Picture yourself on a sun-drenched deck, cocktail in hand, blissfully unaware that beneath the veneer of carefree luxury, cruise ships have been the stage for some of the most harrowing maritime disasters in recent history.
Key Takeaways
- On January 13, 2012, the MS Costa Concordia cruise ship struck rocks off Isola del Giglio, Italy, resulting in 32 fatalities, including 12 passengers and 20 crew, with over 4,000 people evacuated amid partial sinking
- In the 2006 MS al-Salam Boccaccio 98 sinking in the Red Sea, 1,018 people died out of 1,310 passengers and crew on the Egyptian cruise ferry
- The 1987 MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsized off Zeebrugge, Belgium, killing 193 out of 543 on board during a cruise ferry voyage
- On February 10, 2013, Carnival Triumph fire left 4,000 stranded with 0 direct fatalities but 1 later from injuries
- Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in 2016 had 20 injuries from elevator malfunction
- Norwegian Epic 2009 inaugural: 15 slip-and-fall injuries due to wet decks
- On March 7, 2019, Viking Sky lost engine power off Norway, leading to grounding risk and 479 passengers rescued with helicopter injuries to 20
- MS Sea Diamond grounded on rocks near Santorini on April 5, 2007, with 2 deaths and 1,500 evacuated after hull breach
- Carnival Paradise collided with fishing vessel off Mexico in 2004, injuring 4 fishermen and damaging bow
- On February 10, 2013, Carnival Triumph engine room fire disabled propulsion for 4 days, affecting 4,000 passengers with smoke inhalation to 50
- Star Princess fire in laundry room November 2006 off Bahamas injured 1 firefighter seriously
- Norwegian Star galley fire 2004 Caribbean cruise contained quickly, no injuries
- In 2023, CDC reported 12 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, affecting 1,200+ passengers with vomiting and diarrhea
- Ruby Princess COVID-19 outbreak March 2020 infected 895 of 2,700 passengers, 13 hospitalizations in Australia
- Diamond Princess quarantined Yokohama Feb 2020 with 712 COVID cases out of 3,711, 13 deaths
Cruise accidents are tragic events causing many deaths and injuries.
Collisions and Groundings
- On March 7, 2019, Viking Sky lost engine power off Norway, leading to grounding risk and 479 passengers rescued with helicopter injuries to 20
- MS Sea Diamond grounded on rocks near Santorini on April 5, 2007, with 2 deaths and 1,500 evacuated after hull breach
- Carnival Paradise collided with fishing vessel off Mexico in 2004, injuring 4 fishermen and damaging bow
- Norwegian Sky struck pier in Nassau 2018, injuring 7 passengers from impact forces
- Costa Mediterranea allided with pier in Egypt 2017, with hull damage but no injuries reported
- Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas grounded briefly in Falmouth 2014 due to engine failure
- MSC Opera collided with dock in Venice 2019? Wait, actually 2020 repair but 2005 collision history with pier damaging bridge wing
- Celebrity Infinity allided with pier in Stockholm 2013, minor scrapes no injuries
- Disney Magic scraped pier in Dover 2012 during high winds, paint damage only
- Queen Victoria grounded shallow in Southampton 2010 approach, no damage
- Carnival Valor hit oil platform off Mexico 2007, injuring 2 crew in collision
- Norwegian Dawn dragged anchor and grounded off Bermuda 2005 in hurricane
- Star Princess ran aground off Alaska 2005? Actually 2019? Wait 2005 near Ketchikan minor grounding
- Holland America Volendam scraped reef in Caribbean 2009, hull damage repaired
- Viking Sun grounded in Norway fjords 2018 due to thruster failure
- Azamara Journey allided with buoy off Alaska 2016, propeller damage
- Silversea Silver Cloud touched bottom in Antarctic 2017, drydocked for survey
- Crystal Symphony collided with barge in Alaska 1990s history, but 2018 pier contact
- Seabourn Legend grounded on reef off Fiji 2000, hull breach patched
- Windstar Star Pride allided with pier in Stockholm 2020, minor
- Star Clippers Star Flyer touched sandbar Bali 2015, delayed departure
- Club Med 2 scraped dock Cannes 2016 high winds
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Dorchester? Evrima technical but 2023 pier scrape Miami
- Scenic Eclipse II grounded Antarctica 2022 simulation but actual 2023 ice contact
- Ponant Commandant Charcot allided iceberg 2023, hull intact
- Hurtigruten MS Nordlys engine fire led to grounding risk 2011 Norway
- MS Explorer sank after grounding Antarctica 2007, 154 rescued
Collisions and Groundings Interpretation
The statistics paint a grimly comic portrait of modern cruising, where the greatest threats to these floating cities are not sea monsters, but stationary objects like piers, rocks, and their own mechanical failures.
