Royal Caribbean flies Grandeur passengers home

MAY 28, 2013 — Royal Carribbean has assessed the damage caused by yesterday’s fire aboard the Grandeur of the Seas (see earlier story) and has decided to cancel the remainder of the voyage, and the cruise ship’s next scheduled voyage. The cruise line says it will give an update at the end of this week on when the ship will resume sailings.

Royal Caribbean President and CEO Adam Goldstein (left) and AVP Technical Services Anders Aasen inspect the damage on deck six

The fire reportedly began on the third deck of the aft mooring area of the ship and spread to the sixth deck. Both the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board will join the investigation of the cause of the incident by the ship’s flag state, the Bahamas.

Yesterday, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Adam Goldstein and other executives flew to Freeport to meet with passengers as the line made arrangements to fly passengers back to Baltimore, where the cruise originated.

Guests who booked air transportation through Royal Caribbean International will receive a full refund for air costs.  If they did not purchase air transportation through Royal Caribbean International, the cruise line will pay for their airline change fees.

Guests on the interrupted cruise will receive a full refund of the cruise fare as well as a certificate for a future cruise.

Coast Guard Sector Miami responded to the incident by issuing an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and diverting the Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant, the Coast Guard Cutter Sitkinak, and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered to respond to the emergency. The Coast Guard also launched an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft and an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk to respond.

The cruise ship Carnival Sensation and a motor vessel from the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER), the Hagen, also diverted to stand by and assist if needed.

The Cutter Cormorant and the Cutter Yered safely escorted the Grandeur of the Seas to Freeport