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West End Theater Production Debuting on Cunard’s Newest Ship

Lissa Poirot
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West End Theater Production Debuting on Cunard’s Newest Ship

Cunard Line announced the debut of the Olivier Award-winning comedy, “Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)” on its Queen Anne vessel. The show will premier as part of the ship’s British Isles Festival Voyage.

A Cultural Voyage

In a move that bridges the grandeur of traditional theater with the majesty of the seas, Cunard Line has announced its latest onboard entertainment venture, the staging of the multi-award-winning West End comedy, “Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)” on the 113,300-gross-ton, Pinnacle-class Queen Anne.

The announcement comes as the ship prepares for its inaugural sailing on May 10, 2024, and its subsequent British Isles Festival Voyage, set to depart on May 24, 2024, for a two-week circumnavigation of the British Isles.

Queen Anne, the new 2,996-passenger and 1,225-crew ship, becomes Cunard Line’s fourth ship, joining Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria. Her debut makes it the first time Cunard Line will have four ships simultaneously sailing.

“We are excited to be teaming up with the incredible David Pugh for the at-sea premiere of ‘Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of),’ which is one of the most acclaimed West End productions of recent times,” Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said. “I truly believe we are redefining luxury entertainment at sea with Queen Anne.”

The Theatric Experience

Passengers on board Queen Anne for her maiden season can expect a dynamic performance of “Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)” that, according to show creator Isobel McArthur, is “deeply affectionate towards the iconic Jane Austen original.”

 “Our version of the original rom-com is ‘Pride & Prejudice’ but told by the servants – with karaoke!” added McArthur. “It is a big-hearted, dynamic ensemble piece where those who normally just serve the tea are suddenly playing every part… They can’t wait to present this special iteration of the play for its very first at-sea audience.”

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

Following its debut, the show is slated to become a mainstay of Queen Anne’s entertainment offerings. The ship will feature several “Event Voyages” filled with special guests and partnerships for a series of performances, interactive workshops, and master classes.

Based in Southampton, Queen Anne will mark her debut with a 14-Night Canary Islands’ cruise departing on May 10, 2024. This early cruise will call on Funchal, Madeira; Arrecife, Gran Canaria, and Tenerfie, Canary Islands; and La Coruna before returning to Southampton.

Read Also: New Cunard Ship Glides Through Final Sea Trials

Next, Queen Anne will begin her celebrated 14-night British Isles Festival cruise, which will include her official naming ceremony, a celebration in Cunard’s spiritual home of Liverpool, and the debut of “Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)”. 

This voyage will call in Edinburgh, Kirkwell, Invergordon, and Greenock, Scotland; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Liverpool, England, and Cork, Ireland, on a roundtrip sailing from Southampton that concludes on June 7.

Queen Anne Ship Sea Trials
Queen Anne Ship Sea Trials (Credit: Cunard Line)

From there, Queen Anne will begin a season of exploration that includes more British Isles itineraries, along with Western Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Northern Europe, and Scandinavia.

What Else to Expect on Queen Anne

Beyond the London Theater experience, guests aboard Queen Anne can look forward to an array of enriching amenities. For instance, live music will be found throughout the vessel, including a resident pianist in the Commodore Club during pre-dinner hours, and the sound of harp strings and contemporary bands in various lounges.

Dining on Queen Anne will include imaginative menus in the main dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For those seeking additional options, the ship will offer Mediterranean flavors, Japanese cuisine, and a flagship steakhouse, as well as the Golden Lion pub, which adds a British pub at sea. Afternoon Tea will be available daily in the Queens Room.

Carnival Cancels Two Cruises After Fire Damages Funnel

Emrys Thakkar
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Carnival Cancels Two Cruises After Fire Damages Funnel

After the funnel on the Carnival Freedom cruise ship caught fire on March 23 due to a possible lightning strike, the cruise line has announced that the following two cruises are cancelled for repairs.

Carnival Freedom Cruises Cancelled

Carnival Cruise Line has now been forced to cancel two cruises of the Carnival Freedom after the ship’s funnel caught fire on Saturday, March 23, approximately 20 miles off the coast of Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.

