Live from Millie 6/30-7/12- Damage

[patval]

I would like to know as well how they can fix this without a dry dock:

 

Well XatSea Celebrity won't need to replace the whole assembly just the fins so what happens is an underwater diver who has welding experience would go and weld all the propeller fins needed to complete the fix.

 

 

Paul

[larronry]

Not answering phone or emails. Very concerned since

we leave Wednesday.

Well you posted very early in the morning and yesterday was a holiday so give it a little time.

[Muushka]

Just subscribing. Best wishes to all on this cruise and to those who may be affected.

[iandjm]

Well XatSea Celebrity won't need to replace the whole assembly just the fins so what happens is an underwater diver who has welding experience would go and weld all the propeller fins needed to complete the fix.

 

 

Paul

 

Luckily they are bolted on.....

[dbh62ark]

I have to agree. It is very easy to say how people should react but we are not on the cruise. We are planning to leave on Wednesday for the same cruise. I realize there is a problem from reading cruisecritic. How many people have not idea that there is anything wrong??? My concern is that they will have us come but be unable to fulfill the itinerary that we have paid for. Customer service at this point has been specifically told what to say and what not to say. Has anybody been in this situation before? What do they do? Do they cancel the cruise before we leave and travel to Venice? I am packing but with a 'shaking hand'...

I always smile when I read the "smile and put a happy face bandaid on" posts because I think that those posting these messages would be the ones yelling the loudest if it happened to them. ;) We sailed the Millennium on May 25th and are just so sad for those who have saved and dreamed for a wonderful vacation only to have it interrupted by this situation. Celebrity has or should have business interruption insurance coverage, and those funds should be passed along to the passengers. And for the statement that Celebrity cannot help the situation, that is not accurate based on the reports to date that this situation was caused by crew error. It's more than a little rude in my opinion for board members to try to substitute their judgement for others when they aren't even there or affected in any way.

 

I think I would research ground options just to be on the safe side. If you do that, you will feel more in control if you are unable to sail or if you have to miss some ports due to the situation. I've traveled extensively in Europe (considering that we are in our mid-40s) and, having spent a lot of time there on ground trips, will be glad to help you, if needed. My e-mail address is dahillark @ yahoo.com (remove the spaces). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the situation will be resolved so that you can fully enjoy the dream vacation you have planned. In the meantime, I want to say that I'm really sorry this has happened to the passengers, and there are board members who wish you the best.

 

Donna

[stuart1895]

I totally agree with your points Donna. Seems to me people are more interested in giving opinions on ports of calls and cities missed due to this unsavoury incident. The thread is actually about the situiation on the Milleninnium concerning passengers who are sailing at present and those about to sail. There are specific boards for ports of call for people who want to discuss ports and cities. These comments don't really help any of the unfortunate people just now, who rightly said, have probably taken a great deal of time and money into what maybe for some, a once in a lifetime vacation.

 

Celebrity need to start communicating!!! Our travel agencies in the UK don't know a thing about whats going on and when our TA's do call Celebrity they are pleading ignorance and acting as if nothing has happened.

[bigreckster]

We're scheduled to board the ship on Wed. in Venice and our TA has been unable to get any update either. Communication is the best way to prevent panic, frustration and anger in a situation like this and I'm glad that this board is here...it's actually a more reliable place to get accurate information than from the cruise line itself. Please keep updating us anyone presently onboard...it'll probably be the best and most accurate info. we are able to procure as we count down to our departure. Good luck and let's hope you are sailing soon.

[bella1979]

Well XatSea Celebrity won't need to replace the whole assembly just the fins so what happens is an underwater diver who has welding experience would go and weld all the propeller fins needed to complete the fix.

 

 

Paul

 

Well that sounds like it could be accomplished by next Thursday's sailing...right? :o My thought on it is...if it's canceled or something goes wrong there is always Eurorail...and the opportunity for an adventure.

