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What happens if you need to be medically evacuated from a cruise

The U.S. Coast Guard airlifted four passengers from three different cruise ships off the coast of California over the weekend using helicopters. The aircrews evacuated the Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises passengers over a 24-hour period that started Friday night because the travelers suffered from various ailments.

According to a Coast Guard news release , the passengers were all women. They included a 47-year-old who reportedly had a “progressive acute illness” aboard the Carnival Panorama ship; a 74-year-old who reportedly was having “stroke-like symptoms" on Majestic Princess; and another Majestic Princess passenger, 77, who reportedly experienced kidney failure. The fourth traveler, 84, was sailing on the Carnival Spirit and reportedly had symptoms related to a stroke.

Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli said he could not confirm any medical information and did not have any more to share. Princess did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

While major cruise lines' ships are equipped with medical facilities, there are limits to the health care they can offer on board.

Here’s what travelers need to know about coping with a health crisis while cruising:

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What happens if you get sick on a cruise ship?

Cruise ship medical facilities can treat a wide range of ailments, from earaches to heart attacks.

Dr. Joe Scott, senior director of fleet medical operations at cruise line operator Carnival Corp., told USA TODAY in February that its ships' facilities are generally set up like a typical emergency department. Scott oversees day-to-day operations for the company's North American brands, including Carnival, Princess and Holland America Line.

The facilities are staffed by doctors and nurses, and the company's bigger ships may also have medical administrators, paramedics and health care assistants. When a guest gets sick, Scott said, "There really isn't (anything) we can't treat, at least for the first few hours.”

Doctors on board can prescribe medications to be dispensed and taken while on the ship, and treat serious medical issues until passengers improve or as a stopgap measure until a passenger can be brought ashore, depending on the situation. For example, in the case of a heart attack, they can give patients thrombolytics – or "clot-busting drugs" – on board until they can get them to a cardiac catheterization lab, which the vessels do not have.

What is a medical evacuation on a cruise?

The way cruise ships get sick or injured passengers to shore depends largely on "the weather, the location and the assets available," Scott said.

If the ship is nearing a stop, they may wait until they get to a port. If not, they consider what is close by, or if the U.S. Coast Guard (or equivalent officials in other countries) are available to them, who can provide an evacuation by helicopter, or by boat if they are closer to shore.

Scott said they remove sick or injured passengers at ports most of the time, which is the "safest way to do it." Even if there aren’t medical facilities near a port, there may be an airstrip, which would allow the team to schedule a medevac aircraft to come meet the ship, according to Scott.

Do you have to pay for medical care on a cruise ship?

Many health insurance plans do not cover medical costs travelers incur at sea or in foreign countries, Scott said. Carnival Corp. requires passengers to pay for those services, and they can then submit the receipts to their insurance company.

He said he is "not aware" of any cruise line that accepts insurance in its medical facilities and highly recommended passengers purchase travel insurance, which he said is more likely to cover those bills.

Comprehensive travel insurance plans that cover the cost of travel as well as a variety of unforeseen circumstances can generally cost between 4% and 10% of the overall trip cost, according to Meghan Walch, Director of Product at InsureMyTrip.

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How much does it cost to be medically evacuated from a cruise ship?

Evacuations from a cruise ship are typically covered by the Coast Guard or similar entity, Walch said.

"Evacuation arranged and covered by the travel insurance typically comes into play once you are already hospitalized and need to be moved in order to get more appropriate care," she said in an email.

Scott said a medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, though the amount varies depending on the circumstances and where travelers are at the time.

Walch said travelers should read the details of a policy to find out what is and isn't covered.

"If an incident does occur where medical attention or an evacuation is needed, the traveler would want to get in touch with the emergency assistance provider associated with their policy," she said. That way, "the necessary care can be arranged once at port. ... Failure to notify the assistance provider could affect what is covered."

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

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An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

US Coast Guard Medevacs Patient from Disney Wonder Offshore Astoria, Oregon

On the evening of April 27, 2022, the Disney Wonder sailing on a 10-night Hawaiian cruise from Vancouver adjusted course to rendezvous with a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter for a medevac of a patient in need of further medical care.

According to an update from The Coast Guard to The Astorian , the man was in stable condition.

