Carnival Paradise accidents and incidents

21 April 2024Boat Rescue

On April 21, 2024, at ~2:30 pm Cuba time (~18:30 UTC), while en route from Florida to Honduras, the ship discovered a drifting boat signaling for assistance. The ship turned around, stopped and rescued a total of 27 Cuban refugees.

The Cubans were taken aboard, provided with food and were medically examined by the Infirmary team. The respective maritime authorities in Florida (USCG Key West) and Honduras (Roatan) were notified.

The incident occurred in the beginning of the 5-day "Western Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary April 20-25, roundtrip from Tampa, Florida USA) visiting Roatan Island Mahogany Bay/Apr 22) and Mexico (Cozumel/Apr 23).

September 2022Other Incidents

Due to Hurricane Ian (September 19th-formed "Category 4" storm in the Caribbean that impacted the USA's Florida Peninsula), CCL canceled Carnival Paradise's September 29th departure from Florida (Tampa Bay). Two of Florida's homeports (Tampa Bay and JAXPORT/Jacksonville) were closed for maritime traffic, forcing cruise lines to reschedule and make itinerary changes. Carnival Elation's Sept 29th departure from Jacksonville was also canceled. Both ships had their current voyages extended, changing the itinerary's route to avoid the storm and staying at sea until their homeports reopened.

Carnival Paradise's canceled 4-day "Western Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary Sept 29 - Oct 3) was planned as a roundtrip from Tampa visiting Mexico's Cozumel.

Impacted bookings received a 100% refund plus 25% in FCC/future cruise credit.

19 August 2022Boat Rescue

On August 19, 2022, while en route from Florida to Mexico, the ship rescued 6x Cuban migrants on a makeshift raft adrift at sea. Reportedly, the refugees' "boat" was made out of furniture (with styrofoam attached to the sides for flotation), a piece of fabric was used as a sail and a pot lid as a paddle.

The Cubans were allowed to board the ship where they were provided with food, clothes, and a medical check-up. On Aug 20th, in Cozumel, they were offloaded and turned over to local authorities.

The incident occurred at the beginning of a 4-day "Western Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary Aug 18-22, roundtrip from Tampa Florida) visiting Cozumel (Mexico).

18 May 2019Boat Rescue

On May 18, 2019, the cruise liner rescued a male sailor from a stranded boat approx 21 km (13 ml) north of Cozumel Mexico. The small boat was disabled and sinking. The ship lowered a rescue boat to retrieve the Mexican man, who onboard was provided with medical treatment, water and food. Later, Mexican maritime authorities transferred the man to a ferry and took him ashore.

The incident occurred during 4-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary May 16-20) roundtrip from hhomeport Tampa Florida to Cozumel.

22 May 2018Crew / Passenger Deaths

On May 22, 2018, a 50-year-old male passenger was reported missing and fell overboard. The man (Brian Lamonds, from Greensboro NC) was traveling with his family. The ship was approx 85 ml (135 km) west of Fort Myers FL.

USCG Air Station Clearwater dispatched one MH-60 helicopter and one EADS HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft for the conducted search and rescue operation. The man's body was not found. The incident occurred during 5-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary May 21-26) roundtrip from Tampa to Key West and Cozumel.

September 2017Other Incidents

In September 2017, due to hurricane Irma, one 5-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary September 11-16) from Tampa to Grand Cayman and Cozumel was canceled. All bookings received full refunds. All booked shore excursions were fully refunded.

02 March 2017Propulsion / Power Loss

On March 2, 2017, due to a technical (propulsion) issue affecting the vessel’s max cruising speed, the following Tampa roundtrip cruise itineraries were changed: departure dates in 2017: March 13, 27, April 10, 24, May 8, 22, and June 5.

• In the modified itinerary, Grand Cayman Island was replaced with Costa Maya (Mexico) and Cozumel (Mexico).
• The scheduled Cozumel port stay time was extended (8 am - 8 pm).
• Costa Maya port stay's time remained as scheduled (7 am - 3 pm).
• Days 2 and 5 were sea days.
• As compensation, all booked passengers received USD 25 pp in onboard credit.
• All pre-purchased Grand Cayman tours/excursions were automatically refunded (to the onboard account).
• Pre-purchased Cozumel tours/excursions were automatically adjusted to the new port day.

Cruise company’s technicians made the necessary repairs while the ship was in service. 

28 April 2016Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On April 28, 2016, three cruise ship passengers sustained injuries in a buggy crash accident in Cozumel Mexico. During the shore excursion in El Cedral (Mayan Ruins site), at ~12:15 pm the buggy driver lost control and crashed in a tree hitting his head on the windshield. The other two passengers in the buggy sustained minor injuries (mostly bruises).

