MV RHAPSODY OTS

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Latest news

Bookings cancelled due to damaged lifeboat

The company Royal Caribbean International had to cancel bookings for the upcoming cruise of the 'Rhapsody of the Seas' due to damage to one of the vessel’s tender boats, which also serve as lifeboats. The issue was lowering the ship’s lifesaving capacity, which has led to the cancellations. The 'Rhapsody of the Seas' was scheduled to depart from Puerto Rico for its next cruise on Sep 15, 2024. The affected guests would receive a full refund of the fare paid for the cancelled booking, as well as a credit for a new cruise. The Future Cruise Credit (FCC) will be equivalent to 100 percent of the amount paid for the original cruise and must be redeemed by Sep. 13, 2025. Royal Caribbean also promised to reimburse non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation fees incurred due to the cancellation, such as flight, train tickets, and/or rental car. Passengers were asked to present receipts to be able to receive up to $200 per guest for domestic changes or $400 per guest for international changes. The 'Rhapsody of the Seas' was set to offer a seven-night cruise to Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Barbados.

159 evacuees arrived in Limassol

A first group of evacuees from Israel arrived in Limassol on Oct 17 aboard the US-chartered 'Rhapsody of the Sea', as the island's authorities announced plans for a twice-daily ferry link for those wishing to leave. The 159 evacuees on board the cruise ship primarily consisted of elderly individuals, families with children and tourists. The ship, which left the port of Haifa on Oct 16 at around 9 p.m. UTC, berthed at the Limassol East Container Terminal at 5.30 a.m. Security was tight with armed police and sniffer dogs. The US ambassador Julie Fisher was at the port to welcome Americans among the evacuees. The cruise ship was initially expected to transport a much larger number of evacuees and was scheduled to make four return trips.

Medevac off Souda

The Port Authority of Heraklion was informed in the evening of Sep 6 that an 85-year-old passenger of the 'Rhapsody of the Seas', which had sailed from the port of Souda, needed immediate hospital treatment. A patrol vessel picked up the patient and transported him to the port of Heraklion, where an ambulance was waiting, which transferred him to the University General Hospital of Heraklion with symptoms of abdominal pain, for medical treatment.