With severe weather conditions impacting the region, the ship had already cancelled its scheduled call to Princess Cay and instead made an unscheduled call to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island on Sunday, March 24.

During Carnival Freedom’s call in Freeport, the damaged funnel was further inspected, and the cruise line said that the damage was more severe than first thought. Thus, the ship’s March 25 and 30 departures from Port Canaveral, Florida, were cancelled.

In a statement to Cruise Hive, Carnival said, “While we continue to investigate multiple eyewitness reports of a lightning strike, our technical team completed a thorough assessment during the ship’s visit to Freeport today.  Regrettably, the damage is more than we first thought and will require an immediate repair to stabilize the funnel, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 and March 30 cruises from Port Canaveral.“

Carnival Freedom Fire
Carnival Freedom Fire (Photo Credits: Heath Barnes & Randalyn Rogers)

Carnival Freedom is returning to its homeport of Port Canaveral overnight to disembark passengers from the March 21 sailing, which is a four-night Bahamas itinerary. The ship will then head back to Freeport, where the Grand Bahama shipyard is based, for repairs to the funnel.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Out of Water – How Does It Look?

Carnival added, “The funnel has been stabilized for the ship’s return to Port Canaveral overnight to disembark guests, and then it will go to the Freeport shipyard on Monday afternoon to begin the required repairs.“

Guests Booked on Cancelled Sailings

With the Conquest-class vessel being out of action for the following two sailings, those guests booked, are being offered compensation. The cruise line is giving a 100% future cruise credit that can be used for a future cruise with Carnival.

In a letter to impacted guests, Carnival said, “We sincerely regret the impact to our embarking guests, as we know they have been looking forward to their spring break vacation.“

“We are providing all guests on both cancelled cruises a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit so they can come back and enjoy a future cruise with us. We also greatly appreciate the terrific guests who are currently sailing on us for their outstanding cooperation and support,” Carnival added.

Carnival Freedom In Port Canaveral
Carnival Freedom In Port Canaveral (Credit: Port Canaveral)

The March 25 sailing was set to be a five-night western Caribbean itinerary, including calls to Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The cancelled five-night Eastern Caribbean March 30 voyage was set to make calls at Grand Turk and then Amber Cove, before returning home.

Carnival has not announced any cancellation of the April 4 departure from Port Canaveral. As long as repairs to the damaged funnel run smoothly, this sailing will likely go ahead as normal.

Second Funnel Repair for Carnival Freedom

this is now the second time that Carnival Freedom has needed a repair to its funnel due to a fire. In May 2022, while docked in Grand Turk, the ship’s funnel caught fire, which resulted in cancellations and the vessel sailing with an oddly looking funnel until repairs could be made during a dry dock.

Carnival Freedom Funnel
Carnival Freedom Funnel

That dry dock was completed in October 2023, where the ship had a new funnel installed, along with an expanded casino, the new Heros and Trubutes bar, routine maintenance, a Pickleball court, and the new red, white, and blue livery.

Carnival Freedom is a 110,000-gross-ton cruise ship that joined the fleet in 2007. She has a guest capacity of 2,980 at double occupancy and 1,150 international crew members. Since entering service, the vessel has undergone four dry docks.

Update on Next Cruise After Carnival Cruise Ship Fire

Melissa Mayntz
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Update on Next Cruise After Carnival Cruise Ship Fire

UPDATE: Two sailings have now been cancelled for the Carnival Freedom due to the damaged funnel. The latest update is here.

Following a possible lightning strike that hit the port side of the iconic “whale tail” funnel on Carnival Freedom on Saturday, March 23, causing a fire, the ship is able to continue her cruise and the next sailing should not be impacted.

Authorities are investigating the incident and all of the ship’s systems are fully operational after the scary situation, and only some areas of the ship’s open decks are closed for safety.

Update on Damage to Carnival Freedom After Second Fire

In a letter sent to guests booked on the next sailing of Carnival Freedom, Carnival Cruise Line has provided an update to the ship’s condition and operation following a fire that damages the port side wing of the ship’s funnel.

“Saturday afternoon, Carnival Freedom reported a fire on the port side of the ship’s exhaust funnel. The ship was approximately 20 miles off the coast of Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, heading to Freeport as a replacement port of call for the cancelled visit to Princess Cays (due to adverse weather),” the letter explained.

