Tour Agency Told to Halt Operations

A judge ordered a travel agency Friday to temporarily stop operating in Texas after it booked an international “dream” cruise plagued by broken toilets and air conditioning and a crew mutiny.

State District Judge Emilio Garza granted a temporary injunction against Golden CruiseTours and two of its affiliates, which are accused of deceptive advertising. The state contends that customers were bilked of hundreds of thousands of dollars when their trips were canceled and their money was not refunded.

Assistant Atty. Gen. Raul Noriega said he would warn authorities in other states about the agency’s owners, Fernando Inigo and his wife, Lorna, of San Antonio.

The Inigos, two of five defendants named in a state lawsuit, have not been seen since the ship Galaxy experienced problems on a cruise earlier this month.

“I wouldn’t at all be surprised that they are going to try to do this again, using a different name in a different state or country. Maybe they might appeal to the European market,” Noriega said.

“They are going to wait a few months, I suspect, to let all the hubbub die down and give them some time to finish fixing the ship and getting cleaned up and making it presentable,” he said.

Noriega said at least 2,000 consumers paid the travel agency $2,000 each for 36 future tours.