Summit pod problem?

[celsum]

Does anyone have reliable information regarding a new pod problem perhaps currently affecting the Summit?

I heard that a port was missed last week (Croatia) because of an "engine" issue.

[hancock]

A member of our roll call for the Nov. 29 sailing of the Summit called Celebrity. Celebrity confirmed that they are having a problem with a pod and had to slow the ship to 14-15 knots.

[celsum]

Tough for TA.......

[benbess]

Is this ship still gas turbine, or has it been converted to diesel?

When I was on Infinity in 2006 it was still GTS, and it was very quiet and almost smoke free. On regular ships do you have smelly diesel smoke that sometimes hits you when you're on deck? Infinity was my only cruise, and so I just don't know anything else.

Most of us know all of the problems they had with reliability with the GTS system. Has it now been ditched? If so, about how much did that cost? Must have been a lot....

[hancock]

The pods are still there. They added diesel motors to use when in port for power.

I had friend on the Summit the last time it had pod problems while cruising Alaska either 1 1/2 0r 2 1/2 years ago. It eventually went into dry dock. I lost 4 days of a cruise when she did the same thing in April 2002. Now I'm on her next cruise, a TA from Barcelona to San Juan. I don't know what is going to happen at this point. I expect is will take a few days, minimum, before Celebrity makes any decision on how to handle the problem.

[mkbruce]

Originally Posted by benbess

Is this ship still gas turbine, or has it been converted to diesel?

When I was on Infinity in 2006 it was still GTS, and it was very quiet and almost smoke free. On regular ships do you have smelly diesel smoke that sometimes hits you when you're on deck? Infinity was my only cruise, and so I just don't know anything else.

Most of us know all of the problems they had with reliability with the GTS system. Has it now been ditched? If so, about how much did that cost? Must have been a lot....

All the Millenium-class ships still use gas turbines for the main propulsion systems. In the last year, Celebrity has been retrofitting diesel power generators to supply electric power to the ship while in port.

The issue the Summit is having is probably the same bearing failure within the pods that has plagued the entire class.

[Cruise Arizona]

They said that the current problems have the ship sailing at max speed of 15 knts instead of the usual 24 knts. Current cruise will loose a port, they are working on fixing the problem? Can it really be fixed w/o dry dock? And as I am booked on the Nov 29th TA I am just hoping that we have no other disruption than maybe having to skip a port or two. I can live with more sea days as I love them, I am just feaful of a cancelled cruise to allow for a dry dock. That would really break my heart.

[Shirley and Les]

Originally Posted by Cruise Arizona

They said that the current problems have the ship sailing at max speed of 15 knts instead of the usual 24 knts. Current cruise will loose a port, they are working on fixing the problem? Can it really be fixed w/o dry dock? And as I am booked on the Nov 29th TA I am just hoping that we have no other disruption than maybe having to skip a port or two. I can live with more sea days as I love them, I am just feaful of a cancelled cruise to allow for a dry dock. That would really break my heart.

If the current problem is the same "bearing" issue that plagued the M class ships a few years ago, it must be put in dry dock to correct the issue. The bearing(s) inside the pod must be replaced and this cannot be done with the pod under water.
We were on the Infinity on a round trip from San Diego to Hawaii. They ran three or four months with the ship at reduced speed before she went into drydock. On our cruise, the reduced speed added about 12 hours to the crossing.
I think Celebrity schedules the drydock to minimize the impact on revenues if possible. We were on a 14 day cruise and they waited until the ship was in a 7 day cruise schedule before the drydock.

[Sherlock H]

Pod Problem from Summit Nov1 to Nov15 cruise
1. After leaving Mykonos, we stopped for about 3 hours at sea - we didn'r notice it but table mates did.
2. At late seating there was a general announcement that we had lost one of the Gas Turbine pods and our speed was reduced from 24 to 15 knots. That we would skip Split in order to make Venice and demarkation on time. We received a refund of $200.00 per oceanview, Balconys received $250.00. Therefore last 2 days were at sea - tired enough to relax.
3. The following are comments that are not absolute facts:
a. German Technical crew boarded in Venice and since ship in harbor 36 hours will work on pod, without drydock.
b. rumors that it takes from upto 5 days to replace pod.
c. Ship has to GTS pods and one diesel engine - thought for propulsion.