The current sailing is a 4-night Bahamas itinerary that was originally to have visited Nassau and Princess Cays. The call to Freeport is now planned for Sunday, March 24, and the ship will return on schedule to her homeport, Port Canaveral, on Monday, March 25.

“The ship’s emergency response team was quickly activated and was able to extinguish the fire. Eyewitnesses reported the possibility of a lightning strike and that is being investigated but cannot yet be confirmed,” the email said. “There are no reports of injuries to guests and two firefighting team members were treated for minor smoke inhalation.”

Carnival Freedom Funnel Fire
Carnival Freedom Funnel Fire (Photo Credit: Heath Barnes)

The email does confirm that “there are no operational issues with the ship’s systems” and “except for the open decks, all areas of the ship are fully functioning.”

This includes the ship’s safety and navigation systems, propulsion, hotel operations, restaurants, and entertainment.

Next Cruise to Continue

Carnival Cruise Line is also reassuring passengers that the ship’s next voyage, a 5-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing on March 25 with calls to Amber Cove and Grand Turk, is still planned to set sail on schedule.

“We do not expect any impact to the next voyage,” the email confirmed.

The 110,000-gross-ton, Conquest-class Carnival Freedom can welcome 2,980 passengers aboard, and is also home to roughly 1,150 international crew members. The ship is homeported year-round from Port Canaveral, offering a variety of 4-night Bahamas and 5-night Eastern Caribbean cruises, perfect for quick getaways.

About the Damage

It should be noted that the ship’s funnel is an exhaust vent and it is possible for the vessel to run safely without the characteristic “wings” that make Carnival cruise ships so distinctive.

In fact, following a fire in May 2022, Carnival Freedom ran without either wing of her funnel until the structure was be replaced just five months ago, during a dry dock in October 2023.

Damaged Carnival Freedom Funnel
Damaged Carnival Freedom Funnel (Photo Credit: Randalyn Rogers)

In that first fire, it was the ship’s starboard funnel wing that was severely damaged, so much so that part of its internal structure melted and it was necessary for the ship to undergo emergency repairs to remove the damaged sections.

After that incident, the ship was not able to sail and the next cruise was cancelled, while guests onboard were transferred to Carnival Conquest to return to Florida. Ultimately, four cruises were cancelled before Carnival Freedom returned to service on June 11, 2022.

Undoubtedly, options will be considered for further repairs to the ship’s funnel once again after a full technical and cosmetic assessment is made. As the ship only recently came out of dry dock, it may be some time before her funnel is repaired, depending on how the work can be completed.

Guests booked on upcoming cruises for Carnival Freedom will want to stay in close contact with Carnival Cruise Line for updates and the possibility of cancellations if the ship needs to be removed from service for repairs.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Cancelled for Charter Sailing

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Cruise Cancelled for Charter Sailing

Guests booked on the June 14, 2024 sailing of Spectrum of the Seas have been notified this week that their cruise has become a chartered sailing, and therefore their voyage is now cancelled.

Several alternative options are offered, including a full refund, different sailings on the same ship, and different sailings on other Royal Caribbean ships so guests can still plan a getaway they will enjoy.

Spectrum of the Seas Cruise Cancelled

The June 14, 2024 sailing of Spectrum of the Seas has been cancelled for a charter sailing. The original 5-night cruise was to have departed from Shanghai, China and visited two ports of call in Japan – Yatsushiro/Kumamoto City and Nagasaki – before returning to Shanghai on June 19.

While the ship will still set sail on that itinerary, because it is now a chartered cruise, booked guests must now adjust their travel plans.

“Since the Spectrum of the Seas sailing on June 14, 2024 has been chartered, your booking will be affected,” the notification email read. “We are fully aware of the time and effort you have put into this travel plan, so we are grateful to you. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

No details about why the ship has been chartered or what group has booked the vessel have been announced. Charter sailings are often arranged by large groups such as music festivals, corporations, lifestyle companies, and other organizations, though the arrangements are usually made much further in advance than just three months.

