After being stranded for four days following engine and navigation issues, MSC Cruises canceled three sailings aboard MSC Bellissima, one of the largest cruise ships in Asia.
The 171,598 gross registered ton ship was slated to depart from Naha, Japan, on December 6 for a 4-night sailing. However, guests awoke on Dec. 7 to find they were still docked in Naha rather than Ishigaki, Japan. Consequently, MSC Bellissima's Dec. 8 departure from Keelung and Dec. 10 departure from Naha were also canceled.
"[W]e should have left yesterday (6th December) at 19:00, but it was reported some engine issues, we went to bed and woke up still in the Port of Naha, with our first port of call cancelled Ishigaki," shared one guest aboard the ill-fated cruise on Reddit.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, MSC informed guests the ship wouldn't depart. Instead, it would be used as a floating hotel until Tuesday, the cruise's disembarkation date. This meant passengers aboard the Dec. 4 departure from Keelung, Taiwan, were stranded in Japan since the ship couldn't return to Keelung as scheduled on the 8th.
“MSC Bellissima remains in the port of Naha, Japan, while the necessary maintenance work is completed to enable the ship to continue with the planned cruises. We have chartered aircraft and booked seats on commercial flights to help guests fly back home. We are doing everything we can to ensure that the guests on board still have an enjoyable time on the ship," read a statement issued by the cruise line.
Though repairs were successfully completed by Dec. 9, the ship was stuck in Japan through midnight on Dec. 10 due to poor weather conditions that caused a high wave advisory.
Read more: 20 mistakes I saw people make on my MSC cruise
Return travel for affected passengers
Since the ship's call in Keelung was canceled, about 1,880 cruise passengers expecting to return to Taiwan were stranded because of the mechanical failure.
Rather than leave guests without aid, MSC Cruises coordinated with travel agencies, airline partners, and the Taiwanese authorities to help arrange return travel. EVA Air ended up using larger aircraft than planned to meet the demand, utilizing Boeing 787-10s and Airbus A330-300 aircraft for several flights between Okinawa and Taipei.
Additionally, MSC Cruises reimbursed up to $200 per person for transportation within Japan. They increased the reimbursement to $400 per person for those traveling internationally.
Refunds
Guests received full refunds for the canceled voyage. MSC Cruises also offered an extra voucher worth 50% of their original fare to use on a future sailing. Third and fourth passengers in each stateroom received $75 in vouchers. The cruise line also refunded excursions booked through MSC.
MSC Bellissima launched in 2019 as part of MSC's Meraviglia Class. The 5,655-passenger vessel boasts a 314-foot Galleria Bellissima. The central promenade is filled with restaurants, shops, and plenty of spots to socialize and relax. It comes alive at night with entertainment, including live music and parties.
There's also a massive waterpark, full-size bowling alley, Formula One race car simulator, indoor sports plex, youth clubs, and more.
Read more: Why I left Royal Caribbean for MSC Cruises
Other MSC ships in the headlines
MSC Bellissima isn't the only cruise ship struggling. Over the weekend, a fire broke out on MSC Seashore as the vessel departed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise.
Thankfully, the fire—which was detected in the emergency generator room on Deck 18—was quickly put out, and no guests were harmed. That said, the fire did disrupt ship operations. Some passengers reported that the elevators were out of service. The dining rooms were also closed since the galley was without power.
“On the evening of December 8, a small electrical fire was reported in the emergency generator room on an upper deck of the ship and was swiftly extinguished, with no injuries reported," said a statement issued by MSC Cruises to Cruise Hive.
Read more: Fire reported on MSC Cruise ship causes temporary power loss
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
