Tragedy for the Celebrity Solstice- Twice

Thoughts go out today for the family of a Celebrity passenger and also to those passengers involved in separate tragedy just 45 minutes earlier.

Normally, and in my time in the cruise industry always, excursions go without a hitch, not even a late arrival back to the ship but yesterday, the 22nd November tragedy struck to trips on the same cruise ship.

The incidents where in The Bay of Plenty, known as Tauranga in New Zealand.

Whilst returning from an excursion a bus load of Celebrity Solstice passengers were involved in a head-on crash with a car in which the driver of that car was killed. Although no one on the coach was injured this must have been a very traumatic and distressing experience for them. The passengers where transferred to another bus to make their way back to the ship.

Just 45 minutes later a passenger in her seventies was killed whilst on a cycling trip, she was struck by a lorry and it was reported she died at the scene. Again the most traumatic of situations for those involved.

Celebrity quickly organised victim support staff for all those that required it.

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne visited the scene of the second crash. She said she had been working with her team to ensure everyone involved was supported.

“Our heartfelt sympathies and condolences go to the deceased and her family at this time. Our focus is on doing everything we can to help the police with their investigations,” she said.

“The safety and well-being of tourists in our region is of the utmost importance. Now, our concern is with the victims and supporting the investigations that are under way.”

It was a particularly bad day for The Bay of Plenty as there was actually a third fatality in another separate Road Traffic Accident, on this occasion no connection to any cruise ship.

There are tragedies all the time but to not come back from a holiday that was probably the holiday of a lifetime is heart breaking.