New propulsion problem on Millennium

[CMJ33]

I think it's terrific that so many seem to have a glass half full attitude...and Celebrity financial management appreciates that you are happy and spending money at bars, etc on board while they aren't burning fuel or paying port charges. They are likely so elated by this that they are now thinking of one week, "we stay in port", cruises.

 

Come on folks....the passengers have flown all the way to Alaska (or Canada) to go on a cruise...a cruise some are taking after years of savings to do so, and they have planned their vacation from work to coincide with the cruise. For some/many, it's the cruise of a lifetime which is now, not a cruise to anywhere.

 

For some, it's just nice to be away from home....we're retired and can travel most any time so it's not such a big deal. Others don't have that luxury. Also others paid significant $'s for their airfare and as far as I know, Celebrity isn't refunding that portion....they were just offering a free cruise in the future (unclear actually). Insurance won't cover this except in some rare policies that cover mechanical breakdown of the cruise ship (if you think this is covered in your policy for your next trip, I suggest you read your policy because it probably isn't covered).

 

The situation isn't peaches and cream...for many, it sucks, for some it's dashed dreams of an Alaska cruise.

 

Let's be balanced here.....and not all take the "oh, it's wonderful, no matter where I am, I'm on a ship" view.....and suggest that those who are not happy and are perhaps complaining on board are somehow wrong in their attitude.

 

 

Couldn't have said it better. Totally agree!

[h2dcruise]

I dunno... I think it's better to be on a floating resort than having your entire trip cancellation.

[Queenbee031]

Am on current cruise definitely feel your pain but can't imagine next cruise happening unless a miracle fix occurs.

 

My only concern is getting to Seward for the land portion of my trip. As long as that happens and we are fairly compensated I am fine.

 

Hope delay in telling us is not that they haven't figured out yet how to move two thousand people off of Ketchikan by other means.

 

By the way usatoday.com and today's newspaper has an article on our voyage.

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

I agree. We have plans to visit Denali on our own after the trip. I want to make sure we are in Anchorage by Friday night. Let's hope they fix the problem or charter us flights out.

 

I believe compensation should be more than refunding us shore excursion costs for stops the cruise line has cancelled.

 

One note, since we are in port, the shops and casino on board have been closed, so not all entertainment one would expect is available. Also, shore excursions were limited yesterday since "all-aboard" kept changing.

 

At this point over half the trip has been cancelled, since as I write this we are still in Ketchikan. I hope we can get going soon and at least see Hubbard Glacier. I don't think Skagway is feasible at this point.

[johoallen]

We are on the Solstice and saw the Millie turn around and head back to Ketchikan and figured out what happened. We feel for to passengers and hope Celebrity is taking good care of you.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[CPT Trips]

I think it's terrific that so many seem to have a glass half full attitude...and Celebrity financial management appreciates that you are happy and spending money at bars, etc on board while they aren't burning fuel or paying port charges. They are likely so elated by this that they are now thinking of one week, "we stay in port", cruises.

 

Come on folks....the passengers have flown all the way to alaska (or canada) to go on a cruise...a cruise some are taking after years of savings to do so, and they have planned their vacation from work to coincide with the cruise. For some/many, it's the cruise of a lifetime which is now, not a cruise to anywhere.

 

For some, it's just nice to be away from home....we're retired and can travel most any time so it's not such a big deal. Others don't have that luxury. Also others paid significant $'s for their airfare and as far as I know, Celebrity isn't refunding that portion....they were just offering a free cruise in the future (unclear actually). Insurance won't cover this except in some rare policies that cover mechanical breakdown of the cruise ship (if you think this is covered in your policy for your next trip, I suggest you read your policy because it probably isn't covered).

 

The situation isn't peaches and cream...for many, it sucks, for some it's dashed dreams of an Alaska cruise.