[bella1979]

:D Oh and just so everyone knows...I am not smiling and putting a bandaid on it...I am actually on the next sailing and have had an anxiety attack about this. My thought about Eurorail has come only after a bottle of wine last night.

[trawleroh]

Berryhappy24-----Have you received any additional information on your plight? The news of the incident is now on the events at sea website which is http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events.html. I feel so badly for all of you. We were on the last voyage and I realize how fortunate we were and how unfortunate you are. Lousy situation and I don't know what else to say.

[DogLover]

Just wanted to send those onboard the Millie a hug and heaping supply of patience.

 

I have been on a cruise when engine issues caused us to miss important ports (NCL Norwegian Star in Hawaii Summer "03) and can relate to the disappointment the current Millie pax are experiencing.

 

I heartily agree with the postings about how easy it is for those of us whose vacations are not being affected can remain calm and reflect a "put on a happy face" attitude. However, let's also remember that not too long ago a ship in Greece struck some reef and sank within a matter of hours, taking lives in the process. Thank goodness in this situation everyone is safe ... IMHO THAT is the most salient issue!

 

Safe travels to all!!!!!

[jordie]

I have to say, looking at these message boards used to be my little hobby...now i look with dread at this thread because I feel like berryhappy will soon drop the bomb that they are going into dry dock...i am not sure if i wish i was one of those people who don't know about these message boards and are packing blissfully...or me worrying and not even packing at all...we leave monday and i sure wish celebrity would keep a message board and post updates... that really would be the fair thing to do for the 2000 plus people possibly affected. I am thinking of all i will have to do to backtrack out of this vacation, and just pray it doesn't have to happen...If they leave rome on the 7th (sat) they have to be in venice by the 12th (thursday) for our sailing...hmmm....?

[pgh]

Two more up-dates from my friend on the Millie.

 

Apparently this incident occurred while the ship was in reverse, and hence, there is concern there is more serious damage to the drive shaft then originally thought. The blades for the propeller are currently on the dock and the divers from Miami are present. Work has not commenced because the new bolts do not fit and there are welders working to make this happen.

 

The excursions for Naples have been rescheduled and there is no news on the excursions being offered for Corfu. The weather is reported as being beautiful and not too hot, he is currently enjoying the day by the pool with a book. However, with NCL's Jewel being in port with them, he is a bit tempted to find out if they have room for him.:)

 

Fellow passengers have been seen with suitcases being escorted to the first deck - assuming they are leaving the ship.

 

***Disclaimer Here*** He also heard that after the incident, the ship loaded passengers from a tender prior to a full assessment being completed. If this is so, this is against maritime law and the captain could be in serious trouble.

 

Pam

[sasset]

i sure wish celebrity would keep a message board and post updates... that really would be the fair thing to do for the 2000 plus people possibly affected.

 

Say what you want about NCL, but when the Norway the explosion and loss of life while docked about six years ago, NCL kept updated information on the first page of their web site.

 

Regards

[bella1979]

I totally wish that Celebrity would keep us updated. When they don't rumors fly, imaginations go wild, and we all assume the worst. I don't know what to do right now. Pack? Find a new vacation plan? Go to Tahiti instead? AGH!!! I am so frustrated and sad right now. We are teachers and only have a month left for vacation. I need to know what's going on!!!! I have dreamed, saved and planned for a year and a half for this. Jordie...I know what you mean about not wanting to read the posts. But now it's like a car crash-I have to look.

[CLEMM]

To me the lack of communication is almost as bad as the initial problem. I am scheduled to be on this cruise in October and I am very upset for those who are not being told accurate information on a timely basis. This includes those currently on board and those scheduled to depart soon. It is a trust thing. If you are not being told anything or are being given optimistic misinformation that is later discovered to be an untruth, then you start not to believe anything and imagine the very worst. How can we future travelers trust that everything will be OK when those currently on board are not receiving the proper updates. They should be being briefed every hour, even if there is nothing new to tell. I would rather have the bad truth than optimistic misinformation. How can we trust a cruise line that has their customer service reps saying they don't know, and those in the thick of this not being told what is going on at all. It is all about trust. The accident itself is bad enough, but the lack of communication is unforgivable. My heart is breaking for those on board or soon to depart. I may have to reconsider my travel plans. I know you will say this happens on every line, but that can't be true. Somewhere there is a cruise line that will treat us like the valuable customers we are and give us the timely truth.

