Carnival Fantasy accidents and incidents

July 2020Structural and Technical Issues

(scrapped) In mid-July 2020, the shipowner Carnival Corporation sold for scrap two liners - Carnival Fantasy (30-year-old) and Carnival Inspiration (24-year-old). In mid-August was sold for scrap Carnival Inspiration (25-year-old).

The doomed Fun Ships were last docked in Willemstad (Curacao Island) offloading heavy equipment and items of value. Followed 14-day Transatlantic crossings to Europe (Mediterranean) as the boats were heading to their graves at Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility (near Port Izmir, Turkey).

The fleet reduction decision (aimed to cut Carnival Corporation's operational costs) was based on both the Coronavirus impact on the ship cruising industry and the vessels' age. Large cruise ships have planned lifespan of around 30 years.

Carnival Fantasy left Curacao on July 14 and arrived in Aliaga on July 28. Carnival Inspiration departed Curacao on Jul 18 and arrived in Aliaga on August 1. Carnival Imagination left Curacao on August 27 and arrived in Aliaga on September 14.

Note: In mid-June 2020, Costa Victoria (operated by Costa Cruises) was also sold for scrap and dismantled at Port Piombino (Tuscany, Italy).

29 February 2020Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On February 29, 2020, due to crew medical emergency, the liner's departure from JAXPORT was delayed by ~2 hours. The ship left homeport at ~6:20 pm, instead of the scheduled 4:30 pm. Reportedly, a male crew was offloaded and ambulanced. Carnival Cruise Lines officially announced that the man was disembarked for a "routine medical observation", that the case was not related to Coronavirus and that he had not visited any Coronavirus-affected regions in the past 14 days.

The incident occurred at the beginning of 5-day Bahamas cruise (itinerary Feb 29 - March 5) roundtrip from homeport Jacksonville Florida to Nassau (New Providence Island) and Princess Cays (Eleuthera Island).

20 September 2019Ship Collision / Allision

In the evening on September 20, 2019, while passing through Panama Canal, the cruise liner collided with (contacted) the lock's wall and sustained aft superstructure damages (broken glass panels and handrails) on deck 9 (Serenity complex / adults-only) and deck 10 (Lido Restaurant's terrace).

No injuries were reported. The collision happened while the lock's water levels were being lowered. The vessel was not under its own power but assisted/tugged by the Panama Canal's locomotives.

The accident occurred during the 10-day Panama Canal cruise (itinerary Sept 16-26) roundtrip from homeport Mobile (Alabama USA) to Panama Canal (7 am - 7 pm), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Mahogany Bay (Roatan Island, Honduras) and Cozumel (Mexico).

Note: Actually, this type of marine accident is called “allision” (striking a fixed object) as opposed to “collision” (striking another vessel).

13 July 2019Other Incidents

Due to weather, the 5-day Western Caribbean cruise itinerary (July 13-18, roundtrip from Mobile Alabama to Mexico) was reduced to 4-days and Costa Maya (planned stay 1 - 9 pm on July 15) was skipped. The call at Cozumel remained as scheduled (July 16, 8 am - 4 pm) with 2 seadays (1 extra added).

As storms are acts of nature and the cruise company has no control over the weather, Carnival didn't fully refund customers that canceled the altered voyage. However, all cancelations received a 100% future Carnival cruise credit. All passengers on the shortened (5 to 4 day) cruise received as compensation 1-day pro-rated refund (of the cruise fare and of pre-purchased drink packages), 1-day adjustment to onboard gratuities and refund of pre-purchased shore excursions (along with taxes and port fees) for Costa Maya.

Note: Due to adverse weather, two US Caribbean seaports (NOLA New Orleans, and Mobile AL) were closed on July 13 and reopened in the morning on July 14. Both ports' operations were suspended for inbound and outbound commercial shipping traffic. On July 13, Carnival Fantasy was scheduled to return back to Port Mobile from a 5-day cruise to Mexico on July 13 and dock at 8 am. However, due to Tropical Storm Barry (Category 1 hurricane), the cruise liner arrived in Mobile on July 14, spending an extra seaday and affecting the next planned departure.

14 April 2019Boat Rescue

On April 14, 2019, while returning back to homeport, the liner had to change its course to help rescue a total of 23 Cuban refugees stranded on a boat. At ~7 am, ship's Captain announced to all cruise passengers that the vessel is answering a distress call received from the USCG about a fishing boat drifting approx 210 km (130 ml) off Yucatan Peninsula (southeastern Mexico).

The wooden boat was loaded with 22 Cuban nationals bound for Mexico. The disabled vessel was floating for 3 days before a fisherman came upon and they boarded his boat. The second vessel later malfunctioned too, and was drifting at sea for 3 days. Alerted by watchstanders, the Carnival ship conducted a search and rescue operation starting at ~12:50 am (April 14). The vessel was spotted at ~8:50 am and the liner arrived at the scene at ~10:50 am. The 23 boat passengers were embarked and transferred to Mobile AL's US Customs and Border Protection.

The incident occurred at the end of 4-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary April 11-15) roundtrip from homeport Mobile Alabama to Cozumel Mexico.

15 December 2018Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On December 15, 2018, a 22-year-old male passenger (autistic) was reported missing and presumed overboard while the liner was en-route from Mobile AL to Progreso (Mexico). All appropriate authorities were officially notified. The conducted search failed to find the body.

The young man (Renner) was part of a group of 9. The voyage was organized by Wishes4Me (non-profit organization assisting disabled adults). After reviewing a CCTV footage was confirmed that he climbed over a deck rail and jumped overboard. In a statement, his family said that he maybe mistakenly jumped off the ship, believing he was going swimming.

The incident occurred during 5-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary Dec 15-20) roundtrip from homeport Mobile Alabama to Mexico (Progreso and Cozumel).

October 2017Other Incidents

On October 27, 2018, the US weekly magazine Newsweek interviewed a married couple from Florida (Chris and Dana White, residents of Pensacola FL) who found a spy camera in their stateroom (category 6D oceanview cabin U160 on Upper Deck 6). The device (camera and transmitter) was pointed at the bed. The couple was traveling together with their 10-year-old son.

The reported incident occurred in October 2017, during 3-day Mexico cruise, roundtrip from homeport Mobile (Alabama). The recording device was hidden among the cabin TV's wires. Allegedly, the device was warm to the touch (supposedly working). They immediately called ship's security. The husband took a video of the employee (male security officer) who inspected the device, disconnected and disassembled it (without wearing gloves). Initially, a representative for Carnival Cruise Lines commented that it was not "camera". US Customs and Border Patrol was officially notified. After the voyage, the family notified the FBI.

To Newsweek's "Inside Edition" in October 2018 Carnival provided an official statement, according to which the company conducted a full investigation on the incident and found a “video transmitter”. However, the device was “not connected to an electrical source and not capable of recording". The transmitter was given to FBI for inspection.

18 August 2017Crew / Passenger Crimes

On August 18, 2017, the ship had to return back to homeport Mobile Alabama due to a medical emergency as the patient’s condition didn’t allow to be medevaced. The ship was on the 2nd day of the 4-day cruise (itinerary Aug 17-21) to Cozumel Mexico. Due to the incident, Cozumel was canceled and the remainder of the voyage was spent at sea.

As compensation, all passengers received a 50% refund (of the fare paid) plus 50% credit on future Carnival cruise. In addition, passengers who decided to disembark in Mobile AL received a full refund.

(law news) On October 1, 2018, US District Court in Mobile AL charged a female cruise passenger (Jenetrice Williams) with assault. During an altercation, the woman (from Birmingham AL) allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed her boyfriend (Michael Carter). According to the police, she knowingly brought a steak knife from home and kept it in her purse during the voyage. The woman purposely slashed at the man, causing cuts to his right leg and left hand. She was restrained by onboard security staff.

26 April 2017Other Incidents

On April 26, 2017, at ~7 pm, a Carnival Fantasy passenger spotted a man in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. According to the passenger, the man was wearing a red T-shirt and was face down in the water. The ship started a search and rescue operation in the area, approx 290 km / 180 mi from Pensacola Florida. After 2 hours, the ship suspended the search and called in the USCG.

The USCG deployed an EADS HC-144 Ocean Sentry (medium-range, twin-engine aircraft) to the location. After covering a total area of approx 1500 km2 / 580 ml2, the USCG search was suspended.

13 April 2017Propulsion / Power Loss

On April 13, 2017, due to propulsion problems affecting the ship’s max speed, the 4-day Cozumel Mexico cruise (itinerary April 13-17) from homeport Mobile Alabama was replaced with “Cruise to Nowhere”.

All booked passengers were given the option to cancel (with full refund) or stay on the ship and receive 50% refund (of the fare paid) plus USD 50 in onboard credit and 50% future Carnival cruise booking discount.

22 February 2016Propulsion / Power Loss

On February 22, 2016, due to a technical issue (resulting in slower cruising speeds), changes were made to the 4-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary Feb 22-26) from homeport Miami FL. The scheduled ports of call Cozumel Mexico and Key West Florida were replaced with Bahamas (Nassau and Freeport). The changed Mexican itinerary was also a themed cruise. It had planned live performances by the US actress Kathy Griffin (pre-scheduled for Feb 24) during the ship’s stop in Cozumel. However, this event was canceled, and all pre-purchased tickets were fully refunded.

As compensation, all passengers were given $50 in onboard credit plus 25% off future Carnival cruise booking discount. The propulsion issues started on the previous 2-day cruise to the Bahamas from Miami (itinerary Feb 20-22) when Nassau was replaced with Freeport.

16 July 2015Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On July 16, 2015, upon the ship’s arrival in homeport Charleston SC, a  41-year-old male passenger was arrested and charged with child pornography (3rd-degree “sexual exploitation of a minor”).

25 December 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

On December 25, 2010, while the ship was en-route to homeport Charleston SC from the Bahamas, a male passenger died of circulatory arrest (death from natural causes).

15 October 2011Structural and Technical Issues

On October 15, 2011, the ship’s SCC unit (speed control computer) malfunctioned and was replaced. After the unit's power supply replacement, the system continued to show insufficient power. The analysis showed that the new unit was causing the problem. The ship left Nassau Bahamas on 1 shaft. While en-route to homeport Charleston SC, a new power supply unit was installed and the system check of the SCC showed OK.

19 August 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

On August 19, 2011, a female passenger died from liver failure (death from natural causes).

26 July 2011Ship Collision / Allision

On July 26, 2011,  two Carnival cruise ships collided into each other in call port Key West Florida. The USCG investigation report said Carnival Imagination (already berthed) was hit by the Fantasy ship while maneuvering for mooring. The ships struck stern to stern and sustained minor hull damages. No injuries, pollution or structural damages were reported.

The ship’s navigation crew were mandatorily tested for drugs and alcohol. The incident happened when the Fantasy was on a 6-day Florida Bahamas cruise from Charleston SC, while the Imagination ship was on a 4-day Bahamas cruise from Miami FL.

12 June 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

On June 12, 2011, a male passenger died on the ship of a heart attack caused by a preexisting medical condition (death from natural causes).

30 August 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On August 30, 2010, while the ship was in The Bahamas, a female passenger died of cardiac arrest (death from natural causes).

16 July 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On July 16, 2010, while the ship was at the end of 5-day Bahamas cruise (returning to homeport Charleston SC), a male passenger died from Acute Myocardial Infarction /heart disease (death from natural causes).

14 December 2009Structural and Technical Issues

On December 14, 2009, in homeport Mobile Alabama, the ship failed to dock for passenger disembarkation (from a 4-night itinerary) and embarkation (for a 5-night itinerary). All booked on the next cruise passengers were allowed to cancel with 100% future Carnival cruise credit. The itinerary was changed – shortened from 5 to 4 nights, and Calica Mexico was skipped.

All passengers on the current cruise were 1-day prorated/refunded and received US$20 PP in onboard credit as compensation for Gov fees in Calica (Playa del Carmen, Mexico).

25 May 2009Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On May 25, 2009, an 18-year-old male passenger jumped overboard at ~10 pm. When the accident occurred, the ship was approx 150 ml / 240 km southwest of Tampa Florida and en-route from homeport NOLA New Orleans to Key West FL. The search and rescue operation failed to find the man’s body.

27 October 2008Ship Listing

On October 27, 2008, at ~10 pm, the ship experienced a heavy listing caused by a technical glitch. The vessel was in Mississippi River waters (after leaving NOLA New Orleans) and tugboat assistance was requested. The problem was fixed quickly and the ship continued towards Progreso Mexico.

23 July 2008Other Incidents

On July 23, 2008, a ship collision accident (an oil tanker hit a cargo barge) caused the closure of approx 47-ml / 75-km long stretch of the Mississippi River. Also closed was ship’s homeport NOLA (New Orleans). Since the closure went on for several days for cleaning, the current cruise ended in Mobile AL (instead of NOLA).

To all disembarking passengers, Carnival Cruise Lines provided bus transportation back to New Orleans (cruise port or airport). Next itinerary also departed from Mobile AL. The company provided complimentary bus transfers from New Orleans.