Spectrum of the Seas Cruise Ship
Spectrum of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Nate Hovee)

The 169,379-gross-ton, Quantum-Ultra-class Spectrum of the Seas is currently homeported from Singapore, but will be moving to Shanghai near the end of April 2024. In early December, the ship will move to homeport from Hong Kong through the holiday, before returning to Shanghai in mid-January. The ship can welcome 4,246 guests at double occupancy or up to 4,905 travelers when fully booked.

Alternatives for Booked Guests

Booked guests can choose from three options as compensation for their now-cancelled cruise: alternative sailings aboard Spectrum of the Seas, choosing any other Royal Caribbean International cruise, or a full refund.

If travelers still want to sail aboard Spectrum of the Seas, they can choose from eight alternative departure dates: May 17, May 26, May 31, June 9, June 23, June 28, August 29, or September 22.

Worth Reading: Future Celebrity Cruises Sailing Cancelled Due to Private Charter

Each of these alternative sailings is still a 5-night cruise, but the ports of call vary. Depending on the sailing date, Spectrum of the Seas will be visiting the same ports as the original itinerary, or other destinations such as Hakata/Fukuoka or Kagoshima in Japan. Of special note is that the August 29 sailing will visit Busan, South Korea.

If guests reschedule on one of the alternate Spectrum of the Seas sailings, their cruise fare is protected, though they will be responsible for any increases in port taxes or other fees. If travelers have airfare booked, their airfare will be adjusted to the new sailing date and the lowest flight price – either the original booking or the new booking – will be honored.

Spectrum of the Seas Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Vladimir Arndt / Shutterstock.com

In addition, passengers who rebook aboard these Spectrum of the Seas options will also receive $100-200 (USD) per stateroom of onboard credit, with an extra $50 per person for the third and fourth travelers in multiple-occupancy staterooms, if applicable.

Guests who choose not to rebook aboard the alternative dates can opt for any other Royal Caribbean International sailing, on any ship in the fleet, without any rebooking fees, though they will need to pay for any difference in cruise fare. If the new fare is cheaper, the overpayment will be refunded to the original form of payment.

These travelers will also receive the same onboard credit offer of $100-200 per stateroom, depending on the type of stateroom booked.

Finally, if guests prefer to cancel their cruise vacation altogether, they may do so without any fee or penalty, and a full refund will be processed within 2-5 weeks back to the original form of payment. Refunds will be processed automatically unless passengers rebook their sailing before April 1, 2024.

Not the First Charter Cancellation

While it is certainly disappointing for travelers to have their vacation suddenly cancelled due to a full ship charter, these incidents do happen occasionally, though typically with more advance notice.

In December 2023, for example, Royal Caribbean notified booked guests that their April 26, 2024 sailing aboard Allure of the Seas was cancelled due to a full ship charter. Also, in December 2023, Norwegian Cruise Line notified guests that the February 6, 2025 sailing for Norwegian Joy was also cancelled for a full ship charter.

Unfortunately, the shorter notice for Spectrum of the Seas‘ cancellation may leave some travelers scrambling to make alternative plans if they are unable to rebook their sailing and they may have to take the refunds instead.

Carnival Ship Funnel Catches Fire After Possible Lightning Strike

Lissa Poirot
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Carnival Ship Funnel Catches Fire After Possible Lightning Strike

A fire broke out on the port side of Carnival Freedom’s exhaust funnel while sailing in the Bahamas. The vessel had cancelled its call to Princess Cay due to weather conditions. Passengers onboard also witnessed a possible lightning strike that caused the fire to start. No injuries have been reported.

This comes after the vessel’s funnel caught fire in 2022, requiring the ship to cancel sailings and undergo a dry dock.

Carnival Freedom Funnel Catches Fire

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom, which was cruising 20 miles from Eleuthera Island in The Bahamas, reported a fire on its port-side exhaust funnel on March 23, 2024, at approximately 3:15 PM.

Carnival Freedom was sailing a 4-night roundtrip itinerary to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida, when adverse weather in the waters around The Bahamas forced the ship to cancel a scheduled call at Carnival’s private destination, Princess Cay.

Around mid-afternoon, eyewitness accounts and subsequent reports confirmed a fire aboard the vessel. Carnival reported the flames were extinguished two hours after it began, with damage confined to the funnel, where part of the structure collapsed onto Deck 10.

