Why an MSC Cruise Ship with No Passengers Has Been Docked in Maine Since Monday
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 just sitting in port.
Motive for the Ship Staying Put
The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that MSC Meraviglia is in Portland to bear 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 executed.
Due to this downside, the ship needed to cancel its final journey. The MSC vessel was imagined to sail from New York to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Ocean Cay. However the mechanical subject meant the ship couldn’t journey quick sufficient.
MSC Cruises despatched a message to passengers impacted by the cancelation saying,
“Resulting from a mechanical subject affecting the ship’s skill to function at normal cruising speeds, we should proceed with crucial repairs. Consequently, and with deep remorse, we have now made the very tough choice to cancel your upcoming crusing.”
All of the passengers who had been booked on that journey acquired 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 provided friends on the canceled crusing two major choices:
- Rebook a distinct cruise: Visitors may select another MSC Cruises crusing, and their funds could be transferred to the brand new reserving. In the event that they rebooked by Could 2, 2025, additionally they obtained a $100 per individual onboard credit score (as much as $200 per stateroom) and a 50% Future Cruise Credit score for a future journey.
- Obtain a full refund: Visitors may choose 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, notably those that confronted additional prices for altering journey plans like flights. Some friends additionally felt the ship might need had ongoing velocity issues, citing delays and canceled actions on earlier cruises this yr.
The ship is predicted to stay in Portland for the required repairs at the least till Could sixteenth.
