Taiwanese airlines have coordinated a series of emergency flights to bring home more than 1,800 Taiwanese travelers who are stranded in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, after a cruise ship malfunction prevented the ship from returning to Taiwan yesterday.
The MSC cruise ship “Glory” was originally scheduled to arrive at the Port of Keelung in northern Taiwan yesterday, Sunday, December 8. However, the ship remains docked at Naha Port, Okinawa, today awaiting repairs after a “mechanical malfunction” Saturday, December 7.
The MSC Glory departed Keelung December 4 with 4,341 tourists aboard, including 1,875 Taiwanese.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport and Communications requested the Port Bureau, Tourism Department, Civil Aviation Administration, and shipping and tourism agencies to coordinate and respond to the emergency.
The CAA has arranged special flights by China Airlines and EVA Airlines today and tomorrow, Tuesday, to bring the stranded tourists home.
MSC Cruises announced a compensation plan, saying the expenses for returning to Taiwan will be borne by the company. For those passengers who arrange their own travel itinerary, the company will pay up to US$200 for travel expenses within Japan, and up to US$400 outside the country. Passengers will be fully refunded the price of the current cruise, and will be given discount vouchers for future cruises.
2,100 passengers who were due to board the ship in Keelung yesterday have also been affected.
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