Watch CBS News

Carnival cruise ship that set sail from Florida catches fire in Grand Turk

By Caitlin O'Kane

Updated on: May 26, 2022 / 5:39 PM EDT / CBS News

A Carnival cruise ship that set sail from Port Canaveral in Florida caught fire on Thursday. The Carnival Freedom ship was in Grand Turk on a five-day cruise when a fire inside the ships funnel started, according to a press release from Carnival.

Carnival says the fire was quickly extinguished by emergency response teams, and that all guests and crew are safe. The ship's guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore. Carnival is continuing to assess the situation. 

The @Carnival Freedom is on fire in Port at #GrandTurk #Carnival pic.twitter.com/7GgoWLG2Tc — Brian H (@Budman922) May 26, 2022

Social media posts show flames spewing from the funnel of the ship and black smoke billowing in the air. 

The ship had 2,504 guests and 972 crew onboard, Carnival said. Another ship, the Carnival Conquest, will travel from Miami to pick everyone up from Grand Turk on Saturday. They are expected to arrive in Port Canaveral on Monday.

The Conquest's next trip, scheduled to depart from Miami on Friday, has been canceled, as was the Freedom's next trip, scheduled to begin Saturday.

The Freedom ship will be taken to Freeport for a "repair to the funnel," Carnival said. All guests impacted by the changes in upcoming trips have been notified.

Last month, passengers on a Carnival cruise from Miami to Seattle were forced to quarantine after people onboard tested positive for COVID-19. Carnival didn't say how many of the approximately 2,100 passengers aboard were infected. Upon docking, all infected passengers were moved to area hotels for isolation.

While cruise ship fires are not common, they have occurred before. In 2016, more than 500 passengers and crew were evacuated from a burning ship about a mile off Puerto Rico's north coast. Many aboard the Caribbean Fantasy ship required medical care, though there were no reported fatalities.

  • Cruise Ship

img-0710.jpg

Caitlin O'Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces "The Uplift," CBS News' streaming show that focuses on good news.

More from CBS News

Texas fire chief dies responding to blaze in hard-hit Panhandle town

Controlled burn in East Palestine train derailment not needed, NTSB says

Tesla's Giga Berlin plant in Germany shut down by suspected arson fire

5 killed in small plane crash off Nashville interstate

Carnival cruise ship catches fire in Grand Turk

A Carnival cruise ship caught fire as it was docked in Grand Turk on Thursday morning, officials said. 

The fire, which broke out in the Carnival Freedom ship's funnel, was quickly extinguished as the ship was in Grand Turk, the capital island of the Turks and Caicos archipelago southeast of the Bahamas, a Carnival spokesperson said Thursday morning.

Image:  Carnival Freedom fire

"All guests and crew are safe, and the ship’s guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore. We continue to assess the situation," a spokesperson said in a statement about the fire at around 8:45 a.m. ET.

Just before 11 a.m., passengers were still on shore at Grand Turk.

The ship had left Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida, on Monday for a five-day cruise, officials said.

It's not yet clear what caused the fire.

According to the marine tracking site CruiseMapper , the ship, which was built in 2007, is 948 feet long and can accommodate over 3,500 passengers. 

Breaking News Reporter

Steals & Deals: Up to 70% off bralettes, a multi-purpose kitchen essential, more

  • TODAY Plaza
  • Share this —

Health & Wellness

  • Watch Full Episodes
  • Read With Jenna
  • Inspirational
  • Relationships
  • TODAY Table
  • Newsletters
  • Start TODAY
  • Shop TODAY Awards
  • Citi Music Series
  • Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

  • On The Show

Video shows scary moments after a cruise ship caught fire

Passengers aboard a cruise ship docked in Grand Turk Island got a surprise that wasn’t on the itinerary Thursday.

As photos and video taken aboard the Carnival Freedom illustrate, black smoke and flames poured out of the ship’s funnel as passengers donned life jackets and were evacuated from the vessel’s upper decks.  

"On Thursday morning while in port at Grand Turk, Carnival Freedom’s emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire inside the ship’s funnel," said the cruise line in a statement . "All guests and crew are safe, and all other ship, hotel, and guest services, along with safety equipment are fully functioning."

According to the statement, most of the ship's 2,504 passengers were ashore at the time the fire broke out.

Flames could be seen pouring from the ship's funnel.

Plans were soon made to get all guests back to Port Canaveral in Florida, where they originally set sail from Monday for what was meant to be a 5-day cruise. But since Freedom won't be seaworthy in time for an already delayed departure, those arrangements required the cancellation of another Carnival cruise.

"Carnival Conquest’s next cruise, departing May 27 from Miami has been cancelled and that ship will be deployed to Grand Turk to transport Freedom guests back to Port Canaveral," the company explained. "Carnival Conquest will arrive to Grand Turk on Saturday, May 28 and guests aboard Carnival Freedom will transfer to Carnival Conquest for the voyage back to Port Canaveral, arriving on Monday, May 30."

Carnival Freedom's next scheduled cruise, originally planned for Saturday, has also been cancelled.

The surprising sight from the upper decks of Carnival Freesdom.

Repairs are set to begin on the ship's funnel after all passengers are off the ship.

The statement closed, noting, "Carnival apologized to all those guests who are impacted and offered special thanks to the crew who handled the situation on the ship effectively and according to safety protocols."

