Guests booked on Celebrity Millennium’s August 6, 2025, sailing from Yokohama, Japan, were notified of a last-minute change to their boarding plans. According to details shared online, Celebrity Millennium was delayed returning to the port of Yokohama due to a sunken vessel in the harbor.
Celebrity Cruises issued an urgent communication to passengers requesting they postpone their arrival to the port until further notice, citing fluid arrival times and a need to prevent overcrowding at the terminal.
On the morning of embarkation, guests received an email titled “Please Delay Your Arrival,” letting them know that boarding for Celebrity Millennium would be delayed. One of the impacted passengers shared the email to the r/CelebrityCruise thread.
Celebrity Cruises explained to impacted guests:
“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. This adjustment is necessary to ensure a safe and comfortable arrival experience and to help prevent overcrowding at the terminal.”
Passengers were informed that updates would be shared hourly until a revised boarding schedule was confirmed. In addition, temperatures in Yokohama are expected to reach 97°F during Celebrity Millennium’s embarkation, making the urgent communication and staggered arrival times even more important.
Celebrity Millennium was returning from a 12-night Best of Japan and Nebuta Festival itinerary when the delay occurred. This festival in Aomori, Japan, is one of the most famous summer festivals in Japan, known for its illuminated floats, dancers, and traditional music.
Celebrity Millennium operates cruises in Asia year-round for Celebrity Cruises, typically offering port-intensive itineraries across the continent.
A sunken vessel reportedly caused the delay
According to one passenger currently onboard Celebrity Millennium, the cruise ship was unable to dock on schedule because of a sunken vessel.
One responder explained, “There’s a sunken vessel in the harbor. Divers had to go down and identify a lane for us to enter the port. We’re about 3–3.5 hours behind schedule. The crew has been accommodating and amazing. Quiet and orderly down in the theatre.”
Later in the day, Celebrity Cruises issued an updated notice confirming that the Japanese Coast Guard cleared Celebrity Millennium to return to the Yokohama Port. New staggered boarding times were released, pushing embarkation back by several hours.
According to the updated schedule, original boarding times beginning at 11:00 AM were rescheduled starting at 2:00 PM, with the final arrival slot set for 5:00 PM. All guests must be checked in and onboard by 6:00 PM for a scheduled 7:00 PM sail-away.
Revised boarding times include:
- 11:00 AM ➝ 2:00 PM
- 11:30 AM ➝ 2:30 PM
- 12:00 PM ➝ 3:00 PM
- 12:30 PM ➝ 3:30 PM
- 1:00 PM ➝ 4:00 PM
- 1:30 PM ➝ 4:30 PM
- 2:00 PM and later ➝ 5:00 PM
Once onboard, guests will embark on a 12-night sailing round-trip from Yokohama with port calls in Shimizu, Kobe-Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima, Busan (South Korea), Hakodate, and Aomori before returning to Yokohama on August 18, 2025. At this time, no further adjustments to the itinerary have been announced at the time of publication.
Despite the delayed start, Celebrity Cruises emphasized that safety and comfort remain top priorities and thanked guests for their “patience and flexibility during this unexpected circumstance.”
It’s been a rough summer for Celebrity Cruises
This delay on Celebrity Millennium comes after a series of recent challenges for Celebrity Cruises, with several sailings impacted by technical problems and unexpected disruptions this summer.
Just last month, Celebrity Infinity faced a power outage while docked in Kusadasi, Turkey, which delayed departure in the middle of a heatwave. The vessel remained docked in Turkey for multiple days because of the power outage, causing the remaining ports to be cancelled.
Around the same time, Celebrity Beyond was forced to cancel an entire sailing after experiencing engine problems. The 3-year-old cruise ship continues to operate at a reduced speed with revised itineraries.
And just a few days ago, Celebrity Constellation lost power off the coast of Italy, leaving the ship drifting for hours without air conditioning or functioning toilets. Power was restored after about 2.5 hours and the ship continued to sail without issue.
About Celebrity Millennium
As the oldest ship in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet, Celebrity Millennium is the namesake of the Millennium Class. She is fondly known as “Millie” by many Celebrity Cruise fans who love the sophisticated, traditional, and mid-sized cruising experience onboard.
Originally debuting in 2000, the vessel underwent a major “Celebrity Revolution” refurbishment in 2019, introducing modernized staterooms, reimagined public spaces, and updated dining venues.
At 91,011 gross tons and accommodating approximately 2,200 passengers, Celebrity Millennium offers a more intimate cruising experience. This makes her perfect for destination-focused itineraries in Asia.