According to Carnival Cruise Line in a statement to Cruise Hive, “The ship’s fire response team was quickly activated, and the ship’s captain also turned the vessel towards the heavy rain in the area to maximize the efforts to put out the flames.”

Carnival Freedom Fire
Carnival Freedom Fire (Photo Credit: Deborah Greer)

The cause of the fire is unknown, although some passengers have claimed it may have been attributed to a lightning strike, with one passenger claiming, “It was storming and the loudest thunder and lightning boom I have ever heard happen. Just a few minutes later, we saw smoke and fire coming out.”

Weather reports in the area reported scattered thunderstorms and winds up to 20 miles per hour. The cruise line stated, “Eyewitnesses reported the possibility of a lightning strike and that is being investigated but cannot yet be confirmed.“

The ship’s captain kept all passengers onboard informed during the emergency with multiple announcements over the public PA system.

Guests were told to stay away from the outdoor areas and balconies as a portion of the funnel fell onto deck 10. The U.S. Coast Guard has been notified of the situation. The fire was fully extinguished at 5:20 PM, and no injuries were reported.

Despite the dramatic scenes, there were no injuries to guests or crew. Carnival added, “There are no operational issues with the ship’s systems and the ship is expected to arrive in Freeport on Sunday morning [March 24].”

@b_chap83

Our ship is on fire. #carnival #carnivalfreedom #cruise

♬ Titanic Meme Sound – LM10 Jihad

Future Carnival Freedom Itineraries

The current voyage, which departed Port Canaveral on March 21, is expected to arrive back as normal on March 25. Carnival has confirmed it does not anticipate any changes that will delay the ship’s arrival in Florida.

Carnival Freedom In Port Canaveral
Carnival Freedom In Port Canaveral (Credit: Port Canaveral)

Additionally, the ship’s forthcoming schedule, including a 5-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary departing on March 25, remains as normal. This upcoming cruise is expected to visit Puerto Plata/Amber Cover, Dominican Republic, and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos on another roundtrip route from Port Canaveral.

At press time, Carnival has not cancelled or rescheduled Carnival Freedom’s upcoming sailings.

Second Funnel Fire for Carnival Freedom

This is not the Carnival Freedom’s first encounter with fire. In May 2022, the ship experienced a blaze in the whale-tale funnel as the ship was docked in Grand Turk. 

That incident led to passengers being transferred to Carnival Conquest, which had to cancel its scheduled cruise to accommodate the change.

Fire is one of the most critical emergencies that can occur at sea. While it’s a rare occurrence given the vast number of cruises that embark each year, the industry takes it seriously.

Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship Fire
Carnival Freedom Fire

On May 28, 2023, passengers aboard P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Adventure confronted such an event when a fire erupted onboard. Similarly, in February 2023, fire alarms echoed on Viking Cruises’ Viking Orion while docked in Sydney, resulting in damage to three cabins.

While fires on cruises with guests are unusual, the risk increases during the construction phase due to the presence of heavy machinery and flammable materials in shipyards.

Cruise ships have specialized fire brigade teams to address these risks, trained in firefighting and adept at managing emergencies at sea. They undergo regular drills and training exercises.

Royal Caribbean Cancels Cruise Due to Technical Difficulties

Lissa Poirot
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Royal Caribbean Cancels Cruise Due to Technical Difficulties

Passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas current voyage in the South Pacific are forced to return to port in Sydney and its March 30 voyage has been cancelled due to technical issues.

Royal Caribbean has announced compensation and itinerary adjustments for affected guests.

Brilliance of the Seas Impacted by Propulsion Issue

Royal Caribbean has announced an unexpected change to Brilliance of the Seas’ itinerary due to technical difficulties. Slated to depart on a 5-night Tasmania cruise on March 30, Royal Caribbean announced that the voyage on the 2,543-passenger Brilliance of the Seas is now cancelled.

“Brilliance of the Seas experienced a technical issue on its last sailing, and we’re returning early to begin required maintenance,” said the cruise line. “Our crew has started working on restoring the system, and we’re deploying the best experts. Despite our efforts, we are unable to complete the needed repairs to be ready in time for our 30 March 2024 sailing.”

