10 Cruise Ship Accidents and Mishaps and What Caused Them

The 10 Worst Cruise Ship Accidents and Mishaps

Most of the cruise ship incidents reported in the news involve a property damage or a handful of people. Some, however, stand out for their sheer magnitude. Our list includes the worst of the worst. The billion-dollar industry leaves passengers with fond memories and fun adventures, but the following incidents paint an all too possible and different picture.

Eastern Star: The Perils of Stormy Weather (2015)

The cruise along the Yangtze River in China held over 450 passengers – most of which were retirees and senior citizens. After a serious storm that may have included a tornado, the boat capsized. Only 14 passengers survived. After the storm, rescuers expanded their search radiuses to 600 miles and used forensics to identify victims. Later evaluations theorized the vessel’s top-heavy construction may have put it more at-risk for losing its balance.

Carnival Triumph: The “Poop Cruise” (2013)

The ship carrying over 4,000 passengers was scheduled for a four-day cruise around Mexico. The cruise turned into an eight-day nightmare when the engine room caught on fire. Soon after, the entire ship lost power, and passengers had to deal with the conditions until tugboats could bring the ship back into the port in Mobile, Alabama. Conditions were uncomfortable to say the least. Passengers were forced to use bags to collect their waste and to deal with the stagnant air below decks.

Costa Concordia: The Capsized One (2012)

This cruise ship disaster involved over 4,000 passengers and caused 32 deaths. The ship ran aground near Italy hours after leaving port. A rock pierced the hull on its port side, causing water to gush into and capsize the ship. As the ship tilted, the engine rooms took on water and all power was lost. The captain did not give the order to evacuate until over an hour after the accident.

Nearly an hour after giving the evacuation order, passengers remained onboard looking for a foothold. The captain went to shore before all the ship’s passengers were recovered. He was later convicted on charges of manslaughter for abandoning the ship.

Celebrity Mercury: A Viral Outbreak (2010)

Disaster struck this 12-day cruise when a nasty outbreak of norovirus sickened hundreds. Of the ship’s 2,687 passengers, 446 suffered from the miserable effects of this well-known stomach virus. The highly contagious illness left those passengers with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Containment was the ship’s only choice until the passengers reached shore, and so the cruise line asked passengers to remain in their cabins. The sickened guests were all given vouchers for future cruises, but they may not want to step foot on a ship after that experience.

SS Eastland (1915)

Two years after the Titanic, this Great Lakes ship carrying 2,573 passengers left the Chicago River. When passengers boarded the ship in the morning, it began to tilt to its port side. The ship righted itself, but then continued to tilt minutes later. The movement caused water to rush through gangways and into the hull. It rolled onto its side before passengers could initiate an evacuation response. That day, 844 people died feet from the dock.

Unfortunately, the ship’s organizers tried to pile lifeboats and lifesaving equipment on the decks of the ship to avoid a Titanic-like disaster. In doing so, they created a top heavy vessel prone to rollover disasters.

Titanic: The Unsinkable One (1912)

This single catastrophe still holds the attention of historians, media outlets, and others. This iconic vessel struck an iceberg, killing 1,503 people. There were enough lifejackets, but not nearly enough lifeboats. In the frigid waters – about 28 degrees Fahrenheit – an average person could only last a maximum of 15 minutes before losing consciousness and a maximum of 45–50 minutes before dying.

Viking Sky: A Near-Disaster in Rough Seas (2019)

This luxury cruise ship came dangerously close to a full-blown catastrophe when it lost engine power during a storm off the coast of Norway. Stranded in rough seas with 1,373 passengers and crew on board, the Viking Sky came within 100 meters of running aground on rocky shores. As the ship listed violently and waves crashed over the deck, helicopters were called in to evacuate 479 passengers. Thanks to a heroic effort from the crew, the ship eventually regained power, but not before terrorizing those on board.

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas: Trapped in a Mega-Storm (2016)

In February 2016, Anthem of the Seas encountered a storm so powerful that the 4,500 passengers aboard were confined to their cabins as hurricane-force winds reached 150 mph and waves towered 30 feet high. Furniture and debris flew around the decks as the massive cruise liner was tossed in the storm, creating a nightmarish situation for everyone on board. Despite the terrifying ordeal, the ship safely returned to port, but the incident raised serious questions about why it was sent into such dangerous conditions.

MS Estonia: Europe’s Worst Maritime Disaster (1994)

The MS Estonia was en route from Tallinn, Estonia, to Stockholm, Sweden, when disaster struck in the frigid Baltic Sea. In the early morning hours, the ship’s bow door failed, allowing water to flood the car deck. Within minutes, the ship listed severely and capsized. Of the 989 people on board, only 137 survived, making this one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in European history. The tragedy raised concerns about the design of car ferries and led to new safety regulations.

Queen of the North: Navigation Failure (2006)

Off the coast of British Columbia, the Queen of the North ferry missed a critical turn and struck a rock, sinking into the frigid waters of the Inside Passage. The ship’s 101 passengers and crew scrambled to abandon ship, and two passengers were never found. Investigations revealed that human error played a key role in the accident, as the crew failed to follow proper navigational protocols.

Protect Yourself After a Cruise Ship Accident: Contact Stein Law for Legal Help

If you or a loved one have been injured or affected by a cruise ship accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering. Cruise lines are responsible for ensuring the safety of their passengers, and when they fail to do so, they must be held accountable. At Stein Law, our experienced attorneys understand the complexities of maritime law and are committed to fighting for the rights of cruise ship accident victims.

Contact us today for a FREE consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options. Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. You don’t pay unless we win your case. Reach out to Stein Law now to get started!

Brandon Stein

Chief Executive Officer

Brandon Stein is a Florida based trial attorney born in Queens, New York, and was raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Being the son of an accountant that owns a large firm in New Jersey, owning and operating a business is something that was engrained within Brandon Stein from a very young age...[READ BIO]

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