United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
TUESDAY ASH ALERT – New cruise ship to rescue stranded holidaymakers
Saturday, 20 Apr, 2010
0
The first leg of UK launch celebrations for new ship Celebrity Eclipse have been cancelled so the ship can help rescue holidaymakers stranded in the volcanic ash airspace shutdown
Celebrity Cruises is working with UK tour operators to collect more than 2,000 holidaymakers affected by the airport closures and subsequent flight cancellations.
The 2,852-passenger vessel is due to arrive in Southampton as scheduled this morning (Tuesday) and will depart this evening to Bilbao where it is set to arrive in the early hours of Thursday.
Stranded holidaymakers will embark the ship throughout Thursday morning and the ship will return to Southampton, arriving late on Friday evening.
The mercy mission will replace activities planned during a two-night launch celebration cruise from Southampton.
Eclipse will collect delayed holidaymakers – some by up to seven days – who were on package holidays with major UK tour operators.
Eclipse will collect delayed holidaymakers – some by up to seven days – who were on package holidays with major UK tour operators.
The naming celebrations for the ship are planned to go ahead unchanged, and Celebrity Eclipse will be named by Hampshire yachtswoman and breast cancer survivor Emma Pontin late afternoon on Saturday.
Celebrity Cruises is working to switch guests who were scheduled to join a two-night launch celebration sailing on Thursday on the two-night naming celebration cruise on Saturday. Celebrity Cruises will contact all affected guests directly.
Celebrity Cruises is working to switch guests who were scheduled to join a two-night launch celebration sailing on Thursday on the two-night naming celebration cruise on Saturday. Celebrity Cruises will contact all affected guests directly.
The closure of the UK, Irish and northern European airports affected around six per cent of people trying to join a Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International or Azamara Club Cruises vessel globally.
This includes both those trying to complete return travel at the end of a cruise, or journeys to a ship to embark on a cruise.
Company chairman and CEO of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Richard Fain said:“The events affecting air travel are completely unprecedented, and it is in times like these that the global travel industry needs to pull together.
“Collecting stranded British and Irish holidaymakers is a fitting first mission for
new ship Celebrity Eclipse – what better way for a ship dedicated to the UK to mark her arrival?”
“We hope that guests initially invited to join the launch celebrations on 22 April will understand the change of plan, and we look forward to welcoming as many of them as possible to the naming ceremony on 24 April instead.”
Celebrity Cruises is working with major UK tour operators to try to assist with their challenge to repatriate as many of their customers as possible.
Celebrity Cruises is working with major UK tour operators to try to assist with their challenge to repatriate as many of their customers as possible.
Plans for Celebrity Eclipse remain fluid as the situation regarding re-opening air space continues to change. Celebrity Cruises will continue to make updates as circumstances evolve, the company said.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Woman dies after getting ‘entangled’ in baggage carousel