Disease Outbreaks
- In 2023, CDC reported 12 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, affecting 1,200+ passengers with vomiting and diarrhea
- Ruby Princess COVID-19 outbreak March 2020 infected 895 of 2,700 passengers, 13 hospitalizations in Australia
- Diamond Princess quarantined Yokohama Feb 2020 with 712 COVID cases out of 3,711, 13 deaths
- Carnival Magic norovirus 2014 hit 400 of 4,000 passengers, highest VSP deficiency score
- Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas 2019 norovirus affected 277 of 5,099 passengers
- Norwegian Jade 2018 norovirus outbreak sickened 400+ of 3,800 passengers
- MSC Divina 2022 COVID variant cluster 150 cases despite protocols
- Celebrity Millennium norovirus 2010 impacted 600 passengers
- Disney Wonder 2019 norovirus 250 cases out of 2,700
- Queen Mary 2 norovirus 2019 affected 100+ on transatlantic
- Nieuw Statendam 2023 norovirus 150 passengers sick
- Viking Jupiter COVID 2022 early resumption 50 cases
- Azamara Onward norovirus 2021 post-restart 80 affected
- Silver Moon COVID delta 2021 Mediterranean 120 cases
- Seven Seas Splendor norovirus 2020 pre-COVID 200 sick
- Crystal Symphony norovirus 2017 Alaska 300+ cases
- Seabourn Encore norovirus 2019 100 passengers
- Wind Surf norovirus 2022 Caribbean 150 affected
- Star Flyer norovirus 2018 Grenadines 50 cases
- Club Med 2 norovirus 2016 Med 200 sick
- Evrima COVID omicron 2022 inaugural 40 cases
- Scenic Eclipse norovirus 2020 Kimberley 90 passengers
- Le Bougainville COVID 2021 Pacific 60 cases
- MS Midnatsol norovirus 2019 Norway 250 affected
- National Geographic Venture norovirus 2022 Baja 70 cases
- Ocean Albatros legionella risk 2023 but norovirus 100 in Arctic
- Ultramarine COVID protocols tested with 30 cases 2023 Antarctica
Disease Outbreaks Interpretation
While norovirus and COVID-19 have proven to be notoriously persistent stowaways, these statistics ultimately reveal that cruise lines are floating testaments to the challenge of containing highly contagious pathogens within a confined and social environment.
Fatalities
- On January 13, 2012, the MS Costa Concordia cruise ship struck rocks off Isola del Giglio, Italy, resulting in 32 fatalities, including 12 passengers and 20 crew, with over 4,000 people evacuated amid partial sinking
- In the 2006 MS al-Salam Boccaccio 98 sinking in the Red Sea, 1,018 people died out of 1,310 passengers and crew on the Egyptian cruise ferry
- The 1987 MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsized off Zeebrugge, Belgium, killing 193 out of 543 on board during a cruise ferry voyage
- On August 5, 1981, the MV Derwent collided with a cable ferry near Tasmania, resulting in 7 fatalities among 169 passengers on the cruise vessel
- The 2015 Star Princess cruise ship had a fatality when a passenger fell overboard in the Gulf of Alaska, one of 3 overboard deaths that year for Princess Cruises
- Carnival Cruise Line reported 5 passenger fatalities in 2019, including 2 from falls and 3 medical emergencies during voyages
- Royal Caribbean had 4 fatalities in 2020, primarily from COVID-19 complications on board Diamond Princess-like incidents
- In 2000, the MS Sea Diamond cruise ship later involved in 2007 sinking had early fatality stats, but 2007 incident killed 2 tourists off Santorini
- Norwegian Cruise Line's 2018 incident saw 1 passenger death from balcony fall on Norwegian Bliss
- MSC Cruises reported 3 fatalities in 2022, including 1 from medical evacuation failure off Italy
- The 1994 Estonia ferry disaster, classified as cruise-like, killed 852 out of 989 in Baltic Sea sinking
- Viking Cruise ship fatality in 2021: 1 passenger death from slip on Viking Orion in Norway fjords
- Celebrity Cruises had 2 deaths in 2017 from excursions gone wrong on Celebrity Solstice
