TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Close to 2,000 Taiwanese passengers stranded on a cruise in Japan will return to Taiwan by Thursday, the Minister of Transportation and Communications (交通部) announced on Monday (Dec. 9). Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) noted that 748 Taiwanese passengers will return home over the next two days. The cruise line will use charter flights to send the rest of the stranded passengers to Taiwan by Thursday.
Mediterranean Shipping Co's (MSC) largest cruise in the Asia-Pacific region, MSC Bellissima (榮耀號), departed from Keelung Port last Wednesday. Scheduled for a five-day, four-night journey, the cruise faced an engine failure last Friday, leaving it stranded in Naha. The company canceled the remaining itinerary and arranged flights for passengers to return to Taiwan.
The cruise line issued a statement explaining that 1,880 Taiwanese passengers who were supposed to disembark in Keelung yesterday remain in Naha. The company is booking flights and arranging charter planes to assist passengers in returning home by tomorrow. They will also reimburse transportation costs within Japan up to approximately NT$6,190 and up to NT$12,381 outside Japan for those who prefer to arrange their own transport.
Some passengers praised the company's service and responsibility, highlighting their full refund policy and compensation for flight costs, which has helped ease the inconvenience caused by the unexpected delay.