FIRE CAUSES TWO CRUISE CANCELLATIONS

Posted on 07/10/2016 | About Stansted Mountfitchet, United Kingdom

A fire last Friday aboard Fred. Olsen’s Black Watch incapacitated three of the seven auxiliary engines. No one was hurt but the damage to electrical power and cables affected lighting and communication as well as disabling the two other main engines.

With 696 guests (and 365 crewmembers), the cruise line decided not to undergo repairs with passengers on-board, aborting the itinerary in Funchal Madeira and opting to hire private charter planes to fly the guests to Stansted and Gatwick airports in London on Monday.
Everyone was given a full refund and a certificate for 50% off on their next cruise.
The cruise line then made the decision on Tuesday to cancel the next itinerary scheduled for Black Watch. Passengers booked on the July 8 Norwegian Fjords cruise were offered a full refund of the fare or the opportunity to move the booking to any 2016 cruise in the same room grade at no additional cost.
The cruise line stated that if the cost of the new cruise is less, the line will refund the difference.
In addition, the line offered a future cruise voucher for 20 percent of the Norwegian Fjords cruise fare, for new bookings, valid through December 31.