Passengers on board Norwegian Dream's current "Chilean Fjords/Strait of Magellan" cruise that departed Buenos Aires, Argentina last Sunday and is scheduled to end on Dec. 23rd in Valparaíso, Chile are getting a bit more time in Montevideo, Uruguay than they anticipated. The 1,750-passenger cruise ship remains in port after colliding with a container barge that was adrift in the channel on Monday, causing the harbor to close until Tuesday afternoon.
Norwegian Dream returned to dock Tuesday evening with damage to its bow and forward ballast tank that couldn't be repaired as quickly as anticipated. NCL has released a statement that the ship will not sail until late Thursday afternoon and, as a result, will miss several significant ports of call. Passengers will receive a $150 per person on board credit, plus approximately $61 per person in government taxes and fees to compensate them for the missed ports. In addition, they have been offered a 50% fare refund and a 15% credit for a future cruise booked while on board. Passengers who wished to disembark and fly home will receive the 50% refund and the on-board credit as well.
In an odd twist of fate, the cruise ship/barge collision is a circumstantial repeat. Back in 1999, Norwegian Dream experienced a similar brush with a container ship in the English Channel.
I'm leaving early--very early--in the morning to embark on NCL's newest ship Norwegian Gem for a 2-night preview sailing from Boston. It's supposed to SNOW in Boston. Here's hoping it doesn't start until my plane has landed and I'm aboard.
Come Friday, will I be bowling on Norwegian Gem or trying to return home? Check here for an update!
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