Several guests aboard the Celebrity Summit have notified us that the cruise ship is currently unable to leave the port in San Juan, Puerto Rico due to what the guests understand to be either a “computer glitch” or “propulsion issues.”
The Summit was scheduled to leave San Juan yesterday but has been unable to due to what the cruise lines often refer to euphemistically as “technical issues.”
The Cruceros Puerto Rico twitter page (translated) refers to unspecified “mechanical” or “electrical problems in the bridge.”
CELEBRITY SUMMIT no pudo zarpar anoche de la bahía de San Juan, Puerto Rico ya que confronto problemas mecánicos. #crucerospuertorico 🇵🇷#cruceristasdeborinquen pic.twitter.com/ltUfG1ADiW
— Cruceros Puerto Rico (@CrucerosPR) January 18, 2019
The website also states that the U.S. Coast Guard needs to inspect the ship before it is permitted to continue on its itinerary.
The Celebrity Summit is scheduled to have left San Juan yesterday on a twelve day cruise to St Croix, US Virgin Islands where it was suppose to call today, and then to Basseterre, St. Kitts; St Johns, Antigua; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Kralendijk, Bonaire; St Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Ponce, Puerto Rico and then back to Puerto Rico.
One passenger informed us that “hopefully (we) will be leaving the port tonight. They are giving everybody on board $100 room credit.”
A $100 on board credit (OBC) to be stuck in port for at least a day seems hardly fair. Royal Caribbean also just announced that it is issuing a OBC of only between $200-$400 after the air conditioning to many cabins failed during a cruise on the Anthem of the Seas. Royal Caribbean/ Celebrity must be re-thinking their attitude towards compensation following its generous full refunds to everyone on the Oasis of the Seas after a gastrointestinal outbreak.
Celebrity’s corporate communication people sent the following to an inquiry posted on Twitter:
Hello Doug – Yes, the Summit is still docked in San Juan. All guest will be permitted to enjoy the beautiful city until 6PM.
— Celebrity Cruises (@CelebrityCruise) January 18, 2019
Power losses on cruise ships are a relatively common occurrence. In 2016, there were at least 18 power losses on cruise ships operated by the major U.S.-based lines.
The AIS information shows the Summit in San Juan. It remains anyone’s guess how long it will stay there.
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January 18, 2019 Update: Looks like the Summit is finally leaving port in San Juan tonight as of 9:13 p.m. per AIS.
Photo credit: Yankeesman312 CC BY-SA 3.0