Carnival Magic accidents and incidents

07 February 2024Ship Collision / Allision

On February 6, 2024, at ~ 11 AM Puerto Rico time (~ 3 PM UTC), due to stormy weather, the ship's Master (Captain Francesco La Farina) changed the itinerary and Carnival Magic arrived in Puerto Ocho Rios (Jamaica) earlier than scheduled.

While maneuvering for docking, strong winds and swells caused the ship to contact the pier fender and the structure collapsed.

The collision resulted in significant damages to both the hull (above the waterline) and the pier. No injuries were reported and the onboard services remained operational. For safety reasons, the vessel left port and later was berthed at another pier where the left ashore passengers reboarded the ship.

The accident occurred during the 6-day "ShipRocked 2024 Cruise" (rock music-themed voyage, itinerary Feb 4-10, roundtrip from Miami). The ship was chartered by Ask4Entertainment and visited The Bahamas (Resorts World Bimini/Feb 5th), Jamaica (Ocho Rios/Feb 6-7 overnight, scheduled port stay for Fb 7th between 8 am-4 pm), and Grand Cayman (George Town Harbour/Feb 8th).

Note: Actually, this type of marine accident is called “allision” (striking a fixed object) as opposed to “collision” (striking another vessel).

29 May 2023Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On May 29, 2023, a male passenger went overboard while the ship was approx 185 mi / 300 km east of Jacksonville FL, en route from The Bahamas back to Virginia USA. According to CCL's statement, the man was reported missing by his fiance (Jennilyn Michelle Blosser) in the late afternoon.

An initial review of the CCTV footage confirmed that the man leaned over the railing of his cabin's balcony and fall into the water at ~4:10 am Florida time (~8:10 UTC). The USCG watchstanders were contacted by CCL personnel to report the overboard at 6:36 pm (22:36 UTC) on May 29th, or ~14,5 hours after the man fell into the ocean.

The ship started a search and rescue operation and was later released by the USCG to continue the voyage. The body was not found. Later media reports identified the missing passenger as Ronnie Lee Peale Jr (35-year-old).

According to the USCG's press release on May 31st, the massive operation (search grid 5171 mi2 / 13390 km2) took 2,5 days (~60 hours). It was conducted by USCGC Escanaba (1987-built Cutter) assisted by 3x search and rescue aircraft dispatched from different CG Air Stations - 2x Lockheed HC-130 (long-range aircraft, one from Clearwater FL/Florida, and one from Elizabeth City NC/North Carolina) and 1x EADS HC-144 Ocean Sentry (medium-range aircraft, from Miami FL/Florida).

The incident occurred during the 5-day "Bahamas Cruise" (itinerary May 25-30, roundtrip from homeport Norfolk, Virginia) with call ports Nassau (May 27) and Freeport (May 28).

28 June 2022Crew / Passenger Crimes

On June 28, 2022, the ship contacted the USCG to report a bar brawl involving around 60 passengers. The liner was completing an Eastern Caribbean voyage and returning back to homeport NYC (New York USA).

At 5:20 am NY time (9:20 am UTC) the NYPD received a call from the USCG reporting the onboard altercation at the Vibe Disco & Nightclub (130-seat venue located aft on deck 5). According to the USCG, the ship was close to the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, when the bar party deteriorated into a violent brawl involving ~60 guests fighting on the Vibe's dance floor. The brawl (captured on phone video by a bystander) showed only one security guard who was radioing for backup.

The USCG dispatched a boat from Staten Island to escort the vessel to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal's Pier 88 (dock), where it was met by NYPD officers. According to the CCL-Carnival Cruise Line's statement (by Matt Lupoli, CCL's Senior Manager of Public Relations), there were no serious injuries and the onboard security team eventually intervened. The liner arrived and docked in NYC as scheduled and the next voyage was not affected.

The accident occurred at the end of the 8-day "Eastern Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary June 20-28, roundtrip from New York City) visiting Dominicana (Amber Cove), Grand Turk Island (Cockburn Town) and The Bahamas (Half Moon Cay).

11 March 2020Coast Guard Medevacs

On March 11, 2020, a female crew (suffering a heart attack) was medevaced by a USCG helicopter team while the liner was en-route from the Turks and Caicos Islands to the Dominican Republic.

The incident occurred during the 6-day Eastern Caribbean cruise (itinerary March 8-14) roundtrip from homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) visiting Bahamas (Half Moon Cay), Grand Turk Island (Cockburn Town) and Dominican Republic (Amber Cove).

