Ship skips trip to house workers

Thousands could be missing out on their tropical cruise vacations, but all for a good cause.

The Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is canceling all trips for one of its ships — the Grand Celebration — during October and November so it can be sent up to Boston to help in restoration efforts with the Merrimack Valley gas explosions earlier this month.

The ship will be used to house workers helping with the restoration. On its website, the cruise line apologized to its customers, but is standing behind its decision.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this change of schedule has caused and hope that impacted guests will understand our decision to support a community in need,” a notice to customers wrote.

Gas service has been disconnected in more than 8,000 homes across Lawrence, Andover and North Andover following nearly 70 explosions and fires on Sept. 13 believed to have been caused by high gas pressure.

Right now, the housing needs are difficult to estimate as final restoration plans are established, said Columbia Gas spokesman Scott Ferson.

Currently the workers and employees are being housed in area hotels, but the addition of the ship helps free up hotel rooms for residents who are still impacted by the explosions.

“The use of passenger ships has become common for this type of need and we are confident it will help us meet the needs of our customers as restoration takes place over the coming weeks,” Ferson said.

This is not the first time this ship has aided struggling communities. The Grand Celebration was chartered by FEMA following hurricanes Irma and Maria to house volunteers working those disaster zones.