Peter Hughes Galapagos trips after Aug 1st "Cancelled"

So got the following email from Peter Hughes, now minus Peter Hughes. My bet is we can call the boat and get our spot but this issue with deposits makes me a little nervous. Anyone know a good group to see humpbacks in Tonga with in September????

June 30, 2010

RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE: Your Upcoming Sky Dancer Live-Aboard Vacation

As you have already been notified, Sky Dancer, as of June 13th, is no longer a member of the Dancer Fleet. At the time we received notice, we had every intention of carrying out your reservation as booked with the Ecuadorian owners. Unfortunately, they have now demanded that we turn over all deposits and payments to them immediately. This is normally completed 30 days prior to your date of departure. At the Dancer Fleet, we are very protective of your money and maintain all funds paid towards future travel in an insured US account until your cruise is about to depart.

As you have entrusted us here at the Dancer Fleet with your reservation, deposits and payments we feel it our obligation to protect your funds. We cannot send the Ecuadorian owners your money outside the schedule established while still accepting ownership and responsibility for your reservation and funds. As a result, they have decided to cancel all reservations from August 1st forward for “non-payment”.

I regret to have to inform you of this as I know the kind of planning that goes into this type of diving vacation. While this is very unfortunate, we do have some options for you.

First, we can simply refund all payments made to date with no penalty.

We can also work with you to move your reservation (and existing payments) to another Dancer Fleet yacht. Again – all change fees would be waived.

As a third alternative, we can attempt to find you space on our sister company yachts in the Galapagos Islands (Galapagos Aggressor I & II).

Again, I apologize for this unfortunate event and our team will work very hard to salvage your diving vacation. Please let us know at your earliest convenience if we should process a refund for you or assist you with alternate travel plans.

Thank You,

Best Regards,

Larry Speaker

Executive Vice President

Isn't this the boat that Peter is now part owner of? Renamed Galapagos Sky? Run by http://www.divencounters.com/

So Peter leaves Peter Hughes Diving this year, goes to Divencounters and demands that his old company send the deposits for his new boat. Could be he knows something?

Then today I get an email from the Aggessor fleet say that "Wayne Hasson has been named President of the world-wide liveaboard company Dancer Fleet, also known as Peter Hughes Diving". Wayne is also the president of the Aggressor Fleet. And if you haven't noticed Wayne Brown is Chairman & CEO of both Dancer Fleet and Aggressor Fleet. One fleet folks, two colors of boats.

I think we're going to need programs if this keeps up.

Sorry you may lose out on your trip, that doesn't feel good. Of course if you contact Divencounters then you'd be working with Peter directly and he has always been a straight arrow as far as I know. I don't think I'd give up just yet.

If you're thinking of Tonga drop Karen a note; http://www.divevavau.com/index.asp. I haven't been there but she is a contributing photographer to the Fin Foundation and a super troop in my book.

Steve

Yes and the 'Tropic Dancer' in Palau now is actually the old Fiji Aggressor....

I have always found the Hughes and Aggressor fleets "interesting". Especially after the Belize fiasco and now with the merging and ship repositioning. That said one has to realize the company is basically a booking company with ship exclusivity. Most do not understand this arrangement. It looks like Hughes new operation is no different.

Their 30 day policy is a safety net incase the company that really owns the ship goes belly up. The new Hughes company probably wants the monies now to use as working capital. Not surprising as a new company getting capital is probably proving harder than expected.