CARNIVAL Cruise Lines has given a full refund and a free cruise to the 1,100 passengers on board its ship Tropicale which caught fire off the coast of Florida.
Passengers were returning to Tampa from a four-night cruise to Mexico when a fire struck the 37,000-tonne vessel’s engine room on the evening of Sunday September 19.
Carnival cancelled the next cruise, due to take place the following day. All passengers booked on that cruise have been given a refund and a 50% discount off a future three or four-night itinerary on any ship in the Carnival fleet.
A Carnival spokeswoman said no-one was injured in the fire and the liner was expected to resume its Mexico cruise programme on Saturday.