The remainder of a seven-night Alaska cruise was canceled as well as four additional cruises after mechanical issues forced a Celebrity Cruises ship to return to port in Ketchikan.
The 3,100-passenger Milleniium ship was forced to dock due to mechanical issues. Passengers on the current cruise will receive refunds for their cruise fares and chartered air travel to return home. Each passenger will also be offered a future cruise certificate for 100 percent of the fare paid for this cruise, Celebrity said according to the Associated Press.
In addition to the remainder of the cruise being cancelled, sailing scheduled on the Millennium for Aug. 23, Aug. 30, Sept. 6 and Sept. 13, are also cancelled. Customers who were booked on these sailings will also receive a full refund and a certificate for a future cruise.
According to Cynthia Martinez, a spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which owns Celebrity Cruises, the Millennium had about 2,200 guests and nearly 960 crew members onboard the recent cruise. "Celebrity Cruises "will do whatever is necessary to get our guests back home, at no additional cost to them," Martinez told the Associated Press.
The Millennium had an issue with one of its two propulsion motors. The ship is capable of sailing with one motor at a slower speed, but the cruise line decided to cancel the sailing in an abundance of caution. This isn't the first time the ship has had an issue with the motor.
The seven-night cruise began on Friday from Vancouver, British Columbia. The cruise was set to end in Seward, but it stopped in Ketchikan, one of several ports of call. The Coast Guard ordered the ship to stay in Ketchikan until it can be fixed.
Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said the agency was working with Celebrity Cruises "to put the safety of the crew and the passengers first, ensure that they are protected and ensure that the vessel is capable of safely getting under way."
Engineers, consultants from the motor's manufacturer and the cruise line's marine operations team are working 24/7 on the ship to repair the motor.
The cruise cancellation was good news for Ketchikan business. According to the president and CEO of the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau, Patti Mackey, restaurants and bars got more business than usual on Sunday night. Some passengers booked other tours and other walked around and shopped.
"It's not the ideal situation for those folks who really wanted to see all the stops on the itinerary, but we're trying to do our best to make them feel comfortable and welcome," Mackey said.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