It remains unclear what caused the fire.

Ree Hines is a freelance writer and editor who covers pop culture, lifestyle stories and trending news. She’s also a soul-music loving, coffee-obsessed member of both Team Cat and Team Dog. Ree lives in Tampa, Florida, and is a regular contributor to TODAY.com.

Read the Latest on Page Six

latest in US News

New NYCFC soccer stadium gets critical approval as team unveils latest rendering

New NYCFC soccer stadium gets critical approval as team unveils...

Shenanigans! NYC knocked flat in drunken 2024 St. Patrick's Day spirit ranking — beaten out by cities like Savannah, Ga.

Shenanigans! NYC knocked flat in drunken 2024 St. Patrick's Day...

Prosecutors decline to press charges against ex-Florida GOP chair Christian Ziegler following rape allegations

Prosecutors decline to press charges against ex-Florida GOP chair...

NC GOP governor nominee Mark Robinson under fire over 2020 remarks about wanting 'America where women couldn't vote'

NC GOP governor nominee under fire over 2020 remarks about...

America's worst ex-presidents: Would these 4 men be on your list?

America's worst ex-presidents: Would these 4 men be on your list?

8 teens shot -- including one 9 times -- while waiting for bus in ambush attack in Philadelphia

8 teens shot -- including one 9 times -- while waiting for bus in...

IBM blames DOE contract when asked why NYC remote school system failed during snowstorm

IBM blames DOE contract when asked why NYC remote school system...

Bodega customer hit with murder charge in killing of store clerk over cigar as victim’s mom calls for ‘life’ in prison

Bodega customer hit with murder charge in killing of store clerk...

Carnival cruise ship catches fire in turks and caicos.

  • View Author Archive
  • Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Dramatic videos emerged on social media Thursday, showing flames and thick black smoke pouring out of the smokestack of a Carnival Cruise ship in the Turks and Caicos.

The cruise line confirmed that a part of Carnival Freedom caught fire after the ship docked at Grand Turk.

“Carnival Freedom’s emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire inside the ship’s funnel while the ship was in Grand Turk,” company spokesperson Matt Lupoli told The Post in a statement. “All guests and crew are safe, and the ship’s guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore.”

No injuries were reported and the ship was not evacuated during the emergency. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.

A  part of Carnival Freedom caught fire after the ship docked at Grand Turk.

Still photos and cellphone recordings that have been circulating on Twitter depicted smoke billowing from the right fin of the smokestack, painted red, white and blue, as reported by ClickOrlando.

Carnival Freedom set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, on May 23 on a five-day cruise. It is scheduled to return Saturday.

Carnival Freedom was launched in 2007. It measures 952 feet in length, has 13 decks and can accommodate up to 2,980 passengers and 1,150 crew.

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

At the time of the fire, the vessel was carrying about 2,500 passengers and 1,100 crew members, according to the cruise line.

Passenger Jenny Fleming told Florida Today that she and her mother were drinking coffee on a balcony as Carnival Freedom was docking at Grand Turk at around 7:30 a.m. local time, when some people on an adjacent ship, Carnival Mardi Gras , alerted them to the fire.

“Mom runs inside and calls 911, and we were apparently the first to report it,” Fleming said.

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control, and the passengers got the all-clear at around 8:40 a.m.

The fire was reported around the same time as another Carnival Cruise ship, Carnival Magic, docked in Norfolk, Virginia , after passengers began vomiting and complaining of nausea caused by a chemical smell.

Share this article:

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Advertisement

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

  • cruise ship

Guests and crew aboard Carnival Cruise ship that caught fire in Turks & Caicos safe, company says

AP logo

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The smokestack of a Carnival Cruise ship docked in the Turks & Caicos Islands caught fire on Thursday and officials allowed guests and crew members to go ashore as heavy smoke billowed into the air.

Carnival said in a statement that no one was injured during the incident in Grand Turk, although it was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which was filmed by passengers.

"All guests and crew are safe," the company said.

The Carnival Freedom had departed Florida on Monday for a five-day cruise.

Related Topics

  • CRUISE SHIP

Cruise Ship

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Port of Galveston to get 4th terminal complex

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Illness outbreak spreads on cruise ship, leaving 154 sick

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Carnival cruise ship rescues 2 men whose boat sank in Gulf of Mexico

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

There's now a three-and-a-half-year cruise planning to set sail in May

Top stories.

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Suspect in 12-year-old's murder identified, dated boy's mom: Sheriff

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

HPD suspends officer suspected of aiding alleged auto theft ring

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

More victims come forward against alleged unlicensed plastic surgeon

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

United engine catches fire minutes into flight from IAH

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Alief apartment complex accused of dumping E. Coli into storm drains

Driver wanted after man hit by truck, dragged and killed, HCSO says

Galveston murder suspect found dead in Oklahoma jail cell, police say

Dynamo faces deficit vs. Crew after own goal in stoppage time

  • New Terms of Use
  • New Privacy Policy
  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Closed Captioning Policy

Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by  Factset . Powered and implemented by  FactSet Digital Solutions .  Legal Statement .

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy

Carnival Freedom cruise ship seen on fire at Grand Turk

The fire hit the starboard side of the ship’s funnel, or the 'whale's tail'.

