Hundreds affected after Monaco travel agency collapses, leaving cruise passengers stranded

Hundreds of customers have been left out of pocket after Monaco-based travel agency Star Croisières filed for cessation of payments on 1st August, leaving cruise passengers unable to board trips they had already paid for.

The collapse has affected at least 260 travellers, with losses ranging from €2,000 to over €30,000, according to figures cited in Monaco-Matin. The travellers had booked a variety of Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises through the agency, some of which were due to depart in the coming days.

Many passengers only discovered their bookings were invalid when MSC Cruises refused to honour the reservations, citing unpaid invoices from the now-defunct agency.

Marlène M., who had paid €7,500 for a family cruise scheduled to depart on 10th August, told France Télévisions: “We’re artisans who work hard to afford holidays like this. Now it’s all fallen through and nobody seems to care.”

The crisis reportedly surfaced over the weekend, when multiple cruise passengers began receiving last-minute notifications stating their bookings were not confirmed. In some cases, MSC Cruises initially requested full payment again from passengers who still wished to travel.

Several affected customers have confirmed they paid twice in order to salvage their holiday plans.

Early estimates suggest that total financial losses could amount to €400,000, though that figure may rise as additional claims are made.

Solutions begin to emerge

After mounting media pressure and customer backlash, MSC Cruises issued a statement on Monday evening, confirming that it would now honour bookings for customers able to provide proof of full payment to Star Croisières. Those who had only paid a deposit would be permitted to complete their payment directly with MSC.

“We understand how disappointing and distressing this situation can be for customers who were looking forward to their holiday,” said the Geneva-based company in a statement to Monaco-Matin. “Our teams are mobilised to support each customer through these procedures.”

Meanwhile, Costa Cruises had already agreed to honour bookings from customers who could present valid, paid invoices.

In a message sent to clients, Star Croisières blamed its collapse on “deep financial imbalances inherited from Covid-19”. The agency officially filed for cessation of payments on 1st August, and a hearing is expected to take place before the Monaco Commercial Court in the coming days.

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Les Enfants de Frankie reaches 3,500 children across six-month period

For 28 years, Association Les Enfants de Frankie has been working across the Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco, with Frankie the clown as its most beloved mascot. This year alone, the charity has supported 3,500 children facing difficult circumstances. 

The Monaco-based charity has just released its six-month report, revealing how €33,846 has been strategically invested across 15 medical, social and educational facilities to illuminate the lives of children facing hardship.

“Behind each project, there are faces, stories, emotions,” the association explains, and those stories paint a picture of transformation across the region.

From grey courtyards to spaces of wonder

The charity’s impact covers both practical needs and creative solutions. Children’s homes have gained sensory rooms where young people can relax and express themselves, while an artistic kiosk has been added to another facility. Additionally, a centre for autistic children now has an inclusive space designed for their specific needs.

New basketball hoops have also been installed in a previously bare courtyard. Meanwhile, at hospitals virtual reality headsets help children escape momentarily from pain and fear, while pottery wheels support paediatric psychiatry workshops.

The charity’s innovative approach extends to cutting-edge technology: adapted computers for hearing-impaired children, therapeutic cameras for sessions with autistic children, specialist tablets, Montessori materials for disabled children, kitchen utensils designed to rebuild confidence, and even autism screening software.

Les Enfants de Frankie workshop, photo provided.

Beyond institutional support, Les Enfants de Frankie demonstrates its commitment to individual children. Young Louca, who suffers from a rare genetic mutation called TUBB3, received funding for an intensive 25-hour rehabilitation programme tailored to his specific needs.

All these initiatives fall under the charity’s ‘Actions for Two Hands’ programme, which has accompanied, supported and listened to 3,500 children through outings, activities and bespoke projects over the past six months.

Christmas magic on the horizon

The year isn’t over yet. On 26th November, the association will celebrate the 28th edition of Frankie’s Christmas. This year’s theme, ‘Dance with Frankie’, will welcome more than 1,000 children per day of shows, refreshments and gifts.

Operating from 20 Boulevard Rainier III in Monaco, Les Enfants de Frankie continues to rely on the faithful support of its benefactors to fund its wide-ranging programmes.

As the charity puts it: “Because at Les Enfants de Frankie, we heal hearts”.

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Main photo credit:Les Enfants de Frankie Facebook page.

France reveals extent of ‘forever chemicals’ contamination in national water supply

France has published a new government map revealing the extent of PFAS chemicals – or else ‘forever chemicals’ because they never break down – in French water sources. 

From the results, sixteen communes have been found with PFAS levels that breach European Union safety thresholds, with health warnings issued in the worst-affected areas.

The interactive mapping tool, launched at the end of July, brings together 2.3 million water analyses from over 21,000 sites nationwide. It covers everything from tap water to groundwater, surface water and industrial sources.

