Key Aspects:
- A catamaran sank in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, November 9, and more than 50 cruise guests were rescued.
- Guests were from TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1, and the port visit to Samana was a last-minute itinerary addition.
- No major injuries were reported, and local authorities are investigating the incident.
What should have been a fun excursion in Samana Bay in the northeastern Dominican Republic quickly turned to horror on Sunday, November 9, 2025, when a tour catamaran sank and more than 50 cruise guests were rescued.
The 40-foot catamaran, Boca de Yuma, sank in just minutes after an “internal failure” led to the vessel rapidly taking on water.
Safety procedures were immediately implemented, including the use of life vests, as guests entered the water. The Navy of the Dominican Republic responded to the emergency right away, staying in communication with the foundering vessel and dispatching rescue craft.
In a statement provided to People, TUI Cruises confirmed the incident.
“An excursion catamaran operated by an external provider sank on November 9, 2025, during a shore excursion,” the cruise line stated. “All guests are safe and were returned to Mein Schiff 1 immediately after the rescue.”
Video and photos of the incident on social media show life rings in the water and guests spread over a relatively large area, while just one corner of the catamaran remained above the surface.
“The vessel had sailed from Embat Pier and was on an excursion with passengers from the cruise Mein Schiff 1 on board,” a statement from the navy explained. “Before the emergency call, the Navy proceeded to provide communication support, logistical support and operational assistance so that the company’s vessels, owner of the damaged catamaran, would transit people and drive them to port.”
No major injuries have been reported and all guests, as well as the crew members of the catamaran, were safely recovered.
The catamaran had been on a sightseeing tour, not any sort of snorkeling or diving expedition. Many guests, therefore, were not dressed for swimming and certainly weren’t expecting such a traumatic turn of events.
The weather was relatively calm at the time of the incident, though video footage does show some choppy water. This may or may not have contributed to the catamaran taking on water, but was certainly not severe enough to completely precipitate the sinking.
“According to the information currently available, there was a collision with an object in the water. The captain of the excursion boat immediately contacted other boats in the vicinity and requested assistance,” TUI Cruises noted.
Authorities from the Port of Samana, as well as the Dominican Republic Navy, are investigating the incident.
“The Dominican Republic Navy collaborates with local authorities to determine responsibilities and take preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future,” the Dominican Navy stated.
Read Also: Cruise Ship Lifeboats – Are There Enough and What You Might Not Know
TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1 had departed La Romana two days earlier, on Friday, November 7, for a 14-night itinerary. The first two ports of call were to have been Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, but those were cancelled due to the damage from Hurricane Melissa.
Instead, the ship improvised a new stop in the Dominican Republic, at Samana on the northeastern coast.
The 111,500-gross-ton cruise ship has now continued on her way, heading for Cozumel and Costa Maya. Other port visits on the itinerary include Belize, Roatan, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, before the ship returns to La Romana on Friday, November 21.
All guests involved in the incident have been offered care from the cruise line, and all elected to continue with their cruise vacation.
Not the First Shore Excursion Sinking
While this type of incident can be shocking, it isn’t the first time that a shore excursion craft has foundered, leaving cruise guests in the water.
In March 2025, strong winds caused a small excursion boat to overturn in Cartagena, Colombia, with 38 guests aboard. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries, and all guests safely returned to their cruise ship, AIDAbella.
More From Cruise Hive
In November 2023, a much more tragic incident occurred in the Bahamas when a double-decker tour boat sank while en route to Blue Lagoon Island near Nassau. Rough water and strong waves contributed to that accident, and one cruise guest died.
Following that tragedy, many cruise lines cancelled tours to Blue Lagoon Island until the investigation was complete and safety measures were verified.
