Coral Princess accidents and incidents

(Coronavirus) On March 31, 2020, the berthed at Port Bridgetown (Barbados) cruise liner reported to the local authorities a total of 13 people experiencing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) symptoms. Test samples were collected and sent ashore. The returned test results confirmed 12 cases (Coronavirus-positive), including 7 passengers and 5 crew. Two passengers died later on the ship. On April 1, the ship left Barbados en-route to Florida, with planned arrival and debarkation in Port Everglades on April 4. Shipwide quarantine (all passengers and off-duty crew to stay isolated in their cabins) was enforced on April 1.

The ship was carrying a total of 1898 people (1020 passengers plus 878 crew). All passengers were confined to their staterooms, with all meals and beverages ordered from a daily menu (via TV's infotainment system) and delivered via room service. Off-duty staff and crew were also isolated in their cabins. Face masks were supplied and distributed to all. In-cabin Internet and phone services were provided complimentary to all passengers and crew.

in the morning on April 4, the liner arrived and docked at PortMiami for refuelling and provisioning (including medical supplies). Passenger debarkation started on April 5, after submitting health screening forms answering questions about flu-like symptoms (fever, dry cough, breathing difficulty, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Six passengers were immediately medevaced and ambulanced - two to Larkin Community Hospital (Miami), three to St Joseph’s Hospital (Tampa) and one to Hialeah Hospital (where he died). Onboard remained a total of 67 people (29 passengers and 38 crew) being quarantined after developing flu-like symptoms or due to their medical conditions. However, these patients were not in critical conditions that require hospitalization. On April 5 were medevaced and hospitalized 8 more passengers.

By April 6 were disembarked 684 passengers, 274 remained onboard. Most of the disembarked were bused to Miami Airport to wait (in closed-off for general public airport terminals) for the Carnival Corporation-chartered international flights (to Canada, Australia and the UK). On April 7, the debarkation in PortMiami was completed, but 90 international tourists remained onboard due to flight travel restrictions to their home countries and awaiting clearance. For the ship's American cruisers, Carnival chartered 9 flights to airports in the USA. Debarkation was completed on April 9. Charter flights (1 domestic and 4 international) were additionally arranged to repatriate passengers and some crew to Europe and South America. Onboard remained the staff-crew plus 13 passengers, all quarantined for 2 weeks. The ship left PortMiami on April 10.

The affected South America cruise (32-day itinerary, March 5 - April 6) from Chile to Florida. On March 12, the voyage was cancelled after Princess Cruises suspended global operations fleetwide. Since March 13, the liner was denied port entry and docking (passenger disembarkation) in all South American and Caribbean countries planned for visiting - Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Martinique, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The ship initially planned passenger debarkation in Buenos Aires (on March 19), partially because most cruisers already had home flights booked there. However, in that case, Argentina allowed only Argentine passport holders and international tourists with confirmed flights (March 19 departures) to disembark. The ship departed Buenos Aires that night after Argentina warned that the ship would be quarantined in port indefinitely (debarkation was denied) if it remains past midnight (March 19). Coral Princess was denied docking and debarkation in Uruguay but was allowed to make a technical stop (at Puerto Montevideo) for provisioning and refuelling. After Brazil denied port entry (March 21), the liner headed toward Florida USA). On March 31, it made a second technical stop (at Port Bridgetown Barbados) for provisioning.

Initially, the USCG also barred the vessel from entering USA's territorial waters until it had an approved debarkation plan. For Coral Princess, PortMiami made an exception as the port was officially closed for passenger ships and berthing was not allowed.

March 2017, CDC reported on itinerary March 8 to 18, a Norovirus outbreak affected 157 passengers (out of 2016, or 7,8%) and 25 crew (out of 881, or 2,8%). The ship was on the 10-day Caribbean and Panama Canal cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to ports in Dutch Antilles, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica.

On August 3, 2016, while the ship was docked in call port Juneau AK, a 79-year-old female passenger (from Ontario, USA) got lost in Alaska during solo hiking on Mendenhall Glacier (the trails East Glacier and Nugget Creek). The elderly woman became disoriented. As night fell, she decided to spend the night alone in the forest. She was without any camping gear. However, she managed to walk to safety the next day (Aug 4), arriving at the glacier’s visitor centre at ~9:30 am.

The cruise ship left Juneau AK at ~4 pm (Aug 3). Local police organized an extensive search and looked for the missing woman until midnight. During the incident, the ship was on 7-day Alaskan cruise (itinerary July 30 – Aug 6) round-trip from Vancouver BC to Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan.

(overboard) On May 11, 2016, a male passenger reportedly jumped overboard from Dolphin Deck 9. The man (of Russian origin) was later reported lost at sea. The incident occurred near Santa Barbara CA (USA waters), during 4-day Alaskan repositioning cruise (itinerary May 10-14) from Los Angeles to Vancouver BC, also visiting Victoria BC.

(Cuban refugees boat) On April 14, 2016, while en-route from Montego Bay Jamaica to Fort Lauderdale, the cruise ship encountered a damaged boat and stopped to pick up 7 Cuban refugees (migrants) trying to get to the US by sea. The refugees were brought on board and later offloaded on a USCG ship that returned them to Cuba. Coral Princess was ending a 10-day Panama Canal and Caribbean cruise (itinerary Apr 5 – 15) roundtrip from Port Everglades Florida.