The Carnival Freedom was docking at Grand Turk Island Thursday morning when the fire erupted. The response team quickly extinguished the fire inside the ship's funnel. (Daniel Avellaneda / Bon Voyaged / TMX)

Footage shows a Carnival Cruise ship on fire in Turks and Caicos

The Carnival Freedom was docking at Grand Turk Island Thursday morning when the fire erupted. The response team quickly extinguished the fire inside the ship's funnel. (Daniel Avellaneda / Bon Voyaged / TMX)

A video of raging fire onboard the Carnival Freedom has emerged Thursday as the cruise ship was docked at Grand Turk Island in Turks and Caicos. 

Footage posted to Twitter showed the starboard side of the ship’s funnel – referred to by some as the whale tail – consumed by flames and smoke. 

"Carnival Freedom’s emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire inside the ship’s funnel while the ship was in Grand Turk ," the cruise line said in a statement. "All guests and crew are safe, and the ship’s guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore." 

Carnival added that the ship left Port Canaveral in Florida on Monday and that it will "continue to assess the situation." 

Carnival Freedom cruise ship Italy

Guests sit on the deck of the Carnival Freedom cruise ship while docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Italy, in October 2007. (Victor Sokolowicz/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

CARNIVAL CEO ARNOLD DONALD STEPPING DOWN AUG. 1  

In the video, one passenger onboard another ship docked in the Grand Turk port can be heard saying, "Oh my God, that is wild!" 

A crowd had gathered on that ship to watch the fire unfold. 

Carnival Freedom in port in Italy

The Carnival Freedom, shown here in Italy in 2007, caught fire in the Caribbean on Thursday, May 26. (Victor Sokolowicz/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE  

The part of the ship that caught fire is designed to help direct the flow of exhaust gases away from the ship, according to the Crown Cruise Vacations website. 

Carnival Freedom Key West Florida

Passengers board the Carnival Freedom in February 2013 in Key West, Fla. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images / Reuters)

The Carnival Freedom, in its current itinerary, is expected to return to Florida on Saturday. 

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Passengers arrive safely to Port Canaveral after Carnival Cruise ship catches fire

(WSVN) - Passengers arrived at Port Canaveral days after their cruise ship caught fire.

Flames ignited on the Carnival Cruise ship while docked at Grand Turk on Thursday morning.

The fire was contained, but travelers needed to get back to land.

The cruise line sent another ship, Carnival Conquest, to rescue the passengers from the burning vessel.

Passengers were relieved that they made it back in one piece.

“I wanted to kiss the ground I was walking on,” said one passenger after disembarking Monday morning.

Another passenger was glad to see another craft gather them to safety.

“Happy to see Conquest and now, we’re happy to be back on land,” said another passenger.

Pamela Mullen recalls the moment the ship caught fire.

“I think that was the scariest bit, that the banging on the door was so loud, so ferocious, so obviously we got up,” said Mullen. “There’s also humor even in disaster. I went straight into the bathroom, started to wash my face and he, Martin, said to me, ‘Are you serious? Are you serious? Really, Pamela?’ I went, ‘I gotta be awake if there’s a disaster, I gotta be awake.'”

Her husband believes this situation brought them closer as a married couple.

“I held her hand because she’s very important,” said Mr. Mullen. “I love her to bits.”

The passengers stayed on Grand Turk Island for two additional days after the fire was extinguished.

Jillian McElvy saw the silver lining in the situation.

“We were actually in Grand Turks on my birthday, and we got a couple more days in Grand Turk, so it was perfect,” said McElvy. “It was, like, honestly, the greatest birthday gift ever.”

It remains unknown what caused the fire on the ship.

This incident forced the cruise line to cancel upcoming trips in June to repair the damages.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  • The popcorn must flow: Viral sandworm buckets have ‘Dune: Part Two’ stars Chalamet, Butler covered in … discomfort
  • 2 dead, 1 injured in triple shooting in Miami
  • 2 children, 2 adults hospitalized after boating accident off Fort Lauderdale
  • Monarch High School teacher reassigned amid allegations of erratic classroom behavior
  • Passenger shot dead after fight breaks out inside Miami-Dade Transit bus in Florida City; suspect faces judge

Current Weather

West palm beach.

Mostly Cloudy

Latest Weathercast

Interactive Radar

Ship that caught fire cruising again

by Lenny Cohen

Video anonymously submitted to CBS12 News shows the funnel of the ship on fire, black smoke rising from the flames, May 26, 2022. (Anonymous)

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. (CBS12) — The cruise ship that caught fire last month is back on the high seas.

Carnival Cruise Line announced the Carnival Freedom started hosting vacationers again on Saturday when it departed Port Canaveral.

The ship needed a funnel technical repair to make it ship-shape again, and take passengers on a five-day cruise to Nassau, Princess Cays, and Grand Turk.

Carnival sent video of the ship in Grand Bahama on Friday.

It was in Grand Turk on May 26 when the ship caught fire.

An anonymous CBS12 News viewer shared video that showed the funnel of the ship on fire, and black smoke rising from the flames.

It also showed what looked like water from crews attempting to put out the flames.

Nobody was hurt in the incident.

