Celebrity cancels cruise - Summit Repair

NJVIC · 05-10-2006, 05:28 PM

Just saw this thought it might be interesting - Vic.

Celebrity Cruises Cancels One Alaska SailingMIAMI, May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Celebrity Cruises is canceling one sailing on Summit to replace the starboard thrust bearing in the ship's propulsion system. The ship must enter drydock to replace the bearing, which will result in the cancellation of its May 20 sailing. The ship is expected to return to its scheduled sailings on May 27.
The cancelled sailing is a seven-night Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Seward. Summit is currently sailing a 13-night West Coast / Alaska cruise that will end in Vancouver, as scheduled on May 20.
Guests booked on the cancelled sailing will receive a full refund and a free Celebrity cruise from North America of up to seven nights, departing on or before September 30, 2007, excluding holiday and Celebrity Xpedition sailings. Travel agents will receive full commissions for the cancelled sailing, plus a $50 rebooking fee per stateroom when their clients reschedule their cruise.
"I sincerely apologize to our guests who are affected by this cancelled cruise," said Dan Hanrahan, president of Celebrity Cruises. "Although Summit continues to operate safely, this is a matter that must be addressed now. Our business is to provide the best vacations possible and I regret the disruption this will cause our guests. We will do everything we can to assist them onboard other sailings."
Celebrity has established a special help desk to assist guests and travel agents with rebooking, air transportation, land tours and other issues. That toll-free number is 1-888-281-9343.
The cancelled cruise is expected to have a negative impact on the earnings of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. of approximately $.04 per share.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, with a combined total of 29 ships in service and five under construction. The company also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe through its cruise-tour division. Additional information can be found on http://www.royalcaribbean.com , http://www.celebrity.com or http://www.rclinvestor.com .

Liz · 05-10-2006, 05:33 PM

On and on and ON it goes

Dani · 05-10-2006, 05:42 PM

While it is sad to have to cancel a cruise on such short notice.

This time a cruiseline really went the distance to make it up to the passengers.

Full refund and a free 7 day cruise. That is much better than some of the recent offers.

Airfare could be a problem but you would retain credit with the airline and could use it to book again.

I haven't looked at the Celebrity cruises around the same time but they might be able to book one pretty near the time frame.

c-to-sea · 05-10-2006, 06:42 PM

Deja Vu all over again. This is the same thing that happened here last year,
only a bit earlier in the season. The press release doesn't say where the work is to be done.
Last year she went into drydock here in Victoria. Once we find out, I will see if
I can get some pictures. My nephew is in the Navy and the drydock is next to the
base. This must be Celebrity's worst nightmare and there doesn;t seem to
be any resolution of the problem with the Mermaid pods. No positives
here for customer relations or repeat business. What a mess.

Dani · 05-10-2006, 09:30 PM

They are just going to have to start selling "Repair Cruises ".

People will not get seasick as ship will not move.

Nightly fireworks from the welding machines.

Old spare parts signed by the Captain and given out as "pillow presents ".

No foreign ports to get lost in. No shore ex. to pay for .

Cost would be half price.

All drinks on the house so that passengers would assume that they are cruising.

Keith ? All drinks on the house.... Did you hear that ?

Liz · 05-11-2006, 07:39 AM

Yes, Cliff, CND reports that the work will be done in Victoria.

Also, this is the FIFTH time Summit has had to have bearings replaced

, four times on an emergency basis.

Reduced speed will cause her to miss Seattle and Sitka on her current cruise.

Dani · 05-11-2006, 02:08 PM

Dare I repeat myself.

Should have had the ships made in the same yard as the Century Class.

Proper country for ship building.

jeff · 05-11-2006, 04:38 PM

I remember when these ships starting coming out of France and everyone thought they should have been built at Meyer-Wurft. I knew that Germany had nothing available at the time....BUT! I too feel it would have been better to wait and build them at Meyer Wurft rather than put up with all of these failed bearings. Engineering is a science not guesswork.

Beautiful ships though and among my favorites.

jeff

sealegs · 05-11-2006, 06:04 PM

Good afternoon, all,

Well, as Cliff stated, '' deja vu all over again''....I don't know how much longer RCL will continue stomaching those emergency drydocks due to '' premature wearing of the radial thrust bearing, starboard side, propulsion system'' affecting the Millie class...The $$ expenses , to say nothing of the PR hits, caused by those episodes, have to be atrocious....
On a good +++ side...I presume they'll take advantage of this drydock in Victoria to strip the remnants of the ill-fated infamous CDS experiment off the Revelation lounge, and return it to its original fabulous self....After all, this is the excuse given so far for leaving ''Bar at the edge of the earth " as is , although CDS itself was '' retought and relocated"...had to wait till next drydock, they said......Well ??? Here it comes !!
I was just thinking, also....not to jinx her....but how long has it been since Connie's pods acted up ?? Seems she's been luckier than the other 3...

What's everybody's opinion on a radical move RCL should undertake: ground the entire Millie class, one by one, and replace the propulsion system !!! I'm sure that option has figured heavily in the current '' settlement negotiations'' between RCL and whoever is on the hook for the azipods sytem , in the law suit launched by RCL VS Ahlstom // RoolsRoyce // Chantier Atlantique // Cegelec, etc etc....

Cheers
CG

Liz · 05-11-2006, 07:13 PM

Well, again, according to CND, suit against Allstrom was settled in January, 2006 for 38 million dollars....suit against Rolls continues. No mention of any of the others

Estimated cost, per "share value" is 8.2 million for THIS one alone.

Report that Mermaid pods to be painted "lemon yellow" during this drydock has evidently been denied by Royal Caribbean