"Rescued By An ECLIPSE"
(CELEBRITY SOLSTICE, seen above. Sister ship to CELEBRITY ECLIPSE)
No one likes to be told that their flight has been cancelled. Depending on how flexible your schedule is most of the time it's not that bad of an inconvenience. However, that is not the case in Europe over the past several days. Due to the eruption of a volcano in Iceland, thousands of flights have been cancelled and left travelers stranded in other countries unable to return.
We have become so accustomed to traveling by air, many times there are not that many alternative means to travel. It used to be that the "only way to cross" the Atlantic was by ocean liner until the airplane made it seem slow and old fashioned.
Now that aircraft are grounded it seems poetic that a ship is now coming onto the scene and offering her services to bring some very fortunate travelers an extremely comfortable ride home.
Celebrity Cruise Line's newest Solstice class vessel the CELEBRITY ECLIPSE, arrived in Southamton today around 9:00 a.m. and will depart tonight to Bilbao Spain and arrive early Thursday, April 22. The cruise line worked with U.K. tour operators to provide assistance to nearly 2000 travelers who have been stranded by nearly a week. This mercy mission will replace her original launch festivities which included a two-night launch celebration cruise from Southampton.
Richard D.Fain, chairman of Celebrity Cruises and chairman and CEO of it's parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. said; "Collecting stranded British and Irish vacationers is a fitting first mission for new ship CELEBRITY ECLIPSE-what better way for a ship dedicated to the U.K, to make her arrival?"
This gesture on behalf of Celebrity is a publicity coup. Imagine 2000 people getting to enjoy the newest ship in the world and experiencing what she has to offer. Regardless of the good PR, it's the right thing to do and it's nice to see corporations behave in such a worthy manner.
For some beautiful photos of the new ECLIPSE, click here Photos from Andreas Depping
Comments
I read this story at http://www.cruises.co.uk/ and thought what a great gesture this is from Celebrity cruises, unlike some cruise companies that I have read turned people away, telling them that they should wait for the plane situation to sort itself out.
Stephen, You're right. Other than the disappointment felt by those who were to have gone on the originally scheduled two night cruise, I can't see anything but good coming out of this. How many of these stranded vacationers might never have considered a Celebrity cruise? Instead going with a traditional British cruise operator. Now having spent some time onboard ECLIPSE, can see for themselves what an incredible product Celebrity offers, and it got them home. A company can't buy this kind of good publicity. Thanks for your comment.