Norwegian Cruise Line has been forced to cancel a cruise in the Caribbean after one of its cruise ships ran aground and sustained damage to its hull.
The casualty involving the 4,248-berth Norwegian Escape (built 2015) occurred on Monday while it was trying to leave a port in the Dominican Republic according to a letter from the ship’s captain posted on social media by a passenger on the ship.
The vessel was refloated past midnight on Tuesday by tugs and it returned to the berth in Puerto Plata, where it was assessed for damage.
“In an abundance of caution, the remainder of the Norwegian Escape’s 12 March sailing has been cancelled and we will be disembarking all guests between 16-18 March,” the captain said in the letter.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this has caused, as we understand now more than ever the desire to travel and reconnect with the places and people, we’ve missed most,” he added.
The Bahamas-flagged vessel hit the channel bed as it was departing Puerto Plata on Monday afternoon, an unnamed company spokesman was later quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
The ship sustained minor damage to its hull and the cruise line will halt the current cruise as well as cancel another voyage that was set to embark on March 19 to make the necessary repairs, the spokesperson added.
According to local media reports, it was carrying 3,223 guests and 1,618 crew. Built in 2015, the Norwegian Escape carries a maximum of 4,266 passengers and 1,733 crew.
NCL said it will be disembarking passengers over the next few days in Puerto Plata and helping them to get on flights back to Orlando, Florida.
The cruise line operates a seven-day Caribbean cruise that departs Florida on Saturdays and stops in Puerto Plata before heading for St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