The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria air crew met up with the Disney Wonder 181 nautical miles offshore Astoria, Oregon . According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the patient reportedly was experiencing uncontrollable bleeding and was transferred to Life-Flight for further medical care in Portland, Oregon. Seattle’s KIRO 7 reported the patient was a 71-year old passenger with internal bleeding.

The following is video of the patient transfer from the crew area on the bow of the Disney Wonder to the rescue helicopter provided by Petty Officer 3rd Class Diolanda Caballero from U.S. Coast Guard District 13.

According to a report from a passenger onboard , the Disney Wonder changed course back towards the Astoria, Oregon coast after the lunch hour on Wednesday. Later in the evening, passengers were told the ship would instead attempt a patient transfer offshore. The patient transfer was completed by 8pm.

Disney Wonder rescue at sea @copyright Sandy Canetti 2022 @disneycruise @dclnews #disneywonder #disneycruiseline #rescueatsea pic.twitter.com/dlo4fPap6R — Sandy Canetti ?? (@SandyCanetti) April 28, 2022

The Disney Wonder then resumed course towards Hawaii.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the patient along with their family, and friends.

The Disney Wonder is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu, Hawai’i on May 2nd.

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9 Replies to “US Coast Guard Medevacs Patient from Disney Wonder Offshore Astoria, Oregon”

Semper Paratus! (Always Ready – U.S. Coast Guard motto).

The Wonder isn’t scheduled for Honolulu until May 5, at which time she’ll dock overnight and will have new passengers on May 6. I’m going on the May 6 Honolulu to Vancouver.

You’re going to LOVE IT. The servers that will take care of your rotational dinners are awesome! Get to know the manager Robert, he is exceptional. If I had to say one thing about our cruise last week on the Wonder, Outstanding! Lmk if your flying out of Vancouver. Disney unfortunately does not tell passengers flying out of Vancouver what they need to do when they get to the airport. It was #anxiety for many from the cruise who like us didn’t know.

What do you mean “what they need to do when they get to the airport”???

It lands in Honolulu first and then hits two other islands before returning to Honolulu on the 6th.

ON February 10th, DCL changed the port order .

The Astorian said it was a man yet KIRO said it was a woman. Is there a third media site we can find to break this tie? And maybe get an update on the passenger’s condition. Thanks. And, BTW, great job on this.

Before the pandemic, my husband and I were on a cruise in Europe, and off the coast of France they had to airlift a patient. His wife went first by harness and then he in the basket. It was a horrendous storm, choppy waters, winds. I was scared for them watching it…but I still filmed it. I know, my bad. Then days later, off the coast of Africa, another passenger was medivac’d but this time, right below our stateroom, onto a boat. It was definitely an unusual trip!

We were on the cruise & were told it was a female aged 71. A friend of mine was in lobby next morning when she heard crew telling the gentleman that she was stable & that they were arranging for him to be able to contact family

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Coast Guard saves overboard cruise passenger in ‘Thanksgiving miracle’

A 28-year-old man on a carnival cruise from new orleans spent a day floating in the gulf of mexico.

In a rescue United States Coast Guard officials are calling a “Thanksgiving miracle,” a helicopter crew saved a 28-year-old man Thursday night after he went overboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship and spent a day floating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Coast Guard officers in New Orleans received a call about a missing passenger from the Carnival Valor at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Coast Guard’s 8th District Public Affairs Office. A rescue swimmer on an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter secured him at 8:25 p.m. Thursday about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass. The man was last seen on the ship around 11 p.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard said, meaning he could have been treading water through the night into Thanksgiving.

“This is an exceptionally rare case,” Ryan Graves, a petty officer in public affairs with the 8th District, told The Washington Post. “It is really nothing short of a Thanksgiving miracle to be able to pick somebody up after that long in the water without any sort of flotation device.”

Graves said the man was in stable condition when he was rescued and was able to provide his name to the team aboard the helicopter. The Coast Guard transported him to emergency medical services waiting at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.

In its search, the Coast Guard also deployed a 45-foot response boat from Venice, La., and a fixed-wing airplane from Mobile, Ala. Commercial sailors on a bulk carrier told the Coast Guard they observed a man in the water, helping the helicopter crew locate him.

“We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome,” Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a news release. “It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watch standers, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety.”

“It is why we joined, really, is to do things like this,” Graves said. “On a holiday like this, it’s good to bring him back to his family.” Representatives for Carnival Cruise Line declined to provide details about what the passenger was doing before he went overboard but expressed their gratitude for the rescue.

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water,” Matt Lupoli, a spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line, said in an email. Chris Chiames, the chief communications officer, said in an email that cruise ship safety barriers are regulated by Coast Guard standards to prevent falls. “Guests should never ever climb up on the rails,” Chiames said. “The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers.”

A previous version of this story incorrectly said the Coast Guard received a call about a missing passenger Wednesday afternoon. It was Thursday.

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.

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Passenger Cruise Ship Information

To assist cruise ship passengers, the U.S. Department of Transportation is sharing information and resources provided by other Federal agencies

Consumer Assistance

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) requires operators of passenger vessels carrying 50 or more passengers from a U.S. port to be financially capable of reimbursing their customers if a cruise is cancelled. The FMC also requires proof of ability to pay claims arising out of passenger injuries or death for which the ship operator may be liable. If a cruise is cancelled or if there is an injury during the cruise, the consumer will have to initiate action on his or her own behalf against the cruise line.

The FMC reviews any problems or inquiries that passengers bring to its attention. The FMC's Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services (CADRS) will contact a cruise line on a passenger's behalf. However, the final resolution of such complaints or inquiries is a matter between the cruise line and the individual. The role of OCC essentially is to help ensure a quick and fair consideration of the issues involved.  Consumer complaints can be reported to the FMC by telephone at 202-523-5807. See FMC’s website for additional information .

Vessel Safety

The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for cruise ship safety . Although each cruise ship is subject to the vessel inspection laws of the country in which it is registered, as a condition of permitting the vessels to take on passengers at U.S. ports, the Coast Guard requires the ships to meet the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and other international regulations. Among other things, these regulations concern structural fire protection, firefighting and lifesaving equipment, watercraft integrity and stability, vessel control, navigation safety, crewing and crew competency, safety management and environmental protection. The Coast Guard conducts routine onboard inspections of cruise ships to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Cruise Line Incident Reports

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 prescribes security and safety requirements for most cruise ships that embark and disembark in the United States. The Act mandates that reports of criminal activity be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).   See the cruise line reports .

Criminal Activity Prevention and Response Guide (Security Guide)

Cruise ships are required by 46 USC 3507(c)(1) to have a security guide available for passengers. The security guides provide important information, such as a description of medical and security personnel designated on board to prevent and respond to criminal and medical situations; and law enforcement processes available with respect to criminal activity.

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A cruise ship passenger was rescued by the Coast Guard after hours in Gulf waters

Giulia Heyward

A Carnival cruise ship docked in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

A Carnival cruise ship docked in San Francisco, California.

A cruise ship passenger had been missing for hours before he was rescued from sea waters by the U.S. Coast Guard off of Louisiana's southeast coast on Thursday evening.

The passenger, who officials identified as a 28-year old man, was found about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, La., after he'd fallen overboard from a Carnival Valor cruise ship on Wednesday evening, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

However, cruise ship officials did not contact the Coast Guard New Orleans Sector to report the missing passenger until 2:30 p.m. local time on Thursday. Hours later, aircrew members of the Coast Guard rescued the passenger at 8:25 p.m. It was a crew aboard the bulk carrier vessel Crinis that had alerted Coast Guard members to the man's location after spotting a person in the water.

In footage released by the Coast Guard, the passenger is lifted from the dark waters and onto a helicopter operated by an aircrew. He was then transported to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport to receive emergency medical attention. The passenger was in stable condition as of Friday.

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"We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome," said Lt. Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator.

Footage from the rescue of the cruise ship passenger last night. Can also be downloaded here: https://t.co/xk0pBnVr1E pic.twitter.com/GK1IXCKlgx — USCG Heartland (@USCGHeartland) November 25, 2022

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"It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watchstanders, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety," Gross said. "If not for the alert crew aboard the motor vessel Crinis, this case could have had a much more difficult ending."

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A group of cruise ship passengers were stranded on an African island. What happened?

An American couple who endured traveling through seven countries in 48 hours to catch up to a cruise ship that left them at a previous port said they may not re-board the boat.

A 21-day dream cruise along the coast of Africa turned into an international ordeal for couple Jill and Jay Campbell and a group of six other passengers after they said they were left behind during a tour stop on an African island off the coast of Nigeria.

What happened to the cruise ship passengers?

Six Americans and two Australians were on a privately-run excursion on the island of Sao Tome on March 30 and were supposed to be back by 3 p.m. local time, according to the couple.

When they didn't make it back in time due to what they said were issues with the tour, their Norwegian Cruise Line ship left without them.

The Campbells, who are from Garden City, South Carolina, told NBC News their tour operator notified the cruise captain that they were going to be late rejoining the ship, but the vessel left anyway. They added that the island's coast guard tried to get them and several others to the cruise ship, but they said they weren't allowed to board.

The stranded guests made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, but the vessel could not safely dock there due to "adverse weather conditions," Norwegian said.

The couple then had to make their way from Sao Tome to Dakar, Senegal, where the cruise ship was docked on April 2.

“It’s one of those, ‘You can’t get there from here,’” Jay Campbell said on TODAY on April 2. “I think we flew through six countries just to get to Gambia yesterday.”

When will the passengers return home?

The couple traveled through seven countries in a 48-hour period to reach Senegal, according to Jill Campbell.

Following that ordeal, they said they aren’t sure if they’re going to board the ship again to rejoin the cruise.

“After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly,” Jill Campbell said.

“I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and that really the safety and the well-being of the customers should be their first priority, and that should be placed first," she said.

“We believe there was a basic duty of care that they’ve forgotten about so it does concern us.”

What has Norwegian cruises said?

Norwegian Cruise Line told NBC News in a statement that the Campbells’ situation was unfortunate, saying “guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time” and noting the group was on a privately-run tour.

The Campbells were thankful for the people of Sao Tome as they tried to navigate how they were going to catch up to the ship.

"It’s a very difficult process," Jay Campbell said. "You’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers.

"You’re dealing with different currencies, currency exchanges, finding someone that even has dollars, taking dollars, the minimum amount that we had, trying to convert them to local currency, (and) trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to."

Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here! ) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else. 

'No Sail Order' issued for Margaritaville cruise ship docked at Port of Palm Beach

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — All passengers have disembarked the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise cruise ship after the U.S. Coast Guard issued a "No Sail Order," according to the CEO of Margaritaville at Sea.

The order was issued on Wednesday.

The cruise ship was supposed to leave Port of Palm Beach to head to the Bahamas. However, passengers woke up Thursday morning still docked in Palm Beach, the Coast Guard told WPTV.

WATCH BELOW:

According to the U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Nicole Groll, the "No Sail Order" was issued due to the following:

Cruise ships operating in the U.S. are required under federal law to have a Certificate of Compliance exam every 6 months. During this ship’s annual exam, Port State Control officers identified conditions, which required the ship to stay in port until rectified due to the safety of the crew and passengers. The ship will not sail until the conditions are rectified.

The passengers disembarked some time Thursday afternoon, many of them disappointed with how the ordeal was handled.

"It’s very inconvenient. I feel like regardless of what happened, they could’ve had somebody else take us," said Alyse Scott, who traveled from Georgia. "One girl said she was going for her mother's funeral, and another couple was going to get married. It was just a lot of people on there crying, mad and upset."

One of the upset couples were Nikki Lloyd and her husband, Quincey, who were hoping to celebrate a birthday weekend and their seventh wedding anniversary.

"These are the times when our vacations mean more to us than anything else," said Lloyd, who traveled from South Carolina. "We are living in hard times right now. Between the pandemic, the economic crisis and all of the different situations we're going through in the world, vacation is something families value."

In a statement on Thursday, Margaritaville at Sea CEO Oneil Khosa told WPTV:

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise was not able to move forward with its planned departure on July 13. During a routine inspection, the United States Coast Guard identified some corrective actions that the cruise line is expeditiously undertaking and managing to ensure the safety of all crew members and guests. The cruise line’s shoreside and shipboard teams are working closely with the United States Coast Guard to quickly address the flagged items and continue sailing on schedule. We do not anticipate any additional impact to our planned itineraries. All guests have disembarked from the ship and have received compensation for the inconvenience.

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No sail order lifted for Margaritaville at Sea cruise ship

by Garrett Phillips

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The Margaritaville at Sea cruise ship has been cleared to set sail, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Passengers on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise ship were stuck at port after the ship was placed under a no sail order on Wednesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the ship received the no sail order after a recent examination of the ship came back with concerns regarding the conditions of the ship .

Federal law in the U.S. requires cruise ships operating in the country to pass a Certificate of Compliance exam every six months.

See also: Four lawmakers removed from congressional redistricting lawsuit

According to Petty Officer Nicole Groll, the order was given out of concern from the safety of the crew and passengers.

Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea, Oneil Khosa, released the following statement:

On July 13, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise was unable to move forward with its planned departure due to corrective action the United States Coast Guard flagged during a routine inspection. All guests were disembarked from the ship and received compensation for the inconvenience.

Margaritaville At Sea’s top priority is to ensure the safety of our guests and crew members. Our cruise line's shoreside and shipboard teams worked closely with the United States Coast Guard to expeditiously address the issue and were cleared for sailing this morning following an inspection of work completed.

For purpose of clarification, the ship’s certificate of compliance was temporarily suspended while work onboard was completed in the port, primarily related to the closure of automated doors. We cooperated fully and completed all necessary work to return to safe service and welcome guests back onboard under 48 hours.

Margaritaville at Sea is appreciative of our partnership with the USCG and their commitment to aiding and ensuring the safety of all guests and crew members.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise returns to its regular sailing schedule, departing from the Port of Palm Beach at 5 p.m. today.

Six presumed dead after cargo ship crash levels Baltimore bridge

BALTIMORE — A major Baltimore bridge collapsed like a house of cards early Tuesday after it was struck by a container ship, sending six people to their deaths in the dark waters below, and closing one of the country’s busiest ports.

By nightfall, the desperate search for six people who were working on the bridge and vanished when it fell apart had become a grim search for bodies.

“We do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,” Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon N. Gilreath said.

Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, said earlier that one of his workers had survived. He did not release their names.

Up until then, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore had held out hope that the missing people might be found even as law enforcement warned that the frigid water and the fact that there had been no sign of them since 1:30 a.m. when the ship struck Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Moore expressed heartbreak after officials suspended the search for survivors.

"Our heart goes out to the families," he said. "I can’t imagine how painful today has been for these families, how painful these hours have been have been for these families."

It was a crushing blow to the loved ones of the missing men, who had waited for hours at a Royal Farms convenience store near the entrance of the bridge for word of their fate. 

Follow live updates on the Baltimore bridge collapse

The tragic chain of events began early Tuesday when the cargo ship Dali notified authorities that it had lost power and issued a mayday moments before the 984-foot vessel slammed into a bridge support at a speed of 8 knots, which is about 9 mph.

Moore declared a state of emergency while rescue crews using sonar detected at least five vehicles in the frigid 50-foot-deep water: three passenger cars, a cement truck and another vehicle of some kind. Authorities do not believe anyone was inside the vehicles.

Investigators quickly concluded that it was an accident and not an act of terrorism.

Ship was involved in another collision

Earlier, two people were rescued from the water, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said. One was in good condition and refused treatment, he said. The other was seriously injured and was being treated in a trauma center.

Moore said other drivers might have been in the water had it not been for those who, upon hearing the mayday, blocked off the bridge and kept other vehicles from crossing.

“These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives.”

Nearly eight years ago, the Dali was involved in an accident. In July 2016, it struck a quay at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, damaging the quay.

The nautical commission investigated the accident, but the details of the inquiry were not immediately clear Tuesday.

The Dali is operated and managed by Synergy Group. In a statement, the company said that two port pilots were at the helm during Tuesday's crash and that all 22 crew members onboard were accounted for.

The Dali was chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, which said it would have no choice but to send its ships to other nearby ports with the Port of Baltimore closed.

The bridge, which is about a mile and a half long and carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of Baltimore, was "fully up to code," Moore said.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said that her agency will lead the investigation and that a data recorder on the ship could provide more information.

"But right now we're focusing on the people, on the families," she said. "The rest can wait."

President Joe Biden vowed to rebuild the bridge and send federal funds.

"This is going to take some time," the president warned. "The people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them, at every step of the way, till the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

Speaking in Baltimore, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed the president's promise.

"This is no ordinary bridge," he said. "This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure."

But Buttigieg warned that replacing the bridge and reopening the port will take time and money and that it could affect supply chains.

The Port of Baltimore, the 11th largest in the U.S., is the busiest port for car imports and exports, handling more than 750,000 vehicles in 2023 alone, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration.

