Fire-Stricken Carnival Liberty Heads to San Juan

Carnival Cruise Line’s ship Carnival Liberty that experienced a fire earlier this week departed from St. Thomas on Thursday evening en route for its homeport of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the ship is expected to arrive Friday morning, local time.

“All necessary authorities including the U.S. Coast Guard have provided permission for the vessel to sail. On Sunday, September 13, Carnival Liberty is scheduled to resume regular cruise service from San Juan,” Carnival Cruise Line said in an update.

As informed, the remaining guests on board will sail back to San Juan on the ship and have the option of staying on board through Sunday morning.

“Approximately 1,500 guests are presently still on the ship with the remainder having disembarked in St. Thomas to return home primarily via charter flights arranged by the cruise line,” Carnival added.

The ship experienced an engine-room fire on Monday, September 7, while it was docked in St. Thomas.

There were no injuries to guests or crew as a result of the fire which was extinguished by the ship’s automated suppression system.

Carnival said that guests were receiving a full refund of their cruise as well as a 50 percent discount on a future cruise. This is in addition to a $150 per person credit that has already been applied to guests’ shipboard accounts.