While authorities investigate the accident, MSC Cruises has received
the go-ahead to begin repairing the MSC Opera, which rammed into a docked Uniworld
river ship in Venice on Sunday.
MSC said the damage is limited to the outermost part of the
hull.
The ship will be repaired in Venice, but the cruise line said it did not yet know when the repairs would be done,
nor when the investigation into the accident would be completed. Therefore, MSC
has canceled the remainder of the current cruise, which departed Bari, Italy,
on June 1 for what was supposed to be a seven-day roundtrip sailing.
Passengers will be reimbursed for the full cost of their
cruise ticket plus any prepaid services.
MSC said passengers may stay onboard the Opera while it remains
in Venice. Free regular shuttle boat service to and from Piazza San Marco is
available. Passengers also have the option of going home before the
ship departs Venice. MSC said it will "provide all necessary
assistance" for the transportation and cover the transportation costs.
The Opera is tentatively scheduled to leave Venice on June 7 and
arrive in Bari on June 8, when it is slated to begin its next cruise.