Technical Issues Dock 'Pandemic Princess'

After a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus sickened roughly 100 cruise passengers during a trip from Singapore to Fremantle, Western Australia, a 26-day cruise set to leave the same day was then canceled, leaving 2,000 stranded ashore, after workers found mechanical issues aboard.

Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess experienced a technical difficulty with the ship's crank shaft earlier this year which resulted in its inability to operate at full speed, but never posed a safety concern. As the repair was being carried out in Fremantle, Australia on September 13, an additional technical issue with the propeller shaft bearing was identified.

Following the ship’s norovirus outbreak, disgruntled customers have nicknamed the ship ‘Pandemic Princess’ and ‘Virus Vessel’.

Sea Princess was scheduled to leave the port at Fremantle, bound for a two-week trip to Brisbane, Saturday evening. But by Sunday morning, the trip aboard the ship was canned.

An official statement from the company said: “As the safety of our guests and crew is always our absolute priority, we have determined that the technical issues must be addressed immediately. The current voyage has been cancelled, and once all guests have disembarked Sea Princess will make its way to Sydney for repairs. At this time we are hopeful that the voyage will operate as scheduled; however, this ultimately depends upon the repair schedule. We will be certain to keep guests informed of any changes as updates become available.”