MSC Cruises has decided to cancel the next cruise of the MSC
Opera, which collided with a docked river cruise ship and the pier in Venice.
Although the damage to the ship's hull has been repaired,
MSC is still awaiting the completion of the investigation conducted by the
authorities, MSC said. The collision occurred after the MSC Opera sounded its
horn at length before ramming the river ship. A later statement attributed the
ship's inability to stop to "technical problems."
The canceled cruise was scheduled to depart Bari, Italy, on June
8. MSC said that 2,451 guests from 53 countries will be affected.
Guests will be offered a full refund of their cruise fare
and incurred travel expenses as well as any pre-booked services, plus a 50%
discount on a future 7- to 21-day cruise before the end of 2020.