Millenium -- Pod problems and ship being repaired in Seward

BSeabob

Forum Manager
Staff member

Mbandy

Staff Captain
Thanks BSea...

Here is the information we received from Celebrity on Friday evening.

Regrettably, we are writing to provide you with information regarding a change to our scheduled itinerary on Celebrity Millennium.
We have experienced an electrical problem with one of the ship’s two propulsion motors, resulting in a delayed arrival in Seward. After completing a full assessment we concluded that, unfortunately, the intricate repairs required to restore power to the motor will take several days. As a result, the ship must remain in port in Seward until Tuesday, when we estimate that the vessel will be able to depart directly for Vancouver, with a scheduled arrival time of 7 am on August 16.

We know how disappointing this is for our guests, and for our Travel Partners who arranged for their vacations, and we share that disappointment. In recognition of that, Celebrity Cruises is providing all guests on this sailing with a full refund of the fare paid for their cruise.
We also have provided them with two options:

Option 1:
Guests who stay onboard through the ship’s arrival in Vancouver will receive a credit toward a future Celebrity cruise in the amount of 100% of the fare paid for the cruise, in addition to a full refund in the amount of the cruise fare paid. Our fabulous shipboard team will make their time onboard as enjoyable as possible, with the fine cuisine Celebrity is known for providing, and the wide variety of entertainment and activities originally planned throughout the ship for them to enjoy.

Option 2: We appreciate that some of our guests may wish to explore the possibility of staying in Seward to fly home from Anchorage. But, hotel availability in Seward and Anchorage is extremely limited, and similarly, air options out of Seward and Anchorage this weekend also are extremely limited, given the high number of guests departing today and arriving over the weekend for other cruises. If any guests wish to explore this option with our staff, and hotel accommodations and/or air are available, we will cover the costs involved. We also will provide them with a credit toward a future Celebrity cruise in the amount of 50% of the fare paid for this cruise, in addition to the full refund.

Again, we sincerely apologize for this very unfortunate and unexpected development. Rest assured our entire staff will do everything they can to make your clients’ time onboard as pleasurable as possible.
# # #
 

Funnel

Food and Beverage Manager- Special Contributor
This is the first M class ship in some while to have an issue with it's Pods.

A couple of years ago (think it was in 2005 or 2006) I visited a company here in Sweden that had done machining work on the M class ships on the pods. If I remember correctly it was the bearings that needed some repair. The pods were a big issue for the M class ships in the beginning.
The company I visited did some very delicate machining (down to a couple of hundreds of a millimeter accuracy) for us with mobile equipment. At that time they were preparing for some work with QM2's pods.

/Erik
 

BSeabob

Forum Manager
Staff member
Yes Erik it was those bearings or related somehow. In the early 2000's a lot of us had issues with X but since 06 or so things have been relatively smooth for the Mermaid Pods of the M class ships and a few others including the Queen Mary that had the French pods built into their ships also.

Interesting that a firm in Sweden played a part. They needed help for a while for sure.

This time they are saying that they can get things fixed in Alaska when they get the parts. They used to have to go to drydock.

I hope things work out ok and the ship can make it back to Vancouver to get back on track with their next cruise.
 

Funnel

Food and Beverage Manager- Special Contributor
This time they are saying that they can get things fixed in Alaska when they get the parts. They used to have to go to drydock.

As they said it's an electrical fault this time I guess they don't need to go to dry dock. Let's at least hope so!

/Erik
 

randy

2nd Officer
Whilie a disappointment, Option 1 offered by Celebrity is very generous. A free 7 day cruise followed by a free future cruise? Not bad for the cost of airfare!
Given the litigious nature of society, I am certain there will still be a class action suit to recover some additional ducats for the "emotional strain" of staying in Seward. :shrug:
 

Krazy Kruizers

Holland America Specialist
Know some people who got on the ship on August 16.

Last night as they were starting to head to Icy Straight, Millenium developed some engine problems and she was limping back to Ketchikan.
 

BSeabob

Forum Manager
Staff member
and everyone is being taken off the ship ... & Next 4 cruises cancelled

4 Millie cruises now cancelled (8/23, 8/30, 9/6, 9/13)
 

Krazy Kruizers

Holland America Specialist
Really feel sad for all the people whose vacations have been ruined.

And some may never get back to Alaska for a long time.
 

BSeabob

Forum Manager
Staff member
Millie supposed to be out of Drydock Today 11 SEPT 2013
 

BSeabob

Forum Manager
Staff member
In the Canal ..WB and down. or rather up to San Diego.
 

BSeabob

Forum Manager
Staff member
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