Cruise Liner Celestyal Crystal Collides with Tanker

The Maltese flagged MV Celestyal Crystal was involved in a collision with the Marshall Islands flagged tanker STI PIMLICO on Saturday, June 27. The collision took place at approximately 1:28 am local time.

In a statement, Celestyal Crystal said that all 852 passengers and the 382 members of crew of the Celestyal Crystal are well as are the crew members of the tanker. The vessel has only suffered some structural damages and awaits inspection from its class surveyor.

The ship management company is in constant contact with the operations room of the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters and is in contact with the Turkish authorities for the necessary measures to be taken for the safe disembarkation of those on board.

“This entails that the said damages must be repaired before the ship can continue with its scheduled cruise itineraries. With the safety and care of our passengers as our utmost priority, we will ensure the smoothest possible disembarkation for those on board since the current cruise will have to be cancelled”, the announcement read.

Celestyal Crystal announced the following options on offer to its passengers.

For passengers who were travelling from Istanbul to Piraeus, Lavrio to Piraeus and from Kusadasi to Piraeus:
Passengers will be transported from Gelibolu to Istanbul. A one-night or a two-night complimentary stay at a hotel in Istanbul will be arranged as well as a free shorex excursion. On Monday, passengers will be flown from Istanbul to Izmir where a complimentary overnight stay at a hotel in Izmir or Kusadasi will be arranged. For those staying in Izmir, transportation to Kusadasi will be arranged and a complimentary shorex in Ancient Ephesus will be offered to all passengers. They will then board MV Celestyal Odyssey or MV Celestyal Olympia on Tuesday to join the cruise either from Kusadasi to Lavrio or from Kusadasi to Piraeus, accordingly. Passengers will be fully refunded and offered a complimentary cruise, valid until the end of 2016.

For Greek passengers or for all passengers who were scheduled to disembark in Piraeus after a 7-day cruise:
Passengers will be transported from Gelibolu to Istanbul where a fully complimentary overnight stay at a hotel will be arranged. They will then fly on Sunday or Monday (upon availability) from Istanbul to Athens. A complimentary excursion in Istanbul (highlights of Istanbul) will be offered. Passengers will be fully refunded and offered a complimentary cruise valid until end of 2016.

The complimentary cruises are not applicable to those ending their cruise in Istanbul.