Cruise Cancelled

[Marc]

If a cruise is cancelled and CruiseMates does not report it in their news reports, did the cruise really get cancelled?

Last Friday, Arlene and I flew to Athens to board Seven Seas Voyager. After a wonderful dinner with friends Saturday, a great trip to Delphi on Sunday, we boarded the Seven Seas Voyager around 5pm on Sunday. After the muster drill, the Captain informed everyone that due to some issues with the pod, we would swap Mykonos and Kusadasi in itinerary; stopping at Mykonos on Monday.

A little while later, the Captain announced that engineers were on their way down from Germany and that we would stay in Athens overnight; skipping Mykonos.

Monday morning, while eating breakfast, the Captain announced that the cruise had been cancelled.

Regent said they would handle rebooking everyone's air; even those that used their own air and that we could stay onboard until Wednesday noon. As it became apparent that there were not many free seats on flights out of Athens, they let people stay on until Thursday morning. Finally, those that still did not have a flight they put up at Intercontinental until their flight (latest of our friends is this Sunday). Still others rebooked themselves, or with Regent's help, another alternative vacation.

So, we had four nights in Athens. As we had plenty of shipboard credit to burn, the Dom Perignon [sp] and Johnnie Walker Blue was flowing. It was fun seeing so many friends and having a great time on the ship; just not worth the long flights.

As a substitute for our cancelled cruise, Regent is offering a 25 night Sydney to Beijing cruise at same fare (many other long cruises to choose from too).

We are home tired and disappointed; mostly because of the anticipation of this itinerary. Still, I think Regent handled it pretty good.

I am looking forward to Paul's investigative report on the exact problems with the pod.

Marc

[Snoozeman]

Wow, what bad luck, Marc, but sounds like you made the best of it.

[Trip]

They have great ships,and itineraries,and obviously great customer service...Sad your high hopes were dashed, but, the lingering was niceAt least you did get sort of a mini vacation.....now anticipate what will come!

[Phil&Liz]

Marc,

I, too, await Pauls report here on CM.......

It made the "other" board....
Pod Issues Stymie Second Seven Seas Voyager Cruise; Intriguing Trades Offered - Regent Seven Seas Cruises

but it seems the same issue occured last April...Regent Seven Seas Cancels Two Cruises Due to Voyager Repairs - Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Then there is this currrent report...Mechanical problem halts Seven Seas Voyager | Travel Weekly
or this one Regent Seven Seas Cancels Voyager?s Oct. 17 Departure

Phil & Liz

[Donna]

Wow Marc,
How unfortunate...This is the first time I've heard of a cruise being cancelled with this kind of problem. Sure hope you get more information....

[skymaster]

What a bummer Marc. Sorry to hear the cruise was canceled, but to reiterate, it sounds like Seven Seas did all they could do, short of fixing the damn ship, to make you happy. Well, that makes a very good excuse to take another vacation!

Ken
"SKY"

[Cruznut2]

Marc, I am sorry to hear that your cruise was cancelled. After al the waiting and anticipation it ust have been a huge disappointment. I hope that you will choose a great cruise to compensate.

Laura

[Rev22:17]

Donna,

Originally Posted by You

Wow Marc,
How unfortunate...This is the first time I've heard of a cruise being cancelled with this kind of problem. Sure hope you get more information....

Ah, did you sleep through all the pod problems aboard all four ships of Celebrity's Millennium class?

Fundamentally, I don't like external pod propulsion because it puts too many likely failure points outside of the hull, making them repairable only in drydock. On a conventional shaft, the same failure points would be within the hull where the ship's engineering department could repair them even at sea.

Unfortuntely, the pods seem to be here to stay.

Norm.