Victoria Cruises Line (VCL) promotes itself as the first affordable residential cruise, offering three-year voyages to 115 countries for a monthly fee of approximately US$3,840 (£2,858). This advertisement attracted many potential customers globally, including Dennis and Taryna Wawn from Australia, who were preparing for retirement.
However, three years later, VCL has yet to commence its scheduled sailings, and it appears the company does not currently own or lease the advertised cruise ship. Numerous customers, including the Wawns, are still awaiting refunds of their deposits, prompting concerns.
Many individuals who signed up for the cruise had taken significant steps based on the promises made by VCL. Reports indicate that some clients sold their homes and made personal sacrifices, such as rehoming pets, in anticipation of the journey. Affected individuals have taken various actions, including legal initiatives and complaints to consumer protection agencies.
VCL stated that it continues to advertise to increase customer numbers necessary for chartering a vessel. The company maintains that customers were informed about the occupancy conditions when making their deposits and denies targeting anyone unethically. Despite these claims, many who signed contracts are now doubtful about the cruise’s future, with some having lost hope of receiving their deposits back.
Further investigations reveal that VCL’s marketing materials, depicting a fully-equipped cruise liner, may not align with its current operational reality. The ship’s previous owners have denied any association with VCL, raising questions about its legitimacy.
Despite falling short on its promises, VCL continues to advertise its services online, claiming renewed interest among potential clients. However, consumer advocates raise concerns regarding the effectiveness of regulatory actions against the company amidst allegations of misleading advertising practices.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xrd29r5ywo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss