Damage to Disney cruise ship prompts boosted security at shipyard
This item was written by Fran Golden, a cruise expert and Trip Coach for Budget Travel magazine. Golden is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.
Security has been increased at a German shipyard after a mysterious water-valve leak caused damage to the 2,500-passenger Disney Fantasy, under construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
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According to the shipyard, access to the ship was restricted after the incident, which occurred earlier this month.
The damage will not impact delivery dates, officials said.
While local media reported the ship had been damaged to the tune of $1.2 million, Disney spokeswoman Rebecca Peddle tells USA TODAY that"s an exaggeration.
"There was some water damage that resulted in them having to replace some carpeting. It was not significant," she says.
Peddle adds most of the damage has alread