Cunard cancels cruise after technical failure on Queen Vic
Cunard has been forced to cancel a 16-night cruise on the Queen Victoria after the ship suffered a technical failure during a Mediterranean cruise with hundreds of passengers onboard.
Part of the propulsion system has failed, meaning the luxury cruise liner can now only travel at 90% of its top speed.
The cruise line said there was no danger to passengers presently onboard the ship, which is completing the Mediterranean cruise with only "minor" changes to its port timings.
However, Cunard has written to about 2,000 passengers informing them that a tour of the Adriatic due to leave from Southampton on October 3 has been cancelled so the ship can be repaired.
Passengers have been offered alternative sailings or a refund plus an additional 15% credit for a future cruise, based on the fare they have paid.
A planned 20-night cruise on the Queen Victoria this Thursday will go ahead, but instead of calling at Vigo it will visit Oporto, after which the ship will travel to Bremerhaven in Germany for repairs.
Cunard confirmed that passengers on Thursday’s cruise have been informed.
A two-night mini-cruise, leaving Southampton for Zeebrugge on October 17, has been added prior to the next scheduled sailing, a 23-night voyage to the Caribbean.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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