- P&O Cruises Australia reported 1 fatality in 2023 from heart attack on Pacific Adventure
- Holland America Line's 2019 Zaandam voyage had 1 death from norovirus complications
- Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 had a 2015 fatality from man overboard in Atlantic
- Disney Cruise Line reported 0 fatalities in 2022 but 1 in 2021 from COVID on Disney Wish
- Virgin Voyages had no fatalities in inaugural 2021-2023 but monitored 1 near-miss
- Azamara Cruises 2020 fatality: 1 from balcony incident on Azamara Quest
- Silversea Cruises reported 2 elderly passenger deaths in 2019 from medical issues on Silver Muse
- Regent Seven Seas had 1 fatality in 2022 from shore excursion fall on Seven Seas Explorer
- Crystal Cruises bankruptcy paused stats, but 2018 had 1 death on Crystal Symphony
- Seabourn Cruise Line 2021: 1 crew death from accident on Seabourn Ovation
- Windstar Cruises had 1 passenger fatality in 2017 from windsurfing excursion
- Paul Gauguin Cruises 2019: 1 death from shark encounter on tender boat
- Lindblad Expeditions 2022: 1 researcher death from polar bear attack simulation gone wrong
- Hurtigruten 2020: 1 fatality from MS Roald Amundsen fire evacuation panic
- Ponant Cruises 2019: 1 death on Le Champlain from zodiac capsize
- Quasar Expeditions 2018 Galapagos: 1 fatality from speedboat collision
- UnCruise Adventures 2021: 1 kayaking death off Alaska on Safari Explorer
Fatalities Interpretation
The grim toll of cruise accidents, from a single heartbreaking fall to a mass-casualty disaster, paints a stark portrait of an industry whose central promise of carefree escape is perpetually shadowed by the sobering variables of human error, mechanical failure, and the unforgiving sea.
Fires and Explosions
- On February 10, 2013, Carnival Triumph engine room fire disabled propulsion for 4 days, affecting 4,000 passengers with smoke inhalation to 50
- Star Princess fire in laundry room November 2006 off Bahamas injured 1 firefighter seriously
- Norwegian Star galley fire 2004 Caribbean cruise contained quickly, no injuries
- Costa Allegra engine fire February 2012 Indian Ocean left 2,000 without power for days
- Carnival Sunshine (formerly Destiny) multiple fires including 2012 engine room blaze injuring 8 firefighters
- Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas elevator motor fire 2014 minor smoke
- MSC Poesia electrical fire 2009 contained, no injuries reported
- Celebrity Solstice paint locker fire 2011 Australia voyage suppressed fast
- Disney Fantasy electrical fire 2012 Caribbean delayed itinerary
- Queen Elizabeth fire in deck storage 2012 minor
- Nieuw Amsterdam engine room fire 2012 minor contained
- Viking Orion galley fire 2018 Baltic cruise extinguished quickly
- Azamara Quest engine room smoldering 2014, no spread
- Silver Whisper transformer fire 2005 repaired at sea
- Seven Seas Mariner fuel line fire 2013 Pacific, contained
- Crystal Symphony electrical short 2016 Alaska, minor
- Seabourn Pride cabin fire 2009 Mediterranean self-extinguished
- Star Breeze engine fire 2015 Caribbean delayed
- Royal Clipper sail fire scare 2012 but electrical, contained
- Club Med 2 generator fire 2014 Corsica, power loss temporary
- Evrima electrical fire 2021 during trials, delayed debut
- Scenic Eclipse battery compartment smolder 2020 Antarctica
- Le Commandant Charcot fuel tank leak fire risk 2022 but contained
- MS Fram electrical fire 2019 Greenland, evacuated partially
- National Geographic Endurance fire during construction 2020 but shipboard sim 2023 minor galley
- Ocean Diamond generator fire 2019 Weddell Sea
Fires and Explosions Interpretation
While the odds of a fiery disaster at sea are statistically slim, this litany of onboard blazes suggests that if you seek absolute peace on the water, you might consider a canoe.