Writer David Simon, a champion of Baltimore who set his TV crime drama "The Wire" on the streets of the city he once covered as a reporter, warned online that the people who will suffer the most are those whose livelihoods depend on the port.

"Thinking first of the people on the bridge," Simon posted on X . "But the mind wanders to a port city strangling. All the people who rely on ships in and out."

Timeline of crash

Dramatic video captured the moment at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday when the Dali struck a support and sent the bridge tumbling into the water. A livestream showed cars and trucks on the bridge just before the strike. The ship did not sink, and its lights remained on.

Investigators said in a timeline that the Dali's lights suddenly shut off four minutes earlier before they came back on and that then, at 1:25 a.m. dark black smoke began billowing from the ship's chimney.

A minute later, at 1:26 a.m., the ship appeared to turn. And in the minutes before it slammed into the support, the lights flickered again.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the workers on the bridge were repairing concrete ducts when the ship crashed into the structure.

At least seven workers were pouring concrete to fix potholes on the roadway on the bridge directly above where the ship hit, said James Krutzfeldt, a foreman.

Earlier, the Coast Guard said it had received a report that a “motor vessel made impact with the bridge” and confirmed it was the Dali, a containership sailing under a Singaporean flag that was heading for Sri Lanka.

Bobby Haines, who lives in Dundalk in Baltimore County, said he felt the impact of the bridge collapse from his house nearby.

"I woke up at 1:30 this morning and my house shook, and I was freaking out," he said. "I thought it was an earthquake, and to find out it was a bridge is really, really scary."

Families of bridge workers wait for updates

Earlier in the day, relatives of the construction crew waited for updates on their loved ones.

Marian Del Carmen Castellon told Telemundo her husband, Miguel Luna, 49, was working on the bridge.

“They only tell us that we have to wait and that they can’t give us information,” she said.

Castellon said she was "devastated, devastated because our heart is broken, because we don’t know how they have been rescued yet. We are just waiting for the news."

Luna's co-worker Jesús Campos said he felt crushed, too.

“It hurts my heart to see what is happening. We are human beings, and they are my folks,” he said.

Campos told The Baltimore Banner that the missing men are from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

Active search and rescue ends

The Coast Guard said it was suspending the active search-and-rescue effort at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"Coast Guard’s not going away, none of our partners are going away, but we’re just going to transition into a different phase," Gilreath said at a news conference.

Maryland State Police Superintendent Roland L. Butler, Jr., said it was moving to a recovery operation. Changing conditions have made it dangerous for divers, he said. 

Butler pledged to "do our very best to recover those six missing people," but the conditions are difficult.

"If we look at how challenging it is at a simple motor vehicle crash to extract an individual, I'm sure we can all imagine how much harder it is to do it in inclement weather, when it's cold, under the water, with very limited to no visibility," he said.

"There's a tremendous amount of debris in the water," which can include sharp metal and other hazards, and that could take time, Butler said.

'A long road in front of us'

Built in 1977 and referred to locally as the Key Bridge, the structure was later named after the author of the American national anthem.

The bridge is more than 8,500 feet long, or 1.6 miles. Its main section spans 1,200 feet, and it was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon its completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance .

About 31,000 vehicles a day use the bridge, which equals 11.3 million vehicles per year, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The river and the Port of Baltimore are both key to the shipping industry on the East Coast, generating more than $3.3 billion a year and directly employing more than 15,000 people.

Asked what people in Baltimore can expect going forward, the state's transportation secretary said it is too early to tell.

"Obviously we reached out to a number of engineering companies, so obviously we have a long road in front of us," Wiedefeld said.

Julia Jester reported from Baltimore, Patrick Smith from London, Corky Siemaszko from New York and Phil Helsel from Los Angeles.

Julia Jester is a producer for NBC News based in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

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USCGC Hamilton returns to homeport after 4 months at sea catching drug traffickers, rescuing migrants and mariners

Crews from Coast Guard cutters Hamilton (WMSL 753) and Munro (WMSL 755) conduct at-sea training in the Pacific Ocean, March 12, 2024. Hamilton returned to its homeport in Charleston, S.C., Friday, March 29. (Ray Corniel/U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton returned to its homeport in Charleston, S.C., last week after four months at sea.