 

Let's be balanced here.....and not all take the "oh, it's wonderful, no matter where I am, I'm on a ship" view.....and suggest that those who are not happy and are perhaps complaining on board are somehow wrong in their attitude.

 

No port charges? You really think Ketchikan is letting them stay there free like an RV at Walmart? Less fuel maybe, but they still need power. The shops and casino have zero revenue. And, shorex department is probably below projections. I don't think corporate likes it any more than the pax.

 

ETA: I forgot all the free drinks on the promo . . .

[NJBeast]

Woke up this morning to "I got you babe" by Sonny and Cher on the alarm clock radio. Drew back the curtains to see the town of Ketchikan outside and we are thinking that this is very familiar. Oh well must not have gotton yesterday right. Just going to have to live it over again.

[vermonter16]

I wouldn't say that it's peaches and cream and it is certainly a bummer and I'm hopeful Celebrity will compensate people properly. But - when you are essentially stuck in a situation out of your control...you can do one of two things - make the best of it and enjoy what you do have, or just be upset and miserable. I'd certainly want compensation but I'd also enjoy myself and deal with that when the time comes.

[TroubleT]

I think it's terrific that so many seem to have a glass half full attitude...and Celebrity financial management appreciates that you are happy and spending money at bars, etc on board while they aren't burning fuel or paying port charges. They are likely so elated by this that they are now thinking of one week, "we stay in port", cruises.

 

Come on folks....the passengers have flown all the way to alaska (or canada) to go on a cruise...a cruise some are taking after years of savings to do so, and they have planned their vacation from work to coincide with the cruise. For some/many, it's the cruise of a lifetime which is now, not a cruise to anywhere.

 

For some, it's just nice to be away from home....we're retired and can travel most any time so it's not such a big deal. Others don't have that luxury. Also others paid significant $'s for their airfare and as far as I know, Celebrity isn't refunding that portion....they were just offering a free cruise in the future (unclear actually). Insurance won't cover this except in some rare policies that cover mechanical breakdown of the cruise ship (if you think this is covered in your policy for your next trip, I suggest you read your policy because it probably isn't covered).

 

The situation isn't peaches and cream...for many, it sucks, for some it's dashed dreams of an Alaska cruise.

 

Let's be balanced here.....and not all take the "oh, it's wonderful, no matter where I am, I'm on a ship" view.....and suggest that those who are not happy and are perhaps complaining on board are somehow wrong in their attitude.

Well said!

Alaska is on our "Things to do" list. It's a long flight for us and we are still in a planning mode for the next year Alaska cruise. I would be really upset to get "floating hotel" instead of itinerary of a lifetime...

[Karynanne]

Woke up this morning to "I got you babe" by Sonny and Cher on the alarm clock radio. Drew back the curtains to see the town of Ketchikan outside and we are thinking that this is very familiar. Oh well must not have gotton yesterday right. Just going to have to live it over again.

 

Groundhog Day II.

[maggie.1008]

It rains in Ketchikan most days. Hope they have good weather so they can enjoy the ship outdoors. I have done this cruise 3 times and never had good weather. I know no one can control the weather.

[Shining Clem]

with this delay.

 

As observed from the Ketchican cams (go down to see all views) it looks like there is often some medium sized tanker truck making numerous trips to the side of the ship. (Just out of camera range, lower right) The tank looks like the ones around here which pump out your septic tank. Food garbage or sewage ???

 

It also must be discouraging to see the other ships leave and still be stuck.

**************

BTW, ghstudio, the Millie is still racking up port charges and burning fuel. What do you think keeps the lights on, the refrigerators cold, the vacuum systems working, the laundry washing, the salt water being converted into fresh, the food cooking?

 

From the POV of the officers & Celebrity management, the only worse thing which could happen now is for the CDC food & galley inspection team to show up! :eek:

[gblotter]

First-time cruiser and new to cruisecritic as well. Writing this on my iPhone from our balcony overlooking scenic Ketchikan.

