Carnival Magic accidents and incidents

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.