Celebrity Edge accidents and incidents

03 November 2024Coast Guard Medevacs

On November 3, 2024, while en route back to homeport, the ship deviated from the planned course for a medevac of a male crew off the coast of New South Wales Australia.

Responding swiftly to the request from the vessel, AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) coordinated a medical evacuation to a land-based medical facility. For the operation, from Wollongong was dispatched a Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopter assisted by a rescue aircraft dispatched from Essendon (Melbourne, Victoria Australia).

The rendezvous location was at open sea, to the southeast of Eden NSW.

The patient was winched/airlifted off the ship and flown to a hospital in Bega NSW.

The incident occurred during the 4-day "Tasmania Cruise" (itinerary Nov 2-6, roundtrip from Sydney NSW) visiting Hobart (Nov 4).

05 February 2023Coast Guard Medevacs

On February 5, 2023, a 79-year-old male passenger (US citizen suffering from abdominal pains) was medevaced from the ship navigating ~150 NM/~170 mi/~280 km northwest of Aguadilla (Puerto Rico).

For the medical evacuation, USCG Sector San Juan contacted CG Air Station Borinquen which dispatched a Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk (rescue helicopter) to rendezvous with the liner. The aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer to conduct a litter hoist onto the ship. The elderly man and a ship nurse were hoisted onto the helicopter and flown to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (aka Isla Grande Airport) in San Juan, from where they were ambulanced to Centro Medico de Puerto Rico (hospital).

The incident occurred during the 10-day "Ultimate Southern Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary Feb 3-13, roundtrip from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA) visiting St Maarten (Philipsburg/Feb 6), St Lucia (Castries/Feb 7), Barbados (Bridgetown/Feb 8), Antigua (St John's/Feb 9), and St Kitts (Basseterre/Feb 10).

26 June 2021Other Incidents

Departing on June 26, 2021 (at 6 PM) from Port Everglades' Terminal 25, Celebrity Edge became the first large cruise liner (with passengers) to depart from the USA in 15+ months.

Following the 15+ months of hiatus (due to the Coronavirus crisis 2020-2021), Edge started a 7-day "Western Caribbean Cruise" (Fort Lauderdale roundtrip to Mexico's Costa Maya and Cozumel, and Nassau Bahamas, with 3 seadays). Carrying 1195 passengers, the liner also made the news for being mastered by Captain Kate McCue - the first (at the time only) American female Captain of a large passenger ship.

The vessel was with 41,2% occupancy, COVID-vaccinated crew and most passengers (excepting 24 kids and 2 adults).

03 December 2018Other Incidents

At the end of February 2018, due to "unforeseen changes", Celebrity Cruises officially canceled the ship's December 3 itinerary (3-day "preview cruise"). The canceled voyage was one of all 5 pre-scheduled maiden voyages announced in January 2018. All were roundtrips from homeport Fort Lauderdale Florida (USA). with docking at Terminal 25.

These dates were opened for booking as the liner's inaugural season started earlier (vessel's construction was completed ahead of schedule). The four 3-night Bahamas mini-cruise itineraries were scheduled for Nov 21, Nov 24, Dec 3 (canceled) and Dec 6.

• To all passengers booked on the canceled voyage were given the option to rebook on another 3-day "Preview Cruise" (departures Nov 21, Nov 24, Dec 1, Dec 6) with similar grade stateroom and at protected rates (lowest available).
• The other option was rebooking on the fleet mate Celebrity Infinity (4-night Bahamas or 5-night Western Caribbean 2018 itineraries) only excluding holiday departures. The Infinity ship had scheduled departures from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) in 2018 September 24 through December 31.
• All rebooking customers received US$100 in onboard credit per stateroom (US$200 per suite). Passengers booked with Celebrity Cruises promotion deals honored the promo offer on the rebooked cruise.
• Passengers with airline reservations were reimbursed for any flight change fees (up to US$250 pp domestic and international flights) after presenting a copy of the air change fee.
• Non-rebooking passengers received full refunds for the fares paid to their original cruise payment form.