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All Leisure Group cancels Voyager and Minerva cruises citing 'operational reasons'

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L-R clockwise: All Leisure's fleet comprises Minerva, Voyager and Hebridean Princess
Voyages of Discovery's Riches of the Orient cruise,  a 15 day SE Asia sailing on Discovery, due to start in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 4, 2017 has been cancelled, as has Swan Hellenic's Gateway to the Atlantic Isles on Minerva cruise due to depart Marseille today.

Both cruises are cancelled due to 'operational reasons', according to the respective brand's websites.

Both vessels are operated by UK's All Leisure Group, headed by chairman Roger Allard. A third small ship,  Hebridean Princess operated under the Hebridean Island Cruises brand, is not due to start its 2017 programme until March 1.

Seatrade was unable to reach anyone at All Leisure for a comment, although according to sources the company was put up for a fire sale with a December 31, 2016 deadline.

In June 2016, All Leisure Group confirmed that it would leave the UK stock market after months of difficult trading conditions.

As a result, the last day of dealings in All Leisure shares on AIM was June 15, 2016.

All Leisure made a pre-tax profit of £200,000 for the 12 months to October 21, 2015 against a loss of £7.2m a year earlier.

The group agreed a sale and leaseback deal for the vessel Hebridean Princess in November 2015, raising £3m cash to improve liquidity. 

The company also operates Travelsphere and Just You brands employing over 200 people in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.