Grand Celebration accidents and incidents

30 August 2019Other Incidents

On August 30, 2019, the cruise liner evacuated a pre-authorized (by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism) list of residents of Grand Bahama Island. Due to Hurricane Dorian, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's homeports Freeport and West Palm Beach were temporarily closed on Aug 30, respectively between 2-5 pm and 3-5 pm. The company had to adjust its ship schedules for the next few days.

Grand Celebration's August 30 departure offered an exclusive (discounted) cruise pricing to Grand Bahama residents of USD 69 pp per day (taxes were additional). Those tourists had to reserve their cruise tickets in advance and board the ship before 4 pm (Aug 30).

On Aug 31, Dorian was approx 715 km (445 mi) east of West Palm Beach and approx 450 km (280 mi) east of Bahamas, moving west at speed of 19 kph (12 mph). Due to Hurricane Dorian, the cruise company canceled a total of 10 Grand Celebration cruises (2-night roundtrips from West Palm Beach) - departures September 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. These 10 humanitarian voyages were officially themed "Bahamas Relief Cruise" crossings.

Note: Hurricane Dorian was a Category 4 tropical cyclone that mostly affected the territories of USA, Canada, Bahamas (Abaco Islands, Grand Bahama), Puerto Rico, Windward Islands (Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia), Leeward Islands (US Virgin Islands, BVI). Hurricane's reported max wind speeds were 295 kph ((183 mph). Formed in the Central Atlantic Ocean on August 24, the powerful cyclone was first moving west (towards the Caribbean), then turned north along the US East Coast and Atlantic Canada, affecting the coastal regions of USA (Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia) and Canada (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Quebec).

October 2018Other Incidents

All Grand Celebration cruises in October and November 2018 were officially canceled. The ship was sent to Boston MA (USA) to accommodate workers and residents following the Merrimack Valley (Massachusetts) gas explosions on September 13.

Gas service was disconnected in over 8,000 homes following around 70 explosions and over 80 fires. The accident was caused by high pressure in the natural gas lines owned by Columbia Gas. The company is subsidiary of NiSource Inc - USA's largest utility company providing with natural gas around 3,5 million, and with electricity around 0,5 million customers across seven US states.

The cruise liner was used as a hotel ship for people engaged in the restoration works, as well as for housing residents impacted by the explosions. Ship's Palm Beach to the Bahamas service was resumed with a 2-night cruise scheduled for December 21, 2018.

05 March 2018Other Incidents

On March 5, 2018, due to stormy weather (strong winds and swells), the ship made a detour and docked in Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida) instead of its homeport Palm Beach FL, which was officially closed.

The ship was carrying a total of 1435 passengers. In Port Everglades, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line chartered a total of 22 buses to transport all disembarking and embarking passengers between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

03 January 2018Structural and Technical Issues

On January 3, 2018, while berthed in Freeport Bahamas, the ship broke off its moorings during cyclone passing. The mooring lines failure resulted in drifting from the pier as the strong wind pushed the ship up against the wharf before tugboats could assist and bring it back to the pier.

The ship was sustained only minor hull damages (a dent and some scratches) and resumed the scheduled voyage.

15 August 2006Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Carnival Celebration) On August 15, 2006, while navigating for docking in call port Nassau Bahamas, the ship ran aground - one of its propellers (propulsion units) struck the seabed. The accident resulted in sea pollution (~200 liters of engine oil were spilled) and engine failure. The port was canceled and the liner departed back to homeport Jacksonville Florida.

The propulsion problems resulted in reduced speed. On the next scheduled Bahamas cruise (itinerary August 17-21) call port Freeport Bahamas was canceled. The August 21 itinerary was canceled, allowing the vessel to enter drydock for repairs. As repairs took longer than planned, itinerary August 26 was shortened and re-scheduled for departure on August 28.

February 2005Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Carnival Celebration) In February 2005, CDC reported Norovirus outbreaks on two consecutive cruises.

• On itinerary Feb 17-21, the outbreak affected 89 passengers (out of 1692, or 5,3%) and 35 crew (out of 688, or 5,1%). 
• On the following itinerary (Feb 21-26), the outbreak affected 69 passengers (out of 1647, or 4,1%) and 30 crew (out of 693, or 4,3%). 

All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (predominantly vomiting and diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins.

The ship was operating on Caribbean cruises from homeport Jacksonville Florida.

08 December 2004Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(MS Carnival Celebration) On December 8, 2004, a male crew was struck by a forklift and sustained broken back. The vessel was re-routed to Cozumel Mexico, where the man was disembarked and flown to Miami in critical condition.

Due to the medical emergency, the 5-day Caribbean cruise (itinerary December 6-11) roundtrip from homeport Miami FL was changed. Call port George Town (Grand Cayman Island) was canceled and replaced with Playa del Carmen (Mexico). 

25 November 2004Crew / Passenger Deaths

(MS Carnival Celebration) On November 25, a 54-year-old male passenger was reported missing (lost at sea) and presumably fell overboard. The man was found missing after the ship returned to homeport from a 5 day Bahamas cruise roundtrip from Miami FL.

February 2004Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Carnival Celebration) In February 2004, CDC reported on itinerary Feb 9 to 14, a major Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 297 passengers (out of 1576, or 18,8%) and 19 crew (out of 689, or 2,8%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins.

The ship was operating on Caribbean cruises from homeport Galveston TX.

September 2003Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Carnival Celebration) On September 1, 2003, due to propulsion system problems, the ship arrived in homeport Galveston TX ~12 hours late.  The next scheduled 4-day Cozumel Mexico cruise departed 1 day late and its itinerary was revised - from 4-day Cozumel to 3-day without Cozumel.

Due to continuing propulsion motor failures, the September 8 (Galveston to Mexico cruise) 5-day itinerary to Cozumel and Progreso visited only Cozumel.

24 June 2002Propulsion / Power Loss

(MS Carnival Celebration) On June 24, 2002, due to propulsion system issue (resulting in reduced speed), the ship's scheduled call port Playa del Carmen (Yucatan Mexico) was dropped, while call port Cozumel Mexico's docking time was shortened. The June 27 departure was officially canceled, allowing the vessel to enter drydock for repairs.

10 February 1989Ship Collision / Allision

(MS Carnival Celebration) On February 10, 1989, the Cuban freight vessel "Captain San Luis" was hit by the cruise ship. The freighter sank in just 13 min as the cruise vessel broke it in half. The cargo ship's Captain and 2 crew were not found and presumed dead.

The cargo vessel was navigating without lights, navigational equipment, and any steering due to electrical problems. The cruise vessel rescued 42 of its crew. The cargo ship was loaded with cement at the time of the accident. The rescued crew were transferred to a Cuban Navy ship.