Discovery has electrical problems causing delays.

[insidecabin]

Two cruises affected so far

 

Red Sea Voyage :  reduced speed had an impact on changeover, was due in MUscat afternoon/evening on the 29th  delayed to following morning.

 

Adventure to India : delayed departure from Muscat and it is looking like the first week has been effectively cancelled as the ship heads to Dubai early(AIS reports)

 

Need report from someone on board to confirm the updated information and schedule as not seen anything from TUI yet.

 

Be interesting because if TUI new they could not fix the ship in Muscat, they should have offered pax the option to cancel. 

 

 

[nancyneptune]

Missed ports, changes of itineraries, changes to flight times, problems with ships all happening too often with Marella now.

 

We had our flight time changed three times in April, missed a port and whole itinerary changed from the original booking. 

 

Hope things improve for all on board this week and they have a safe journey to India.

 

T

[insidecabin]

It has got worse.

 

The "fix" in Muscat Oman did not happen, so the ship limped(2 days) all the way to Dubai missing the ports on the first week.

Chances are the reduced power impacted comfort on board as well as speed.

 

If Marella knew the ship could not be fixed in Muscat then they have breached their obligations under UK/EU laws as they should have offered those flying out the option to cancel the cruise with full refund and get compensation for all incidental costs.

 

They need to be in Dubai on the 7th Dec for the changeover although most are on TUI flight that are probably cruise exclusives so flight change are not that big a problem for TUI as long as they have a plane/crew available.

[davecttr]

Interesting conversation on a facebook group where some are saying Discovery has broken down 'many' times this year. How do you define many? People are getting scared and cancelling

[insidecabin]

Not sure how many just started watching for future options, a lot of ships have issues and you never hear about them.

 

Only came out of dry dock beginning of Nov.

They did a travel alert for the flight changes beginning of this current cruise but now silence.

 

AIS had them arriving yesterday in Dubai at 6pm then onto to Abu Dhabi 7am 5th.

The dubai<->Abu Dhabi is normally  an overnight so they can get back for the 6th/7th scheduled change over

 

Cancellations could mean bargains on those far east trips.

Edited December 3, 2018 by insidecabin

[Pensioncruiser]

4 hours ago, davecttr said:

Interesting conversation on a facebook group where some are saying Discovery has broken down 'many' times this year. How do you define many? People are getting scared and cancelling

We had a slight 'electrical' problem this year in the Caribbean but it only lasted half a day, but that was no lifts or lights. Still a great cruise. 

[davecttr]

28 minutes ago, Pensioncruiser said:

We had a slight 'electrical' problem this year in the Caribbean but it only lasted half a day, but that was no lifts or lights. Still a great cruise. 

Ah, that might have been one of the breakdowns mentioned.. my problem is I class a breakdown as loss or severe degradation of the machines primary function. For example if my cars heating breaks it is inconvenient but if it still goes it is not broken down. I was aboard Celebration when it broke down in the Red Sea, the engines and wobble stopped for about an hour then everything was back to normal, hardly a life changing event.

[insidecabin]

Things go wrong, the measure of a company is how it deals with them and its obligations under regulations.

 

Most of those on the Aqaba->Muscat leg were delayed significantly and had 3 days where the hotel services were compromised resulting in a reduced level of service for passengers.

 

TUI  was ready with letters for  passengers disembarking flights that was clearly intended to preemt and deflect any claims for compensation under EU laws for flight delays(€600pp) putting the blame on Marella.

That leaves people to make delay claims using package holiday regs or insurance.

Those with real losses can sill claim against Marella for those.

 

The next leg has been impacted much more.

I notice they took the long way to Dubai which will have taken much longer at the reduced speed, why we will likely never know, could be they were not allowed to sail the short route or were just waiting for berth/people/parts to get to Dubai.

 

Unless they had restored more power the hotel services would still have been compromised. 

[davecttr]

If the problem is a transformer they just can't use the 58 megawatts? the engines are rated at ?

[insidecabin]

10 hours ago, davecttr said:

If the problem is a transformer they just can't use the 58 megawatts? the engines are rated at ?

The 5 generators can create 58,500KW

Seems the propulsion motors(one source) are rated at 20,100KW x2

 

A loss of 2 or could be 3 of the generators if one side is down is very significant reduction in available power.

 

 

[howmuch!]

Discovery had some electrical issues on the cruise we were on 2 weeks previous from Malaga to Aquba.Something on Deck 9 I believe?

 

Also, when we were on her in June (Norway), several cabins on deck 3 were flooded (by a leak in the ceiling void I believe)

 

Glad we disembarked in Aquaba

[davecttr]

1 hour ago, howmuch! said:

Discovery had some electrical issues on the cruise we were on 2 weeks previous from Malaga to Aquba.Something on Deck 9 I believe?

