Celebrity Summit Engine Problems and I Am Booked to Sail in Two Weeks
November 17, 2008 by Cruise Arizona
Filed under Features, My Travel
The Millennium Class Celebrity ships have had a bit of a curse since they were built. The Rolls Royce Mermaid propulsion pods had problems with their bearings:
eBearing News Article from 2004
Celebrity filed suit against the manufacturer in 2003:
I have been watching the internet for reports of new pod problems since last winter, when I booked my Transatlantic cruise on the Celebrity Summit, which leaves in less than two weeks. For months, the line went with no reports of problems with the propulsion pods.
However my luck ran out yesterday. I signed on to my frequently visited site, Cruise Critic, and found thread reporting that there was trouble on the Summit. It seems that the cruise starting on 11/1 of 2008 experienced some sort of engine problem. They had to drop the port of Split, Croatia during that 14 day Mediterranean cruise. With the current problem, the ship could not exceed a speed of 15 knts, verses the ships regular top speed of 24 knts. Celebrity has dropped another port on its current Nov 14th sailing as well
What we don’t yet know is this: Is the problem with an easily replaceable gas turbine engine or a pod that requires a dry dock to fix?
If the problem is related to a gas turbine, then repair options may be able to be completed while the ship is in regular service. This machinery is internal and easily accessible within the ship. However, if the problem is with the pod propulsion module, these parts can really only be fixed in dry dock because access is below the water line.
So here’s my concern. We are booked for a 15 day Transatlantic cruise departing on Nov 29th. I really don’t’ see any possibility of the pods being fixed with out a dry dock. It is my understanding that the ships can sail at a partial speed of 15 -18 knts with a pod problem and then get them fixed at the next scheduled dry dock. When I called Celebrity today they would not inform me as to the nature of the problem, but they did tell me that they are actively working to fix it and that they expect no interruption or change to my cruise plans.
So I am hoping for the best, but I have always said that I am a “Go with the flow” kind of person who can always make lemonade out of life’s lemons. A fellow cruiser booked on this cruise is also experienced sail boat captain. He looked at the distances we have to cover on our cruise and the current schedule. At the 15 knt speed we will not be able to keep our current schedule, perhaps needing to drop one of our scheduled stops either just before or just after our Atlantic crossing. Trading an extra day at sea for a stop is certainly within my lemonade making ability, but a shortened cruise or cancellation may really test my “go with the flow” abilities.
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We were on the ill fated May 2006 cruise and lost 4 stopovers and were only 1 hour at Hubbard Glacier the pinnacle of our trip!! so anyone just missing 1 stop is having a good time.
Current class action to take Celeb to task ove this as it was known before we sailed and unacceptable to treat passengers in that way to keep them on board to suit themselves to get the ship to victoria Dry dock, whilst making making money.
Our Lemonade turned sour unfortunately on that trip and left a masty taste in our mouth that will only wash away by Celebrity getting their cumuppance and paying their rightful dues as far as the muntineering 1000+ passengers were concerned for not ‘doing the right thing; in LA or San Francisco when they knew of the extent of the damage and what was required.
We will not be used as pawns, we can accept as frequent cruise passengers, glitches etc unaccountable incidencies but not blatant using us to meet their ends, when they claim all expenses and costs from Rolls royce/althom anyway and have not settled in full with these suppliers for supplying the faulty pods. therefore using it to their advantage. shareholder of Celeb Ok, pleased with the way they operate, Customer NO WAY Hosea! Not on, People Power Reigns eventually.
Let us know how that class action suit works out. It seems as though you have one of the most unfortunate cruise experiences.
For what its worth Celebrity is currently reporting to cusotmers that the problem with the Summit has been fixed and there will be no disruption to our planned TA cruise.
I will be updating this article with information as events unfold.
Another update,
The latest I have heard was that the problem was with an internal engine/generator and that the problem was fixed in Venice. Will confirm for sure next when when we arrive on the the Summit, but all looks well at this time.
Hi,
thanks for the posting and we have all things crossed for you
that you and others never experience what happened to us
hopefully it will be summ’at’ and nothing that went wrong
and you have a lovely cruise
we found the entertainment poor, will be interested in your aopinion afterwards
will keep you informed on the class action when it is accepted
regards
machester uk cruisers for some time to come health amd body willing
Thanks, we will post a complete review when we return, and depending on my amount of free time, perhaps a daily blog while we are on the trip.
FYI… Summit TA occurring as planned. No engine issues! Read my virtual cruise blog as it happens – watch the front page.