to the operator of a cruise ship. Petitioner retained ownership of the equipment and provided service and maintenance. The ship was arrested for unpaid shipyard work totally unrelated to petitioner’s equipment. The ship was sold at a judicial sale. Petitioner sought to recover the value of its equipment, which was included in the ship sale.

Regal Cruises has ceased all operations, and has cancelled all upcoming cruises on the Regal Empress beginning with this Thursday's four - day cruise to Mexico. on April 18, 2003. pursuing for some time. an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors in State Court shortly. Regal Enterprises, Inc. to its creditors. proceeding pending in Federal Court. these cruises will cause its passengers. them of the cruise cancellations.

Regal Cruises’ m/v Regal Empress was detained on April 18 due to a dispute over an invoice with one of its suppliers, Motor-Services Hugo Stamp, Inc. MSHS obtained a court order on last Friday to detain the MV Regal Empress with respect to open and undisputed invoices for services rendered with . MSHS was willing to accept a bond or payment guarantee in order for the vessel to sail that same day. Regal Cruises reports that they had no advance notice of the threatened arrest and thought it was maintaining a good relationship with its supplier. As a result of the Friday afternoon dispute, negotiations prompted cruise cancellations for April 18 and 21. According to Regal Cruises they are making every effort to contact passengers on the upcoming sailing to advise them of the cancellation.