Royal Caribbean's Icon OTS diverts to Ponce (Puerto Rico) for medical emergency

   June 27, 2025 ,   Accidents

RCI-Royal Caribbean’s flagship Icon of the Seas unexpectedly returned to the Port of Ponce (Puerto Rico, Caja de Muertos Island) on the afternoon of June 25, 2025, after an 80-year-old female passenger from Trinidad & Tobago suffered a medical emergency aboard ship.

The Municipality of Ponce issued a statement confirming that local authorities, including the Municipal Office for Emergency Management, the Ponce Port Authority, and police, coordinated with the vessel’s medical team to transfer the passenger to a nearby hospital. She has since been reported in stable condition. The ship resumed its voyage following the transfer, with the passenger’s family remaining ashore.

The Icon was on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing from Miami. Local officials noted that Royal Caribbean had promptly engaged its onboard medical protocols and executed the response in accordance with standard procedure. With the passenger under care, the ship continued its itinerary as scheduled.

For more Icon of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.