Celebrity Constellation Ship Experiences Power Loss Between Ravenna and Rome: What Happened?

On the evening of August 2, 2025, the Celebrity Constellation faced a significant power outage while navigating the Ionian Sea towards Messina, Sicily. The ship lost both hotel and propulsion power for nearly two hours, impacting its 2,170 guests who experienced a total blackout, which included the loss of lighting, air conditioning, and functioning toilets.

The incident occurred approximately 25 nautical miles east-southeast of Crotone, Italy, causing the vessel to drift slowly at just 1-2 knots—far below its normal cruising speed of 24 knots. The power loss began shortly after 3:00 a.m. local time, leaving guests in warm conditions with only cold food available as the repairs were underway. One passenger described the atmosphere as uncomfortably hot just an hour after ventilation ceased.

Partial power was restored, allowing the Constellation to regain some propulsion, enabling it to reach Messina as originally scheduled the following morning without major changes to the itinerary. A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group indicated that technical teams were quick to respond to the situation and that updates were continuously provided to guests on board to keep them informed and reassured during the troubleshooting process.

At the time of the incident, the Constellation was on an 11-night Mediterranean cruise, traveling from Ravenna to Rome. Satellite tracking confirmed the ship’s slowed speeds, indicating that it drifted instead of using emergency power. Although vessels typically have backup generators for essential systems, these are not equipped to handle full onboard operations like climate control or kitchen services.

Fortunately, no injuries or severe malfunctions were reported after the incident.

For more details about previous incidents involving the Celebrity Constellation, check the ship’s CruiseMinus page.

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