Cordelia Empress accidents and incidents

10 June 2022Other Incidents

On June 10, 2022, the ship was denied entry, docking and disembarkation at Port Puducherry (India's Tamil Nadu state) due to the "availability of other state alcohol and gambling activities".

Puducherry was approached at ~4 am (~22:30 UTC) and after anchoring off the coast for 24+ hours and awaiting docking permissions, the liner left for Port Chennai (to the north), arriving as scheduled at 8 am on June 11.

Before Chennai, for Cordelia Empress was also considered a stop at Cuddalore (close to Puducherry), but this attempt also failed due to protests organized by Tamil Nadu political parties.

January 2022Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) In early January 2022, the ship reported two consecutive outbreaks with total infected 205 passengers (66 plus 139). Cordelia Empress was operating the Mumbai-Mormugao (Goa) route with short (3-nights long) itineraries between both homeports.

All infected were discovered during routine testing onboard. Most COVID cases were asymptomatic, some with only mild symptoms.

During the Goa-Mumbai cruise were reported 66 cases, of whom 60 were disembarked in Mumbai and 6 in Goa.

During the Mumbai-Goa cruise were discovered 139 COVID-positive passengers (out of 1827 total), all of whom were disembarked in Port Mormugao on January 5th.

02 October 2021Drug Smuggling

(Cordelia Empress) On October 2, 2021, several major media reported that India's NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) raided the Cordelia Cruises ship Empress in Port Mumbai. Reportedly, the narcos raided a VIP party event (fashion show onboard), seized illegal drugs (including ecstasy, cocaine, hashish) and arrested a total of 10 people, among whom the son of a Bollywood movie star.

The bust followed a tip-off by an NCB official who boarded the ship as a passenger. The drugs were found after NCB officers searched the boat (including staterooms) for ~7 hours. The ship's crew was fully cooperating and none was found involved.

Jurgen Bailom (Cordelia's President) commented on Twitter that the passengers were off-loaded immediately. The cruise ship was cleared to depart Mumbai, but due to the incident, the departure was delayed.

05 June 2019Other Incidents

(Empress Of The Seas) On June 4, 2019, the USA banned travel to Cuba (effective immediately). On June 5, RCCL officially canceled all pre-scheduled for 2019 Cuban cruises. On both affected RCI liners (Majesty OTS and Empress OTS) all Cuban ports were substituted with alternative Caribbean ports.

All affected customers were provided with the option to either remain on the revised cruise and receive a 50% refund (in OBC) or cancel the booking with a full refund.

21 December 2018Boat Rescue

(Empress Of The Seas) On December 21, 2018, due to adverse weather, the cruise liner altered its itinerary route. While en-route from Cuba back to Miami, and between Grand Cayman and Jamaica, the ship rescued two sailors stranded at sea for 20 days.

Crew operating the radar system noticed an anomaly that turned out to be a drifting fishing boat. The ship lowered one of its tenders and pulled both men out of the water.

The incident occurred at the end of 6-day "Best Of Cuba Cruise" (itinerary Dec 17-23) roundtrip from homeport Miami Florida to Grand Cayman (George Town) and Cuba (Cienfuegos, Havana).

29 October 2018Propulsion / Power Loss

(Empress Of The Seas/CruiseMapper mail) On October 29, 2018, due to "incomplete repairs" (unspecified technical issues resulting in reduced cruising speed), the liner's Cuban itinerary was changed, with call port Santiago de Cuba skipped.

The incident occurred during 7-day "Best Of Cuba" cruise (itinerary Oct 25 - Nov 1) roundtrip from homeport Miami to Bahamas (Nassau), Haiti (Labadee) and Cuba (Santiago de Cuba, Havana).

September 2017Other Incidents

(Empress Of The Seas) On September 9, 2017, the 4-day Florida and Cuba cruise from Tampa (itinerary Sept 9-13, call ports Key West and Havana) were canceled due to Hurricane Irma.

All canceled bookings received 100% future RCI cruise credit. All booked shore excursions were fully refunded.

The next scheduled itinerary (Sept 13-18, 5-day Florida-Cuba-Mexico, call ports Key West, Havana and Cozumel) was also canceled. All bookings were fully refunded plus 25% future RCI cruise credit (if booked in the next 30 days).

26 June 2016Propulsion / Power Loss

(Empress Of The Seas) On June 26, 2016, engine problems caused the ship to alter the 5-day Western Caribbean cruise from Miami (itinerary June 25-30) to Grand Cayman and Key West).

The incident related to one of the vessel’s 4 engines, and resulted in reduced speed, skipping call port George Town (Grand Cayman) and calling on two ports in the Bahamas instead (Nassau June 26, and CocoCay June 27). As compensation, passengers received 10% of the cruise fare paid per cabin in onboard credit.

April 2016Other Incidents

(Empress Of The Seas) April 2016, due to prolonged drydock refurbishment works, the ship’s inaugural cruise plus 7 more scheduled sailings were canceled. The list of affected itineraries includes the ship’s Miami to Caribbean departures on March 30 and April 4, 7, 11, 16, 21, 25 and 29. The canceled itineraries were 3-, to 5-days.

All booked passengers were allowed to switch to the same cabin type booking on the RCI’s Majesty OTS (itineraries through April 29, 2016) at no additional cost. Passengers re-booking on Empress OTS received $100 in onboard credit. Canceled bookings were fully refunded. Passengers with booked through RCI flights were rebooked on new flights without extra charge. RCI also covered the flight change fees of all privately booked fly-cruise passengers.

10 April 2014Drug Smuggling

(Pullmantur Empress) On April 10, 2014, while the ship was docked in Santos Brazil, during a routine inspection Federal Police officers arrested a male crew and charged him with drug trafficking. The man (of Honduran origin) was trying to smuggle to Europe almost 100 pounds (over 45 kg) of cocaine. The drug was packed in 333 casings in 4 bags hidden in coffee pouches.

06 December 2012Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(Pullmantur Empress) On December 6, 2012, Brazilian news media reported a 23-year-old male passenger sustained serious head trauma and was hospitalized after falling from its cabin’s balcony. The man (Gabriel Moura Campos, of Brazilian origin) fell while trying to take a picture. He slipped and fell from Deck 10 to Deck 8.

The incident occurred at ~2 pm while the ship was docked in call port Itajai (Santa Catarina, Brazil). The man was immediately ambulanced to Hospital Maternidade Marieta Konder Bornhausen.

05 December 2007Crew / Passenger Crimes

(Empress of the Seas) On December 5, 2007, while the ship was docked in Port Zante (St Kitts), during a routine K9 patrol a passenger was arrested for possession of cocaine.

December 2007Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Empress of the Seas) December 2007, during a 12-days Caribbean cruise from Puerto Rico, a Norovirus outbreak affected over 140 people (no CDC report). All sick were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours.

February 2007Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Empress of the Seas) In February 2007, the ship reported a Norovirus outbreak affecting 48 passengers (3,1% of all) and 10 crew (1,5% of all) during a 12-days Caribbean cruise roundtrip from homeport San Juan Puerto Rico.

May 2006Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Empress of the Seas) In May 2006, one of the crew (working on the ship as a bartender) was diagnosed with typhoid fever (Salmonella infection) – a life-threatening disease. The man (of Indian origin) joined the ship on April 29, 2006. He was taken off duty on May 11.

29 April 2006Ship Listing

(Empress of the Seas) April 29-30, 2006, during a roundtrip Bermuda cruise from Philadelphia (Pennsylvania USA), for almost 1,5 days the ship encountered extreme weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel had to operate at reduced cruising speed to maintain tolerable levels of listing caused by 30-ft / 9 m waves and strong winds (over 50 mph / 80 kph). The storm ended early morning on May 1.

Among the damages suffered on board were broken TVs, furniture, dishes, and glassware. Most of the passengers remained in their cabins suffering by seasickness. The incident also resulted in an itinerary change. The scheduled arrival in Bermuda was delayed by a day. Port St George was replaced with Hamilton, and the port stay was 2 days (instead of 3). The next embarkation in Philadelphia was delayed by ~4 hours.

12 September 2005Propulsion / Power Loss

(Empress of the Seas) On September 12, 2005, while en route to Key West (Florida), the ship experienced propulsion problems resulting in reduced cruising speed and a major itinerary change. In Key West were made some temporary repairs.

Due to the accident, the itinerary was changed from a Mexico to a Bahamas cruise, calling at Nassau where more repairs were made. As compensation, all passengers received USD 150 in shipboard credit.

January 2005Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Empress of the Seas) In January 2005, CDC reported on voyage Jan 17-28, a Norovirus outbreak infected 72 passengers (out of 1544, or 4,6%) and 5 crew (out of 685, or 0,7%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins.

The ship was on 11-day Caribbean cruise roundtrip from homeport San Juan Puerto Rico.

08 September 2004Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(Empress of the Seas) On September 8, 2004, a total of 7 crew were seriously injured in a lifeboat incident. It occurred while the ship was docked in King’s Wharf (Bermuda).

During a lifeboat drill (crew training exercise), one of the 8 lifeboats plunged some 60 ft / 18 m into the water. One of the victims sustained spinal injuries and was airlifted for treatment. Another man suffered a near-drowning and was in intensive care.

15 June 2001Fire Accident

(Nordic Empress) On June 15, 2001, the vessel carrying 1566 passengers and 650 crew suffered an engine room fire accident. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred ~10:30 pm, when the ship was approx 140 ml / 225 km northeast of Bermuda and en-route to NYC on a 7-days roundtrip from NYC New York.

The shipowner officially reported that the fire was safely extinguished by the ship’s fire-fighting system (Flexi-fog water sprinklers). However, the USCG report revealed a 3-hour firefight and drifting for ~7 hours. The ship called for assistance the USCG. Tugboats were dispatched, but the vessel sailed back to port on its own power, using its starboard engine. All main onboard systems (lighting, air-conditioning, water/toilets) remained fully operational.

Due to the engine room damages (affecting main engine Number 3 /portside), the vessel reversed its course and returned back to Bermuda, arriving in King’s Wharf on June 16. According to the incident report, the fire was caused by a ruptured fuel line between the 3rd and 4th main diesel engines.

While the ship was docked in Bermuda for repairs, all passengers were disembarked and flown back to NYC via charter flights and regular air service – at the shipowner’s expense. A total of 35 passengers remained on the ship (throughout June 16th) having been booked on other cruise ships to transfer them back to the US. As compensation, all passengers received a free Royal Caribbean cruise certificate (7-day itinerary). The next voyage (scheduled for June 17) was canceled.

All booked passengers received a free RCI cruise certificate (7-day itinerary) plus a full refund. The June 24 sailing departed as scheduled.