Mermaid Pod problems cause Celebrity cancellation, again

We're having déjà vu. Celebrity Cruises announced this afternoon the cancellation of the June 3 sailing of the Summit from Vancouver due to Mermaid Pod mechanical problems, and the shortening by one day of the current, May 27, trip. A visit to drydock in Victoria is required to repair the "premature wear" in the ship's starboard propulsion system. The ship is expected to sail as usual on June 10.

The Rolls-Royce Mermaid Pod propulsion systems on Summit and the other Millennium-class vessels have proven to be so breakdown-prone that Celebrity filed a $300 million lawsuit against the manufacturer in 2004, amid daytime-TV-worthy allegations of known defects, deceptive and fraudulent marketing, and elaborate coverups.

Guests on the cancelled trip receive a full refund, of course, plus a free trip on a future cruise, which seems fair to us overall under the unfortunate circumstances. Those on the shortened cruise get a $300 onboard credit, reimbursement of airline change fees or hotel expenses up to $100, and a 25 percent discount on a future cruise.

Celebrity Press Release: Celebrity Cruises Cancels One Alaska Sailing, Shortens Another