New $500 million five-star cruise ship Celebrity Eclipse has docked in the Spanish port of Bilbao as it starts the repatriation of hundreds of stranded British holidaymakers.
Celebrity has agreed with Tui, Thomas Cook and The Co-operative Travel Group to divert the ship from inaugural celebrations for the repatriation effort of Brits left stuck abroad by the volcanic ash cloud that shut down UK airspace.
The ship had been due to operate a special two-night cruise out of Southampton for travel agents and past guests ahead of the official naming on Saturday.
But Dan Hanrahan, Celebrity president, said it was decided that now was “not the right time for a party” with thousands of Brits still stranded following the six-day ash crisis.
Asked on Sky News how much the repatriation would cost he said the line was not thinking about that and that all the ship’s facilities will be made available to the returning holidaymakers.
The ship will put on a show and guests will be able to use the spa and gym facilities, Hanrahan said.
The logistics on Bilbao are being hampered somewhat due to the fact that the port is not a usual turn around port and so does not have the facilities for loading and unloading passengers and their luggage.
But Hanrahan said the focus now was on getting people onboard and checking them into their staterooms so they can have a rest and a shower.
Celebrity Eclipse will leave Bilbao later today and is expected to arrive in Southampton on Friday afternoon.
The 2,000-passenger Celebrity Eclipse will become the first ship the line has dedicated to the UK market by being based in Southampton when it starts operations with paying passengers on Monday.
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