COLUMBUS

Allgemeine Informationen

Kurs/Position

Die neuesten Nachrichten

Changes in itineraries due to coronavirus

The Princess Cruise Line has cancelled five departures of the Diamond Princess' from Yokohama, the port for Tokyo where it has been stuck for more than two weeks. The cruise line says this is due to the ship’s prolonged quarantine period, and the anticipated time to prepare the ship to return to service. The ship was currently due to return to service on April 29, in time for the start of Japan’s Golden Week celebrations. Cruises have also been cancelled on 'Majestic Princess' all the way up to and including April 2. These included a series of round-trip departures from Keeling, the port for Taipei. Cruises on the 'Sapphire Princess' have been cancelled all the way up to and including Oct 22. These included a whole series of round-trips from Shanghai, and other cruises departing from Singapore, Yokohama and Hong Kong. The 'Sapphire Princess' will redeploy to Australia six months earlier than planned, and 44 new cruises from five major cities will be introduced as new itineraries to replace the cancelled Asia programme. This new year-long programme in Australia will go on sale from Feb 27. All booked guests on cancelled voyages will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, air fares (if booked with Princess), hotel packages, pre-paid shore excursions, along with a future cruise credit. The 'Queen Elizabeth' will no longer cbe alling at Hong Kong on March 31 and Shanghai on April 4, with replacement ports yet to be announced. The 'Queen Mary 2’s voyage from Asia to Australia has been modified with the introduction of the following Australian ports: Darwin on Feb 24-25 and Yorkneys Knob (for Cairns) on Feb 29. After sailing to Airlie Beach, the ship reverts to the original itinerary. Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ 'Columbus' will no longer call at Tianjin (for Beijing) on March 17 or Hong Kong on March 23, which has been replaced by Chan May in Vietnam. Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled the departure of the 'Norwegian Jade' from Singapore on Feb 17. In addition, all sailings in Asia on the 'Norwegian Spirit' have been cancelled from April 15 through to Dec 7. Instead, the newly refurbished ship will set sail on a series of 17-, 20- and 28-day voyages spanning three continents, including departures from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 2; and Cape Town, South Africa on March 22, 2020, before homeporting in Piraeus (for Athens) for the first time on April 19. She will then offer a season of seven-day voyages to the Greek islands, Turkey, and Israel through to November 8. Compensation?Passengers have a choice between cancelling and receiving a full refund, or remaining onboard the affected sailing and getting 50 per cent of their cruise fare credited back. After Holland America Line’s 'Westerdam' was diverted to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, arriving on Feb 13, the next voyage was cancelled. As a further precaution, the line has cancelled two further cruises departing on February 29. These are a 14-day Taiwan & Japan sailing, and a 28-day Taiwan, Japan and South Korea itinerary. Compensation? Guests will receive a full refund, and a future cruise credit for 50 per cent of the cruise fare paid.

Cruise ship has to be drydocked - cruises cancelled

The "Columbus" has suffered a major engine problem. The current cruise has now been aborted, and vessel remained on a lay-by berth in Ijmuiden, awaiting to shift to a drydock in Rotterdam for repairs. The next cruise, due to depart Tilbury on June 5, has already been cancelled. Subsequent cruises schedules were awaiting the full assessment of damage. The ship, upon its departure from the Amsterdam cruise terminal on May 30, had turned too fast and got close to the opposite quay, obviously alliding with an obstruction. After passing the sea locks at IJmuiden, she was moored at the cruise terminal for six hours but left for Norway after a diver inspection. On May 31 at 11.45 p.m. it was announced that because of steering problems, the cruise was cancelled. The ship turned around in the night and returned back to Ymuiden at 11.5 knots. After the arrival in the morning of June 1 it moored at the IJ muiden cruise terminal. Dutch and German passengers were transferred to Amsterdam train station in the morning of June 2. About 1.200 British and other passengers were taken by busses over Calais to Tilbury on June 2. The ship left dry dock in Rotterdam after repairs on July 9 and sailed to Tilbury the same day.

Rudder trouble after collision with obstruction

The "Columbus" was unexpectedly docked at the Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden in the morning of June 2, 2019. The ship had left Amsterdam on May 30, but upon its departure hit something in the water. The Port of Amsterdam and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate were on board for consultation and the exchange of information. After this the ship left for the Norwegian Fjordson May 31 at 2.50 a.m. Along the way the ship had too many problems with the rudder, so it was forced to turn around in the evening ´and sailed back to IJmuiden. Due to the rudder problems, the ship received assistance from two tugs already a few miles off the pier and was safely berthed on June 2 at 5.30 a.m. Further inspection were to be carried out to find out the amount of damage. If the ship needs to be repaired in a dock, all passengers will have to be disembarked. Dutch report with photos: https://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/cnt/dmf20190602_2242498/cruiseschip-columbus-loopt-schade-op-en-keert-terug-naar-ijmuiden?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic