Passengers of the Ruby Princess cruise ship in San Francisco are facing a decision before the scheduled departure on Sunday. The ship was damaged on Thursday when it smacked into Pier 27, and now over 3,000 passengers must decide whether they want to stay or go.
Despite the cruise line stating that repairs have been completed, there are still sparks and grinding noises coming from inside the hole where the ship was damaged. This has caused concern among some passengers, such as Shannon Puuohau, who said, “I see a big hole in the boat that’s supposed to leave tomorrow at four. I’m a little nervous. I didn’t realize that’s what it looks like. I thought it was finished, and we were ready to go.”
While waiting for the departure, the vacationers have been onboard since Thursday, enjoying the ship’s amenities and exploring San Francisco. Margaret Doyle-Leone expressed confidence in the safety measures, stating, “We’re not concerned about safety one bit. The Coast Guard is involved. Princess is very involved.”
Passengers have been given options regarding their cruise. They can cancel their trip and receive a 100% refund, along with a 50% credit for a future trip. Those who choose to continue their journey on the Ruby Princess will receive a 75% refund and a 75% credit for a future voyage. Shirley Bartel, for example, has decided to stick with the trip and claim the discount, saying, “Why not, we paid for this one, and now we’re going to get paid for the next one! I have full faith we’ll be safe.”
Originally scheduled for a 10-day voyage to Alaska, the company has modified the trip to just 7 days due to the delayed departure. Despite the change, passengers like Sheryl Shepard are still excited about the trip, stating, “We’re just excited to go to Alaska, getting to any port is exciting enough.”
The cause of the initial crash is currently under investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard.
What options are passengers of the Ruby Princess cruise ship given regarding their cruise, and why are some choosing to proceed despite the damage?
Passengers of the Ruby Princess cruise ship in San Francisco face a tough decision as the scheduled departure approaches. The ship sustained damage after colliding with Pier 27 on Thursday, leaving over 3,000 passengers to choose whether to stay or go.
Despite assurances from the cruise line that repairs have been completed, there are still worrying signs. The damaged area emits sparks and grinding noises, causing some passengers like Shannon Puuohau to express concerns. She remarks, “I’m a little nervous when I see a big hole in the boat that’s supposed to leave tomorrow at four. I thought it was finished, and we were ready to go.”
However, during their extended stay on board since Thursday, passengers have been enjoying the ship’s amenities and exploring San Francisco. Margaret Doyle-Leone remains confident in the safety measures, stating, “We’re not concerned about safety one bit. The Coast Guard is involved. Princess is very involved.”
Passengers have been given options regarding their cruise. They can either cancel and receive a 100% refund with a 50% credit for a future trip, or they can continue their journey on the Ruby Princess and receive a 75% refund along with a 75% credit for a future voyage. Shirley Bartel, for instance, has decided to proceed with the trip and take advantage of the discount, saying, “Why not? We paid for this one, and now we’re going to get paid for the next one! I have full faith that we’ll be safe.”
The original 10-day voyage to Alaska has been shortened to 7 days due to the delayed departure. Nonetheless, passengers like Sheryl Shepard remain excited about the trip, stating, “We’re just excited to go to Alaska. Getting to any port is exciting enough.”
The cause of the initial crash is currently under investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard.
