MSC Cruises has cancelled the second sailing on MSC Opera from Southampton after the ship was hit by a power failure on its first cruise from the port.
The cruiseline is flying passengers home from Stockholm today after the ship broke down last night west of the Swedish island of Gotland.
The ship, in its first season of cruises from Southampton, was then towed through the Baltic Sea with 2,000 people on board.
MSC issued a statement saying there were “technical problems to an electrical panel” and the ship was diverted towards the port of Nynamshamn in Sweden.
The MSC statement said: “Tugboats are on the way to assist the ship while technicians of [ship yard] STX continue their effort to resolve the electrical problem.
“Not being able to offer to its guests the usual standards of service, MSC is organising the repatriation of all guests tomorrow from Stockholm.
“MSC is issuing to all passengers a credit voucher for the whole amount of the cruise to be enjoyed by December 2012.”
The second departure of the summer for Opera, due to depart tomorrow, has also been cancelled. Passengers have been offered a refund or they may book another cruise to the same value. Clients are also being offered a discount of 30% off their next cruise.