16 June 2018Propulsion / Power Loss

On June 16, 2018, soon after departure from homeport Port Canaveral, the ship experienced propulsion issues affecting its max cruising speed. The accident resulted in itinerary change.

The originally scheduled 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise (itinerary June 16-23) had planned visits to Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), St Thomas Island (USVI), San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Grand Turk Island. To compensate for the slower speed, call port Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas) was canceled. All passengers received as compensation USD 50 in onboard credit.

27 January 2018Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On January 27, 2018, a 63-year-old male passenger was arrested for battering a female passenger, then masturbating in her stateroom.

The man (Jozef Fred Senna, from Jacksonville FL) was charged with "Battery and False Imprisonment" after the cruise liner docked in homeport Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida).

The victim said she met him in the ship's Casino Bar (on Promenade Deck 5). There he reportedly kept bumping her with his knee. She asked him to stop several times. Then they talked for a while. Upon leaving the bar, he offered to walk her back. She first declined, but later accepted. Once they reached the cabin, he asked to see the balcony, and she agreed. While on the veranda, the man allegedly started rubbing up against her. When she tried to walk into the cabin, he allegedly blocked her path, pulled her shirt up and her dress down. She allegedly pushed his hands away and shoved him by the shoulders, telling him “no” several times. Then he allegedly began to masturbate on her knees and clothing.

21 April 2017Coast Guard Medevacs

On April 21, 2017, a 41-year-old male passenger (experiencing chest pains) was medevaced by USCG Miami deployed helicopter team (MH-65 Dolphin). The ship was approx 160 km (100 ml) southwest of Key West Florida. The man was airlifted and transported to Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

15 January 2016Coast Guard Medevacs

On January 15, 2016, while en-route back to homeport Galveston (~5 hours after departure from Cozumel Mexico), due to a medical emergency the ship changed course to Cancun. There, an elderly male passenger was medevaced and transferred to a rescue boat at ~1:30 am.

22 March 2014Other Incidents

On March 22, 2014, two cruise ships – Carnival Magic and the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas – were stuck outside Galveston Bay, unable to enter and dock. A third cruise vessel (Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess) was stranded at the port overnight. The inconvenience was caused by a collision between fuel barge and a crude oil tanker.

The accident led to the partial sinking of the barge and leaking over 150,000 gallons (nearly 570,000 liters) of fuel from the tanker, causing spillage in Galveston Bay. The Carnival and Royal Caribbean liners delayed their arrival/docking in Galveston. Carnival Cruise Lines decided to postpone embarkation by a day. Passengers who choose to continue on the shortened itinerary received 1-day (pro-rated / partial) refund.

02 July 2013Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On July 2, 2013, a male passenger died falling from his cabin’s balcony, He was reported trying to sit on the veranda’s railing when fell backward. He stroke another room’s balcony railing before hitting deck floor 3 stories below.

09 May 2012Other Incidents

On May 9, 2012, a false bio-hazard threat resulted in a passenger eviction from the ship in homeport Galveston TX. The famous neurosurgeon from Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. Jack Kruse was on the ship to attend a lecture about his “Epi-Paleo” diet plan. Instead of giving a speech, he became a suspect of bioterrorism. His cabin was extensively searched by the ship’s security staff and later by FBI agents.

The whole incident started with a threatening tweet sent from a false Twitter account using the doctor’s name. The tweet was about him having a vial of a disease to spread on the ship. Someone obviously had notified Carnival Cruise Lines. Later, FBI agents and Port Galveston police team boarded the ship. The man was first questioned and then removed from the vessel.

04 March 2012Coast Guard Medevacs

On March 4, 2012, a female crew slipped into the water and fell, fracturing her right hip. She was medevaced by USCG.

27 February 2012Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(overboard) On February 27, 2012, a male crew member fell overboard but was rescued after ~45 min. The incident happened at ~10:30 pm, off the coast of Galveston TX. The USCG was alerted, but before their arrival, the ship launched a boat and rescued the man. The report said the man was working on an open deck area when slipped over the railing and fell in the water.

25 February 2012Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(overboard) On February 25, 2012, a male passenger (wearing a life jacket) fell overboard in heavy seas.

17 November 2011Propulsion / Power Loss

On November 17, 2011, due to propulsion system problems (with one of the aft Azipod thrusters), the ship stopped for 2 days at sea for emergency repairs. The incident resulted in Mexico itinerary changes – call port Costa Maya and a sea day were replaced with Progreso port overnight.