WASHINGTON -- The National Transportation Safety Board sent a
10-member team to Miami to investigate a deadly explosion onboard
the Norwegian Cruise Line ship the Norway.
NCL said the incident involved one of the 41-year-old liner's
boilers. The boiler room explosion occurred around 6:30 a.m. Sunday
while the ship was docked in the port of Miami and passengers were
waiting to debark from an eastern Caribbean cruise, NCL said.
Five crew members died and 20 were seriously injured, NCL said;
none of the 2,135 passengers onboard were injured.
A separate U.S. Coast Guard investigation also is continuing,
NCL said.
The line added it was cooperating in both investigations.
The Norway's May 25 cruise, which had been scheduled to depart
on the day the incident took place, was cancelled; passengers were
offered a full refund and a future cruise-only credit, and were
assisted with return travel arrangements.
And, on Tuesday Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled two additional
sailings of the Norway.
The June 1 and June 8 seven-day sailings were affected.
Passengers on the June 1 departure will receive a full refund and a
cruise credit worth 50% of the fare; passengers on the June 8
departure will receive a full refund and a cruise credit worth 25%
of the fare. Agent commissions are protected, NCL said.