Key Aspects:
- Celebrity Constellation lost power for approximately two hours while sailing in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Italy.
- At least partial power was restored but the ship remained adrift slightly longer before resuming at much slower speeds.
- The next port of call is scheduled for Sunday, August 3 in Messina, but there is not yet confirmation of any itinerary adjustments following the power loss.
Celebrity Constellation has suffered a technical malfunction and spent two hours without power while drifting slowly off the coast of southern Italy, according to reports from guests onboard and tracking data online.
The ship set sail on an 11-night, one-way voyage from Ravenna to Rome on Monday, July 28, 2025. Following several port visits to Croatia and Montenegro, Saturday, August 2 was to have been a day at sea en route to Messina, Sicily for a visit from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Satellite tracking data now shows the vessel to have slowed significantly and drifted from her expected route. For several hours, the vessel was only moving at 1-2 knots, or approximately 1.1-2.3 miles per hour, far below the speed necessary to reach Messina. Her top cruising speed is 24 knots (27.6 mph).
As she drifted, Celebrity Constellation was positioned roughly 25 miles east-southeast of Crotone, Italy in the Ionian Sea between Italy and Greece.
Reports from guests onboard the Millennium class ship describe what appears to be a power failure with no lights, no air conditioning, toilets not flushing, and only cold food being served for dinner.
“One hour in and it’s HOT,” one guest noted.
The lack of air conditioning could be especially concerning as local temperatures are roughly 80 degrees. Without air circulation, interior areas of the ship, including staterooms, can quickly become stifling and uncomfortable.
Dramatic descriptions of the situation are likening it to the “poop cruise” in reference to the recent Netflix documentary covering Carnival Triumph‘s power failure in 2013.
Celebrity Constellation was only without power for about two hours, however, and the situation is not yet so dire. It is possible further power failures could occur as repairs are made.
What Happened to Cause the Malfunction?
There is no confirmation about how a power failure could have occurred. These types of incidents are often, though not always, precipitated by fires or electrical shorts in a ship’s engine room, though there are other potential causes of power loss.
Cruise ships are fully equipped to handle emergencies and unexpected technical issues. Celebrity Constellation undoubtedly remains in contact with the cruise line as well as authorities on land to update them on the situation.
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Simultaneously, engineering teams would be assessing the vessel and initiating any emergency repairs to restore both backup power and main power to return the ship to full operation.
No further details are available at this time. The situation does not appear to be the same as has impacted Celebrity Beyond in recent weeks, as that is an engine issue that has only impacted sailing speed, not onboard operations.
The 90,940-gross ton Celebrity Constellation is one of the older ships in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet, having debuted in 2002. She can welcome 2,184 guests aboard, and is also home to approximately 1,000 crew members.
