PHOTO: The 880-passenger Boudicca will remain in Tenerife while fire damage is repaired. (Courtesy of Creative Commons via Fred Olsen Cruise Lines)
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has cut short the Boudicca's current cruise so it can repair two engines and electrical cables damaged in an engine room fire Jan. 25.
The British company said it expects the 880-passenger ship will be back in service for its next cruise, departing Southampton on Feb. 7.
The ship was operating an 18-night "Cape Verde & the Canaries" voyage when the fire broke out at about 4 a.m. while sailing off the coast of Casablanca, Morocco, and was quickly extinguished.
The ship then headed for Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, with hotel services operating normally but at a slower rate of speed. When it arrived on Jan. 27, the 784 guests were greeted by Mike Rodwell, the cruise line's managing director, and a team from the head office in Ipswich, Suffolk. Olsen paid for the passengers to fly back to Southampton and Bournemouth on Jan. 29 supported by Fred Olsen staff at the airports. Alternative arrangements are being made for those unable to fly home.
Engineers and technicians inspected the Boudicca and determined it should stay in Tenerife to undergo the repairs.
Passengers will get a full refund for the entire cruise and a 50 percent discount on a future cruise in 2015-16.
Fred Olsen Cruise Line operates four ships to a primarily British clientele.
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