Celebrity Eclipse

Celebrity Eclipse inbound to Southampton on 23 April 2010 with 2,200 British tourists stranded by the Eyjafjallajökull eruptions

In response to the 2010 shutdown of UK airspace due to the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano, the newly completed Celebrity Eclipse returned 2,000 British tourists stranded in Spain as "an act of goodwill" by the owners, sailing from Southampton to Bilbao on 21 April and returning on 23 April.[12]

On 20 May 2011 a 31-year-old crew member was lost overboard 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of Cherbourg, France; despite an extensive search the man's body was not recovered.[13]

In October 2012 Channel 4 TV aired a Dispatches undercover documentary that exposed poor working conditions and exploitation of workers on Celebrity Eclipse.[14] Allegations include flying under a flag of convenience to enable the ship owners to be unconstrained by employment legislation, including minimum wages and working hours. The documentary showed footage of workers who had no rest days in many months, and workers who had to pay helpers to enable them to fulfil their duties. Celebrity Cruises denied the allegations in the documentary.

Celebrity Eclipse at the Port of San Diego disembarking her final passengers in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic

Celebrity Eclipse at Circular Quay, Sydney

Passengers began disembarking from the ship in San Diego on 30 March 2020 after her last sailing.[15] In April, allegations surfaced that the ship had failed to protect passengers from known cases of COVID-19.[15] Passengers and crew had tested positive despite Celebrity's original public denials of any cases on board.[16] One man died in the United States four days after returning home in the United States and his wife also tested positive.[15] Another passenger, an 83-year-old man, was reported dead in Queensland, Australia, on 18 April.[17]

After disembarking the passengers the ship was placed under a no-sail order, effective through July, by the Centers for Disease Control. As of May 2020 Celebrity Eclipse and two other cruise ships were still at anchor offshore from San Diego. Approximately 700 crew were reportedly still aboard Celebrity Eclipse.[18]