August 9th celebrity millenium. Engine problems!

[Mondaymorn]

Sounds like there has been good communication and compensation. Can't wait for our cruise.

[jhans24]

a man buys a horse for $50 and then sells it for $60.

Really misses the horse and buys it back for $70.

Decides he no longer wants it and sells it for $80.

How much profit did he make?

 

$20

[Gonzo70]

$20

 

$10 cash, but he ends up with three free horses and a cat. :D

[c-legs]

I just received the following email from my client onboard:

 

All onboard at 8:30pm

Set sail 9/9:30 tonight

Arriving Vancouver Friday

Emergency drill at 8pm.

GREAT news, Chuck.

Parts obviously showed in good enough time to allow the repairs to be completed by today afternoon...I suggest a 10 hours time zone between France ( where the parts were shipped from) and Alaska kind of helped....

Since Celebrity had established that a sailaway of ''sometimes''tuesday allowed enough time to sail ,right out of Resurrection Bay ,straight shot

S/S.E tru the Dixon entrance and onto Pine Island ( top of Vancouver Island, pilotage station)and Vancouver arrival ~07;00hr friday, this will allow for a good nice and non-rushed back:)......( unless they decide to take a peek into Yucatat Bay and Hubbard Glacier tomorrow afternoon....they would actually have time for that by leaving 18-20 hours earlier than planned....:rolleyes:)

Your collegue and your group must be happy with the ultimate outcome.

Cheers

Thanks for keeping us up to date with '' live on the scene'' reports.

[quack2]

I just received the following email from my client onboard:

 

All onboard at 8:30pm

Set sail 9/9:30 tonight

Arriving Vancouver Friday

Emergency drill at 8pm.

 

 

Well, it's 9:30 p.m. in Seward and they are still at the dock.

 

Aren't webcams awesome?

[sandyss]

Well, it's 9:30 p.m. in Seward and they are still at the dock.

 

Aren't webcams awesome?

 

It sounds like I'm not the only one watching the webcam!!

[quack2]

It sounds like I'm not the only one watching the webcam!!

 

 

Slow night!

 

10:00 p.m. she's still not moving.

[Bluebury]

Well, it's 9:30 p.m. in Seward and they are still at the dock.

 

Aren't webcams awesome?

 

Maybe someone is late back from a trip!:)

[Glaciers]

She's away from the dock.

[Andy]

Yup, she's just departed Seward (about 10:19 local time). Great news !

[flagger]

I saw Facebook posts from my client and colleague as they were moving. My clients spent yesterday fishing with the Fish House where silver salmon were running. They have 40 LBS of salmon being sent home.

 

While talking with corporate relations on another issue, I asked about the compensation package as my clients were on a CruiseTour. They said the revenue department was looking at historical data to determine the price of the cruise only at the time they booked as cruise and land portions are not sold separately but as one package.

 

Obviously the land portion was not affected by the cruise issue and more than likely not be refunded as what was offered and sold was what my and others on that part of the trip received. There was not a definitive amount yet being offered as of yesterday afternoon.

[Celebrity Cruises]

Celebrity Cruises is pleased to confirm that power has been restored to the second of two propulsion motors on Celebrity Millennium. The motor had experienced an electrical problem August 8, resulting in the need for the ship to stay in port for repairs in Seward, Alaska, since August 9. The ship departed Seward at 10 pm local time Monday, August 12, with anticipated arrival in Vancouver, BC, as scheduled Friday, August 16, at 7 am local time.

[surrocruiser]

So great to hear!! I have a group booked on the 8/16/13 and we have all been anxiously awaiting any and all news!

 

Kudos on the compensation, very fair in my opinion.

[232271]

so will they stop at any PORT??

[Lab Guy]

If not they were all well compensated.Had 3 days in Seward cruise costs refunded and a future cruise paid for.I wish we were on this cruise.The whole 7 day cruise was refunded and they still had 7 nights in Alaska and a future cruise paid for.The weather is great.Whats not to like???:)

[papadave]

I look forward to being on this ship on the 16th and would have been satisfied with the compensation and several days in Seward -- having failed at an attempt to plan a trip that was Northbound to Seward, with a few days in Seward before taking a return cruise to Vancouver. That is me. However, in fairness to anyone who planned a dream vacation that included fishing in a specific port, a helicopter to a specific glacier, whale watching with the tour operator they always heard of, and will not be taking another Alaska cruise for a variety of reasons, this can be disappointing. I doubt we would be able to go to Alaska next year, not because of money, but because we plan to make a visit elsewhere and cannot be in two places at the same time.

 

Celebrity appears to come through in the best way possible -- giving up some money, but being clear and honest with communication and not making their paying passengers feel like they should be thankful for crumbs (apparently, the current problem Carnival has had in similar situations).

 

Still, for most people, having things not go as planned in what is not to like.

