New Venture for Cruise West Chairman

Punta Espinoza (Fernandina) Galapagos

What's Next for Dick West of Cruise West?

September 18, 2010, Dick West, them Chairman of Cruise West, announced the cessation of operations of his small cruise company that had been founded by the late Chuck West in 1973.  This was a sad day for the cruise industry, and for lovers of small cruise ships alike.

Cruise West early success was in Alaska and later the company branched out to other locations where small ships could explore areas that the big boys couldn't.    One of those locations was Galapagos.  

When Cruise West stranded passengers last year, Dick West had worked with their Galapagos partner, Canodros,  to provide alternative options for guests booked on the cruises that were to depart through 2011.   

Shortly after the demise of the company, Dick West had indicated that he intended to return to the cruise industry, but that he would not own ships, but rather would work with other vendors to provide a similar small ship experience.   

Travel Weekly is reporting that the former chairman of Cruise West would launch his comeback cruise and tour venture in the Galapagos by the end of this year and will start taking bookings this summer.  The article indicates that the new company, Explor Tours, would offer a product similar to Cruise West.

We will monitor this story and bring you additional details as plans are unfolded.   A quick search of the internet finds another company with a similar name, so we will have to see if that is indeed the final name of the emerging cruise company.

Galapagos is one of those once-in-a-lifetime destinations that end up on most cruise enthusiasts bucket lists.   This is typically one of the most expensive cruises that you'll take.   It will be interesting to see the response he gets to his new venture.    We wish him success.

Cruise West Ceases Operations

The final chapter in the 64 year history of Cruise West was written this weekend as Chairman, Dick West, announced that the company was shutting down. He said in the statement that he is "heartbroken" by the end of his family's legacy.  The small ship, Seattle, Washington-based cruise line was founded by the late Chuck West -- a pioneer of tourism in the state known as "Mr. Alaska".

Visiting the Cruise West website, you'll find the following statement:

"For the last year, Cruise West has aggressively pursued a number of options with interested parties to maintain operations, including investment, selling assets, and selling the company.  In part because of the most recent dip in the markets and the continued lack of economic confidence, these options have not come to fruition."

The statement indicated that it has canceled all future sailings, with the exception of a Danube river voyage scheduled to begin on Wednesday.


In July, Dick West had secured a $1.5M personal bridge loan to allow operations to continue.  As reported in our blog post,  Cruise West Continues Restructuring, the company has recently sold the Spirit of Oceanus in a last effort to continue operations.    Perhaps this was too little too late.

West thanked the line's "loyal employees, many of whom have been here for decades."  "I am devastated that, though they have given abundantly of their time and energy, we will be unable to continue delivering memorable experiences," he said.

As reported previously, layoffs had already begun at the company as part of the restructuring.  Only a small handful of employees will remain to complete the shutdown.

Their Galapagos partner, Canodros, is working to provide alternative options for guests booked on the cruises that were to depart through 2011.   For other guests, the instructions are the same as we reported when the news first broke (see the actual statement for details if you are impacted).

The actual date of the cessation of operations is September 18, 2010.  This is a sad day for the cruise industry, and for small ship lovers in particular.