Note: Cruise ship operators have agreed to inform the USCG if they spot Cuban refugees in the open sea and to rescue them if needed.

Similar cruise ship rescue incidents happened on Carnival Paradise (Mar 4, 2014, 24 people rescued), Carnival Ecstasy(Mar 25, 2014, 41 people rescued), Carnival Liberty (Aug 22, 2014, 11 people rescued), Carnival Breeze (May 9, 2015, 25 people rescued), Brilliance Of The Seas (Mar 18, 2016, 18 people rescued), Disney Wonder (Feb 13, 2016, 12 people rescued). All the Cuban refugee boats were reported being both unseaworthy and overcrowded.

April 2015, CDC reported on voyage April 12 to 27, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 99 passengers (out of 1958, or 5%) and 12 crew (out of 881, or 1,4%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours. The ship was on 15-day Panama Canal repositioning cruise to Alaska (leaving from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles.

On May 2, 2013, the ship experienced an engine room fire accident. The fire started in a storage locker and was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported. In the list of material damages, a suite cabin on Deck 9 was reported flooded due to malfunction of the stateroom’s fire sprinkler system.

(overboard) On March 24, 2013, a male passenger jumped overboard at ~2:30 pm. The accident was witnessed by several passengers who alerted the crew. The ship immediately started search and rescue operation and was later joined by USCG assets. At ~ 6 pm, the body was recovered from the water. No official statement was issued.

On August 19, 2011, a mechanical malfunction (gas turbine oil system) forced the Captain to anchor the vessel. The troubleshooting revealed that the turbine's lube oil had metal particles within, indicating failure. The gas turbine was secured and the propulsion was switched to diesel-electric, allowing the ship to continue the voyage as scheduled.

May 2011, CDC reported on voyage May 4 to 19, a Norovirus outbreak affected 64 passengers (out of 1990, or 3,2%) and 3 crew (out of 873, or 0,6%). The ship was on 15-day Panama Canal cruise from Fort Lauderdale FL to San Francisco CA.

(overboard) On November 25, 2009, a 31-year-old male crew was reported missing and presumed fell overboard. The man worked on the ship as a chef. He was last seen working in the kitchen at ~8 pm. The accident happened off Colombia's coast when the ship was en-route from Aruba to Cartagena.

The incident report mentioned a life preserver missing, with its illumination flares left on the ship. The ship was on 14-day Panama Canal transition cruise (itinerary Nov 23 – Dec 7) from Miami to  Los Angeles.

On August 13, 2009, four passengers were forcibly removed from the ship and disembarked in call port Juneau Alaska. They occupied 2 separate cabins on Deck 9 and were caught smoking pot (marijuana).

On May 16, 2009, a young passenger suffered severe injuries in the Lotus swimming pool (Deck 14) and had to be medevaced. At ~3 pm, a USCG helicopter dispatched from San Francisco arrived and evacuated him. The incident occurred during the 3-day Alaska relocation cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver BC.

On May 21, 2009, the vessel was sanctioned for sea pollution, violating the Alaskan wastewater quality standard for ammonia. Wastewater tests showed 91 mg/L concentration, with the norm’s limit being 80 mg/L.

On May 27, 2009, CDC reported that on an Alaskan cruise, a Norovirus outbreak affected 121 passengers (out of 2001, or 6,1%) and 7 crew (out of 914, or 0,8%).

On March 19, 2009, the ship’s turbine malfunctioned, causing reduced cruising speed. The mechanical incident occurred on a Panama Canal repositioning cruise from Alaska to Caribbean (Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale). The itinerary was changed, dropping call port Victoria BC.

(sexual) On March 9, 2009, a 38-year-old male crew was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a 42-year-old female passenger. The man (of Portuguese origin) was working on the ship as headwaiter. The arrest was made by the FBI when the ship docked in homeport Los Angeles CA (Long Beach), ending a 14-day Panama Canal transition cruise from Fort Lauderdale to LA.

On February 11, 2009, CDC reported that on a Panama Canal transition cruise, a Norovirus outbreak affected 252 passengers (out of 1996, or 12,6%) and 19 crew (out of 885, or 2,1%).

On January 7, 2005, CDC reported that on a roundtrip Caribbean cruise from homeport San Juan Puerto Rico, a Norovirus outbreak affected 84 passengers (out of 2116, or 4%) and 31 crew (out of 913, or 3,4%).

On January 22, 2004, CDC reported that on a Panama Canal transition cruise, a Norovirus outbreak affected 136 passengers (6,5%) and 20 crew (2,2%).

(overboard) On November 3, 2003, a male crew jumped overboard committing suicide. The man worked on the ship as a galley assistant and was newly employed. The accident happened shortly after the vessel left call port Cozumel Mexico. The man was reported being lonely and miserable. The Captain held 2 memorial services on the ship for him.

December 2002, the ship’s Inaugural cruise (scheduled for Dec 14) plus 3 January itineraries were cancelled due to delayed vessel delivery by the French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.