The Star Princess, which suffered serious damage to 150 cabins in last week's fire at sea in the Caribbean, will not return to service until undergoing more than $20 million in repairs and will resume sailing in Europe on May 15th.

The plan, announced by Princess Cruises on March 28th, involves canceling the remainder of the Star Princess' Caribbean sailings as well as its scheduled transatlantic crossing.

Preliminary work has already commenced at the Grand Bahama Shipyard, with the Star Princess expected to depart later this week and sail cross the Atlantic empty. The major repairs are set for the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven.

The cancellation of five Caribbean cruises as well as the scheduled transatlantic crossing will affect more than 10,000 passengers, who will receive a full refund and a future cruise credit equal to 25 percent of the fare paid on Star Princess. Princess also is reimbursing passengers for nonrefundable air ticket costs.

Princess spokesperson Julie Benson said the line will not be making any comment on the cause of the fire -- widely reported to have been started by a cigarette -- until the official investigations are completed .

Our Take: A nearly two-month refurbishment should not come as a shock to anyone who saw pictures of the charred balconies and cabins. It's a big dislocation for Princess, but getting it behind them before the start of the summer season obviously makes a great deal of sense.