"We were supposed to depart either that evening or the following day for Dubai, but we never made it. For days, the couple and dozens of other passengers remained stuck on board the ship, watching flights cancel one after another. We were glued to the TV."
"They really made us feel at home. We were their priority. I think that's the training that celestial imparted in there to their staff. So there were plenty of activities for us to be, to keep our minds away from what was going on. We could see some of the explosions and bomb sounds."
"Ultimately, Celestyal and the embassy arranged a repatriation flight for more than 70 American passengers. A repatriation flight is a government-organized rescue flight used when commercial travel is disrupted or unsafe."
Rebecca and Ed Roque were celebrating her 70th birthday on a Celestyal cruise through the Middle East when U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered widespread flight cancellations across the region. The couple and dozens of other passengers remained stuck aboard the ship in Doha for days, monitoring constant flight cancellations while hearing explosions in the distance. Despite the stressful circumstances, the couple maintained a positive outlook and praised the cruise line's staff for keeping passengers informed and providing activities to maintain morale. The cruise line worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Qatar to coordinate a solution. Eventually, Celestyal and the embassy arranged a government-organized repatriation flight that transported over 70 American passengers to safety, allowing the couple to return home.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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