More bad news for Aurora. The P&O ship has still not left Auckland, New Zealand, and the forecast is that she will arrive in San Francisco, her next change-over port, a day late.
The ship suffered a propulsion failure shortly after leaving Sydney, Australia at the beginning of the month, and limped across the Tasman Sea at half speed.
A team of engineers from Germany was flown in to carry out repairs to a damaged thrust bearing, and passengers have had five days to explore all that Auckland has to offer, while drinking for free in the ship’s bars.
Two New Zealand ports of call had to be cancleed, and P&O said earlier this week that they would be cutting visits to Moorea and Papeete, in Tahiti in order to get to San Francisco on time.
On Tuesday night, a big sailaway party was held on deck, but the passengers woke on Wednesday morning to find the ship was still tied up in harbour.
One passenger reported on P&O’s Cruise Community website: “This morning at around 9 o’clock the Captain made a further announcement that when they came to commission the thrust bearings, a new problem became apparent with the oil system.
“The engineers had been working overnight and we hope to be ready to sail by Thursday evening.
“As a consequence we would be arriving at all ports one day late. Madeira would be removed from our itinerary to make up lost time.” Aurora is due back in the UK on April 13.
Has Aurora left Auckland yet? See for yourself on the port’s webcam.
- Aurora is not the only cruise ship experiencing engine trouble Down Under. Celebrity’s Millennium has suffered a repeat of the problems which have plagued its propulsion pods and will sail without passengers from Auckland on March 15 in order to go into dry-dock in Sydney.
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