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Miami.– Tthe Norwegian Dawn, a cruise ship owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines, broke down on its way back to Miami on Friday after a week long trip around the Caribbean which included the Dominican Republic, Tortola, St. John, Barbados and St. Kitts.

Passengers on board say the ship completely lost all power and Coast Guard ships and helicopters were dispatched to the scene. All activities on board the ship were cancelled Friday and the ship is headed to the port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, not Miami.

Passengers were told they would have to make accomodations to return to Miami, but were offered a 70% discount and credits of 50% on future cruises.  NCL also offered to pay for hotel accomodations and airfare.

During the power outage, the more than 2,000 passengers on the ship had no access to running water, electricity air conditioning or toilet services in the hot Caribbean. Guests have been asked to conserve water because the ship has limited capacity to produce new fresh water.

    

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COMMENTS
6 comment(s)
Written by: Blutarsky, 29 Nov 2009 8:20 AM
From: United States, Faber College Double Secret Probation
most of these people will consider themselves fortunate they received their cruise practically in its entirety and will now receive a voucher for a second cruise for practically nothing depending on availability
Written by: Grosero, 29 Nov 2009 10:21 AM
From: United States
The passengers were told they would have to make accomodations to return to Miami?

But were offered a 70% discount and credits of 50% on future cruises.

NCL also offered to pay for hotel accomodations and airfare

Well that was nice of em.....

They do say that NCL is much smaller then CARNIVAL
Written by: clinker, 29 Nov 2009 3:30 PM
From: Dominican Republic
If you have ever been on a cruise ship leaving port in the south of the USA, you can imagine those passengers turning pink from heat and fanning themselves in misery as they smoke and eat (eating whatever is left to still eat) That must really be a scene. Great time to start that new diet and try to kick the habit Billy Joe.
Written by: josean, 30 Nov 2009 1:25 AM
From: United States
Why people go on these Floating Buffets with 2000 Banistan types is beyond me!
Written by: Blutarsky, 30 Nov 2009 3:47 AM
From: United States, Faber College Double Secret Probation
moron speaks again with no experience only what his little jibarito mind imagines
Written by: zooma, 30 Nov 2009 9:33 AM
From: United States
Fortunately, for the passengers sake a safe port, San Juan, was within a short sailing distance. Norwegian Lines arranged with charter airlines to transport the passengers from San Juan to Miami. It was a bit lacking in order at the airport with the logistics of moving large amounts of people on short notice to an airport, with not enough TSA agents and additional support to process them in a orderly manner.

The big question for the cruise line, captain, and crew; is why is this day and age with redundant backup systems on these vessels did this ship go dead in the water?

There will be a hearing in whatever body is responsible for the marine oversight of the ship and of course the focus is going to fall upon the captain . However, one can safely assume the ship's owner's, systems, and design is going under the microscope too.

Thank God, this was not a disaster and only a inconvenience.
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