Carnival Conquest accidents and incidents

26 March 2024Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On March 29, 2024, when the ship docked at PortMiami, a 44-year-old male passenger was arrested and charged with "lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12". The crime occurred at ~9 pm (~01:00 UTC) on March 26th, while the ship was in international waters, en route from Florida to Mexico.

Reportedly, the man (Jason LeFavour, from Indianapolis, Indiana USA) grabbed with his hand the buttocks of a 13-year-old girl while he was walking past her. When interviewed by the Miami-Dade detectives he told them he had no recollection of the incident due to intoxication.

Miami-Dade Court records revealed that the man was released on a US$2500 bond.

The incident occurred at the beginning of the 4-day "Western Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary March 25-29, roundtrip from Miami, Florida USA) with call ports in Florida (Key West/Mar 26) and Mexico (Cozumel/Mar 27).

04 September 2023Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On September 4, 2023, after the ship returned to and docked at PortMiami, was discovered that a 26-year-old male passenger was missing. An extensive onboard search was prompted by his family (traveling together) but the man (Kevin McGrath, a US Army veteran, and father of two) was not located on the ship.

His sister disclosed that Kevin was part of a family group celebrating their father's 60th birthday on the cruise.

It was confirmed that he didn't leave the ship through standard debarkation (suggesting an overboard), as his mother had his identification documents, including his birth certificate and driving license. During the disembarkation in Miami, he was not detected by any of the ship's and the Port's CCTVs/surveillance cameras, including by the USBP's systems (US Customs and Border Protection).

Immediately, CCL-Carnival contacted the USCG, which launched a helicopter search in the waters off PortMiami and along South Florida's coast.

On the following day (September 5th), the Miami-Dade Police Department officially declared the man missing. On the same day, CCL issued a statement that Kevin McGrath was last seen in his cabin at 7 am (by his family members) on the debarkation day (September 4th) when Carnival Conquest arrived in PortMiami.

The incident occurred at the end of the 3-day "Bahamas Cruise" (itinerary Sept 1-4, roundtrip from Miami) that visited North Bimini.

May 2022Other Incidents

Following the funnel fire accident on Carnival Freedom at Grand Turk, on May 27, 2022, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line sent as a replacement ship Carnival Conquest to pick up Freedom's passengers in Grand Turk, arriving there on May 28th at 4 pm. Carnival Freedom was later sent to Grand Bahama Shipyard (in Freeport Bahamas) for repairs.

Due to the replacement, Carnival Conquest's 3-day "Bahamas Cruise" (roundtrip from Miami, itinerary May 27-30 with a planned visit to Nassau on May 29) was canceled.

September 2019Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In September 2019, CDC reported a minor Norovirus outbreak (GI illness) infecting a total of 17 passengers (out of 3241, or 0,52%) and 35 crew (out of 1158, or 3,02%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours.

The ship was on 7-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary Sept 7-14) roundtrip from homeport Miami Florida to Grand Cayman Island (George Town), Honduras (Roatan Island), Belize City, and Mexico (Cozumel).

27 December 2018Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On December 27, 2018, due to a reported sexual crime, ship's departure from call port Oranjestad (Aruba Island) was delayed for several hours. Cruise passengers reported a police van at the dock being loaded with bags of forensic evidence, and a security crew outside a stateroom. According to local media sources, a male passenger was arrested on the ship, charged with sexual assault and taken into custody in Oranjestad City.

The incident occurred during 8-day Southern Caribbean Christmas Cruise (itinerary Dec 22-30) roundtrip from homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) to Princess Cays (Bahamas), Grand Turk Island, Willemstad (Curacao Island) and Oranjestad (scheduled port stay 8 am - 4 pm).

13 December 2016Coast Guard Medevacs

On December 13, 2016, a 66-year-old female passenger (suffering from stroke symptoms) was medevaced while the ship was approx 27 ml (43 km) north of Cat Island (Bahamas). The USCG’s Air Station Clearwater dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to the area. The woman was hoisted (together with her husband and a crew nurse) and flown to Doctors Hospital (Nassau Bahamas).

08 January 2016Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On January 8, 2016, an 18-year-old male passenger (Joshua Morrison, from Kenova, West Virginia) sexually assaulted a 12-year-old female passenger (from Utah) during 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. The crime was publicized on July 12, 2018, when US Federal prosecutors filed a motion for a guilty plea hearing in Charleston WV.

The man was accused of coercing the minor girl to perform sexual acts. The alleged rape reportedly occurred on January 8. According to the complaint, being aware of her age, he instructed the girl to perform oral sex then forced her into intercourse that resulted in injuries. The alleged rape took place in a public bathroom. After the incident, he threatened her not to tell anyone. Her mother reported the crime in 2017. If convicted for "sexual abuse of a minor", the man faces a jail sentence up to 15 years.

15 April 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

On April 15, 2015, a 31-year-old male passenger died after 2 Jet Skis collided. The incident happened on Grand Cayman Island, at the Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa. The victim (from Virginia USA) and his 37-year-old girlfriend were thrown into the water when their Jet Ski collided with the one driven by a 15-year-old male passenger (from NYC New York). The boy was a passenger on Carnival Paradise (also docked in George Town).

20 April 2014Structural and Technical Issues

On April 20, 2014, one of the ship's lifeboats was damaged due to gangway-raising sensor failure. The gangway tunnel’s top hit the lifeboat portside below the waterline. The lifeboat was replaced with another. The damage was estimated at ~USD 10,000.

14 January 2014Crew / Passenger Crimes

(robbery) On January 14, 2014, while the ship was docked in Coxen Hole (Roatan, Honduras), a US family of 5 was robbed at gunpoint ashore. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. Jeff Smith, together with his wife and three daughters (aged 15, 14 and 8) suffered a masked gunman attack.

The man jumped out of bushes on a beach access road and started shooting at their rental car. The car was wrecked. After pursuing the family on foot, the gunman robbed them of their iPhones, camera, and cash, while pointing a gun at them. On the same day, another passenger had a shotgun pointed at a family on the sight-seeing guided tour.

20 October 2013Crew / Passenger Deaths

On October 20, 2013, a male crew died in an accident while the ship was docked in homeport NOLA New Orleans. The man was performing maintenance work and was crushed to death between a lift-platform and a lifeboat platform.

01 May 2012Crew / Passenger Deaths

On May 1, 2012, while the ship was docked in call port Cozumel Mexico. a staff member (Lido restaurant’s manager) was found dead in the pit of one of the elevators (on service deck 0). The ship was operating on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise from homeport NOLA New Orleans.

25 September 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On September 25, 2011, at ~6:30 pm, a 39-year-old male passenger jumped overboard while the ship was in the Gulf of Mexico. The man (Clint Wayne Markham, from Forney Texas) was reported by other passengers who saw him jumping overboard shortly after the ship left Cozumel Mexico.

The Captain informed local authorities and turned around the vessel for a search and rescue operation. The missing passenger was never found. Reportedly, the man was drunk and arguing with his girlfriend.

14 May 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

On May 14, 2011, the ship returned in homeport Galveston TX ~2 hours late due to a medical emergency. About 1,5 hours after leaving call port Cozumel, a male passenger suffered a heart attack and the vessel returned to port to offload the body.

21 February 2011Ship Collision / Allision

On February 21, 2011, loaded bunker-fuel barge (MGI 2720) came alongside the cruise ship. Both vessels were set by the water current and collided. No pollution or injuries were reported. Results were port-bow dents on both vessels.

23 January 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

On January 23, 2011, a 46-year-old male passenger died after suffering a heart attack on the ship (itinerary Jan 16-23). The man (traveling together with his family) started shaking and dropped to the floor unconscious. The called security performed CPR for ~10 min, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

22 October 2010Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(law news) On October 22, 2010, a 67-year-old former cruise passenger received USD 125,000 settlement in a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines. The woman sustained an injury in Grand Cayman while cruising in April. The incident occurred when passengers were boarding a tender boat to get to George Town dock. The boats were operated by another company. The woman fell upon exiting the boat and sustained an injury (fractured tibia), spending the rest of the voyage in a wheelchair.

24 June 2009Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On June 24, 2009, a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a male crew (working as a waiter at the Lido Buffet). The incident happened in the hallway when she was approaching her cabin. The crew made sexually suggestive comments, then grabbed her arm and attempted to pull her into one of the passenger lifts. In January 2010, her family filed a lawsuit.

24 May 2008Crew / Passenger Crimes

May 21, 2008, a 24-year-old male crew was arrested in Jamaica (at Bobsled Cafe, Montego Bay) for trying to buy cocaine. He was jailed overnight and bailed the next day for US$1000.

01 December 2007Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On December 1, 2007, when the ship docked in homeport NOLA New Orleans, a 77-year-old male passenger was reported missing. The search operation was ended after a suicide note was found, pointing out to a jump overboard.

13 June 2007Crew / Passenger Crimes

On June 13, 2007, on a sponsored by Carnival shore excursion in Jamaica, 17 passengers were visiting Lethe Estate when they were robbed by 2 gunmen. No physical injuries were reported.

04 November 2006Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On November 4, 2006, at ~11 pm, a 42-year -old male passenger jumped overboard from his cabin’s balcony. The ship (en-route back to homeport Galveston TX) turned and started search and rescue operation. It lasted for ~4 hours until the arrival of USCG assets in the area. The man’s body was never found.

18 November 2004Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On November 18, 2004, a 60-year-old male passenger (of German origin) jumped overboard committing suicide. During the accident, the ship was docked in call port Georgetown (Grand Cayman).

27 July 2003Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On July 27, 2003, a 16-year-old female passenger was raped by a 25-year-old male passenger while the ship was en-route to homeport NOLA New Orleans back from Cozumel Mexico.

11 May 2003Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On May 11, 2003, at ~ 1 am, a 35-year-old male passenger fell overboard from his cabin’s balcony on Deck 10. Initial searches were unsuccessful, but on May 14 his body was found.

December 2002Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

December 2002, CDC reported on voyage Dec 8 to 15, a major Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected a total of 224 passengers (out of 3154, or 7,1%) and 39 crew (out of 1184, or 3,3%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours. The ship was on 7-day Caribbean cruise from homeport NOLA New Orleans.