Okay, I admit that I am not up to date on Celebrity's "pod problems".
I assure you that Celebrity is not the only line dealing with the problems, our 3/17/07 Oosterdam trip has been cut a bit in port times as a result of one of the pods running at 25%. I still plan to take the trip, as the ports weren't the deal breaker on that cruise.
So tell me, what is the status of the Pods on the different Celebrity M class ships, are any of them running at reduced speeds?? Inquiring minds would like to know!
The history of pod failures on Celebrity M-class ships
Here is the history of the recurring pod problems on Celebrity.
Millennium launched approx. June 1, 2000
pod failure dry dock January, 2001
pod failure dry dock July 16, 2003
pod failure dry dock scheduled December 10, 2006
Pod/electrical problem on January 1, 2007 cruise (missed ports)
Infinity launched late 2001
pod failure dry dock late 2001 (3 weeks)
pod failure dry dock April 13, 2002
pod failure dry dock January 29, 2003
pod failure dry dock March 2004
pod failure dry dock March 27, 2005
pod failure Ports skipped and cruise shortened on two cruises
(July 9 and July 16, 2006) Electrical problem in pods.
pod failure dry dock September 13, 2006
Pod/electrical failure on Nov 19, 2006 & December (patched after 4 weeks)
Summit launched 2002
pod failure dry dock March 2002
pod failure dry dock July 18, 2003
pod failure dry dock September 2004
pod failure dry dock June 3, 2005
pod failure dry dock May 20, 2006
Constellation launched late April 2002
pod failure dry dock (salt water leaked into pods).
As of this writing there are no current pod failures that I am aware of. It should also be noted that the pod failure that began on the Infinity on the July 9 cruise went on until drydock on September 13, 2006
I had the fortunate (sic) experience of being on the canceled September 13th cruise after being on the Summit last May.
I can tell you that the Future Cruise Credit from the first cruise did not amount to squat with respect for paying for my canceled cruise of September.
So I use my now free cruise to go to South America in December and lo and behold we miss ports there too.
So first hand three cruises screwed up in six months. Do they want to help with the airfare? No!!!!
I had the fortunate (sic) experience of being on the canceled September 13th cruise after being on the Summit last May.
I can tell you that the Future Cruise Credit from the first cruise did not amount to squat with respect for paying for my canceled cruise of September.
So I use my now free cruise to go to South America in December and lo and behold we miss ports there too.
So first hand three cruises screwed up in six months. Do they want to help with the airfare? No!!!!
Way to go Celebrity!!!!!!!
Just to play devil's advocate, there have been many cruises of Millie class ships that have had no pod problems whatsoever. I'd venture to guess well over 90% of them. I myself have sailed Infinity, the most problem plagued ship in the fleet and had a marvelous and problem free sailing. I have also booked many clients on all of the Millie class ships and have never had a problem on any of them.
Just to play devil's advocate, there have been many cruises of Millie class ships that have had no pod problems whatsoever. I'd venture to guess well over 90% of them. I myself have sailed Infinity, the most problem plagued ship in the fleet and had a marvelous and problem free sailing. I have also booked many clients on all of the Millie class ships and have never had a problem on any of them.
Reggie
Hi Reggie,
You have indeed been lucky with your cruises on Celebrity ships. I guess for me the problem is what about the ones in the less than 10% category, who may be on a once in a lifetime cruise and unknowingly take a very unnecessary risk and then get burned?
BTW, You certainly don't have to answer this, but as a travel agent do you warn or even mention the possibility of pod problems on the Celebrity M-class ships to your potential customers?
Hi Reggie,
You have indeed been lucky with your cruises on Celebrity ships. I guess for me the problem is what about the ones in the less than 10% category, who may be on a once in a lifetime cruise and unknowingly take a very unnecessary risk and then get burned?
BTW, You certainly don't have to answer this, but as a travel agent do you warn or even mention the possibility of pod problems on the Celebrity M-class ships to your potential customers?
I have no problem answering that. I certainly do mention the possibility of the Millie class ships having pod problems. I also highly recommend everyone consider purchasing travel insurance to cover that and many other possible problems. The pod problems are not confined to Celebrity ships, although they do seem to be having more than their share.
What I find fascinating is that Constellation has never had thrust bearing failures that have the other ships have had, and as I recall, Alstom swears the same bearings that were refitted to Constellation before it went into active service are the same ones being used in the other 3 ships. Go figure. It's no surprise that Celebrity/RCCL went elsewhere for their new builds... heck, they're still trying to recover all of their losses from Alstom and Rolls.
What I find fascinating is that Constellation has never had thrust bearing failures that have the other ships have had, and as I recall, Alstom swears the same bearings that were refitted to Constellation before it went into active service are the same ones being used in the other 3 ships. Go figure. It's no surprise that Celebrity/RCCL went elsewhere for their new builds... heck, they're still trying to recover all of their losses from Alstom and Rolls.
We've had this discussion somewhere before.
I do remember reading that some improvement of some kind was made to the pod system on Connie before it entered service. I have no idea what that might have been and as Chris stated, it doesn't seem like any body else knows for sure.
I guess a possible answer would involve the speeds required for various itineraries.
Maybe the Connie has operated on itineraries that don't require higher operating speeds and thereby the mechanism that has failed is not subjected to the stresses involved in higher operating speeds.
Another possibility would be the water temperature inherant as the ships sail on certain itineraries, or the range of temperature variance.
I know I'm fishing here and would imagine that these and many other factors have been looked at to explain the lack of problems with the Connie's pod system.
Another possibility is that the Connie is past due to have a major problem the longer it goes without having a problem.
Don't say that Reggie!!!! I sail on her in 6 weeks! I hope you didn't jinks her!
Garry
You're probebly safer on Connie than any of the other Millie class ships.
It's never had a problem except pre launch when one of the pod seals
developed a leak, not related to the thrust bearing problems the other ships are having.
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Celebrity Pod Problems and Incidents!!
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Sounds like you've had a run of terrible luck
I hope you didn't jinks her!
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