 

Also, when we were on her in June (Norway), several cabins on deck 3 were flooded (by a leak in the ceiling void I believe)

 

Glad we disembarked in Aquaba

Normal for a cruise ship. I was aboard P&O Oceana when the aircon failed on a lower passenger deck. No ventilation at all and it was hot!.

 

I was aboard discovery in june and that leak was the failure of a high pressure hot water main. several cabins were flooded. they worked for hours and got it sorted . I remember a helpful passenger writing? that the hotel mangers response was to go shopping. she was actually already ashore when the main burst but hey oh, who cares about the facts.

 

After a few days it seems Discovery breaking down 'many' times this year is either 2 or 3, not 'many' in my book.

[howmuch!]

Yeah. When you think about the miles they cover, the number of cabins, the equipment that works dayin-dayout, its amazing there aren't more issues.

[insidecabin]

looks like they never went to Abu Dhabi still in Dubai.

 

new travel alert from TUI . They can't fix it properly

 

https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/travel-information/marella-discovery-adventures

 

 

We’d like to say sorry to any customers currently on board Marella Discovery and also for those due to join the ship on 6^th and 7^th December 2018 as we need to make a few changes to our Eastern Sunrise sailing.

 

We experienced a technical issue with our electrical systems in the early hours of Wednesday 28^th November 2018. We were able to continue safely to Dubai for maintenance, albeit at a slower speed. At present we’re still working through final safety checks and repairs, and we will be able to set sail for India on Friday as planned, but again will be at a slightly reduced speed.

 

 

We will also be communicating to customers directly the compensation we will be organising in recognition of the changes to their holidays.

 

 

[insidecabin]

wonder what changes they are going to notify for the next leg.

changeover is due in Cochin 13/14 with 3 ports on the way.

 

They must be desperately trying to avoid the cancellation triggers if they are going to carry on limping to the far east.

[jake 26]

We've just arrived home from Authentic Arabia on Discovery. We joined in Aqaba visiting Petra the following day. Discovery then left Aqaba on the 24th Nov and headed down the Red Sea at fairly high speed carrying guards for the Somali pirate safeguarding in the Bab-el-Mandeb Straits. On the way we had a rendezvous with a boat supplying arms for the guards.

We passed through the Straits into the Gulf of Aden and at 0330 on Nov 28th we experienced a major power failure when all power was lost including lighting air con and propulsion. It woke us up and it was very surreal. The Captain later reported that he was concerned about our position being still in the danger area, and they managed to restore enough electrics to move the Ship closer to the Oman coast while they carried out investigations.

Discovery could only manage around 12 - 13 knots thereafter which made us late into Muscat where passengers on Adventure to India were joining. Their flights were rescheduled as necessary and many lost a day of their cruise.

Despite efforts to repair the damage we were informed that it was necessary to cancel our next 3 ports and limp to Dubai to pick up spares and specialist assistance on Monday. That took 2 days at slow speed. The plan was to fit the spares carry out proving tests and sail to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for our scheduled visit. However the problem remained and the Abu Dhabi visit took place by road (180 miles round trip) for those who wanted to go.

On Wednesday evening the Captain announced that, after a long discussion with head office, Discovery would sail early on Friday (7th) at 3 pm for India but at low speed, and as a result the ports of Mumbai and Mangalore would be dropped, leaving Goa, and Cochin where people on Adventure to India would leave the ship.

Compensation will be offered to Authentic Arabia at 50% of the price people had paid for their holiday,  and 2/3 of the price for people on Adventure to India, which was right because they suffered most of all.

Eastern Sunrise passengers are also to receive an offer.

It is hoped to finally carry out repairs in Cochin.

Life on board went on as normal but the air con was only operating at low level so it was pretty warm around the ship.

The compensation offer is good but I think it underlines a major PR concern for Marella, and I, like many others, have lost confidence in the company.

[insidecabin]

thanks for the update, 

 

interesting you were told they would leave 3pm 7th,

I have just looked at marine traffic and they are still in Dubai

local time is now nearly the 8th

[Vitalsign]

Discovery left Dubai at 2.04 8th Dec (10.04pm) here so 11 hours later than given She's travelling at 15.9 knots - not a bad speed 

I feel sorry for the passengers involved in the breakdown but also sorry for Marella on their debut in the Far East Many passengers are new to Marella and being their first cruise with them it will probably affect their future bookings. However I'm sure the crew and entertainment team are keeping spirits up and hope that everyone enjoys their cruise in the most part and is happy with what I think is fantastic compensation

[howmuch!]

