The first passengers onboard Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas are back in Baltimore tonight (May 28).
A Tweet posted by Royal Caribbean said: “The first flight carrying guests from #GrandeuroftheSeas are back to the U.S. is in the air. Flights will continue throughout the day.”
There will be 11 charter flights in total. Twenty five passengers who do not want to fly will take a ferry to Fort Lauderdale, and then the train or bus to Baltimore.
A separate Tweet from Marlena Baldacci of CNN says the fire-damaged ship will be towed to a dry dock in Freeport, The Bahamas, today.
The ship has been in Freeport since yesterday, following an early morning fire which started in the mooring area of Deck 3. No one was hurt and the ship reached port safely. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
The line has been forced to cancel the remainder of the cruise, and also its May 31 sailing.
As compensation, all passengers will be fully refunded the amount of their cruise fare, along with a “future cruise certificate for 100 percent of the cruise fare paid for their May 24, 2013, Grandeur of the Seas sailing,” according to the statement.
Passengers booked on Friday’s sailing will receive full refunds of their cruise fares as well as 50 percent off certificates for future cruises.
According to Royal Caribbean’s public relations department, the company will announce updates on other future sailings by the end of the week.