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Passengers, crew evacuated from cruise ship after fire

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

Passengers and crew members were evacuated from a cruise ship sailing in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park because of a fire on board earlier this week.

After a “fire incident” contained to the engine room of UnCruise Adventures’ Wilderness Discoverer ship on Monday, other vessels in the area helped disembark 51 guests and 16 crew members, the cruise line said in a news release.

“We are relieved to confirm that there have been no injuries resulting from the fire,” Capt. Dan Blanchard, UnCruise’s owner and CEO, said in the release. “Our highly trained crew promptly extinguished the fire using established emergency protocols, and CO2 was successfully deployed for everyone's safety.” Eleven crew members remained on board.

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

The line is providing guests with full refunds. They were transferred to Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess ship, and later moved to another ship before being disembarked at park headquarters and given hotels and flights home.

There were “no discernible environmental impacts” in the area as a result of the incident, according to UnCruise, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

Wilderness Discoverer was built in 1992 and can accommodate 76 guests.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

  • Today's news
  • Reviews and deals
  • Climate change
  • 2024 election
  • My portfolio
  • My watchlist
  • Stock market
  • Biden economy
  • Personal finance
  • Stocks: most actives
  • Stocks: gainers
  • Stocks: losers
  • Trending tickers
  • World indices
  • US Treasury bonds
  • Top mutual funds
  • Highest open interest
  • Highest implied volatility
  • Currency converter
  • Basic materials
  • Communication services
  • Consumer cyclical
  • Consumer defensive
  • Financial services
  • Industrials
  • Real estate
  • Mutual funds
  • Credit card rates
  • Balance transfer credit cards
  • Business credit cards
  • Cash back credit cards
  • Rewards credit cards
  • Travel credit cards
  • Checking accounts
  • Online checking accounts
  • High-yield savings accounts
  • Money market accounts
  • Personal loans
  • Student loans
  • Car insurance
  • Home buying
  • Options pit
  • Investment ideas
  • Research reports
  • Fantasy football
  • Pro Pick 'Em
  • College Pick 'Em
  • Fantasy baseball
  • Fantasy hockey
  • Fantasy basketball
  • Download the app
  • Daily Fantasy
  • Scores and schedules
  • GameChannel
  • World Baseball Classic
  • Premier League
  • CONCACAF League
  • Champions League
  • College football
  • Motorsports
  • Horse racing
  • Newsletters

Entertainment

  • How to watch
  • Fall allergies
  • Health news
  • Mental health
  • Sexual health
  • Family health
  • So mini ways
  • Style and beauty
  • Unapologetically
  • Buying guides

New on Yahoo

  • Privacy Dashboard

Carnival cruise ship that departed from Port Canaveral catches fire

A Carnival cruise ship that set sail from Port Canaveral in Florida caught fire on Thursday.

Carnival says the fire was quickly extinguished by emergency response teams, and that all guests and crew are safe. The ship’s guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore. Carnival is continuing to assess the situation.

The @Carnival Freedom is on fire in Port at #GrandTurk #Carnival pic.twitter.com/7GgoWLG2Tc — Brian H (@Budman922) May 26, 2022

Recommended Stories

Nick saban: the way alabama players reacted after rose bowl loss 'contributed' to decision to retire.

Saban retired Jan. 10 after 17 seasons and six national titles at Alabama.

NFL mock draft: Trades galore as Patriots make it a 5-QB first round at No. 31

The Bears make two of the top three picks. J.J. McCarthy goes top five. One of the best prospects period falls to 15. Charles McDonald and Nate Tice have some fun in their post-combine mock.

Russell Wilson's best team fits now that Broncos are moving on

Where might he land?

Rome Odunze put on a show at NFL combine, then did something rarely ever seen

One personnel man noted that he saw Caleb Williams gravitate toward Odunze on more than one occasion this week, a reality that has likely fed into buzz that the Bears could maneuver to pair Odunze with Williams.

Kristen Stewart’s risqué bodysuit at the ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ L.A. premiere has fans eager for more: See her other looks

The actor is never shy on the red carpet, and she's not stopping now.

The Celtics' winning streak is over — and the way it ended is enough to cast some doubt moving forward

The Celtics still own the league’s best record by a country mile, but their duality was on full display Tuesday night.

Stacy Wakefield, wife of late former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, dies of pancreatic cancer

Tim Wakefield, who died Oct. 1, predeceased his wife after his battle with brain cancer.

So, is it better to wash with a loofah or a washcloth? Here's the expert-approved answer

Both loofah lovers and washcloth fans are going to want to pay attention.

Missouri Gov. commutes sentence of ex-Chiefs assistant Britt Reid after DWI severely injured young girl

Britt Reid, the son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2022 after a drunk driving incident ahead of Super Bowl LV.

Free Agency Matchmaking: Best landing spots for top QBs, RBs, WRs

No need to wait until next week for free agency to start, we tell you where everyone is going right now. Fantasy expert Tera Roberts joins Matt Harmon for our annual free agency matchmaking show. Harmon and Roberts react to the franchise tag deadline and other major pre-free agency moves that have taken place earlier this week.

The NFL combine solidified 4 first-round QBs alongside the mystery of Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix

Like J.J. McCarthy, Nix and Penix each have very strong differing opinions about them. Unlike McCarthy, they don’t have the elements of age or a forecasted high ceiling working in their favor.