She is still making progress towards India, so lets hope it continues and the air-con is sufficiently good to control the temperatures at a reasonable level, as even during the night they are likely to be low/mid twenties without any.

Edited December 8, 2018 by howmuch!

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for the update.

Good luck to everyone.

[jaxw17]

On 12/7/2018 at 6:02 PM, jake 26 said:

We've just arrived home from Authentic Arabia on Discovery. We joined in Aqaba visiting Petra the following day. Discovery then left Aqaba on the 24th Nov and headed down the Red Sea at fairly high speed carrying guards for the Somali pirate safeguarding in the Bab-el-Mandeb Straits. On the way we had a rendezvous with a boat supplying arms for the guards.

We passed through the Straits into the Gulf of Aden and at 0330 on Nov 28th we experienced a major power failure when all power was lost including lighting air con and propulsion. It woke us up and it was very surreal. The Captain later reported that he was concerned about our position being still in the danger area, and they managed to restore enough electrics to move the Ship closer to the Oman coast while they carried out investigations.

Discovery could only manage around 12 - 13 knots thereafter which made us late into Muscat where passengers on Adventure to India were joining. Their flights were rescheduled as necessary and many lost a day of their cruise.

Despite efforts to repair the damage we were informed that it was necessary to cancel our next 3 ports and limp to Dubai to pick up spares and specialist assistance on Monday. That took 2 days at slow speed. The plan was to fit the spares carry out proving tests and sail to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for our scheduled visit. However the problem remained and the Abu Dhabi visit took place by road (180 miles round trip) for those who wanted to go.

On Wednesday evening the Captain announced that, after a long discussion with head office, Discovery would sail early on Friday (7th) at 3 pm for India but at low speed, and as a result the ports of Mumbai and Mangalore would be dropped, leaving Goa, and Cochin where people on Adventure to India would leave the ship.

Compensation will be offered to Authentic Arabia at 50% of the price people had paid for their holiday,  and 2/3 of the price for people on Adventure to India, which was right because they suffered most of all.

Eastern Sunrise passengers are also to receive an offer.

It is hoped to finally carry out repairs in Cochin.

Life on board went on as normal but the air con was only operating at low level so it was pretty warm around the ship.

The compensation offer is good but I think it underlines a major PR concern for Marella, and I, like many others, have lost confidence in the company.

That is just as it was a good concise report. We got home last night. The staff worked really hard

[Bertie Doe]

Just looked at marinetraffic.com which confirms Vitalsign's and howmuch's post, that Discovery is on her way to India. She's picked up speed to 17.1 knots which (according to marinetraffic) is close to her maximum. Maybe the electrics have been fixed?, so fingers crossed.

 

They have her destination as Mormugao (Goa) with an ETA of 8am (local) on Tuesday 11th Jan. Vitalsign's comment ref her late departure from Dubai, would explain why the first stop at Mumbai has been skipped. Things are looking up.

[jake 26]

1 hour ago, MrSilversurf said:

Just looked at marinetraffic.com which confirms Vitalsign's and howmuch's post, that Discovery is on her way to India. She's picked up speed to 17.1 knots which (according to marinetraffic) is close to her maximum. Maybe the electrics have been fixed?, so fingers crossed.

 

They have her destination as Mormugao (Goa) with an ETA of 8am (local) on Tuesday 11th Jan. Vitalsign's comment ref her late departure from Dubai, would explain why the first stop at Mumbai has been skipped. Things are looking up.

Mumbai had already been dropped before her late departure.

Given that she isn't far past Muscat and Muscat to Cochin is 1500 miles (17 knots for 1500 miles = around 3 1/2 days) I think they'll drop Goa.

[Bertie Doe]

On 12/8/2018 at 10:38 PM, jake 26 said:

Mumbai had already been dropped before her late departure.

Given that she isn't far past Muscat and Muscat to Cochin is 1500 miles (17 knots for 1500 miles = around 3 1/2 days) I think they'll drop Goa.

 

Nope looks like she'll be on time or perhaps slightly ahead of schedule as marinetraffic is giving GOA ETA as tomorrow at 7am local. That's a big relief.

[jake 26]

1 hour ago, MrSilversurf said:

 

Nope looks like she'll be on time or perhaps slightly ahead of schedule as marinetraffic is giving GOA ETA as tomorrow at 7am local. That's a big relief.

Yes I saw that. They've done well. The captain said, just before we left, that they were configuring the available reduced power across the two propeller drives to gain some extra speed for the crossing to India.( From Muscat to Dubai only one prop was being driven giving only 12-13 knots.) It obviously worked better than anticipated.

Discovery was doing over 20 knots down the Red Sea prior to the malfunction.