French newspaper Le Figaro’s analysis of the official data identified the 16 communes where PFAS levels exceed the EU limit of 0.1 micrograms per litre. The affected areas span the country, from Neuwiller, Blotzheim and Saint-Louis in Haut-Rhin near the German border, to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in Normandy, and even Cognac in the Charente region.

The contamination isn’t limited to tap water either. Major bottled water brands including Perrier, Vittel, Hépar and Contrex have also been found to contain elevated PFAS levels.

In the most severe affected areas, authorities have taken no chances. Since May, vulnerable residents in 11 communes in Haut-Rhin have been advised not to drink their tap water at all. That warning is expected to stay in place until at least the end of December.

What exactly are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances – synthetic chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. They’re found in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, firefighting foam, and food packaging.

The problem is they stick around forever. These chemicals don’t break down naturally in the environment or in our bodies, which is why they’ve earned their sinister nickname. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to increased cancer risk, liver damage, and reduced effectiveness of vaccines.

Government promises transparency

The mapping project was developed by France’s Geological and Mining Research Bureau (BRGM) as part of a broader government action plan launched in April 2024. The initiative came after alarming reports of unsafe water supplies near Lyon and in south-west France.

The tool allows users to search for their local area and view detailed results from water testing. However, officials warn that people shouldn’t try to assess their own health risks from the data, as PFAS toxicity varies between different substances and scientific understanding is still evolving.

The platform pulls together data from four main sources: surface water monitoring makes up 59% of the analyses, groundwater accounts for 23%, industrial discharge data contributes 12%, and drinking water monitoring provides the remaining 6%.

Major changes coming in 2026

From January 2026, widespread PFAS monitoring in drinking water will become mandatory across the country, in line with European Union requirements.

The same timeline will see PFAS banned from cosmetics and certain clothing items. A nationwide health investigation is already underway to better understand how much the French population is exposed to PFAS and other chemicals like pesticides and plasticisers. The goal is to map the links between what people eat, drink, and breathe, and their health outcomes.

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 Main photo credit: Unsplash Swanky Fella

Interview: Musical Theater Writer, Composer, and Princess Grace Award Winner Julia Riew

In partnership with the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, Monaco Life is proud to present a monthly series spotlighting the lives and artistic work of the Foundation’s remarkable Award winners. This month, Kelli Acciardo speaks with 2023 Princess Grace Honoraria recipient Julia Riew, a visionary musical theater composer and lyricist redefining who gets to take center stage.

Best known for her breakout musical Dive—inspired by the Korean folktale of Shimcheong—Julia Riew first captured hearts on TikTok before her work evolved into a fully staged production now in development at the American Repertory Theater (ART) in Cambridge, MA. But behind the viral success is a much deeper story—one rooted in family, identity, and a lifelong search for belonging.

Reclaiming Identity Through Art

That sense of togetherness extends into Riew’s creative work. Dive, her breakout musical, began as a way to bridge the gap between her Korean heritage and her American upbringing. “I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and I didn’t have a strong connection to Korean culture as a kid,” she explains. “But after my grandfather passed away in 2020, my grandmother came to live with us, and I started hearing stories about life in Korea. That changed everything.”

Originally planning to write a different thesis, Riew pivoted. “I thought: If there’s no Korean Disney princess, then maybe I should create one.” Inspired by childhood memories of Disney musicals and a desire to tell stories rooted in her culture, she turned to Korean folklore—and discovered Shimcheong, a tale about a girl separated from her family who embarks on a journey home.

“It was perfect. The character’s arc mirrored my own feelings of searching for belonging,” she says. “I wrote the first song one night and couldn’t sleep. I even wrote a note in my phone that said, ‘TikTok idea: Hi, I’m Julia and there’s no Korean Disney princess, so I decided to create one.’ Then I deleted it the next morning because I thought it was silly!”

A year and a half later, after completing the first draft of the musical, Riew posted that very concept—and the internet responded. “It was kind of miraculous. People really resonated with it.”

 

A Dream Team of Women

Now Dive is being developed with her “dream team” at the American Repertory Theater, including Diane Borger and Diana Son. “To be fresh out of college and have these women take me seriously and champion my vision—it’s rare,” Riew reflects. “I’ve been in creative rooms where the youngest person’s ideas aren’t taken seriously. But Diane and Diana truly value what I bring. They’ve supported me before the virality and stuck with me because they believe in the project.”

She credits those relationships with giving her the confidence to push boundaries. “To be guided by women I admire—and who look like me—is incredibly powerful.”

Why She Writes for Young People

While Riew works across genres—from stage to screen to books—one common thread connects them all: she writes with young people in mind.

“I love writing for young people because that’s the age when I fell in love with storytelling,” she says. “I think young people are particularly impacted by stories in a way that’s often overlooked.”

