Fireworks As Sunken Ship Causes Delay For Celebrity Millennium In Yokohama

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Guests onboard Celebrity Millennium faced an unexpected delay returning to Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, 6th August 2025, after a sunken vessel in the harbour required underwater inspections to ensure safe passage.

Celebrity Millennium

The 91,000-gross-ton cruise ship had been concluding a 12-night “Best of Japan” sailing, and the delay impacted not only debarking guests but also those scheduled to embark later that day.

With a passenger capacity of 2,138 per voyage, more than 4,200 passengers were potentially affected by the disruption, depending on how sold out each sailing was.

Three-Hour Delay Due to Submerged Obstruction

Satellite tracking data and guest reports confirm the ship slowed considerably upon approach to Yokohama, awaiting clearance from port authorities.

Underwater checks were required to ensure that debris from the sunken vessel would not interfere with the cruise ship’s arrival or pose navigational hazards.

Though Celebrity Cruises has not officially confirmed the cause, it’s believed to be linked to a fire-related incident on 4th August, when two fireworks barges caught fire in the harbour.

While there were no injuries reported, the burning barges may have left debris requiring removal or inspection.

Communication and Adjustments Onboard

Throughout the delay, crew members kept passengers informed and added extra activities to help ease the wait. Reports from onboard note that the delay lasted approximately 3 to 4 hours, with Celebrity Millennium ultimately arriving safely and without technical issues.

For guests awaiting embarkation, the cruise line sent email updates advising them to postpone arrival at the terminal to avoid overcrowding and ensure a smooth boarding process.

“Our arrival time remains fluid, and we kindly ask that you delay your arrival to the port until we advise you of your new arrival time,

“We are committed to remaining in contact every hour so you can plan your arrival appropriately.”

Adjusted Arrival Windows

To manage the shifted schedule, Celebrity Cruises issued new arrival times for embarking guests.

For instance, those with an 11 am arrival slot were asked to arrive at 2 pm instead. The 1 pm group was shifted to 4 pm, and guests in the final arrival windows (2–3 pm) were advised to arrive no later than 5 pm.

“All guests should be checked-in and onboard by 6:00 PM and we’ll set sail at 7:00 PM,” the cruise line emphasised.

The smooth boarding process ultimately allowed the ship to set sail on time for its next 12-night cruise, visiting Japanese ports such as Shimizu, Osaka, and Hiroshima, along with a stop in Busan, South Korea.

No Damage to Ship

It’s important to note that Celebrity Cruises was never at fault with the incident, and that Celebrity Millennium did not suffer any damage during the delay.

There were no technical concerns with the ship itself. The delay was purely a safety precaution to ensure the harbour was free of obstacles.

The Millennium-class vessel has been sailing successfully from her Yokohama homeport this season and remains on schedule for upcoming voyages.

With no other cruise ships scheduled at Yokohama until Diamond Princess arrives on 15th August, port authorities now have ample time to fully clear and assess the harbour following the recent disruptions – whether due to the barge fire or recent tsunami-related activity in the region.

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