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Frozen lobster dispute costs Celebrity its Galapagos cruise
A dispute over frozen lobster tails has temporarily cost Celebrity Cruises its permit to operate in the Galapagos National Park, and forced the cancellation of the June 2 sailing of the Celebrity Xpedition.
Celebrity acknowledged in a statement that it was cited by The Galapagos National Park for transporting 12 kilograms of frozen lobster tails that were out of season.
Celebrity Xpedition’s license to enter the Galapagos National Park was suspended for 45 days and the line was fined.
Celebrity will provide guests with a full refund of the monies paid for the cruise plus 50% future cruise credit, as well as pay for airline change fees. Air transportation booked through Celebrity Cruises we be refunded in full.
Celebrity apologised in the statement, saying it "is committed to complying with the rules and regulations of the Galapagos, which are put in place to protect and safeguard this unique and pristine environment".
While it anticipates that its license to sail in the Galapagos "will be restored shortly, the situation is still fluid" the statement said.
"We will be contacting guests booked on the June 9 to provide them with the most updated information."
by Cheryl Rosen, TravelMole Editor US
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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