Windjammer cancels more cruises

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises’ ongoing financial problems have forced it to cancel more sailings.

In a message posted on a Windjammer online message board Tuesday night, Windjammer Operations Manager Danny Walsh said it canceled sailings on the Legacy for Saturday, Nov. 24 and Dec. 3.

The Miami Beach company now aims to sail Dec. 8, but it’s clearly testing the patience of some of its devoted customers .

”There are just so many difficulties, obstacles and legal issues that stand in our path,” Walsh wrote in the posting.

Walsh vowed that Windjammer will issue complete cruise refunds to customers “in a short time.”

None of Windjammer’s four vessels has sailed in weeks. It had planned to resume operations with the Legacy and use profits to get its other three tall ships sailing sometime next spring.

Before Legacy can sail again, however, Trinidad’s Maritime Services Division must first conduct an audit of the ship’s management company. The audit may take place next week, a division official said.

Meanwhile, credit-card processor NCMIC Finance of Clive, Iowa, last month sued Windjammer, alleging the cruise company continued selling cruises despite an “inability to provide the cruises already paid for by customers.”

Customers began demanding refunds, resulting in charge-backs that depleted funds set up in a reserve account for such purposes, NCMIC claims in its suit. It wants $500,000 placed in escrow so other charge-back claims can be covered.