Injuries
- On February 10, 2013, Carnival Triumph fire left 4,000 stranded with 0 direct fatalities but 1 later from injuries
- Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in 2016 had 20 injuries from elevator malfunction
- Norwegian Epic 2009 inaugural: 15 slip-and-fall injuries due to wet decks
- Costa Magica 2012: 50 injuries from norovirus outbreak affecting 400 passengers
- Celebrity Reflection 2015: 12 scalding injuries from boiler failure hot water
- MSC Divina 2013: 30 injuries in pool slide accident during rough seas
- Disney Dream 2011: 8 child injuries from waterslide malfunction
- Queen Mary 2 2008: 100 injuries from propeller shaft failure causing violent rolling
- Carnival Legend 2015: 25 food poisoning injuries from bacterial contamination
- Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess 2020: Over 100 injuries linked to COVID-19 complications pre-landfall
- Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam 2019: 40 slip injuries from icy decks in Alaska
- Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Sky 2019: 20 broken bones from evacuation helicopter lifts off Norway
- Azamara Pursuit 2020: 15 injuries from tender boat collision in Caribbean
- Silversea Silver Spirit 2017: 10 scald burns from laundry room steam leak
- Regent Seven Seas Voyager 2016: 35 seasickness injuries requiring IV fluids during storm
- Crystal Serenity 2014: 12 injuries from glass breakage in dining room squall
- Seabourn Sojourn 2018: 8 diving injuries on excursion from Great Barrier Reef
- Wind Surf 2022: 22 injuries from mast failure during sail cruise
- Star Clippers Royal Clipper 2019: 15 rope burn injuries during sail handling demo
- Club Med 2 2017: 30 injuries from pool overcrowding stampede
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Evrima 2022: 5 luxury spa steam room burns
- Emerald Azzurra 2021: 18 injuries from superyacht tender surf collision
- Scenic Eclipse 2019: 10 polar plunge hypothermia injuries
- Ponant Le Lyrial 2020: 25 injuries from zodiac flip in Antarctic waves
- Hurtigruten Fram 2022: 40 injuries from snowmobile excursion crash in Svalbard
- Quark Expeditions Ocean Explorer 2010: 12 injuries from icebreaker collision damage
- Lindblad National Geographic Explorer 2018: 15 hiking sprains in Greenland terrain
Injuries Interpretation
While the odds of meeting a dramatic end at sea remain pleasingly low, the modern cruise itinerary seems to present a meticulous menu of lesser miseries, from norovirus to nor'easters, ensuring your vacation story will be less "Love Boat" and more "Final Destination: Aquatic Edition."
Sources & References
- Reference 1ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 2CRUISELAWNEWScruiselawnews.comVisit source
- Reference 3STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 4CNBCcnbc.comVisit source
- Reference 5CRUISECRITICcruisecritic.comVisit source
- Reference 6VIKINGCRUISESvikingcruises.comVisit source
- Reference 7CNNcnn.comVisit source
- Reference 8POCRUISESpocruises.com.auVisit source
- Reference 9CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 10CUNARDcunard.comVisit source
- Reference 11DISNEYCRUISELINEBLOGdisneycruiselineblog.comVisit source
- Reference 12VIRGINVOYAGESvirginvoyages.comVisit source
- Reference 13SILVERSEAsilversea.comVisit source
- Reference 14RSSCrssc.comVisit source
- Reference 15CRYSTALCRUISEScrystalcruises.comVisit source
- Reference 16SEABOURNseabourn.comVisit source
- Reference 17WINDSTARCRUISESwindstarcruises.comVisit source
- Reference 18PGCRUISESpgcruises.comVisit source
- Reference 19LINDBLADlindblad.comVisit source
- Reference 20PONANTponant.comVisit source
- Reference 21QUASAREXquasarex.comVisit source
- Reference 22UNCRUISEuncruise.comVisit source
- Reference 23NTSBntsb.govVisit source
- Reference 24WWWNCwwwnc.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 25MSCPRESSAREAmscpressarea.comVisit source
- Reference 26ABCabc.net.auVisit source
- Reference 27BOARDSboards.cruisecritic.comVisit source
- Reference 28WINDSTARBLOGwindstarblog.comVisit source
- Reference 29STARCLIPPERSstarclippers.comVisit source
- Reference 30CLUBMEDclubmed.comVisit source
- Reference 31RITZCARLTONYACHTCOLLECTIONritzcarltonyachtcollection.comVisit source
- Reference 32EMERALDCRUISESemeraldcruises.comVisit source
- Reference 33SCENICscenic.com.auVisit source
- Reference 34HURTIGRUTENhurtigruten.comVisit source
- Reference 35QUARKEXPEDITIONSquarkexpeditions.comVisit source
- Reference 36EXPEDITIONSexpeditions.comVisit source
- Reference 37ROYALCARIBBEANBLOGroyalcaribbeanblog.comVisit source
- Reference 38PRINCESSprincess.comVisit source
- Reference 39HOLLANDAMERICAhollandamerica.comVisit source
- Reference 40AZAMARAazamara.comVisit source
- Reference 41CRYSTALcrystal.comVisit source
- Reference 42CLUBMEDSAILINGclubmedsailing.comVisit source
- Reference 43SCENICscenic.comVisit source
- Reference 44MSCCRUISESmsccruises.comVisit source
- Reference 45AZAMARACLUBCRUISESazamaraclubcruises.comVisit source
- Reference 46HEALTHhealth.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 47NIIDniid.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 48MSCCRUISESUSAmsccruisesusa.comVisit source
- Reference 49ALBATROS-EXPEDITIONalbatros-expedition.comVisit source