It's a great story, certainly, but from a few glances it appears unlikely that the Venezuelan navy ship deliberately rammed the cruise ship. Close maneuvering of vessels on the open sea is difficult when there is an understanding between the two and they are both attempting to accomplish the same objective.
This looks like a collision, and the Venezuelan navy ship was at fault. Even when the other vessel is at fault, a ship to ship collision involves an obscene amount of paperwork and lawyers, and a lot of hard questions from the insurance company. Given the circumstances and the fact that they were rounds fired, calling it a ramming makes that a lot easier for the officers and management of the cruise ship company. Especially given Venezuela's reputation for....eccentric government behavior.
The helicopter deck on the aft end of the Venezuelan ship lowers their freeboard substantially, and riding up on an ice strengthened bulbous bow, flooding their bow and listing the vessel to starboard would cause them to capsize pretty quick. Viva Chavez!