Costa Fascinosa accidents and incidents

April 2020Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) On April 11, 2020, Brazil's Anvisa (National Health Regulatory / Sanitary Surveillance Agency) allowed the cruise liner to dock in Port Santos (Sao Paulo) and disembark a total of 246 staff-crew. After testing for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) 19 people tested positive and only 227 (all Filipinos) debarked the vessel. For them, Costa Cruises arranged private bus transportation to Sao Paulo Airport (in Guarulhos) and a charter flight to The Philippines.

The cruise ship was passenger-free (carrying only 764 staff-crew) and quarantined in Port Santos since March 19 Onboard remained 452 staff-crew (of other nationalities) awaiting repatriation to their countries. On April 4, Anvisa reported that 10 crew (in critical conditions) were disembarked and ambulanced to hospitals in Santos. On April 14, Anvisa reported a total of 43 confirmed Coronavirus cases on Fascinosa.

On April 5, the ship's physician (69-year-old Paolo Mudano, Italian) developed acute respiratory symptoms. He was medevaced and hospitalized in a private clinic in Santos, where was diagnosed with viral pneumonia. On April 6, he was put on mechanical ventilation in an ICU. On April 15, the man died in the hospital.

On April 19, a 42-year-old male crew died in a Santos hospital, where was transferred together with 9 other crew. The man (Bendie Antonio, Filipino) worked on the ship as a Dining Room waiter. On April 25, a 3rd hospitalized crew died in Santos. The man (Rudy Haryanto, Indonesian) worked on the ship as an Assistant Housekeeping Manager (cabin stewards supervisor).

18 March 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

On March 18, 2015, two cruise vessels – Fascinosa and MSC Splendida – were docked in call port La Goulette Tunisia, when terrorists opened fire on tourists visiting Bardo National Museum in Tunis. The attackers shot at the tour bus with Fascinosa cruise passengers, of which 5 were killed (4 Italians, 1 Russian) and 8 were injured and hospitalized (7 Italians, 1 Russian).

The terrorists were dressed in police uniforms. They targeted both (MSC and Costa) cruise line buses after they arrived and started offloading passengers at the parking in front of the museum. The terrorist group was affiliated with the ISIS organization. The terrorist act resulted in 22 deaths, among those tourists, Tunisian police officers and civilians. Around 50 were injured. Of the terrorists, 2 were killed by the police during the attack, and 9 others were killed on Mar 28 during a police raid.

Following the accident, all shore excursions in Tunis were canceled, their passengers returned on board, medical teams (15 members) and 2 Costa Crociere's executives (including the company's Senior VP Maltese) were deployed on the site to assist and establish close contacts with the Tunisian authorities.

The ship left Tunis on Mar 19 at 1:55 am, with a total of 3148 passengers on board (registered 3161). All passengers were given the option to disembark in the next call port Palma de Mallorca (on Mar 20) with Costa Crociere covering all their travel expenses to return back home.

The cruise company announced that all future Costa ship calls in Tunis are officially suspended. The following itinerary changes were implemented, substituting Tunisia with Barcelona (on Costa Fortuna), Tarragona and Barcelona (on Costa Favolosa), and with Trapani and Valletta Malta (on Costa neoRiviera / now Ambassador Ambition).

18 March 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

On March 18, 2015, two cruise vessels – Splendida and Costa Fascinosa – were docked in Port La Goulette (Tunisia/North Africa) when terrorists opened fire on cruise tour buses visiting Bardo Museum in Tunis. The attackers shot at the tour bus with Splendida cruise passengers, of which 12 were killed (1 British, 3 French, 2 Spanish, 1 Belgian, 3 Japanese, 2 Colombian) and 13 were injured and hospitalized (7 French, 1 Belgian, 4 Japanese, 1 South African). Two passengers of Spanish origin (a pregnant woman and her boyfriend) were initially reported missing but were found on the next day safe and uninjured, hiding inside the museum.

The terrorists were dressed in police uniforms. They targeted both (Costa and MSC) cruise line buses after they arrived and started offloading passengers at the parking in front of the museum. The terrorist group was affiliated with the ISIS organization. During the terrorist act were killed all 22 people, among those tourists, Tunisian police officers and civilians. Around 50 were injured. Of the terrorists, 2 were killed by the police during the attack, and 9 others were killed on Mar 28 during a police raid.

Following the accident, all shore excursions in Tunis were suspended, passengers returned on board and medical and crisis teams deployed on the site. The line’s Exec Chairman Vago also arrived in Tunis to assist the affected and to consult with the Tunisian authorities.

The ship left Tunis at 7 am on Mar 19, en-route to the next call port Barcelona Spain. The cruise company announced that all future MSC ship calls in Tunis are officially canceled. The following itinerary changes were implemented, substituting Tunisia with Valletta Malta (on Splendida and MSC Divina), Palma de Mallorca (on MSC Fantasia) and Sardinia Italy (on MSC Preziosa).

22 September 2014Propulsion / Power Loss

On September 22, 2014, after leaving homeport Venice Italy (Sept 21) on 7-day Eastern Mediterranean (Greek Isles) cruise, the vessel encountered rough weather in the Mediterranean Sea (with tornado-force winds exceeding 100 mph / 165 kph). The storm affected its navigational system and also one of the main engines. After the engine failed, the cruise ship started to rotate on itself. The Captain commanded all passengers to put their life jackets on, after announcing that he “lost control” of the vessel.

The stormy weather lasted for ~2 hours. Most damages were reported in the kitchen area (lots of broken glassware and dishes), in the onboard lounge bars and also in many cruise cabins (broken furniture and TVs).

11 March 2014Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On March 11, 2014, a male passenger fell overboard. The man (Odair Marcos Faria, of Brazilian origin) was traveling together with his wife Maria Cristina on a cruise booked as a present from their children.

The man’s body (only in a bathing suit) was found on March 13, near the Rio de la Plata’s shores (border area between Uruguay and Argentina).

10 December 2013Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On December 10, 2013, while the ship was docked in call port Grand Turk, a 70-year-old male passenger fell into the water between the pier and the fleetmate Costa Luminosa.

The elderly man remained afloat for ~10 min until a HAL crew jumped and helped him to safety.

19 October 2013Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual / law news) On July 7, 2016, a 34-year-old male crew charged with sexual assault and rape attempt of a minor was sentenced to 10 months in jail.

The man (Floriano Fernandes, of Italian origin, working on the ship as a waiter) sexually assaulted a 17-year-old female passenger in one of the ship’s bathrooms. Fortunately, she managed to resist the attempted rape.

The incident occurred on October 19, 2013, during a Mediterranean cruise from Istanbul to Venice. On October 20, when the ship stopped in Venice, the Captain (Ignatius Giardina) didn’t report the incident.

09 June 2013Other Incidents

On June 9, 2013, the vessel’s scheduled departure from homeport Venice Italy was delayed by several hours due to civil unrest. The departures of the ships Fascinosa, Azura and MSC Fantasia were impeded, as the port’s waterfront area was blocked by local protesters in numerous small boats. They argued that the growth of big cruise ships stopping in Venice had a negative impact on the city as a travel destination.

Environmental issues were also raised by the No Grandi Navi group (translated “No Big Ships”), claiming that large-size cruise ships stopping in Venice impose potential risk (damages or accidents) for the city’s fragile foundation and historical monuments. The issue grew louder since the Costa Concordia sinking (January 2012).