Postby roadhog » February 3rd, 2011, 4:47 pm
Global cruise company Carnival Corporation has sued local travel agent Vicky Boodram-Arjoonsingh and her company, over two failed cruises planned for later this year.
Miami-based Carnival Corporation, whose cruise brands include Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises, filed documents in the Florida Southern District Court on January 24 against Boodram, her La Romaine company, Boodram's Travel and Tours, and Ship Ahoy Cruises.
Carnival claimed seven counts of fraud and breach of contract, as well as copyright infringement, against Boodram in civil court filings submitted to judge K Michael Moore and later judge Andrea Simonton, a summary of the lawsuit indicated.
The cruise line alleges that Boodram and her companies agreed to pay about $40 million in two payments of US$3 million each to secure use of Carnival vessels for two Caribbean cruises in 2011.
Documents submitted as case evidence by Carnival Corporation, allege that the local travel company forwarded a letter of credit from a branch of the Wells Fargo Bank in the United States to facilitate an initial payment of US$3 million to Carnival Corporation.
This arrangement was changed after Boodram's forwarded a letter from a local bank, which purportedly stated that fraudulent activity had taken place on Boodram's account but she was not responsible for this.
Carnival Corporation claimed that it was unable to secure payment for use of its vessels from either bank.
When it contacted the commercial banks here and in the United States, both indicated to Carnival that letters purportedly from their offices were false and fraudulent, Carnival alleges in its lawsuit.
Boodram's also continued to advertise the cruises with Carnival ships even though the foreign company was not paid, Carnival alleged as it claimed copyright infringement of its brand.
As the deal with Carnival fell apart, Boodram's started advertising a replacement cruise on another cruise line. This time, the cruise would be planned over seven days instead of five. But in court documents, Carnival said it contacted the other cruise line and was told there was no agreement with Boodram's either.
On Monday, police had to be called out to Boodram's offices after customers who paid between $4,000 and $6,000 per person for the cancelled cruise sailings demanded their money back.
Boodram-Arjoonsingh had promised over several weeks to give customers refunds.
Last month, Boodram-Arjoonsingh, who is the president and founder of Boodram's Travel, told the Express the company ceased all marketing and sales of the Carnival cruises which were scheduled to go to Grenada, St Lucia and Martinique.
"We indicated to passengers that we will be using a different cruise line but if they choose to, they can collect refunds on their tickets," Boodram said.
The cruises were initially advertised as offering free shuttle services to the ships and an all-inclusive package for meals and drinks. Calls to Boodram's cell phones for comment went unanswered last night.