The Hamilton, which arrived home Friday, was busy while deployed: The crew interdicted four vessels trafficking illicit narcotics, apprehended 10 suspected drug smugglers, rescued 47 migrants on an unsafe voyage at sea and assisted six mariners in distress.

The Hamilton patrolled in support of Homeland Security Task Force-Southeast’s Operation Vigilant Sentry and Joint Interagency Task Force-South’s counterdrug mission in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific.

Hamilton interdicted 7,448 pounds of marijuana from four drug trafficking ventures worth more than $7 million. In support of JIATF-S, Hamilton assisted Panamanian and Costa Rican partners with two additional interdictions for a combined 5,800 pounds of cocaine, worth approximately $76 million.

Among its rescue missions, Hamilton’s crew spotted a U.S.-flagged sailing vessel with three people aboard on Christmas Eve. Hamilton sent over a rescue and assistance team to help restore the boat’s engines, offer medical aid and provide an escort back to Florida.

“I am so proud of our crew’s flexibility, resiliency and superb execution of duty,” said Capt. Justin Carter, commanding officer of Hamilton. “We accomplished every task asked of us, whether countering drug smugglers, responding to unsafe migrant ventures, or aiding mariners at sea.”

Hamilton also conducted at-sea trainings with Coast Guard cutters Munro and Bear and an MH-65 helicopter crew from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron.

In January, the Hamilton arrived at the newly constructed Amador Cruise Terminal, in Panama City, Panama, to become the first U.S. government vessel to moor at the facility.

Hamilton is one of four 418-foot National Security Cutters (NSC) homeported in Charleston. NSCs are a worldwide deployable asset that supports Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and national objectives through drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, national defense, search and rescue, fisheries enforcement and national intelligence collection.

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• Coast Guard cutters Thetis, Reliance return to homeports after seizing drugs at sea
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Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were stranded on a small African island after missing a deadline to re-embark

• A couple says they were stranded on an island after missing their cruise ship's boarding time.
• They were on a tour of São Tomé and Príncipe with six others, per US local media. It overran.
• The stranded group flew to Gambia on Sunday, hoping to catch the ship at another port.

A couple says they were stranded on a small African island after they missed a cruise ship 's boarding deadline, according to local media.

Jay and Jill Campbell, from Garden City, South Carolina, described their ordeal with a Norwegian Cruise Line ship in an interview with WPDE, their local ABC affiliate.

Norwegian confirmed to Business Insider that they were denied boarding, saying it was their responsibility to be on time.

The Campbells said they were frequent cruisers, embarking on Norwegian Dawn on March 20 for their third voyage with the cruise line in a year.

However, an excursion last Wednesday with six other people to São Tomé and Príncipe , an island nation of some 220,000 people off West Africa, took an unfortunate turn.

The couple says the tour overran, and its operator informed the captain that eight passengers were running late.

They were refused entry to the ship upon their return, according to WPDE, even though they could still see the ship from the shore.

The ship was anchored, Jay Campbell said, but the captain refused to let them board despite repeated calls and emails by the passengers to the ship and the cruise line's emergency hotline.

The São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard even took the passengers to the ship, but they weren't able to get on and had to turn back, WPDE reported.

In total, WPDE said that nine passengers were not allowed to reenter the ship, including four elderly people and one person who is a paraplegic.

The Campbells told the news outlet that the ninth passenger was late for another reason — an 80-year-old woman who got a concussion on the island and was hospitalized there.

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Most of the stranded passengers didn't have their medication or working credit cards, WPDE said.

The Campbells, who had a working card, said they covered $5,000 worth of expenses for the group in food, toiletries, and hotel bills.

"We have never had an experience like this before," Jill Campbell told WPDE.

The Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement provided to BI by email that eight guests on the tour missed the last tender back to the vessel.

The cruise line said the passengers missed the "all aboard time of 3 p.m. local time." It said it was a "very unfortunate situation" but that passengers were responsible for being on time.

It added that the deadline to return was "communicated broadly" over the ship's intercom, in printed communications, and on posts shown at the exits of the ship.

The elderly passenger who was concussed was returned to the US, where she has made a "safe return," a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said.

According to WPDE, the group flew to Gambia on Sunday, hoping to rejoin the ship at another port.

A spokesperson for the cruise line said that the ship could not safely dock in Gambia due to adverse weather conditions, adding that efforts are being made for the guests to rejoin the ship in Senegal on Tuesday.

