Power loss interrupts cruise in Islands
By Glenn Scott and Jan Tenbruggencate
Advertiser Staff Writers
Passengers aboard the Patriot cruise ship were booked into hotel rooms last night on Kaua'i after the vessel reportedly lost power.
The Honolulu-based ship normally departs from Nawiliwili harbor on Monday afternoons on its weeklong itinerary under the United States Lines brand. Because of the ship's electrical problems, though, departure was delayed until 9:30 a.m. today.
The postponement at the tight harbor facility in turn delayed the arrival of a second cruise ship, the Royal Caribbean Lines' Rhapsody of the Seas, which was supposed to arrive at dawn at Nawilili, said Bill Thayer, president of Waldron Steamship Co.
United States Lines officials could not be reached for comment last night.
The Patriot, built in 1983, was acquired by parent company American Classic
Voyages for $114.5 million last year and refurbished for another $21 million. It began service in Hawai'i in early December.
At sunset yesterday, lights shone within the vessel as it remained moored in the harbor. But it was not clear whether the electricity was from shore power, generators or other sources of power on board the ship.
Travelers aboard the Patriot, which holds as many as 1,200 passengers, boarded tour buses at the harbor yesterday evening for transit to hotels.
The nearest major hotel, the Kaua'i Marriott, accommodated 170 to 200 people.
"We set aside 85 to 100 rooms, which is all we had available," said Marriott hotel manager Doug Chang.
Chang said the ship passengers were booked for only one night.
"They told us they are confident they will be able make repairs and get under way tomorrow," he said.
The Patriot also experienced problems on Feb. 20 when it was forced to curtail a cruise on the fourth day and return to Honolulu for repairs to its generator drive train, according to company reports. Passengers received full refunds.
Thayer said the cruise companies would work together to overcome the logistical problem this morning as the Patriot pulled out and the Rhapsody arrived. But he said the delay nonetheless revealed the need for more spacious port facilities for the growing cruise traffic here.
"This exacerbates an already difficult situation," he said. "It cries out for getting our facilities up to date in Hawai'i. We're 30 years behind the times."
