The MSC Bellissima, a ship constructed in 2019 with 2,259 passenger cabins, offers a four-day cruise itinerary between Keelung, Taiwan, and Naha. It is reputed to be among the biggest cruise ships in Asia.

On December 7th, just three days after embarking passengers in Keelung, the MSC Bellissima experienced engine issues. Stranded at the Tomari terminal in Naha, the vessel was unable to depart for Keelung as planned on December 8th, leaving passengers stuck.

Upon receiving news of the incident, Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport and Communications instructed the Maritime Port Bureau, Taiwan Tourism Administration, and Civil Aviation Administration to facilitate the return of Taiwanese passengers. In response, special flights were arranged by Taiwanese airlines EVA Airways and China Airlines to repatriate the affected Taiwanese passengers.

In addition to the Taiwanese passengers, there were approximately 2,500 other nationalities onboard the MSC Bellissima. According to MSC Cruises’ website, the ship is scheduled to welcome new passengers in Keelung the following day (December 10th). However, the delay impacted passengers who were originally supposed to embark on December 8th.

Reports from local media, citing the passengers who were left stranded, described how they filled the MSC Bellissima’s main hall following the ship’s sudden halt.

MSC Cruises announced that it has arranged chartered flights to evacuate all remaining passengers from Naha, with the goal of having all passengers back home by December 12th. The company also mentioned that it has dispatched a team of engineers to Naha to expedite the repairs of the MSC Bellissima.

In addition to offering a 50% refund on the ticket price, passengers traveling within Japan will receive补偿 of up to $200, while those traveling outside of Japan will be compensated with a maximum of$400. Furthermore, each passenger is being provided with a $75 voucher that can be applied to future trips with MSC Cruises.