Oceania Cruises’ Marina became stranded on the St. Lawrence River due to high water levels Tuesday, multiple media outlets are reporting.
According to The Weather Channel, high water levels on the river prevented the ship from passing beneath a local bridge in Trois-Rivères, Quebec. The ship had been bound for Montreal, and the crew was forced to unload passengers and bus them the 140 miles there. The ship is scheduled to depart for Southampton, UK, on Thursday, so it will have to make a U-turn before passengers are bused back to the ship. That maneuver has never been attempted on this section of the river before.
CBC.ca reports that Oceania has set up a large tent to contain and distribute all of the passengers’ luggage. Part of the road that runs along the port has also been closed to traffic to deal with the outflow of buses carrying cruise passengers.
Jean Perron, a cruise ship coordinator for the Trois-Rivères economic development organization, told CBC.ca that questions on whether cruise lines might now hesitate to book trips to Montreal in the spring, when water levels are high, will be sure to be discussed.
“That is a reflection that will be made,” Perron said.
The Marina is a 1,200-passenger cruise ship. Onboard amenities include six open-seating restaurants with no surcharge, the Culinary Center cooking school and an Artist Loft enrichment center.
Luxury Travel Advisor has reached out to Oceania and will post an update when we hear back.
This story originally appeared on www.travelagentcentral.com.
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