[mahdnc]

 

Captain Karatzas had been on Millennium not long ago. Can anyone confirm who the captain is aboard Millennium now?

 

We were on the prior Millennium sailing getting off in Barcelona on 6/30 and he was the captain.....

 

I certainly hope that everything works out well for those on board now and on the subsequent sailings.

[Host Walt]

Here's today's article in the Cruise Critic News section:

 

 

Celebrity Millennium Hitch Costs Port Calls

[tbelian]

The article essentially restates what has already been posted here. To 're-label' it as a news article, to me, is somewhat misleading. News should be more balance, unless I have accidentally clicked on t m zee dot com instead of cruise critic.

 

??

Film at 11.

[easyville]

Not sure what the deck officers were doing at the time :confused: with all the hi-tech gizmos they have nowadays, you'd think something would prompt them to wake up and move the ship!

The Norwegian Dream has a great 12 day cruise from London (Dover) to Barcelona, via Le Harve (Paris), La Coruna, Leixoes, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Rome, Florence & Marseille. I realise it's not quite a 5 Star Celebrity cruise ;) .

Changing prop blades will need a period in dry-dock. I would suspect it'll be scheduled as soon as possible.

 

ss Rotterdam: 1987

[C 2 C]

Well XatSea Celebrity won't need to replace the whole assembly just the fins so what happens is an underwater diver who has welding experience would go and weld all the propeller fins needed to complete the fix.

Paul

 

pgh posted: Two more up-dates from my friend on the Millie.

Apparently this incident occurred while the ship was in reverse, and hence, there is concern there is more serious damage to the drive shaft then originally thought. The blades for the propeller are currently on the dock and the divers from Miami are present. Work has not commenced because the new bolts do not fit and there are welders working to make this happen.

If Millennium was reversing and the blades didn't "give", then I visualize a bent drive shaft.. and a lot of grief... for pax and stock holders.

 

This reminds me of the ditty:

"Smile things could be worse. So I smiled :D and sure enough things got worse.":(

[larronry]

Wow I keep coming here hoping to read good news. I just want to cry. I am so greatful I had 3 weeks notice. I really do hope that the problem gets repaired in time for the next cruise. I just don't understand why Celebrity doesn't give people time to make other arrangements. At least I was able to get on another ship with the same exact dates. Not everyone did because there just wasn't that much room but give people a chance.

 

I can only guess that they are hoping they can make the repairs in time. In the mean time they don't want people to cancel.

 

What I would suggest you do is see if there is another cruise out of the same ports. I know hard since the ship leaves from and arrives at different ports, but it may be possible. Then if you see if alternate plans are possible, do nothing just be ready, by Murphy's Law hopefully you will end up on the Millie with no problems.

 

I really do feel bad for the people in this situation.

[Bassnote_1]

OMG! I am on that cruise next Wednesday. Do you think they can get it fixed in time?:eek:

 

 

And for those souls that missed Flourence: a reason to cruise again! If you needed one, that is.

 

Don't mean to be so flippant, but as it has already been stated: it sucks muchly, but is not the end of the world. Sounds like X is trying to do the right thing with the credits and what not, but that is never adequate for missing a much planned and highly anticipated vacation.

 

Whereever humans and machines interact, much misery will follow from time to time.

[Susan-M]

I just don't understand why Celebrity doesn't give people time to make other arrangements.

 

Interestingly, they are still selling the July 12th cruise on their website .... perhaps they know some good news that we don't.

[larronry]

No, they were still selling the 12/10 cruise on the website even after it was canceled.