Cruise Chaos in Okinawa: Costa Serena Leaves Thousands Stranded, Disrupting Taiwan Travelers' Plans!

Thousands of Taiwanese travelers face cancelled itineraries and dashed dreams as cruise ship suffers mechanical issues.

The Costa Serena, a cruise ship carrying over 3,500 passengers that departed from Keelung Port in Taiwan, is currently stranded in Naha, Okinawa, Japan due to a mechanical issue. The ship, which set sail on August 8th, is experiencing technical difficulties, forcing it to extend its stay in Okinawa.

The ship's operators announced that the repair efforts would require an additional day, with the vessel now expected to return to Keelung Port on August 12th. This delay has resulted in the cancellation of the next voyage, impacting over 3,000 passengers scheduled to embark today, August 11th, on a five-day journey. Disappointed travelers expressed their frustration, with one individual commenting, "This is unbelievable! Our family was eagerly anticipating the trip, and we'd already taken time off work."

This is not the first time such an incident has affected Taiwanese travelers. In December of last year, the MSC Bellissima, another large cruise ship, was also stranded in Naha due to engine trouble, leading to cancelled voyages and causing significant disruption for over 4,000 passengers. Subsequent voyages from Keelung Port also had to be scrapped.