The ship is currently on an 11-night “South Pacific Cruise,” which departed Sydney on March 19, 2024. Slated to call on Lifou and Noumea, New Caledonia, and Mystery Island, Vila, and Luganville, Vanuatu, before returning to Sydney on March 30, a propulsion issue has forced the cruise to cancel March 23’s call in Noumea.

The issue is serious enough that the cruise line also cancelled all remaining port visits, leading to an increased number of sea days as the ship returns to port for maintenance.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

A passenger aboard the ship alerted others of the issues via Reddit, writing, “We are currently sitting in Santal Bay, New Caledonia, near the island of Lifou, while the crew attempts to repair whatever is wrong with the ship.”

The Reddit post was updated to reveal the ship was returning to Sydney and skipping its remaining five port calls.

Compensation for the Cancellations

Royal Caribbean apologized to passengers scheduled to sail to Tasmania for the cancellation, stating, “We know how much time and effort go into planning your cruise, and we’re truly sorry for this disappointing news.”

The cruise line details a full compensation plan, announcing a 100% refund of the cruise fare, along with taxes, fees, pre-paid packages, and gratuities, credited back to the original form of payment.

Compensation also will be offered for any flights or additional travel expenses booked through Royal Caribbean. Passengers who booked their flights and packages must work with those carriers and providers regarding the cancellation.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas (Photo Credit: Gerry H)

However, the cruise line is covering change fees for all affected passengers on domestic travel up to $250 per guest and up to $400 for international changes. It also promised reimbursement for non-refundable, pre-purchased travel fees incurred, such as hotels, train tickets, or rental cars.

Travelers who utilized a Future Cruise Credit for the sailing will also receive a refund of any new funds paid above the certificate amount, along with the reissuance of the original certificate.

In a gesture of goodwill, Royal Caribbean is offering a 50% Future Cruise Credit that can be used within one year. 

Following the announcement of the return to Sydney, the Reddit poster revealed full details on compensation for those currently onboard Brilliance of the Seas had yet to be revealed. However, passengers were initially given $200 onboard credit due to the inconvenience caused.

Read Also: One of the World’s Largest Cruise Ships Notifies Guests of Propulsion Repair

While the current disruptions on Brilliance of the Seas are substantial, they are not an isolated event. Oasis of the Seas encountered propulsion problems as recently as October 2023.

Other vessels, such as the Quantum-class Anthem of the Seas have had to adjust their itineraries over the past year due to ongoing engine maintenance. Similarly, Radiance of the Seas also faced challenges, resulting in the cancellation of two complete sailings following emergency engine repairs in Alaska last September.

Two Cruise Ship Crew Members Die From Engineering Incident

Melissa Mayntz
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Two Cruise Ship Crew Members Die From Engineering Incident

A tragic incident aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam has sadly claimed the lives of two of the ship’s crew members. The incident happened on Friday morning, March 22, while the ship was docked at Half Moon Cay, the cruise line’s private island destination in The Bahamas.

The ship is structurally sound and while there was a delay in leaving Half Moon Cay, all passengers are safe and Nieuw Amsterdam is returning to her homeport of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Engineering Incident Aboard Nieuw Amsterdam

What has been described as a “steam leak” aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam has taken the lives of two of the ship’s crew members. The incident happened shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday, March 22, when fire alarms sounded and crew emergency alerts were called over the ship’s intercom.

Guests onboard were startled but remained calm as crew members responded to the emergency. Roughly an hour later, the all clear was sounded and business continued aboard the ship as usual. At no time were guests called to muster stations, and operations onboard were not interrupted.

In the afternoon, however, the ship’s captain announced that the incident had claimed the lives of two crew members, and as an investigation into the incident began, the ship would be slightly delayed in leaving Half Moon Cay, where the ship was visiting since 8 a.m.

In response to Cruise Hive, a Holland America Line spokesperson confirmed the incident and clarified the loss of the two crew members.

“We regret to share that while calling at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas, there was an incident in an engineering space on board Nieuw Amsterdam, which sadly resulted in the death of two crew members,” the statement read. “The appropriate authorities were notified, and the cause of the incident is currently being investigated.”