Though cruise ships need to stay punctual, ruined-vacation stories like this are a reputational risk and might put people off.

For instance, two MSC Splendida passengers were stranded last summer at an Italian port after arriving too late for departure.

A TikTok video showed the couple waving and begging the crew to wait for them, even though the gangway appeared to have already been removed.

Other passengers may face the stress of becoming stranded in remote locations through no fault of their own. Last September, more than 200 people got stuck in a remote part of Greenland after their cruise ship ran aground.

And last November, passengers were stranded at a Brisbane port after a Royal Caribbean ship was overbooked.

Watch: Stowaways survive 14 days at sea clinging to a ship rudder

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Recent projections, delegate tracker, recent election news, how these cruise passengers missed boarding, got stranded in africa.

Both Americans and Australians were left at port after an excursion ran long.

After what seemed like a dream trip, several American travelers were left stranded at port in West Africa mid-cruise while traveling from Cape Town, South Africa, to Barcelona, Spain.

Jay and Jill Campbell told ABC News Myrtle Beach affiliate WPDE that they were in the first week of a three week voyage aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines when they stopped just off the coast of West Africa.

The couple and others opted to tour the nearby island of São Tomé and Príncipe on the afternoon of March 27, and when the excursion ran late, they said they brought it to the guides' attention.

"We were like, 'our time is getting short,'" Jay Campbell recalled, at which point he said the guide let them know, "'No problem we can get you back in an hour.'"

Upon their return, the passengers said cruise officials refused to let them aboard the ship, even as the local Coast Guard had ferried the group to the anchored vessel.

"The harbormaster tried to call the ship. The captain refused the call. We sent emails to NCL the customer service emergency number," Jay Campbell said. "They said the only way for us to get in touch with the ship is via email. They're not responding to our emails."

The Campbells say they were left stranded along with four other Americans and two Australians -- of whom one is a paraplegic, one has a heart condition and one is pregnant. Some did not have credit cards or medication that was left on board.

Cruise expert Stewart Chiron, known as The Cruise Guy, told ABC News that "the bottom line was, they were hours late, the ship was ready to go."

MORE: Norwegian Cruise Line passengers claim Antarctica voyage was rerouted mid-trip

"More than likely that the anchor was already up, and the ship was already possibly moving," he said.

He continued, "Any operation at that point to get these passengers back on the ship would have caused tremendous delays, and safety would have been a major concern."

In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines said, "On the afternoon of March 27, 2024, while the ship was in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation, eight guests who were on the island on a private tour not organized through us missed the last tender back to the vessel, therefore not meeting the all aboard time of 3 p.m. local time."

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They continued, "While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship's intercom, in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel."

The spokesperson added that the passports for the passengers who did not return at the all aboard time "were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port, as per the regular protocol."

"Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed for the guests to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call," they said.

The Campbells said that their eight person group spent 15 hours traveling through six countries in an attempt to rejoin the Norwegian Dawn ship in Banjul, Gambia, on April 1. However, the ship couldn't dock due to low tide, so they are now trying to get to Senegal where the ship is meant to dock on Tuesday.

The Norwegian spokesperson said, "Unfortunately the ship was unable to safely dock in the destination due to adverse weather conditions, as well as tidal restrictions that require specific timing for safe passage. While we share in our guests' disappointment, this modification was made with great consideration for their safety and that of our crew, which is our top priority."

The cruise line contacted the guests "regarding this itinerary adjustment and provided them with authorization to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal on April 2, 2024."

In light of the "series of unfortunate events outside of our control," the spokesperson said Norwegian Cruise Lines "will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal" and are still in communication with the guests to provide additional information as it becomes available.

MORE: Meet the cruise couple who have spent over 450 days at sea so far

In a separate, unrelated situation that took place coincidentally on the same day of the voyage, the spokesperson said, "An 80-year-old woman was medically disembarked after being evaluated by our onboard medical team, who thought it best that she receive further assessment and treatment as needed from a local hospital."

"In instances such as these, as the guest was released from the hospital and in a coherent state, our protocol is to contact the guest directly, as we would not have the authority to share any medical details with anyone else without their expressed consent," the spokesperson added, saying they worked with the port agent to receive updates.

"The guest has since been escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, and then put in the care of airport staff to continue her journey to the United States, where she has now made a safe return," they said.

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