Aegean Majesty accidents and incidents

06 November 2020Ship Grounding

On November 6, 2020, due to stormy winds, the cruise ship Aegean Majesty run aground on a sand bar at Port Korinthos (Corinth, Greece).

The accident occurred at ~4:30 AM (UTC) after the berthed vessel broke off its moorings. Then it slowly drifted and run aground in Corinth Harbour, approx 50 m (170 ft) away from the dock. On November 7, the liner was refloated and anchored in the harbour. No water ingress or hull damages were reported.

MS Aegean Majesty remained docked at Port Korinthos since October 15.

April 2020Other Incidents

(MS Veendam/crew repatriation) In mid-April 2020, Carnival Corporation developed a repatriation plan using 8 cruise liners from 3 of its brands - Princess Cruises (ships Caribbean, Crown, Island, Regal), HAL-Holland America Line (ships Veendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam) and Seabourn Cruises (ship Quest) to bring crew back home. The planned relocations (announced on April 18) included:

Caribbean Princess repositioning from The Bahamas to repatriate staff-crew to countries in the Caribbean and South America.

(two Transatlantic crossings) Regal Princess repositioning from Bimini Islands (Bahamas) to Europe (Southampton UK and Rotterdam Holland) to repatriate all European staff-crew. Crown Princess repositioning from Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA) to Asia and South Africa to repatriate all Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.

(Panama Canal transit) Island Princess repositioning from Fort Lauderdale to Asia to repatriate Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.

(three Panama Canal transitions) The 3 HAL ships (anchored near Great Harbour Cay Bahamas) - Nieuw Amsterdam, Veendam and Volendam - reposition to Asia to repatriate all HAL's Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.

(Transatlantic crossing) Seabourn Quest repositioning from Speightstown (aka Little Bristol, Barbados) to Europe, also carrying staff-crew from Seabourn Odyssey (also being anchored near Speightstown).

09 November 2019Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Veendam) On November 9, 2019, the liner temporarily lost power and started drifting off George Town (Grand Cayman Island). The ship was assisted by a tugboat to avoid grounding on the coral reef.

The accident occurred during 7-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary Nov 6-13) roundtrip from homeport Fort Lauderdale and visiting Key West FL, Grand Cayman (port stay in George Town 8 am - 5 pm), Jamaica (Ocho Rios) and Bahamas (Half Moon Cay).

26 April 2018Coast Guard Medevacs

(MS Veendam) On April 26, 2018, a 65-year-old female passenger (suffering from severe leg pain) was medevaced by USCG helicopter team dispatched from Coast Guard Base Charleston to the ship located approx 50 ml (80 km) from Charleston SC. The woman was airlifted and together with a crew nurse were flown to MUSC Health (Charleston).

The incident occurred at the beginning of 10-day USA to Canada repositioning cruise (itinerary April 25 - May 5) from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Montreal (Quebec). The liner was en-route to Boston MA, with next call ports Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City.

19 January 2017Crew / Passenger Crimes

(MS Veendam/sexual) On January 19, 2017, when the ship docked in homeport Fort Lauderdale Florida, a 26-year-old male crew was arrested (by Broward County Sheriff’s office) and charged with “engaging in lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor” (where the victim’s age is between 12 and 16).

The man (Gede Sukrantara, of Indonesian origin) worked on the ship as a waiter. He allegedly convinced a 15-year-old female passenger to go on Deck 12 (Sports Deck) into a bathroom. There, he locked the bathroom’s door and engaged the girl in oral sex. The incident was later reported by her to the ship’s security staff.

December 2015Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Veendam) In December 2015, CDC reported on the Christmas voyage Dec 20 to 27, a Norovirus outbreak infected 57 passengers (out of 1429, or 4%) and 10 crew (out of 588, or 1,7%). The ship was on 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise roundtrip from homeport San Diego CA to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta.

24 March 2015Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Veendam) On March 24, 2015, during 14-day Panama Canal transition cruise, diesel generator issues resulted in reduced speed and itinerary changes. Of the itinerary's pre-scheduled 6 call ports, the ship visited only 4 ports.

04 October 2014Structural and Technical Issues

(MS Veendam) On October 4, 2014, Holland America Line cancelled all three Canada itineraries (departures Sept 28, Oct 4 and Oct 11) allowing the vessel to enter drydock for repairs (a propeller issue).

February 2014Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Veendam) In February 2014, CDC reported on Caribbean voyage Feb 8 to 22, a Norovirus outbreak affected 114 passengers (out of 1273, or 9%) and 10 crew (out of 575, or 1,7%).

23 January 2014Coast Guard Medevacs

(MS Veendam) On January 23, 2014, a 69-year-old female passenger sustained serious injuries (head trauma and internal bleeding) after falling down a stairwell. She was medevaced by a USCG helicopter dispatched from San Diego CA. During the medical emergency evacuation, the ship was approx 150 ml / 240 km from California's coast.

03 January 2014Crew / Passenger Deaths

(MS Veendam/overboard) On January 3, 2014, an 88-year-old female passenger fell overboard while the ship was returning back to homeport San Diego CA from the Mexican Riviera. The woman’s body was found (floating in the sea face down) and recovered. The FBI boarded the ship to conduct ~3 hours of forensic investigation.

May 2013Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Veendam) April-May 2013, CDC reported on voyage Apr 13 to May 4, a Norovirus outbreak affected 60 passengers (out of 1237, or 4,9%) and 10 crew (out of 574, or 1,7%).

30 September 2012Crew / Passenger Deaths

(MS Veendam/overboard) On September 30, 2012, a 70-year-old female passenger was reported missing after the ship left call port Quebec City. The vessel was en-route to call port Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) on a Canada New England “Fall Foliage” cruise itinerary, also visiting Nova Scotia (Sydney and Halifax).

The Canadian police speculated the woman may have left the ship without being noticed by the security personnel. However, the woman was never found.

22 December 2011Ship Collision / Allision

(MS Veendam) On December 22, 2011, while in South America, the ship suffered minor damages on the superstructure after a collision with a container ship in homeport Buenos Aires Argentina.

The cargo vessel had a container swung out, which damaged a ~50 ft / 15 m long railing section on the cruise ship's Deck 12 and broke a window in the observation lounge “Crow’s Nest”.

Because of the incident, the cruise ship was anchored and stayed overnight waiting for the Argentinean authorities to inspect the damages. In the next call port Montevideo Uruguay, the ship stayed again overnight for repairs, refuelling and restocking. Next scheduled call port Puerto Madryn (Argentina) was dropped.

22 November 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

(MS Veendam) On November 22, 2011, a 61-year-old female passenger (of US origin) died after suffering from severe Gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhoea/ also a Norovirus symptom). The death was reported when the ship arrived in call port Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Other 80+ passengers (of all 1259) were reported suffering from Gastroenteritis.

19 August 2011Drug Smuggling

(MS Veendam/law news) On August 19, 2011, a 23-year-old male crew was charged with drug smuggling in Bermuda. The man (of Indonesian origin) was found guilty in conspiracy with others to smuggle ~340 gr of marijuana.

June 2008Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Veendam) In June 2008, CDC reported on itinerary June 13 to 20, a Norovirus outbreak affected 112 passengers (out of 1313, or 8,5%) and 12 crew (out of 556, or 2,2%).

07 February 2008Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Veendam) On February 7, 2008, during 14-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from homeport Tampa Florida, engine issues (oil overheating) resulted in reduced cruising speed. The incident caused late arrival in call port Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas USVI) and cancellation of all shore excursions there.

25 November 2007Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Veendam) On November 25, 2007, engine problems resulted in an itinerary change on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise from homeport Tampa Florida. Call ports Key West FL and Cozumel Mexico were dropped. In addition to its propulsion problems, the vessel also experienced issues with the vacuum toilets and running water system. On the next scheduled 14-day Southern Caribbean itinerary, the problems continued and the ship skipped call port San Juan Puerto Rico.

May 2006Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Veendam) April-May 2006, CDC reported on voyage April 22 to May 9, a Norovirus outbreak affected 67 passengers (out of 1214, or 5,5%) and 8 crew (out of 566, or 1,4%).

January 2005Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Veendam) In January 2005, CDC reported on Southern Caribbean voyage Jan 3 to 15, a Norovirus outbreak affected 70 passengers (out of 1236, or 5,7%) and 7 crew (out of 571, or 1,2%).

On the next scheduled cruise (itinerary Jan 15 to 29) an epidemic illness outbreak affected a total of 219 passengers (out of 1229, or 17,8%) and 36 crew (out of 584, or 6,2%).

October 2004Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

September-October 2004, CDC reported on voyage Sept 26 to Oct 14, a Norovirus outbreak affected 39 passengers (out of 1230, or 3,2%) and 2 crew (out of 557, or 0,4%). The ship was on 28-day Pacific Islands cruise roundtrip from homeport San Diego CA.

May 2004Propulsion / Power Loss

In May 2004, engine problems resulted in reduced cruising speed and itinerary changes. On two Alaskan consecutive itineraries (departures May 14 and 20, between Vancouver BC and Seward AK), call port College Fjord was dropped, while in all other call ports the stays were shortened.

May 2004Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

April-May 2004, CDC reported on the Alaskan voyage April 17 to May 7, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 91 passengers (out of 1238, or 7,4%) and 7 crew (out of 557, or 1,3%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins. The ship arrived in homeport Seattle WA on May 5 and was thoroughly sanitized.

13 November 2003Ship Collision / Allision

On November 13, 2003, the ship was docked in call port Cozumel Mexico, stern to stern with another cruise ship – MS Norwegian Wind (currently SuperStar Aquarius). At ~7:30 pm, a sudden gust of wind pushed MS Veendam into the NCL vessel.

The incident resulted in a minor damage for the HAL ship (window cleaning walkway was deformed). The NCL ship suffered superstructure damages – portside aft dent, buckled floor (Deck 7), crimped pipe (Deck 8), burst sprinkler line (Deck 8). No injuries were reported.

18 May 2003Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On May 18, 2003, a 51-year-old male passenger was reported missing and presumed fell overboard. The incident was discovered at disembarkation in homeport Vancouver (BC Canada).

03 October 2000Propulsion / Power Loss

On October 3, 2000, the vessel experienced power loss for ~3 hours, affecting its air-conditioning, lighting and water/toilet systems.