I am sure there will be people with better info soon. By the way we were pleased with the speed of the internet on board and even used VOIP successfully - haven't got all the bills yet, but believe it was most cost effective way of calling the states
SherlockH

[MICHAEL_01]

Originally Posted by Sherlock H

Pod Problem from Summit Nov1 to Nov15 cruise
1. After leaving Mykonos, we stopped for about 3 hours at sea - we didn'r notice it but table mates did.
2. At late seating there was a general announcement that we had lost one of the Gas Turbine pods and our speed was reduced from 24 to 15 knots. That we would skip Split in order to make Venice and demarkation on time. We received a refund of $200.00 per oceanview, Balconys received $250.00. Therefore last 2 days were at sea - tired enough to relax.
3. The following are comments that are not absolute facts:
a. German Technical crew boarded in Venice and since ship in harbor 36 hours will work on pod, without drydock.
b. rumors that it takes from upto 5 days to replace pod.
c. Ship has to GTS pods and one diesel engine - thought for propulsion.

I am sure there will be people with better info soon. By the way we were pleased with the speed of the internet on board and even used VOIP successfully - haven't got all the bills yet, but believe it was most cost effective way of calling the states
SherlockH

Thank you very much for this post.

We are on the TA leaving BCN on NOV. 29th.

I hope they can fix the problem whithout drydock.

I will call Celebrity in Frankfurt (Germany) later this day.

If i get any new info, I will post it here.But i am afraid they play dumb in Germany because they are so far away from the head office.


Michael

[celsum]

Thanks. Thousands of people with cruises booked between now and year-end will be waiting for further information from Celebrity. I hope they take the high road and keep us informed as soon as they make a decision as to what their plans will be. It would be a shame to find out after boarding that a port has been eliminated from the itinerary.

[sixpackeddie]

We are scheduled to sail on the Summit on Dec. 13/08 out of San Juan. What happens if they cancel the cruise or delay it, we have already paid (non refundable)for our pre and post hotel stay in San Juan via priceline and obvoiusly purchased out air tickets. Never heard any cruises being delay but am curious to find out how much responsibility Celebrity will take if this happens. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

Craig

[signman]

One word for you Craig. Insurance

[Peregrina651]

Originally Posted by sixpackeddie

We are scheduled to sail on the Summit on Dec. 13/08 out of San Juan. What happens if they cancel the cruise or delay it, we have already paid (non refundable)for our pre and post hotel stay in San Juan via priceline and obvoiusly purchased out air tickets. Never heard any cruises being delay but am curious to find out how much responsibility Celebrity will take if this happens. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

Craig

Don't expect the cruiseline to take responsibility anymore than you would expect an airline to take responsibility if it were to decide to cancel your flights at the last minute.

[cvat]

As soon as they have more details they should realise some infotmation on the website, as it may affect other cruises, too.


SherlockH
As to Split you didn´t miss that much!

[sixpackeddie]

I just spoke with Celebrity from their 1800 number and the agent put me on hold to get more information, she then came back and confirmed there was a problem with the pod or pods on the Summit and it was corrected in port and is sailing on time with all scheduled stops.
Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Craig

[MICHAEL_01]

Originally Posted by sixpackeddie

I just spoke with Celebrity from their 1800 number and the agent put me on hold to get more information, she then came back and confirmed there was a problem with the pod or pods on the Summit and it was corrected in port and is sailing on time with all scheduled stops.
Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Craig

It is nice to hear this.

I just got off the phone with Celebrity in Germany.

The agent was clueless but she talked to her supervisor.

They will try to get more detailed information from the head office in Miami than get back to me.

So i hope they will do it.

If I get any new information I will post it here.



Michael

[kenevenpar]

Originally Posted by sixpackeddie

We are scheduled to sail on the Summit on Dec. 13/08 out of San Juan. What happens if they cancel the cruise or delay it, we have already paid (non refundable)for our pre and post hotel stay in San Juan via priceline and obvoiusly purchased out air tickets. Never heard any cruises being delay but am curious to find out how much responsibility Celebrity will take if this happens. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

Craig

Graig:

We have a roll call going for your sailing. Come on over and sign up for the Celebrity provided party.

Ken

[Jacqueline]

Just a mention- it is always a possibility that a port will be missed. There are any number of reasons that this can happen and it is not that out of the ordinary. Obviously the cruiselines do not want this to happen and will try at all costs to avoid it.

[celsum]

Hopefully the information from Celebrity is correct and there is no longer a pod problem. I would hate to find out that there is in fact a bearing issue, and Celebrity feels that it is in their best interest to keep this information as confidential as possible to avoid cancellations. It would be great if we could hear from someone currently onboard the Summit.