A cruise ship scheduled to arrive in Bermuda on Sunday has had to cancel its visit after a fire broke out onboard.

The

Grandeur of the Seas was due to set sail from Baltimore on Friday to make the third of 15 summer visits to Dockyard. She can carry more than 2,900 passengers and crew and was expected to stay here for three days until next Tuesday.

But Monday morning’s blaze, which badly damaged the liner’s third deck, means that

Grandeur will have to remain in Freeport, Bahamas, while repair work is carried out.

Grandeur passengers who had expected to sail back to Baltimore from the Bahamas this week were instead flown home yesterday.

A spokesman for Royal Caribbean, which owns the liner, said: “Unfortunately, due to the time needed to repair the damage caused by the fire, it is necessary to cancel

Grandeur of the Seas’ next voyage, which was scheduled to depart Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday, May 31. We are deeply sorry for this unexpected development in our guests’ upcoming vacation.”

It is not known when

Grandeur will be ready to set sail again. Her next scheduled visit to Bermuda is on Sunday, June 16, but Royal Caribbean has not yet been able to determine a time frame to repair the ship and return it to service.

The Department of Marine and Ports is liaising with the ship’s local agents to determine how the incident will affect the ship’s remaining 12 calls to the Island.

Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell said: “It is unfortunate that Royal Caribbean suffered a fire onboard the

Grandeur, but it is fortunate that no one was injured and the incident was brought under control quickly. Royal Caribbean is one of our valued cruise partners and we hope the

Grandeur returns to service and to Bermuda as soon as possible.”