Kia offers deep discounts on the brand-new EV9

The Kia EV9 is a popular new SUV, but the automaker is discounting the three-row to help make up for no U.S. tax credits.

NFL combine: Winners (WRs class, CB Quinyon Mitchell) and losers (Spencer Rattler, combine itself)

Wideouts of all different types and draft projections were able to shine. Meanwhile, Mitchell may wind up as the first cornerback drafted after his impressive workout.

Dodge reveals 2025 Charger Daytona EV muscle car

Dodge has revealed its next generation all electric muscle car — the Dodge Charger Daytona.

NFL reportedly tinkering with onside kicks, considering bold rules to make kickoffs 'exciting again'

How do you make kickoffs more exciting without significantly increasing the injury rate? NFL special teams coordinators may have found the way.

'Starvemaxxing' is a dangerous body image trend appealing to young men online. Experts caution against constant comparison on social media.

An offshoot of the popular "looksmaxxing" online trend, "starvemaxxing" is getting pushback for its health concerns.

DE Darius Robinson, possible first rounder, says NFL combine set up 'is unacceptable'

The Missouri DE said the 21 reps he did during the bench press aren't an accurate reflection of what he can do.

Former NFL player Braylon Edwards helped stop locker room attack on 80-year-old man

Edwards pulled the assailant away from the 80-year-old victim.

Steven Mnuchin leads $1 billion attempt to rescue NYCB

New York Community Bancorp made a dramatic attempt to regain investor confidence by announcing a $1 billion infusion from a group that includes former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Western Michigan stuns Ball State with a ridiculous tip-in buzzer-beater you’ve never seen before

This is March. And that means buzzer beaters.

Carnival passengers recount ‘nightmare’ cruise as storm floods ship

Videos showed the carnival sunshine cabins and hallways flooding and ceilings leaking.

Matthew Branham and his fiancée, Madison Davis, were lying by a Carnival Sunshine pool on Friday aboard a cruise returning to Charleston, S.C., from the Bahamas when an announcement came over the loudspeaker. The captain was expecting rougher weather that evening, but there was nothing to worry about. So Branham and Davis didn’t worry.

As the day went on, “We noticed it started getting cooler in the afternoon — much, much cooler,” said Branham, 25, of Castlewood, Va. “And then it was like a switch was flipped, and it literally turned into a nightmare.”

En route back to Charleston Friday night into Saturday, the Carnival Sunshine navigated into a strong storm system that battered the southeast over the holiday weekend. Videos emerged on social media showing cabins and hallways flooding, shop floors littered with destroyed merchandise and leaking ceilings . Passenger Brad Morrell snapped a photo of an automated instrument map reporting a 69 knot, or 79 mph, wind.

#CarnivalSunshine : Due to return to Charleston, South Carolina this Saturday, May 27, 2023, has been delayed due to severe weather. The ship is currently off the South Carolina coast and holding position, unable to return to the port because of high winds & rough seas. #cruise 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/2B6HlAn2yD — ∼Marietta (@MariettaDaviz) May 28, 2023

Carnival said in a statement that the weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecast, but that its fleet operations center team, which relies on outside meteorology resources for itinerary planning, “coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location.”

“Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous,” the statement continued. “The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear.”

Strong Southeast storm slams Carolinas

Carnival said the captain made “several announcements about the weather and the delay it caused in returning to Charleston, asking guests to use extra precaution while walking around the ship.” Additionally, “some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made, but guests and crew were safe.”

The ship’s medical staff did help a “small number” of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance following the storm. Despite the significant damage and a delay in schedule, Carnival Sunshine embarked on its next five-day Bahama sailing on Saturday.

From their sea-view room, Branham and Davis watched as waves surged over their window and braced themselves as the 892-foot-long ship lurched in the storm.

“Waves were hitting the boat so hard that it was like an earthquake experience, jarring you like a really rough roller coaster — even in the middle floor,” Branham said.

They were told to stay in their cabins. Meanwhile, Branham said, TVs were falling off walls, and glassware was sliding off shelves and shattering on the floor. “You could not stand up in your room,” he said. “You could be thrown from the bed.”

They packed up their belongings when their floor started to flood and took shelter in a main lobby area.

“All of the employees were sprinting downstairs with life vests,” Branham said. “There were little kids besides us screaming and crying and throwing fits.”

Throughout the storm, Branham wondered why there weren’t more announcements from Carnival staff. Besides the warning of rougher seas earlier Friday and one Saturday morning after they’d weathered the storm, Branham said they weren’t given any official updates on their situation. When he asked workers what was going on, they told him not to worry.

⁦⁦ @CarnivalCruise ⁩ #carnivalsunshine still 75mph winds at 9:25am. Sitting and spinning in the Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/NITCO2l9Ss — FlyersCaptain™®© (@flyerscaptain) May 29, 2023

“But you see rooms flooded, and you can pick up a handful of sand and you’re kind of like, ‘What in the world? Why is nobody telling us anything?’” Branham said.

Jim Walker, a maritime lawyer and cruise industry legal expert, says his firm has been contacted by some Carnival Sunshine passengers who were injured during the storm, including a man who says he was struck by a door and broke his foot. Others have asked him about the potential for a class-action lawsuit.

