ASH UPDATE – Celebrity works with three travel firms on rescue mission
Stranded holiaymakers from three travel firms will be the only ones repatriated by new cruise ship Celebrity Eclipse from Spain.
The £500 million Celebrity Cruises’ vessel set sail from Southampton yesterday to collect UK holidaymakers from Bilbao (see earlier TravelMole story).
The voyage replaces a planned two-day launch VIP celebration cruise originally due to depart tomorrow.
Celebrity Cruises confirmed that it is working with TUI UK – the parent company of Thomson Holidays and First Choice – Thomas Cook and the Co-operative Travel Group on the sailing.
"By working with these three major tour operating brands we are able to maximise the help we can give," a statement said.
"Thomson, First Choice and CTTG have the infrastructure in place to transport as many customers as possible, from across Spain, to Bilbao.
"Unfortunately, we cannot help everybody. Celebrity Eclipse can only make one repatriation sailing and our Bilbao pick up will be restricted to customers of Thomas Cook, Thomson Holidays, First Choice and CTTG who have been allocated a space aboard the ship.
"We are advising customers of other tour operators to not turn up at the port in the hope of travelling with Celebrity Eclipse.
"Whilst we want to get as many people home as we can, we have to adhere to strict safety and security regulations. We are only able to transport customer travelling with Thnomas Cook, First Choice, Thomson Holidays and CTTG."
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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