[Oz_Steve]

Celebrity being very fair and smart here. No bad press, no disgruntled customers and everyone is hoping that the ship breaks down on their next cruise. Future bookings on the Millenium has probably spiked.

[lhbsurf]

so will they stop at any PORT??

 

I doubt they will. We were on Reflection Inaugural Transatlantic. When we checked in they told us there were propulsion problems, they were cancelling the stop at Tenerife, and gave us $200 onboard Credit. Although they actually had the engine repaired early and could have stopped at Tenerife, due to all the compensations and preparations already being performed to cancel the port, they did not go back and change the plans again.

[micruiser12]

We just returned last night having sailed on the Millennium that had the ports and inside passage cancelled on the southbound Aug 9th sailing.

It was very disappointing to receive the news that our planned "once in a lifetime" trip to Alaska was not going to the ports I had researched and we planned to go to for over 1 1/2 years. Luckily, we had done our own drive to Denali and surrounding Anchorage area the week before and saw some of those areas, even actually seeing Mt McKinley.

However, I believe by the end of the cruise every passenger we had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with felt that Celebrity, our Captain and the staff really stepped up to make it an excellent time for the time we were in Seward (we sailed from Seward Monday about 10 p.m. or so) and the days we were at sea. Nothing can make up for all of the ports we still have not seen, but we believe Celebrity is doing all of the right stuff to try to make it up to us. So now we plan to someday return to Alaska and see what we missed, but we can honestly say the cruise itself was very nice and will enable us to cruise again soon on Celebrity.

[moebruin]

August 16th cruise is now being diverted back to Ketchikan because of electrical problems.

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

[paul_m_07042@yahoo.com]

I was on that cruise. It was tough not doing all our planned activities but Celebrity compensated us well.

[WarumistdieBananekrumm]

Celebrity being very fair and smart here. No bad press, no disgruntled customers and everyone is hoping that the ship breaks down on their next cruise. Future bookings on the Millenium has probably spiked.

 

Millennium 14.6.2013

 

We sailed the Celebrity Millennium 3 times prior to her refurbishing in April 2012. During these 3 sailings, she had become one of our favorite cruise ships. Based on that liking, and earlier pleasant sailings on the older Celebrity vessels Galaxy and Century, we assumed the Solstice class ships would be superior to the earlier Millennium class, thus we sailed a Mediterranean B2B in 2012 on the Solstice and booked our Asia B2B2B, Singapore to Vancouver, BC trip, for 2014 on the favored Millennium. Though the Solstice had not meet our expectations, we were extremely disappointed, when Celebrity suddenly eliminated one of Millennium’s scheduled Asia segments leaving us no choice other than to cancel our 2014 Asia trip, and replace it with comprehensive Europe sailings on a new Celebrity ship. Nonetheless, we targeted the same, originally offered Asia Millennium itinerary again for 2015 when Celebrity repeated its initial 2014 itinerary.

 

 

Luckily, the opportunity arose to choose our then still favorite Millennium for an ad hoc stint to Alaska in June 2013, prior to the anticipated 46 day long Asia voyage in 2015. At first, we planned to sail her as a B2B, but after some consideration decided to stay for several days exploring Anchorage-Denali-and the Copper Valley area before returning south. Thus, we bit the bullet of repeated unpacking, luggage handling and additional checking in procedures by using a different cruise ship from Vancouver, BC Canada to Whittier, AK to book the Millennium for our return voyage from Seward, AK to Vancouver, BC Canada.

 

 

Upon returning home, we cancelled all bookings for our 2014 and 2015 Celebrity cruising, extremely grateful that we ‘survived’ the 7 day lasting trip just endured on the Millennium, our previously favorite cruise ship.

Below follows a somewhat detailed report with pictures delineating our experience and consequent disappointment.

 

 

Prior to ‘refurbishing’ in April 2012, the Millennium was a well-designed ship with good traffic flow, plenty open deck spaces, friendly and efficient crew, impeccable dining room personnel, the usual adequate dining room menu, ok lunch buffet selections (mediocre in the evening) and tasteful, warm décor throughout. She was in generally good condition, except for some cosmetic wear and tear plus minor blemishes, but, we assumed, was surely to rise like a phoenix from the ashes, after refurbishing , - to be even more beautiful and better than before since she was also to undergo the highly advertised enhancement of ‘solstitizing’ as part of the refurbishing process.

 

 

We arrived in Seward, AK port @ about 13:00 hours, anticipating that we would then be able to immediately go to our stateroom. The check in was fast, efficient and painless; so indeed, we were on board by 13:25 hours. We were greeted with the question, whether we would like to go to the buffet for lunch or to our stateroom first. Our choice was the stateroom to lie down after a few strenuous days of exciting exploration and adventures between Anchorage and Fairbanks and an early morning train departure.

 

 

Our ship’s escort leading the way to the stateroom found the hallway door to the rooms still closed, thus surmised the rooms may not be ready. By now it was 13:35 hours and we made our way to the reception desk asking for access to the room. At that time wheelchair bound, citing the need to lie down and having scheduled our boarding to co-inside with the customary access time to the stateroom.