While Walker said passengers should make their complaints known to Carnival, he doesn’t believe filing a lawsuit would be an efficient next step. Instead, impacted passengers can ask Carnival for a refund or a credit for another cruise, although there’s no guarantee the cruise line will grant such requests.

Pete Peterson, owner of Storybook Cruises , which is affiliated with Cruise Planners, said cruise ships keep a close eye on weather developments and will adjust their itinerary depending on the severity of the storm.

“Cruise lines monitor the weather all the time. They’re not going to put their passengers in harm’s way,” said Peterson, who has been a cruise adviser for more than 20 years and has sailed on nearly 60 cruises. “Obviously, some cruise lines are better at doing this than others.”

In 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas returned to port after cruising into a “bomb cyclone,” which damaged the ship amid winds gusting to 100 mph. The ship sailed into the remnants of Hurricane Hermine seven months later, causing additional problems.

To ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, a cruise ship can alter its course and circumvent the rough weather system. In stormy conditions, the crew can deploy the stabilizers, which will prevent the ship from rolling and bucking.

“You don’t experience the up and down,” Peterson said. “It’s not as rough a ride.”

Both approaches can add to a cruise line’s expenditures, Peterson said. Stabilizers slow the vessel, thereby consuming more fuel. Sailing around the storm can take longer than the original route and disrupt the company’s cruise schedule, leading to delays or cancellations. The cruise line may have to reimburse passengers or provide them with future credits because of the inconvenience.

“When they do something like that, it’s going to cost them money,” Peterson said.

Craig Setzer , a meteorologist and hurricane preparedness specialist, said that even with the hurricane-like conditions and flooding, “I would never be in doubt of the vessel’s integrity,” he said. “Cruise ships are structurally very, very sound and can survive a lot. They’re really rugged.”

Matthew Cappucci contributed to this report.

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

  • All content
  • Rural Alaska
  • Crime & Courts
  • Alaska Legislature
  • ADN Politics Podcast
  • National Opinions
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Nation/World
  • Film and TV
  • Outdoors/Adventure
  • High School Sports
  • UAA Athletics
  • Food and Drink
  • Visual Stories
  • Alaska Journal of Commerce (Opens in new window)
  • The Arctic Sounder
  • The Bristol Bay Times
  • Legal Notices (Opens in new window)
  • Peak 2 Peak Events (Opens in new window)
  • Educator of the Year (Opens in new window)
  • Celebrating Nurses (Opens in new window)
  • Top 40 Under 40 (Opens in new window)
  • Alaska Spelling Bee (Opens in new window)
  • Alaska Craft Brew Festival
  • Best of Alaska
  • Spring Career Fair (Opens in new window)
  • Achievement in Business
  • Youth Summit Awards
  • Craft Brew Fest Giveaway
  • Teacher of the Month
  • 2024 Alaska Summer Camps Guide (Opens in new window)
  • Alaska Visitors Guide 2023 (Opens in new window)
  • 2023 Best of Alaska (Opens in new window)
  • Alaska Health Care (Opens in new window)
  • Merry Merchant Munch (Opens in new window)
  • On the Move AK (Opens in new window)
  • Senior Living in Alaska (Opens in new window)
  • Youth Summit Awards (Opens in new window)
  • Alaska Visitors Guide
  • ADN Store (Opens in new window)
  • Classifieds (Opens in new window)
  • Jobs (Opens in new window)
  • Place an Ad (Opens in new window)
  • Customer Service
  • Sponsored Content
  • Real Estate/Open Houses (Opens in new window)

Passengers and crew evacuated from small cruise ship in Alaska’s Glacier Bay after fire breaks out

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

The cruise ship Sapphire Princess and the vessel Wilderness Discoverer in Glacier Bay National Park on Monday after a fire was reported on the smaller vessel. (U.S Coast Guard photo via Facebook)

Nearly 70 people were evacuated from a small cruise ship in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park after a fire Monday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

There were no reports of injuries.

Crew members on the 178-foot vessel Wilderness Discoverer reported a fire at 7:30 a.m., the Coast Guard said in a statement. The boat is owned by UnCruise Adventures, a small-ship cruise company based in Juneau with itineraries in Southeast Alaska.

The 51 passengers and 16 crew members aboard the Wilderness Discoverer were “safely disembarked aboard the cruise ship Sapphire Princess,” a much larger cruise ship that was in the area, the Coast Guard said. Tender boats were used to ferry passengers from the smaller ship to the Sapphire Princess, a far larger ship that can carry 3,670 passengers and crew.

The two boats were in the west arm of Glacier Bay, transiting the main channel, UnCruise owner Dan Blanchard said by phone Monday. The busy area sees frequent boat traffic.

The fire was likely caused by a generator and was extinguished by an onboard fire suppression system, Blanchard said. Evacuated passengers will get off the larger cruise ship and go back to Juneau on Monday night, he said. A skeleton crew of Wilderness Discoverer staff remained onboard to be with the boat

The damaged vessel will be towed to Ketchikan, the Coast Guard said.

Blanchard said his crew handled the fire smoothly.

“I’m super happy about the response of the crew; you respond the way you are trained,” he said. “They just did the right things.”

A separate and unrelated helicopter medevac of a passenger on the Sapphire Princess cruise ship was underway by the Coast Guard Monday afternoon, according to Petty Officer Third Class Ian Gray.