 

I am not a 'Pollyanna' type nor a sour puss either so this post will be a mix of good and bad.

 

Our Aquaclass stateroom has given us access to the incredible dining in the Blu restaurant - worth every penny of the upgrade. Also ate in the Olympic restaurant last night which was impressive beyond words.

 

We called around directly to some float plane companies trying to get the best possible deal on a Misty Fjords flight. Spent a lot of time on the phone with one company located at the Ketchikan airport. They informed us that we could wait for clear weather for our float plane flight - no rush - because Millennium will be here in Ketchikan for a while longer.

 

Because this float plane company is located at the airport, they are aware of arrangements that Celebrity is making to bring in TWENTY 737 CHARTERED AIRCRAFT to take all passengers away (presumably to Anchorage) later in the week. Apparently the Coast Guard is refusing to allow Millennium to leave Ketchikan with any passengers aboard (not surprising perhaps given the repeated nature of the propulsion problem).

 

This information is all in the realm of unconfirmed rumor, so I hope my source is wrong - but I don't think so. When I presented this information to the Guest Relations desk, they instantly became very defensive and demanded to know if an employee told me that. They insisted that their hope is still to sail the passengers to Seward, but did not deny the 737 rumor.

 

In addition, at least one of the entertainers has already 'abandoned ship'. He was a no-show for a performance last evening so I inquired at the Guest Relations desk if the performance would be rescheduled. They informed me that he had left the ship today and wasn't coming back for the remainder of the cruise.

 

We made significant personal sacrifice to take this cruise of a lifetime, and so we are experiencing sadness and disappointment as the reality of the Millennium situation unfolds.

[techwatcher]

Because this float plane company is located at the airport, they are aware of arrangements that Celebrity is making to bring in TWENTY 737 CHARTERED AIRCRAFT to take all passengers away (presumably to Anchorage) later in the week.

 

Sounds like part of a reasonable contingency plan in case Celebrity cannot fix the propulsion problem.

[Flying is for Planes]

As an Australian, and there is a large Australian group on all the Alaska cruises I can only explain how disturbing this is. Many have spend thousands of dollars and weeks off work, etc to do an Alaska cruise. The 2 most recent events are unfortunate and I agree Celebrity handled the episode in Seward fairly well.

 

However -

 

1. These problems are not new. Celebrity Cruises filed a $300 million lawsuit against the firms that made the equipment. The suit charged that Rolls Royce and Alstom Power Conversion sold their Mermaid propulsion units as the best in the industry, but that they were actually at an experimental stage of development and susceptible to multiple failures. Since Celebrity began using the Mermaid pods in 2000, its ships have suffered repeated breakdowns, forcing the cancellation of a large number of cruises. Seals and bearings on the pods have repeatedly failed. The first ship to use the pods, the Millennium, has experienced over 30 failures since 2000. One of the Mermaid pod makers, Alstom, was in financial distress and the French government in 2003 put up $8 billion to bail out the company

 

2. Celebrity settled the claim yet the problems continue. The ship had a dry dock in 2012 but little was done from an engineering point of view. It was mainly to create more revenue on board.

 

3. Refunding cruise fares may sound good, but its of little help when you dont have the vacation time to travel again and /or the airfares to get back are $2000-$3000 per person.

 

4. They are still selling the voyage on Augusrt 23 yet we still dont have the problem fixed.

 

5. Cruise contracts with passengers are disgusting. They basically allow cruise lines to cancel/change cruises at will. They forget than many people use cruises to get to destinations, not sit on board running up bar tabs

 

 

 

.

[Skuzzlebutt]

First-time cruiser and new to cruisecritic as well. Writing this on my iPhone from our balcony overlooking scenic Ketchikan.

 

I am not a 'Pollyanna' type nor a sour puss either so this post will be a mix of good and bad.