Growing up in the Midwest as a Korean American, Riew recalls how media shaped her view of what was possible. “Representation is so important because it builds our understanding of what we can become. Whether that’s showing women doing things we haven’t traditionally seen them do, or featuring Asian American characters in roles that break the mold—it matters.”

For her, writing is a way to give voice to the characters she needed when she was younger. “It’s an honor and a responsibility. I think a lot about what we’re sharing with young audiences, and for me, it’s a way of sharing the ideas, the characters, the voices, and the potential I wish I had seen as a kid.”

On Contributing to a Changing Landscape

Representation is changing—fast. “We just saw Maybe Happy Ending win six Tony Awards! Things are moving in such an exciting direction,” Riew says. “We’re finally at a point where people are truly valuing stories of all kinds. And I’m honored to be a part of that.”

One of the spaces she’s especially passionate about is what she calls ‘Midwestern Asian representation’. “There are fewer of us, but there are so many of us. It’s scary to be the first, or the only one doing something, but this is the first time we’re really being given a platform to raise our voices.”

That’s why she loves theater: it’s about building community. “You start with nothing but a story, and then you build a whole world around it with artists who’ve been waiting for this moment. That’s the most exciting part—uplifting each other.”

Her Legacy, and What’s Next

Given Princess Grace’s remarkable legacy, what kind of impact does Riew hope to leave behind?

“I think it’s impossible to know what your legacy will be. You can’t control how people will respond or interpret your work. So I try not to focus on that. Instead, I think about very specific people in my life. Every time I write something, I write it with one person in mind. If that person sees it and is moved by it, then I’ve done my job.”

Her hope? “That people remember me as a kind collaborator. Someone who made great art, sure—but mostly, someone who supported the people around her.”

As for what’s next: “I’m working on my next draft of Dive and a couple of musicals in development with a company in Korea. We’re searching for theaters there to potentially workshop those later this year,” she says. “But the big thing is the book—The Last Tiger—which comes out July 29. Then Shim Cheong Takes a Dive releases the following year, and my brother and I are already writing our next book after that.”

The Last Tiger: A Cinematic Tale Rooted in Family Legacy 

The upcoming novel, The Last Tiger, is Riew’s debut work of fiction, co-written with her brother Brad and published by Penguin. Inspired by their grandparents’ real-life forbidden love story during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the book began during the pandemic, shortly after Riew read Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

“She talked about the power of fantasy rooted in real life—and it clicked for me,” Riew says. “Brad and I grew up hearing these incredible, cinematic stories from our grandparents. One night, we just said: what if we turned their story into a YA fantasy novel?”

They mapped out the plot and magic system that same night, writing the book over the next year and a half without agents or expectations—just a desire to honor their family. “To now be working with Penguin—it still feels surreal.”

Blending Korean history, folklore, and fantasy, the book tells a sweeping story of love, resistance, and magic. “There’s longing, action, heartbreak, joy,” she says. “And each section begins with a real quote from our grandparents’ stories. It’s our way of keeping their voices alive—and sharing the legacy they left behind.”

A Dream Afternoon in Monaco

Since this story appears in Monaco Life, it seemed only fair to ask: If she could spend a creative afternoon in Monaco with anyone, who would it be?

Riew doesn’t hesitate. “Honestly, any time I’m somewhere beautiful, I always think of my fiancé first. I just wish he were there to enjoy it too. So I’d bring him. He’s not an artist in the traditional sense, but he’s incredibly creative—and I’d love to share that with him.”

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Téo Andant secures bronze in 400m at French Championships

Monaco’s Téo Andant added another podium to his growing list of national achievements on Sunday, earning bronze in the men’s 400 metres at the French Elite Championships in Talence. 

Representing Monaco, the 26-year-old clocked 45.33 seconds in a competitive final at the Stade Pierre-Paul Bernard.

The race was won by defending champion Muhammad Abdallah Kounta in 45.12, with Yann Spillmann taking silver in 45.29. Andant finished closely behind, confirming his place among France’s top quarter-milers this season.

Andant has been a consistent presence in French athletics, with medals at both indoor and outdoor national championships. He holds a personal best of 45.18 seconds, set in Madrid in 2023. Trained by Marc Vecchio and based at the INSEP in Paris, Andant has also earned international relay medals, including a silver and French record in the 4 x 400 m relay at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

The 137th edition of the French Elite Championships featured 700 athletes competing across 38 events over three days. Alongside Andant’s bronze, highlights included Tom Campagne’s long jump victory and Gabriel Bordier’s world record in the 10,000m race walk.

The championships concluded on Sunday at the Stade Pierre-Paul Bernard in Talence. The 2026 edition of the French Elite Championships is already scheduled to take place in Aubière, near Clermont-Ferrand

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Main photo credit : © Jean-Marie Hervio / KMP / FFA