 

The receptionist then called the International Customer Service Representative who introduced himself, grimacing a smile, as Steven De Winter; a curt, unpleasant, slimy chap who arrogantly stated that he had not yet released the announcement for stateroom occupancy. Therefore, we could not go to our stateroom until he announces that they are ready. Wheelchair bound, I pointed out, that I really would like to lie down, that it was now past 13:45 hours and customarily, staterooms are available at the latest @ 13.30 and room stewards likely moved on to getting checked-in luggage ready for stateroom delivery. His reply was, that Celebrity is a very special cruise line and does things much different than other cruise lines, but I would be welcome to go down to the sick-bay and lay down on a stretcher until he releases the rooms for occupancy.

Less than 3 minutes later, his loudspeaker announcement released all cabins.

 

 

The stateroom was as expected from previous sailings. The room steward introduced himself later that evening – checked in luggage arrived by mid-afternoon.

 

The lunch buffet featured the previously experienced luke warm, dried out “Paella” (in name only) and other standard buffet style fair including the heavily watered down lemonade.

Except for the “Paella-Welcome-Specialty”, the buffet choices remained more or less the same throughout the 7 day cruise. A circumstance particularly unpleasant as the main dining room was closed for lunch every day, except on the first sea-day and the last sea day, opening for the Brunch Buffet in which all daily breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet choices were lined up together, but now were presented among Ice sculptures and other colorful decorations.

 

 

Unfortunately, extraordinarily inattentive dining room personal failed to serve coffee or water, or juice until after one was seated for quite some time, almost having finished the first course of brunch.

 

Moreover, very unpleasant, was the fact that no-one of the dining room waiters cleaned up the tables of those people who had left, or the used plates on our table. Thus, we were surrounded by seven tables, fully laden with dirty dishes up to and including our departure from the dining room. The personnel, largely Serbian, Slovenian and Croatian servers, avoided eye contact, and were certainly not inclined to clear tables; presumably, that was to be someone else’s responsibility who was apparently not in attendance.

Dinner at the dining room had sufficient choices of well-prepared good quality food, we were served by some excellent waiters and some so, so – but still OK waiters in the “my time dining” section of the upper level.

 

 

Less pleasant was the bickering of some female waiters on the outer buffet deck, who among themselves discussed their misfortune, disappointment and unjust treatment experienced working on this ship, without any regard to nearby sitting guests who could not help overhearing their loud complaints while clearing tables with disgusted faces.

 

 

The ship itself is in desperate need of eliminating the obvious signs of neglect without subjecting on- board passengers to its upkeep, repairs and maintenance.

 

There were too many issues to mention: an example of some is:

 

Mint tea bag hunt,

Broken Solarium windows,

Missing top railing on upper aft decks,

Double loungers placed next to pool get constantly wet from water plashes

Loungers on upper decks remained unusable and tried together

Loungers were dirty and partly broken

Balconies added in recent ‘upgrading improvements’ are in part not covered and lack privacy

Etc.

Etc.

Etc.

 

In the meantime complaints from outraged passengers on board the Millennium have escalated. Thus, without going into further details, as I am resenting the time already spent on the unpleasant task re-living the journey, I refer to the reviews of others and the complete failing of Celebrity’s Cruise Ship Millennium’s operational functions in Seward and Ketchikan , AK. were they prematurely disembarked all passengers.

 

Celebrity cancelled its remaining Alaska sailing season 2013 for the defunct Millennium, planning to maneuver her into dry dock for taking care of the desperately needed maintenance and repairs.

 

Unfortunately, these obviously needed repairs had not been done prior to subjecting boarded and sailing passengers, including those booked for August/September, to despair, inconvenience and costly repercussions in addition to their now ruined holidays.

Well done, Celebrity – you are “truly special and do it very differently”, reverberating the statement of STEVEN DE WINTER, the on Board International Customer Relations Executive.

 

[deise17311]

I look forward to being on this ship on the 16th and would have been satisfied with the compensation and several days in Seward -- having failed at an attempt to plan a trip that was Northbound to Seward, with a few days in Seward before taking a return cruise to Vancouver. That is me. However, in fairness to anyone who planned a dream vacation that included fishing in a specific port, a helicopter to a specific glacier, whale watching with the tour operator they always heard of, and will not be taking another Alaska cruise for a variety of reasons, this can be disappointing. I doubt we would be able to go to Alaska next year, not because of money, but because we plan to make a visit elsewhere and cannot be in two places at the same time.

 

Celebrity appears to come through in the best way possible -- giving up some money, but being clear and honest with communication and not making their paying passengers feel like they should be thankful for crumbs (apparently, the current problem Carnival has had in similar situations).

 

Still, for most people, having things not go as planned in what is not to like.

 

Amazing how things fell apart since you posted this...