Celebrity Millennium to Return to Service Sept. 22

Celebrity Cruises expects the Celebrity Millennium will return to service Sept. 22 after its problematic propulsion pod is replaced at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport. The line cancelled six Alaska cruises in August and September after experiencing propulsion problems on several voyages.

Celebrity’s top executives held a conference call with trade reporters on Aug. 28 to detail the highly technical operation to replace the 250-ton Rolls-Royce Mermaid propulsion pod. The replacement pod is being shipped on a charter vessel from Rotterdam to the Bahamas while the Millennium is sailing to Freeport down the western coast of North and Central America. The pod is expected to arrive on Sept. 3, with the ship arriving and entering dry dock three days later. The ship is scheduled to depart the yard on Sept. 11 to sail to San Diego, arriving Sept. 22 to begin a Panama Canal cruise to Fort Lauderdale.

While in dry dock, Celebrity President and CEO Michael Bayley said the 843 crew members onboard will help refresh the ship, deep cleaning the staterooms, draperies, furniture, upholstery and carpets. They’ll also undergo specialized training in areas such as ConciergeClass, AquaClass and suite service and amenities. And, the future cruise sales desk will be moved to a more prominent location by the shops on Deck 5.

Bayley said it was too soon to know the total cost of the repair operation, including the cancelled voyages, future cruise certificates, and hotel, food and transportation for affected guests. He noted that the cost of chartering airplanes alone was $3 million to transfer guests from Ketchikan to Anchorage, Vancouver or Seattle.

Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of sales, thanked the travel trade for its “great, wonderful support,” saying the agent community is “rallying behind” the company. She said Celebrity communicated with agents as soon as the problem arose and continued to talk to them during the process. She also said Bayley would formally apologize in a video that will go to all travel agents.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/celebrity-millennium-to-return-to-service-sept-22.html