An Australian cruise operator has come under criticism for reportedly continuing to offer cruise packages despite having already entered receivership.
Local news outlet ABC reported that Kimberley Pearl Tours' (KPT) website and official social media channels are still advertising cruise bookings off Western Australia for the remainder of 2026 and early 2027.
A number of customers have already paid deposits for their respective bookings and were reminded to settle their outstanding balances when they learned that KPT had entered administration.
Two customers interviewed by ABC said they learned of the company's financial problems purely by chance.
It is alleged that KPT has not released any official statements that receivers were appointed to it in January of this year after its sole director fell behind on payments on a AU$395,000 (US$283,000) loan issued by Blackbird Private Equity, a non-bank lender.
Daniel Brown, who took over KPT in 2024, took out the loan to complete the purchase of the vessel Kimberley Pearl. Because he fell behind on repayments, the total payable amount to Blackbird grew to AU$1 million (US$720,000).
Brown has since challenged the receivership, telling a federal court judge that he was drawn into an unfair loan arrangement that also involved other parties. Specifically, he stated that receivers had threatened that Kimberley Pearl would be sold at less than market value.
As the two sides of the case continue their mediation, a federal court judge has prohibited receivers from selling any of KPT's assets including the vessel.