Michelle Theriault Boots

Michelle Theriault Boots is a longtime reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She focuses on in-depth stories about the intersection of public policy and Alaskans' lives. Before joining the ADN in 2012, she worked at daily newspapers up and down the West Coast and earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon.

Video shows British forces rescuing 347 people from cruise ship after it caught fire off Falkland Islands

British forces 'prevented a human tragedy' when they helped rescue 347 passengers and crew from a French cruise ship off the Falkland Islands yesterday

Article content

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

  • Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay, Rex Murphy and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
  • Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
  • National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
  • Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
  • Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

  • Access articles from across Canada with one account.
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
  • Enjoy additional articles per month.
  • Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Don't have an account? Create Account

British forces “prevented a human tragedy” when they helped rescue 347 passengers and crew from a French cruise ship that suffered a major engine room fire off the Falkland Islands.

The 10,000 tonne Le Boreal cruise ship sent out a distress signal Wednesday morning after it lost power because of the fire. The vessel was at risk of running aground on Cape Dolphin, East Falkland, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

British forces based in the Falkland Islands scrambled four helicopters to winch 79 people from the deck of the drifting cruise ship and from two life rafts in the water. They received clothing, food and medical attention at the British forces base at Mount Pleasant.

The Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Clyde was dispatched to the scene to help two other life rafts reach safety with more than 200 people on board.

“We responded with everything we had yesterday to assist in what was an extremely complex and hazardous rescue operation in difficult conditions,” Commander of British Forces South Atlantic Islands Darren Bone said in a statement. “This was a huge team effort involving close liaison with the Falkland Islands Government and I am enormously impressed with the reaction by all the British forces involved, it was an exemplary performance all round.”

All 347 passengers and crew survived the rescue mission. The cruise ship is “in a stable condition” and is being assessed for damage.

“This successful rescue … demonstrates how our Armed Forces are always ready to help those in peril,” Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in a statement. “The swift action taken by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force crews, working with civilian counterparts, saved many lives and prevented this developing into a human tragedy.”

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings .

Amy Hamm: Wokeness is no match for Sydney Sweeney's undeniable beauty

Companies at heart of arrivecan scandal received more than $100m in government contracts, some canadians are choosing to live in a yurt due to housing crisis, rahim mohamed: liberals cave to angry mob, restore unrwa funding.

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

'You broke my heart': Read Selina Robinson's resignation letter to the B.C. NDP caucus

The best online deals in the canadian retail space right now.

Good American, Revolve and HP to name a few

The absolute best leggings for any activity

Whether you're running a marathon or just running errands, these are the best options for comfort and support

Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Oscar Best Picture nominees and where to stream in Canada

From Barbie to Oppenheimer, here's all the Best Picture nominees to stream before the Oscars on Sunday

what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

5 pearl finds that will have you rethinking the classic jewelry gemstone

They're back! These jewelry finds prove that pearls are for everyone.

The latest in healthy chocolate from a leading Canadian female founder

Suzie Yorke introduces new products to FourX Better Chocolates, a line of high-quality, vitamin-infused treats

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

IMAGES

  1. Carnival Cruise ship catches fire in Turks and Caicos

    what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

  2. Carnival Freedom Fire: Part of cruise ship catches fire while docked at

    what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

  3. Fire breaks out on Carnival Freedom cruise ship's funnel

    what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

  4. Carnival Cruise ship catches fire in Turks and Caicos

    what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

  5. Cruise ship smokestack catches fire in Turks & Caicos

    what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

  6. Fire-damaged cruise ship faces six weeks of repairs

    what cruise ship caught on fire yesterday

VIDEO

  1. the ship caught fire #ship #omatma #caught

  2. CARNIVAL JUBILEE LATEST NEWS, KYNDALL FIRE WAS LIVE W FUN SQUAD YESTERDAY AS SHIP LEFT GERMANY

  3. Classic Opie & Anthony: Carnival Cruise Ship Fire (02/14/13, 02/15/13)

  4. The US cruise ship caught fire and was sunk by Russia while passing through the Black Sea, Arma

  5. Learning more about cargo ship that caught fire at Port Newark

COMMENTS

  1. Carnival cruise ship that set sail from Florida catches fire in Grand

    A Carnival cruise ship that set sail from Port Canaveral in Florida caught fire on Thursday. The Carnival Freedom ship was in Grand Turk on a five-day cruise when a fire inside the ships funnel ...

  2. Carnival cruise ship catches fire in Grand Turk

    May 26, 2022, 8:32 AM PDT. By Marlene Lenthang. A Carnival cruise ship caught fire as it was docked in Grand Turk on Thursday morning, officials said. The fire, which broke out in the Carnival ...

  3. Video shows scary moments after a cruise ship caught fire

    By Ree Hines. Passengers aboard a cruise ship docked in Grand Turk Island got a surprise that wasn't on the itinerary Thursday. As photos and video taken aboard the Carnival Freedom illustrate ...

  4. Carnival Cruise Ship Catches Fire During Visit to Turks and Caicos Islands

    A Carnival Cruise Line ship caught fire Thursday morning during a visit to the Turks and Caicos islands, the company has confirmed. In a statement shared online at 8:45 a.m. ET, Carnival Cruise Line verified that a fire broke out in the funnel of its Carnival Freedom ship while it was in Grand Turk. The company says its "emergency response team ...