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock

Personal details, including the names of the crew members, have not been released in order to protect the privacy of their friends and families at this very difficult time. The positions of the crew members is also unknown at this time.

“All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with our team members’ families at this difficult time,” the statement continued. “We are offering counseling services to team members who may have been affected by the incident.”

What Happened?

Various conflicting reports about the incident have surfaced, with different sources calling it an explosion, a fire, and a leak. The announcement made by the ship’s captain described it as a “steam leak” but that could mean many different things.

To be clear, the ship’s onboard systems are not impacted, and the vessel’s safety, navigation, propulsion, and hotel and restaurant operations remain unaffected.

“The safety, security, and welfare of all guests and crew are the company’s absolute priority,” Holland America Line said. Furthermore, the cruise line noted that early reports of a fire were not correct. “Reports that these crew members perished in a shipboard fire are not accurate.”

Holland America Line in Half Moon Cay
Holland America Line in Half Moon Cay (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt)

Nieuw Amsterdam remained at Half Moon Cay approximately three hours later than originally scheduled, and it is possible the ship will be delayed in returning to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, March 23, though not official notice of such a delay has been given.

The 86,700-gross-ton ship is finishing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that visited Grand Turk, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Half Moon Cay. Rough weather on her return to Florida might also impact her arrival, especially since she has already been delayed in departing Half Moon Cay.

Similarly, guests on the next sailing – a Western Caribbean cruise visiting Half Moon Cay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel – might experience a slight delay to embarkation or departure if further investigation or repairs are necessary before the ship can begin her next voyage. If necessary, the cruise line will reach out to travelers with updates.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with all the guests and crew members aboard Nieuw Amsterdam at this sad and difficult time.

Royal Caribbean Announces New Beach Club in Cozumel

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Announces New Beach Club in Cozumel

One of the world’s biggest cruise lines is adding a new attraction to its repertoire. On March 22, 2024, Royal Caribbean announced that it will open a new Royal Beach Club on the pristine shores of Cozumel, Mexico, in 2026.

Royal Caribbean Unveils Plans For New Beach Club In Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico, is already a popular cruise destination known for its sandy beaches, coral reefs, scuba, snorkeling, and shopping. Starting in 2026, Royal Caribbean passengers will get a new way to experience the island paradise. 

On Friday, March 22, 2024, the 28-ship cruise line announced plans to open a new Royal Beach Club in Cozumel in 2026. This is the third private beach club Royal Caribbean has unveiled, with the first scheduled to open in Nassau in 2025.

The beach club, which will be used exclusively by Royal Caribbean guests, will be located on the western coast of the island, in Quintana Roo, which is home to the city of Cancún. Dubbed Royal Beach Club Cozumel, the luxury destination will include a variety of amenities and activities, such as swim-up bars, private cabanas, snorkeling, kayaking, a street market, and hands-on experiences like tequila tastings and cooking classes.

“Cozumel is an incredible destination, and the beach club will perfectly complement all the island has to offer as an experience that combines familiar Royal Caribbean touches with the spirit of Mexico, alongside amenities and activities for every type of vacationer,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico
Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico

Meanwhile, local authorities in Mexico celebrated the announcement, noting how the new private destination will benefit the local economy. 

“My administration will always be committed to partnering and working very closely with the private sector to build modern and sustainable infrastructure and create local jobs for our people. These kinds of projects reaffirm our commitment to continue to be the top port of call in Latin America,” said Mara Lezama, governor of Quintana Roo.

More details about Royal Beach Club Cozumel are expected to be announced in the coming months. 

What To Expect At Royal Beach Club Cozumel 

Cozumel is already a popular cruise destination for Royal Caribbean Group. At the time of publication, a search of the cruise line’s website brings up 76 cruises to Cozumel on ships like Star of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and even the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas. 

In addition to giving Royal Caribbean guests a new way to experience the island, the new private beach club will also strengthen the relationship between the cruise line and local tourism authorities.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico
Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico

“We are delighted to build on our longstanding partnership with the local community and government to continue bringing our guests to Mexico,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. 

