More Sailings Cancelled: Fire-damaged cruise ship faces six weeks of repair

[Jason]

Royal Caribbean's fire-damaged Grandeur of the Seas will be out of service until the middle of July.

The line today canceled five more sailings of the vessel so it can undergo repair work at a shipyard in the Bahamas and said the ship wouldn't return to service until July 12.

Royal Caribbean already had canceled a sailing on the ship scheduled to begin on May 31. The new cancellations affect sailings scheduled to depart on June 7, 14, 21 and 28, and on July 5.

Royal Caribbean also said the incident will reduce the earnings of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises by 10 cents a share, or about $22 million. The announcement came after trading closed on Wall Street.

Royal Caribbean has not said what caused the blaze, which occurred early Monday in a mooring area at the back of the vessel and was doused about two hours later. Photos show fire damage extending across at least four decks.

Based in Baltimore, Grandeur of the Seas was on the way to Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, CocoCay, with 2,224 passengers when the fire broke out. The ship never lost power during the incident and was able to reach Freeport, Bahamas about seven hours after the fire started.

Royal Caribbean says customers on the canceled sailings will receive a full refund and a future cruise certificate for 25% of the cruise fare they paid. Refunds should be processed within the next three weeks, the line says.

"We are deeply sorry for this unexpected development in our guests' upcoming vacation," the line says.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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[crazy4disney]

I can't imagine how heartbreaking it must be to have a cruise planned for months or years, all that anticipation and planning, and then have it canceled just weeks before. :-( I mean, things happen, and RCI has handled all this as well as anyone could I think, but it still has to be so disappointing!

-gina-

[Jan115]

I also feel bad for Baltimore, too, and those cruisers who live within drive-to distance. There was so much good press about Grandeur arriving and another great option for cruises out of Baltimore. Hopefully, she'll return in good form and on schedule, and bring back the passengers.