Why an MSC Cruise Ship with No Passengers Has Been...

For a number of days this week, a large cruise ship able to carrying over 5,000 passengers has been going nowhere, docked in Portland, Maine.

MSC Meraviglia’s prolonged keep on the Ocean Gateway Terminal, together with a noticeable lack cruise passengers, has left many native residents questioning why such a big vessel is solely sitting in port.  

Cause for the Ship Staying Put

The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that MSC Meraviglia is in Portland to endure essential mechanical work, particularly involving its propeller blades.

Dive groups are presently nonetheless working underwater to repair or substitute the propeller blades, and the Coast Guard has been warning small boats to keep away from the world whereas the restore work is being carried out.

Due to this drawback, the ship needed to cancel its final journey.  The MSC vessel was speculated to sail from New York to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Ocean Cay. However the mechanical challenge meant the ship couldn’t journey quick sufficient.

MSC Cruises despatched a message to passengers impacted by the cancelation saying,

“As a consequence of a mechanical challenge affecting the ship’s potential to function at commonplace cruising speeds, we should proceed with essential repairs. Because of this, and with deep remorse, we now have made the very troublesome resolution to cancel your upcoming crusing.”

All of the passengers who have been booked on that journey obtained off the ship earlier than it got here to Portland. And that’s why native residents are solely seeing crew members on board, and no passengers.

MSC Cruises supplied visitors on the canceled crusing two principal choices:

• Rebook a special cruise: Company may select some other MSC Cruises crusing, and their funds could be transferred to the brand new reserving. In the event that they rebooked by Might 2, 2025, in addition they obtained a $100 per particular person onboard credit score (as much as $200 per stateroom) and a 50% Future Cruise Credit score for a future journey.
• Obtain a full refund: Company may decide for an entire refund of the cruise fare paid. These selecting a refund additionally obtained the 50% Future Cruise Credit score.

The cancelation induced frustration for a lot of passengers, significantly those that confronted further prices for altering journey plans like flights. Some visitors additionally felt the ship may need had ongoing velocity issues, citing delays and canceled actions on earlier cruises this 12 months.

The ship is anticipated to stay in Portland for the mandatory repairs not less than till Might sixteenth.