04 March 2014Boat Rescue

(Cuban refugees boat) On March 4, 2014, while en route from homeport Tampa to Grand Cayman on 5-day Mexico cruise, the ship received a distress call and altered the itinerary course in order to help a boat with 24x Cuban refugees (migrants) trying to get to the USA by sea. The refugees’ boat was stranded at sea for 5 days. After boarding the ship, Cubans were provided with cabins, food, water, and clothing. On the following day, they were all offloaded in the next port of call (George Town, Grand Cayman).

Note: Cruise ship operators have agreed to inform the USCG if they spot Cuban refugees in the open sea and to rescue them if needed.

Similar Carnival cruise ship incidents happened on Carnival Ecstasy (March 25, 2014, with 41 Cubans rescued), on Carnival Dream (May 7, 2014, 39 Cubans rescued), on Carnival Liberty (August 22, 2014, 11 Cubans rescued) and on Carnival Breeze (May 9, 2015, 25 Cubans rescued). All refugee boats were both unseaworthy and overcrowded.

19 August 2013Structural and Technical Issues

On August 19, 2013, while the ship was entering homeport Tampa, the starboard Azipod tripped offline.

01 October 2012Propulsion / Power Loss

On October 1, 2012, the ship partially lost propulsion while maneuvering for berthing in homeport Tampa Florida. The incident was caused by a malfunction in one of the Azipod units (starboard) which excitation breaker failed. It caused power loss to the unit and had to be reset. When leaving Port Tampa several hours later, the starboard Azipod’s excitation breaker tripped again and caused a second loss of propulsion. A faulty transceiver was replaced.

16 August 2010Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(overboard) On August 16, 2010, while the ship was in International waters, a female passenger jumped overboard from her cabin’s balcony (deck 11) falling down to deck 10’s main walkway (starboard). She sustained spine compression injury. When the ship docked in homeport Long Beach CA on Aug 17, the woman was disembarked and transported by an ambulance to a local hospital for advanced treatment.

Investigation showed that the woman had a male passenger in her cabin when she jumped from the balcony. The man stated they had an argument resulting in her becoming upset and jumping overboard. The woman provided written statement indicating she was threatened by the man.

04 February 2010Crew / Passenger Crimes

On February 14, 2010, a 30-year-old male passenger broke into the ship’s infirmary and stole prescription drugs (among which morphine, Dilaudid, Percocet). While on the vessel, he was detained in the brig until docking in Long Beach CA, where was arrested by FBI.

(law news) On March 8, 2010, a lawsuit was held in Los Angeles CA. The man was charged with “burglary involving controlled substances” and also with “possession of controlled substances”.

08 November 2009Crew / Passenger Deaths

On November 8, 2009, the ship was on a 3-day Mexico cruise (itinerary Nov 6-9) from homeport Long Beach CA. A medical emergency forced the vessel to alter course and dock unscheduled in San Clemente CA at ~5:30 am. A male passenger sustained a critical injury (head trauma) after falling in his cabin’s bathroom (in the shower cubicle). He was disembarked and transferred to a local hospital, where he died.

16 May 2009Fire Accident

On May 16, 2009, while the ship was en route to Baltimore from Freeport Bahamas, a fire broke out in the battery room. It was soon extinguished.

16 January 2009Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On January 16, 2009, two elderly passengers (90- and 79-year-old) were reported missing before docking in homeport Long Beach. The couple was presumed fell overboard. The investigation suggested suicide as their cabin’s door was locked from the inside. Their personal belongings were in the room. The “do not disturb” sign was on the handle outside. The door to the cabin’s balcony was unlocked.

20 April 2007Other Incidents

On April 20, 2007, at 2:20 pm, a false bomb threat caused a full ship search, including re-inspection of all passenger luggage. Nothing was found, but the incident caused a late departure from homeport Long Beach  CA (at ~6 pm).

05 October 2005Crew / Passenger Deaths

On October 15, 2005, a female passenger died on a “Xingolati Groove” themed cruise (itinerary Oct 14-17) from Los Angeles. Passengers disembarkation in Long Beach CA was delayed by ~6 hours due to FBI investigation. The cause of death was methadone intoxication. Methadone is a synthetic pain medication (aka Dolophine).

10 April 2005Coast Guard Medevacs

On April 10, 2005, a 55-year-old female passenger suffering from severe internal pain was medevaced (airlifted) by a USCG helicopter and transported to a San Diego hospital.

July 2000Propulsion / Power Loss

July 19, 2000, a propulsion system malfunction caused the cancellation of 3 itineraries leaving from homeport Miami.

03 January 2000Propulsion / Power Loss

On January 3, 2000, during the Millennium-themed cruise, propulsion problems caused a major itinerary change. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary (to Bahamas and BVI-Tortola) was replaced with Western Caribbean (Mexico). Some of the passengers held a protest while the ship was docked in Nassau Bahamas.