 

Our Aquaclass stateroom has given us access to the incredible dining in the Blu restaurant - worth every penny of the upgrade. Also ate in the Olympic restaurant last night which was impressive beyond words.

 

We called around directly to some float plane companies trying to get the best possible deal on a Misty Fjords flight. Spent a lot of time on the phone with one company located at the Ketchikan airport. They informed us that we could wait for clear weather for our float plane flight - no rush - because Millennium will be here in Ketchikan for a while longer.

 

Because this float plane company is located at the airport, they are aware of arrangements that Celebrity is making to bring in TWENTY 737 CHARTERED AIRCRAFT to take all passengers away (presumably to Anchorage) later in the week. Apparently the Coast Guard is refusing to allow Millennium to leave Ketchikan with any passengers aboard (not surprising perhaps given the repeated nature of the propulsion problem).

 

This information is all in the realm of unconfirmed rumor, so I hope my source is wrong - but I don't think so. When I presented this information to the Guest Relations desk, they instantly became very defensive and demanded to know if an employee told me that. They insisted that their hope is still to sail the passengers to Seward, but did not deny the 737 rumor.

 

In addition, at least one of the entertainers has already 'abandoned ship'. He was a no-show for a performance last evening so I inquired at the Guest Relations desk if the performance would be rescheduled. They informed me that he had left the ship today and wasn't coming back for the remainder of the cruise.

 

We made significant personal sacrifice to take this cruise of a lifetime, and so we are experiencing sadness and disappointment as the reality of the Millennium situation unfolds.

 

Wow, what an inside scoop. Everything sounds plausible that you have said, but it all takes at least one leap beyond the facts. I'd be taking the exact same leap given the information. Even if the person you talked to didn't know anything, they may still have wanted to know 'WHO TOLD YOU THIS!'. But I think your deduction is more likely.

 

Looked at the airport wikipedia, looks like it has handled 727's as far back as the 70's, so I guess it could handle the large aircraft you talk about, but I am surprised by that.

 

Sometimes entertainers are only booked for part of cruise and then take off for another gig. To my knowledge this is very common and not as much of a concern as the other stuff you have uncovered.

 

Keep up the investigation!

[coldweathergirl]

I feel sorry for those passengers on board and for those with upcoming sailings on the Millennium. The factor of the not knowing makes it difficult as you don't know if you should go ahead and spend time trying to get some excursions booked out of Ketchikan in the next day or so before they're totally booked up or whether to proceed from home to those that have long hauls to actually get to Alaska for an upcoming cruise.

 

Certainly if money and time were no object, everyone would just enjoy their floating hotel with the assumption that they'll get to do another cruise to Alaska in the near future but unfortunately not everyone has that luxury. It is great that most people are staying positive but this isn't what they signed up and paid for.

 

I hope Celebrity makes a decision very soon and let's their clients know what that decision is so they can start making plans accordingly.

[232271]

sounds like if that "rumor" is true of flights back to Anchorage, what about the land tours some book afterwards?? or the next cruise? does that mean it would most likely be cancelled or if fixed they have to sail the ship back to seward, just w/o the passengers?

 

Praying for everyone affected, while they can keep a good spirit ,it is still a disappointment to spend so much money and time planning on what is usually a once in a lifetime trip and not getting to see Alaska. :(

 

HUGS for all!

[BEAV]

 

Looked at the airport wikipedia, looks like it has handled 727's as far back as the 70's, so I guess it could handle the large aircraft you talk about, but I am surprised by that.

 

 

Alaska Airlines flies 737's in/out of Ketchikan on a daily basis. In fact, the airport is in view from the docks in downtown. It's across the water, and you have to take a short ferry ride to get to/from town!

[watson524]

Wow that 737 info is slightly concerning (I say slightly because it's still technically a rumor so I won't spaz out and I guess it would just mean we get on our land tour a bit later because we were stopping in Anchorage after Seward anyway...

