MSC Armonia accidents and incidents

June 2019Other Incidents

Following the US Government (June 3, 2019)-issued USA to Cuba travel ban, MSC Cruises modified all Armonia ship cruise itineraries with planned visits to Havana. The alternative ports (for Havana) on the revised itineraries were either Key West Florida, Cozumel Mexico, Costa Maya Mexico, or George Town Grand Cayman. The remainder of Armonia’s Caribbean itinerary program remained as originally scheduled.

All Cuba bookings were provided with the option of canceling the booking and changing the MSC ship/itinerary without cancellation fees. All pre-purchased Havana tours/excursions were automatically refunded (to passenger’s onboard account).

11 April 2018Ship Collision / Allision

On April 11, 2018, the vessel collided with the pier in call port Mahogany Bay (Roatan Island, Honduras) as it entered the port at a higher speed.

In addition to the hull (forward portside) damage, the concrete pier/dock also sustained significant damage.

The ship was on 7-day "Caribbean, Cuba And Antilles Cruise" (itinerary April 8-14) roundtrip from homeport Havana (Cuba) to Belize City, Roatan, and Mexico (Costa Maya and Cozumel).

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

September 2014Structural and Technical Issues

(lengthening) In August-November 2014, during its Palermo Sicily drydock refit, the cruise ship was stretched. An ~80 ft / 25 m long prefabricated middle-section was added. The refit resulted in an increased passenger capacity (new cabins), new shops, a Water Park with slides and waterfalls. Following the overhaul, the Armonia ship re-entered service on November 17, 2014.

The list of other stretched (elongated) cruise ships includes the fleet mates MSC Lirica, MSC Opera, MSC Sinfonia, the Phoenix Reisen’s Albatros, the RCI's Enchantment of The Seas and the Fred Olsen's Black Watch, Balmoral, Boudicca, Braemar.

17 February 2012Crew / Passenger Deaths

On February 17, 2012, a 30-year-old female crew died in a hospital ashore after suffering a serious condition (severe fever and coughing). The woman (Fabiana Pasquarelli, of Brazilian origin) was diagnosed on Feb 15 with Influenza B pneumonia. She worked on the ship as dining room waitress.

During hospitalization at Ana Costa Hospital (Santos), she had respiratory failure and was on life support to assist her breathing.

Later, her family filed a lawsuit against the shipowner MSC Cruises. Their lawyer stated that even sick, Fabiana was not allowed to disembark the ship in call port Rio de Janeiro on the previous voyage. An anonymous crew confirmed that her treatment was delayed.

When the accident occurred, the cruise ship was on South American cruise itinerary roundtrip from homeport Santos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) visiting ports in Argentina (Buenos Aires) and Uruguay (Montevideo, Punta del Este).

February 2012Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In February 2012, a flu outbreak infected a total of 3 passengers and 7 crew. All sick were hospitalized after being diagnosed with Influenza B (pneumonia). One of the crew died on Feb 17. They were all suffering the same acute symptoms – fever and coughing.

The 6 crew and the 3 passengers (a woman, a 12-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy) remained hospitalized and under observation. Only the teenage boy experienced Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps).

The illness incident occurred during 7-day South America roundtrip from Santos Brazil to call ports in Argentina and Uruguay. After docking in Santos (Feb 18), local medical authorities boarded the cruise vessel for a health inspection. The passenger disembarkation process was delayed ~ 6 hours before the ship was cleared.

06 April 2009Drug Smuggling

On April 6, 2009, after docking in homeport Venice Italy, a 28-year old male crew was arrested and charged with drug trafficking (importing ~10 kilos of cocaine). The incident occurred during Transatlantic repositioning cruise from South America to Europe (Buenos Aires to Venice).

The police learned about the drugs by listening to phone calls. In Venice, the crew (of Bosnian origin) was directed to deliver the drugs to a local hotel. During the interrogation, the man stated he was asked to smuggle the drugs by another crew (working on the ship as a cook) who due to illness was disembarked in Buenos Aires. For his service, the crew was given EUR 10,000.

Three other people (also of Bosnian origin) involved in the drug smuggling were later identified and arrested in Italy.

(law news) On November 1, 2013, they were sentenced to 10 years in jail each, plus fined EUR 60,000 each.

22 January 2004Other Incidents

(MS European Vision / ship seizure) On January 22, 2004, following the Festival Cruises company bankruptcy, the ship with 1300+ passengers on board was seized in port Bridgetown Barbados. Two of the company's other vessels were also impounded - MS European Stars/now MSC Sinfonia) in Barcelona Spain (carrying 750+ passengers) and MS Mistral/now Ambassador Ambition) in Marseille France (carrying 700+ passengers).

21 July 2001Other Incidents

(MS European Vision) On July 21–22, 2001, the cruise vessel was fully chartered to serve as floating hotel for the G8 leaders during their 27th summit in Genoa Italy. Although docked in port and heavily secured by anti-terrorist units and navy vessels (including military helicopters and patrol boats), the US President George Bush decided to stay instead at a hotel located near the dock.