  5. 'That Is Wild': Carnival Cruise Ship Catches Fire While Docked in Grand

    A cruise ship's funnel caught on fire while docked in Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos, on May 26.Video recorded by Jeremy Faulkner Jr, who was on an adjacent cruise ship, shows a fire burning off the side of the Carnival Freedom ship's funnel. The fire blazes, producing a thick cloud of smoke as people watch on from the neighboring deck."We were eating on the Carnival Mardi Gras and ...

  6. Carnival Cruise ship catches fire in Turks and Caicos

    The cruise line confirmed that a part of Carnival Freedom caught fire after the ship docked at Grand Turk. "Carnival Freedom's emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire ...

  7. Carnival Freedom cruise ship fire: Passengers safe after smokestack

    Guests and crew aboard Carnival Cruise ship that caught fire in Turks & Caicos safe, company says Friday, May 27, 2022 No one was injured during the incident in Grand Turk, the company said.

  8. Carnival cruise ship catches fire

    OK. A Carnival cruise ship that set sail from Port Canaveral in Florida caught fire on Thursday. The Carnival Freedom ship was in Grand Turk on a five-day cruise when a fire inside the ships funnel started, according to a press release from Carnival. Carnival says the fire was quickly extinguished by emergency response teams, and that all ...

  9. Carnival Freedom cruise ship seen on fire at Grand Turk

    CARNIVAL CEO ARNOLD DONALD STEPPING DOWN AUG. 1. In the video, one passenger onboard another ship docked in the Grand Turk port can be heard saying, "Oh my God, that is wild!" A crowd had gathered ...

  10. Passengers arrive safely to Port Canaveral after Carnival Cruise ship

    Pamela Mullen recalls the moment the ship caught fire. "I think that was the scariest bit, that the banging on the door was so loud, so ferocious, so obviously we got up," said Mullen ...

  11. Latest Updates After Fire Breaks Out on Carnival Cruise Ship

    UPDATE 18:39 EST: Following the fire that broke out on Thursday morning, Carnival Cruise Line has canceled the current Carnival Freedom cruise. All guests will be transferred to the Carnival ...

  12. Ship that caught fire cruising again

    The cruise ship that caught fire last month is back on the high seas. Carnival Cruise Line announced the Carnival Freedom started hosting vacationers again on Saturday when it departed Port Canaveral.

  13. Carnival cruise ship passengers return to Port Canaveral after ship

    Passengers of a Carnival cruise ship that caught fire last week returned Monday to Port Canaveral on a different ship. The Carnival Freedom was docked Thursd...

  14. Fire on small cruise ship in Alaska forces evacuation of 67 ...

    A fire on a small cruise ship in Alaska forced 67 people aboard to evacuate Monday, according to the US Coast Guard. A total of 51 passengers and 16 crew members on the 178-foot expedition vessel ...

  15. Passengers, crew disembark cruise after ship fire

    0:04. 1:40. Passengers and crew members were evacuated from a cruise ship sailing in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park because of a fire on board earlier this week. After a "fire incident ...

  16. Engine Room Fire on UnCruise Aventures' Wilderness ...

    A small (178 foot) expedition cruise ship sailing in Glacier Bay National Park caught on fire yesterday morning. The engine room fire required the Wilderness Discoverer to evacuate fifty-one guests and sixteen crew members.. UnCruise Adventures, which operates the ship, said there were no injuries from the fire.

  17. Carnival cruise ship that departed from Port Canaveral catches fire

    A Carnival cruise ship that set sail from Port Canaveral in Florida caught fire on Thursday. Carnival says the fire was quickly extinguished by emergency response teams, and that all guests and crew are safe. The ship's guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore. Carnival is continuing to assess the situation.

  18. Carnival Sunshine passengers recount 'nightmare' cruise as ship floods

    May 30, 2023 at 4:40 p.m. EDT. Videos showed high waves and large whitecaps rocking the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine as it returned to port in Charleston, S.C., on Saturday. (Brad Morrell ...

  19. Passengers and crew evacuated from small cruise ship in Alaska's

    Nearly 70 people were evacuated from a small cruise ship in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park after a fire Monday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard said. There were no reports of injuries.

  20. Video shows British forces rescuing 347 people from cruise ship after

    British forces "prevented a human tragedy" when they helped rescue 347 passengers and crew from a French cruise ship that suffered a major engine room fire off the Falkland Islands.

  21. Fire breaks out on P&O Cruises, hundreds evacuated

    NCA NewsWire. Hundreds of people on board a cruise ship have been forced to evacuate from their rooms after a fire broke out on board. The blaze was detected on a balcony of P&O Cruise's Pacific ...

  22. Carnival Cruise ship catches fire while docked in Grand Turk

    A Carnival Cruise vessel that departed from Florida earlier this week caught on fire while being docked at Grand Turk.

  23. Fires

    Posted in Fires. A fire broke out on the Viking Orion cruise ship yesterday morning. Approximately 600 people on board were reportedly evacuated from the cruise ship around 8:10 a.m. Crew members quickly extinguished he fire which impacted three cabins. Photos of the cruise ship showed black smoke billowing out of one of the ship's windows.