Icon Of The Seas accidents and incidents

September 2024Propulsion / Power Loss

Due to "unforeseen maintenance", the ship remained in PortMiami until the necessary repairs were completed and the scheduled September 28th (departure) voyage was canceled. Icon OTS arrived in Freeport (Bahamas) for repairs at Grand Bahama Shipyard on September 28th (at 23:33 UTC) and left Freeport on Oct 4th (at 23:30 UTC).

All affected passengers and travel agents were emailed about the cancellation.

All canceled bookings received a full (100%) refund (the cruise fare plus taxes and fees). Also fully refunded were all /if any pre-paid gratuities, packages (Internet, beverage, wellness, etc), amenities, and land tours/shore excursions. In addition, all canceled bookings received a 100% FCC/Future Cruise Credit (100% of the fare paid) to be used towards a future voyage with RCI.

Flights booked through Royal Caribbean were automatically refunded. Independently pre-purchased flights and transfers were reimbursed with up to US$200 per person (domestic) and US$400 pp (international) provided for travel change fees.

The 7-day "Western Caribbean and Perfect Day Cruise" (itinerary Sep 28-Oc 5, roundtrip from Miami, Florida USA) had scheduled visits to destinations in Honduras (Coxen Hole, Roatan Island/Sep 30), Mexico (Costa Maya/Oct 1, Cozumel/Oct 2) and The Bahamas (Coco Cay/Oct 4).

Note: While RCI didn't specify the issue, unofficial sources reported that Icon OTS suffered a propulsion/Azipod malfunction resulting in reduced speed. Because of that, on the previous voyage (7-day "Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day"/Sep 21-28) the call port Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas Island USVI/Sep 25th) was canceled as the ship navigated at slower speeds undergoing unplanned maintenance works. All passengers on that voyage received OBC/onboard credit equivalent to one day (of the fare paid) and the booked shore excursions in Saint Thomas were fully refunded.

25 June 2024Fire Accident

On June 25, 2024, while berthed at Costa Maya Cruise Dock, the ship suffered an engine room fire. It occurred in the afternoon and caused a complete blackout (throughout the ship) due to power generation loss.

The ship's firefighting teams managed to extinguish the fire quickly. The backup generators were activated first, followed by the main engine-generated electricity.

According to passenger reports, shortly after the initial emergency code (BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO/onboard fire) via the PA system was announced a second emergency code (ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA/medical emergency) which related to an incident at the aft gangway.

Reportedly, the power loss was for ~20 minutes. Due to the incident, the passenger disembarkation and embarkation were suspended for about an hour, as the gangways were closed. The crew remained at the muster/assembly stations for about 1-1,5 hours.

The itinerary was not affected.

The accident occurred during the 7-day "Western Caribbean and Perfect DayCruise" (itinerary June 22-29, roundtrip from PortMiami) visiting Honduras (Isla Roatan's Coxen Hole/Jun 24), Mexico (Costa Maya/Jun 25, port stay 8 am-5 pm, and Cozumel/Jun 26), and The Bahamas (Coco Cay/Jun 28).

13 June 2024Coast Guard Medevacs

(CruiseMapper-emailed report from Daniel Velis/received June 18th)

On Thursday the 13th of June, Icon of the Seas (heading to Coco Cay) made a slight reroute heading to the Florida Keys. We were told we were to drop off a passenger via Coast Guard Ship Intercepter II. As our ship approached the Florida Keys, the ship had stopped nearing 5-10 Km away from the coast and was waiting for the Coast Guard ship to approach our cruise ship. From where I saw the transfer, I was able to spot the passenger who was removed from the ship (they did not seem visibly injured in any way). After the transfer, the captain made a statement stating that we will resume our course to Coco Cay and were on schedule.

The incident occurred during the 7-day "Western Caribbean & Perfect Day Cruise" (itinerary June 8-15, roundtrip from PortMiami) visiting Roatan Island Honduras (Mahogany Bay/Jun 10), Mexico (Costa Maya/Jun 11, Cozumel/Jun 12) and The Bahamas (CocoCay/Jun 14).

26 May 2024Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(overboard) On May 26, a male passenger went overboard while the ship was in international waters, approx ~40 mi (65 km) north of Cuba (Santa Lucia) and approx 300 mi (480 km) from Florida.

The incident prompted an immediate search and rescue operation lasting for ~2 hours. The crew deployed two rescue boats to locate the missing passenger. Subsequently, the ship's master (Captain Henrik Loy) informed via the PA system that the man was successfully recovered from the sea and was receiving immediate care in the Infirmary's ICU/intensive care unit.

The incident occurred during the second day of the 7-day "Western Caribbean and Perfect Day Cruise" (itinerary May 25-June 1, roundtrip from PortMiami) visiting destinations in Honduras (Isla Roatan's Coxen Hole/May 27), Mexico (Costa Maya/May 28, Cozumel/May 29) and The Bahamas (CocoCay/May 31).

03 March 2024Boat Rescue

On March 3, 2024, while en route from Florida to Honduras, the ship encountered a distressed boat with 14 Cuban migrants. The overcrowded vessel was without power and drifting at sea (signaling for assistance with a white flag), in international waters, and off western Cuba.

Icon OTS immediately activated the standard emergency procedures. A rescue boat was dispatched to bring the stranded people safely aboard. Via the PA system, the ship's Master (Captain Henrik Loy) informed passengers of the situation.

The 2-hour operation resulted in the successful rescue of all 14 Cubans, who received immediate medical attention upon boarding the ship. Later, the US Coast Guard took charge of the situation, offloading the rescued individuals and transporting them back to the USA for repatriation to Cuba.

The incident occurred at the beginning of the 7-day "Western Caribbean and Perfect Day Cruise" (itinerary March 2-9, roundtrip from Miami, Florida USA) visiting Honduras (Coxen Hole, Isla Roatan/Mar 4th), Mexico (Costa Maya/Mar 5th, Cozumel/Mar 6th) and the Bahamas (Coco Cay/Mar 8).

02 February 2023Fire Accident

On February 2, 2023, at ~10 am Finland time (~8 am UTC), at the Meyer Turku Shipyard, an alarm sounded a fire on the cruise ship being in drydock and under construction.

Reportedly, the fire broke out in the superstructure, at an upper deck staircase. All shipyard employees (~2500 people working on the ship) were evacuated as a precaution.

The fire was extinguished by Meyer Turku's fire team. No injuries or major damages were reported, and after stopping for about an hour, works on the vessel continued.