Norwegian Jade Cruise canceled for mechanical reasons

Thousands of passengers aboard the Norwegian cruise ship Jade will have to return to Miami from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to shorten their ten-day vacation in the Caribbean.

The ship departed Miami on Friday, Nov. 16 and arrived in San Juan on Sunday. Late in the evening of Sunday, about an hour before the planned departure of the ship, the captain announced that the last seven days of the cruise had been canceled. The ship's itinerary included stops in Barbados, St. Kitts and St. Lucia before her planned return to Miami on November 26.

"It's a disadvantage," said Dennis Warren, a 59-year-old Orlando passenger. "We are here with friends. We will just go down to the Keys for a few days. We booked this trip 9 or 10 months ago. We will enjoy it. "

In a letter to guests on Monday, Norwegian Cruise Line said it would refund the price of the cruise to passengers and offer a 100% credit for a future cruise. The cruise line is working to book passenger flights to Miami on Tuesday. Passengers who book their own trip can also receive a refund of up to $ 650. The company provides free Internet access for passengers. In the meantime, passengers are not allowed to come and go from the ship.

Later this week, the ship, which stopped at 2,400 passengers in 2006, will stop in Miami for several days of repairs. A spokesman for the cruise company said the mechanical problem was affecting the propulsion and steering of the ship.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment caused by this unforeseen situation, especially during this special cruise," said a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesman.