Carnival Imagination accidents and incidents

August 2020Structural and Technical Issues

(scrapped) In mid-August 2020, the shipowner Carnival Corporation sold for scrap the 1995-built Carnival Imagination (25-year-old at the time). In mid-July were sold for scrap the Fantasy-class vessels (sisterships) Carnival Fantasy (30-year-old) and Carnival Inspiration (24-years-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).

18 March 2020Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) On March 18, 2020, CDC informed Carnival Cruise Lines that a former Carnival Imagination passenger tested Coronavirus-positive after returning home. The man was on Carnival Imagination during voyage March 5-8. Carnival announced that during the cruise were not reported passengers with flu-like symptoms. On the cruise two of the crew were tested Influenza A-positive and immediately isolated (quarantined to their cabin).

During the following two cruises (March 8-12 and March 12-15) no passengers or crew have visited the ship's Infirmary for any flu-like illness. All itineraries were Baja Mexico cruises (3-4 days) roundtrip from homeport Long Beach CA.

01 July 2019Coast Guard Medevacs

On July 1, 2019, a 59-year-old male passenger (suffering a stroke) was medevaced from the liner en-route from Catalina Island (California) to Ensenada (Mexico). The ship contacted the CGAS San Diego (USCG Air Station San Diego) at ~6:30 pm requesting an emergency air evacuation. The USCG station dispatched a Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to meet the cruise vessel approx 70 km (45 ml) northwest of San Diego CA. The helicopter hoisted the man from the ship and flew him to La Jolla CA from where he was ambulanced to Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas.

The incident occurred during the 4-day Baja Mexico cruise (itinerary June 30 - July 4) roundtrip from homeport Long Beach (Los Angeles, California) to Santa Catalina Island and Ensenada.

24 October 2016Coast Guard Medevacs

On October 24, 2016, at ~ 2 am, an elderly female passenger was medevaced / airlifted by USCG helicopter (MH-60 Jayhawk) and flown to San Diego. The woman suffered from a head injury (had seizures) after falling. The ship was approx 60 ml (95 km) northwest of San Diego CA.

15 November 2015Ship Listing

On November 15, 2015, while operating on a 4-day Catalina-Ensenada cruise (itinerary Nov 15-19) from homeport Los Angeles (Long Beach), the ship experienced a 12-degree listing to both sides. The incident was caused by 30 ft / 9 m high waves and resulted in itinerary changes (call port Catalina Island CA was dropped). All outdoor decks were closed for passengers.

At the end of the voyage (Nov 18, while en-route to Long Beach), a pipe broke in the WaterWorks (Aqua Park area) on deck 11 and the water flooded the Lido buffet (Horizon restaurant) on deck 10 below. The restaurant was closed for ~14 hours for cleaning.

18 September 2015Coast Guard Medevacs

On September 18, 2015, a 24-year-old female passenger (suffering from appendicitis) was medevaced by a USCG helicopter (MH-60 Jayhawk) dispatched from San Diego CA. During the incident, the ship was approx 50 ml / 80 km southwest of Point Loma CA.

01 May 2012Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On May 1, 2012, while the ship was docked in Key West Florida, a male crew suffered injury (amputated right middle fingertip). The incident happened when he was cutting cabbage with a machine. When the ship docked in Nassau Bahamas, the injured crew (of Indonesian origin) was disembarked and transferred to a hospital. After being hospitalized for 8 days, he was sent home for 3 weeks.

28 September 2011Structural and Technical Issues

On September 28, 2011, while en route from Miami to Cozumel Mexico, the ship experienced mechanical problems. As a result, all toilets in staterooms located forward and midship were out of order. By the early evening, the problem was fixed.

26 July 2011Ship Collision / Allision

On July 26, 2011,  two Carnival cruise vessels collided into each other in Key West Florida. USCG investigation reported that the Imagination ship was already berthed when the maneuvering for mooring Carnival Fantasy hit it. The ships struck stern to stern and sustained only minor hull damages. No injuries or pollution were reported. The incident happened when Imagination was on a 4-day Bahamas cruise from Miami FL, while Fantasy was on a 6-day Florida Bahamas cruise from Charleston SC.

06 June 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

On June 6, 2011, a 32-year-old male passenger was reported missing after failing to board the ship in Nassau Bahamas. The man was last seen at ~2:30 pm, driving off on a hired Jet Ski at Cabbage Beach. The man disembarked the ship at ~10:45 am and was reported missing at 10.30 pm. Later, his jet ski was found off Nassau’s coast.

31 December 2010Coast Guard Medevacs

On December 31, 2010, a female passenger was medevaced after the ship's doctor suspected gastrointestinal bleeding. The woman lost consciousness for a short time and was experiencing chest tightness. She had a preexisting medical condition (stomach tumor), suffering from hypertension, and on medications (HCTZ / Hydrochlorothiazide – diuretic used to treat high blood pressure).

13 July 2010Fire Accident

On July 13, 2010, a fire broke out in the passenger lifts machinery room (elevators 16, 17 and 18). It was quickly extinguished with CO2-based extinguishers. The cause for the fire was the lift 17’s Harmonic Filter. The list of damaged units included the lift’s control equipment (wires, fire detection system, TV cables), plus 2 passenger and 1 crew lifts were left inoperational.

19 May 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On May 19, 2010, a male passenger died of cardiac arrest (death from natural causes).

28 March 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On March 28, 2010, while the ship was docked in Bahamas (Nassau, pier 20), a female passenger was found on the floor in her cabin. She was transported to the infirmary via stretcher and treated by the ship’s med staff. Later, the woman died of cardiac arrest (death from natural causes).

03 February 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On February 3, 2010, a male passenger died on a sponsored by Carnival parasailing tour in Cozumel, Mexico. According to a witness report, the man’s harness failed and he died dropping ~250 ft / 75 m to the water.

20 June 2007Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On June 20, 2007, a 57-year-old male crew was reported missing (after failing to show for work) and presumed fell overboard. The man (of Italian origin) was last seen on June 19. The ship was on a 5-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami to Jamaica (Ocho Rios) and Grand Cayman.

04 October 2006Propulsion / Power Loss

On October 4, 2006, propulsion system problems resulted in reduced speed and itinerary changes. The ship had to spend all 4 days in Bahamas (1 in Nassau and 3 in Freeport) instead of visiting Ocho Rios (Jamaica) and Grand Cayman. As compensation, all passengers received US$100 PP in onboard credit.

11 September 2006Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On September 11, 2006, a 35-year-old female passenger was reported missing after docking in homeport Miami FL. The ship returned from a 4-day Key West and Mexico itinerary. The woman was last seen on Sept 10, ~6 hours after the ship left call port Calica (Playa del Carmen).

21 June 2006Crew / Passenger Deaths

On June 21, 2006, a male crew was reported missing and presumed fell overboard after failing to report for duty. During the accident, the ship was on a 5-day itinerary and en-route to Grand Cayman from Miami. The conducted search operation didn’t find the body.

09 August 2005Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On August 9, 2005, at ~5 am, a 20-year-old female passenger jumped overboard. She was miraculously saved (found alive by another vessel around noon) and flown to Miami. The incident caused itinerary change (Jamaica was skipped) and all passengers received US$40 in onboard credit.

15 April 2005Propulsion / Power Loss

ON April 15, 2005, propulsion system malfunction resulted in reduced speed and major itinerary changes. Both ports of call (Grand Cayman and Jamaica) were dropped and replaced with Cozumel Mexico. All passengers received US$100 in onboard credit, plus 25% future Carnival cruise booking discount.