Rescue mission for new cruise ship

The new 122,000-tonne Celebrity Eclipse left Southampton yesterday before its inaugural celebrations to rescue stranded British holiday makers in Spain, the £500-million liner is en route to Bilbao where it will pick up more than 2,500 tourists affected by the volcanic ash disruption to bring them back to the UK in what is thought to be one of the largest peacetime repatriations.

For those who have been stranded in Spain for nearly a week now this will be a welcome relief, especially travelling back in the 5* luxury of the Celebrity Eclipse cruise liner which can carry 2,850 passengers. The President and Chief Executive of Celebrity Cruises Dan Hanrahan, contacted tour operators Thomas Cook, TUI and Co-Op Travel Group to look at bringing back their stranded customers.

He said. “They responded favourably to our idea of bringing these passengers back and they knew where their guests were in Spain and they could give us a manifest of people. It seemed a better idea than having a two-day party and it’s all worked out and we’re happy to help.”

The Eclipse is due to arrive in Bilbao in the early hours of Thursday 22nd and pick up the stranded holiday makers before returning to Southampton.

Picture courtesy of eastleighbusman

Holidays UK World News