While few details have been announced about what to expect at Royal Beach Club Cozumel, it seems like it will be similar to the cruise line’s Paradise Island Beach Club in Nassau, which is scheduled to open in 2025. 

The 17-acre destination in Nassau will also feature a variety of beachfront hangouts and swimming pools with activities catered to adults and families, but will lean more into Bahamian culture, while the Cozumel location will embrace all that Mexico has to offer. Additionally, Royal Beach Club Cozumel will also feature its own restaurant, bar, and lounge with views and flavors inspired by the local culture and cuisine.

Royal Caribbean's Bahamas Beach Club
Render Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Read Also: Things to Know About Perfect Day at CocoCay Bahamas

That said, cruisers will not be limited to Royal Caribbean’s beach club once it opens in 2026. As a bustling cruise port in its own right, guests will still have the opportunity to explore all that Cozumel has to offer and can spend as much or as little time as they wish in the private beach club. 

Royal Caribbean ships will continue to dock in the International Cruise Terminal, as they typically do now, from where guests can walk to the beach club or explore elsewhere on the island. 

Passenger Missing and Overboard From MSC Cruises Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Passenger Missing and Overboard From MSC Cruises Ship

A 23-year-old male passenger has been confirmed missing and overboard from MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia during the ship’s most recent cruise, which left Southampton on Friday, March 15.

Family members have been informed of the incident and the man is presumed lost, while the cruise line is remaining in communication with the authorities to investigate the incident.

Passenger Missing Overboard From MSC Euribia

Liam Jones from Dundee, Scotland, was aboard MSC Euribia for a 7-night sailing to celebrate his mother’s birthday when he went missing on Saturday, March 16, while the ship was en route to Hamburg, Germany.

Few details are available, but family members onboard the vessel with Jones have apparently been able to view security footage from the ship that has confirmed the overboard situation. Reports vary as to whether Jones may have gone overboard deliberately or accidentally.

According to the Daily Record, Jones’ 20-year-old wife reportedly received a text message from her husband noting that he was seasick, but her next communication was from Jones’ sister about an “accident” and that he “wasn’t coming back.” MSC Cruises confirmed the incident in a statement from a cruise line spokesperson.

“A passenger on board MSC Euribia went overboard on 16 March as the ship was sailing to Hamburg. This was reported to the authorities,” the statement confirmed.

“The police in Southampton boarded the vessel today [March 22] and investigated on behalf of the coroner. We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will refrain from disclosing any additional information.”

MSC Euribia Cruise Ship
MSC Euribia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)

There are no details available about the circumstances of the overboard, such as whether there were any arguments leading up to the incident or if alcohol may have been a factor.

A full investigation will undoubtedly be held, as is customary in these situations, and will involve authorities from multiple countries due to the nationalities of those involved as well as the geographical jurisdiction of where the overboard occurred. Authorities from Scotland, UK, and France are all working on the incident.

Jones’ family has been upset about a perceived lack of communication from the cruise line, particularly his wife, who was not onboard the vessel.

The 184,000-gross-ton, Meraviglia-plus class MSC Euribia is currently homeported in Europe, offering 7-night Northern Europe itineraries from a variety of departure points, including Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Le Havre. The ship can host roughly 3,000 passengers, and is also home to 1,700 international crew members.

The ship was not delayed in its return to Southampton, and the next sailing—another seven-night exploration of Northern European cities—has not been impacted.

Overboards From MSC Ships

Sadly, this is not the first overboard situation from an MSC Cruises ship in recent months. In November 2023, a crew member disappeared overboard from MSC Seascape north of Puerto Rico, and in December 2023, a male guest went overboard from MSC Preziosa just before an onboard concert, which was subsequently cancelled.

MSC Euribia Cruise Ship
MSC Euribia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)

Just one month ago, an American passenger went overboard from MSC World Europa while the ship was docked in Malta, though that incident appears that it may have been more accidental than potentially deliberate.

Any overboard incident, no matter what the individual circumstances, is devastating for the family members and friends of the individual involved, as well as crew members onboard.

Read Also: What Happens During a Cruise Ship Overboard Alarm?

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragic incident, through what will be a very difficult time instead of what should have been a celebratory cruise vacation.

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