 

And I've noticed the recurring pumper truck too and plan to talk to the guy today to see what he's pumping since it's not any bigger than one you'd see at your home system

[CruisingChick]

Sometimes entertainers are only booked for part of cruise and then take off for another gig. To my knowledge this is very common and not as much of a concern as the other stuff you have uncovered.

 

 

Yes, but that is after they perform their contracted show. The poster said the entertainer was a "no show" for their performance and had left the ship.

 

Now there could be a valid reason why they had to get off, but it's too bad they did not fulfill their obligation.

[Krazy Kruizers]

First-time cruiser and new to cruisecritic as well. Writing this on my iPhone from our balcony overlooking scenic Ketchikan.

 

I am not a 'Pollyanna' type nor a sour puss either so this post will be a mix of good and bad.

 

Our Aquaclass stateroom has given us access to the incredible dining in the Blu restaurant - worth every penny of the upgrade. Also ate in the Olympic restaurant last night which was impressive beyond words.

 

We called around directly to some float plane companies trying to get the best possible deal on a Misty Fjords flight. Spent a lot of time on the phone with one company located at the Ketchikan airport. They informed us that we could wait for clear weather for our float plane flight - no rush - because Millennium will be here in Ketchikan for a while longer.

 

Because this float plane company is located at the airport, they are aware of arrangements that Celebrity is making to bring in TWENTY 737 CHARTERED AIRCRAFT to take all passengers away (presumably to Anchorage) later in the week. Apparently the Coast Guard is refusing to allow Millennium to leave Ketchikan with any passengers aboard (not surprising perhaps given the repeated nature of the propulsion problem).

 

This information is all in the realm of unconfirmed rumor, so I hope my source is wrong - but I don't think so. When I presented this information to the Guest Relations desk, they instantly became very defensive and demanded to know if an employee told me that. They insisted that their hope is still to sail the passengers to Seward, but did not deny the 737 rumor.

 

In addition, at least one of the entertainers has already 'abandoned ship'. He was a no-show for a performance last evening so I inquired at the Guest Relations desk if the performance would be rescheduled. They informed me that he had left the ship today and wasn't coming back for the remainder of the cruise.

 

We made significant personal sacrifice to take this cruise of a lifetime, and so we are experiencing sadness and disappointment as the reality of the Millennium situation unfolds.

 

 

Sorry that your Alaskan cruise has been ruined.

Hope you are at least enjoying the ship and Ketchikan.

[gblotter]

Looked at the airport wikipedia, looks like it has handled 727's as far back as the 70's, so I guess it could handle the large aircraft you talk about, but I am surprised by that.

A Boeing 737 is one of Boeing's smallest planes. There are 737s servicing Ketchikan on a regular schedule already. Now a 747 ... yes, that would certainly be surprising.

 

Sometimes entertainers are only booked for part of cruise and then take off for another gig. To my knowledge this is very common and not as much of a concern as the other stuff you have uncovered.

Yes - but he was a no-show for a performance and the daily schedule was printed out that morning. If his contract was for a planned early departure, they would not have put him on the schedule for that day. The Cruise Director was completely unprepared to provide a replacement performer, and in fact it took them 30 minutes to make an announcement that the performance was indeed canceled.

 

There is clearly some scrambling going on, although they are doing an admirable job of putting a good face on a difficult situation.

[h2dcruise]

There is clearly some scrambling going on, although they are doing an admirable job of putting a good face on a difficult situation.

 

Any updates on the ship moving out of Ketchikan? The notice on Celebrity's website is still the one from yesterday... technically it still applies if the ship is going to leave today.

[Bfson]

An all coach 737 holds about 143 passengers. Twenty planes would be far more than they need unless they were also taking off most of the crew.

[watson524]

Announcement going on now. Cancelling the rest of the cruise. Full refund and credit towards a future celebrity cruise at 100pct of fare you paid. They are arranging charter leaving from here beginning tomorrow