Liberty Of The Seas accidents and incidents

09 July 2024Coast Guard Medevacs

(CruiseMapper-emailed report from Aidan W/received July 11)

Onboard the Liberty of the Seas, we were delayed leaving La Romana [Dominicana] due to medical disembarkation. While some late excursion arrivals were boarding past the scheduled “all aboard” time, an ambulance pulled up and took away a passenger. Then, shortly before our estimated departure time (18:00/6:00 pm EST), a second ambulance pulled up. They loaded a stretcher onto the ship, brought the family and bags off, disembarked a female passenger and took her to the hospital. We ended up leaving about 15 minutes late, and the incident didn’t have any impact on our itinerary.

The incident occurred during the 9-day "Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary July 4-13, roundtrip from NYC/Cape Liberty Bayonne, New Jersey) visiting Bermuda (King's Wharf/Jul 6), Grand Turk (Cockburn Town/Jul 8), and Dominicana (La Romana/Jul 9, scheduled in-port stay 11:30 am - 6 pm, and Puerto Plata/Jul 10).

04 April 2024Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On April 4, 2024, a 22-year-old male passenger went overboard while the ship was en route back to Florida, navigating between Cuba and Inagua Island Bahamas (approx 55 mi/90 km from Grand Inagua).

Reportedly, the young man (Levion Parker, from North Port, Sarasota Florida) intentionally jumped from one of the open decks, observed by his father and brother.

According to American media outlets, he was intoxicated after drinking through the evening. According to one of his friends, he was in a crowded Jacuzzi on Pool Deck (Lido Deck 11) until ~ 3:30 AM (ship time). Shortly thereafter, he walked toward the elevators and surprisingly jumped overboard. Eyewitnesses described the act as impulsive, suggesting it was a spontaneous decision. 

The ship immediately stopped and promptly initiated a search and rescue operation in collaboration with the USCG/Coast Guard. For the mission, the USCG District 7 (Miami) deployed the USCGC Seneca (Famous-class Cutter/IMO 4684751) and from Air Station Miami was deployed an EADS HC-144 Ocean Sentry (medium-range aircraft).

Liberty OTS was released from the scene at ~9:30 AM (ship time).

The body was not found.

The incident occurred at the end of the 4-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise" (itinerary April 1-4, roundtrip from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA) that visited Dominicana (Puerto Plata) on April 3rd.

14 January 2023Boat Rescue

On January 14, 2023, while en route from Florida to The Bahamas, the ship rescued 17 Cuban refugees sailing towards the USA on a makeshift boat. According to RCI's statement, the small boat was adrift and needed assistance. The ship lowered a tender boat and the Cubans were rescued - brought on board and provided with food and medical attention. The US Coast Guard was duly notified of the rescue operation.

The incident occurred at the beginning of the 3-night "Bahamas and Perfect Day Cruise" (itinerary Jan 13-16, roundtrip from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale) visiting CocoCay (Jan 14) and Nassau (Jan 15). However, due to rough seas, the scheduled call at CoCo Cay was canceled and the ship stayed at sea.

April 2020Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) On April 2, 2020, the anchored at sea (near Port Galveston TX) cruise liner reported 2 crew tested positive for COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The report followed Royal Caribbean's decision to test for the virus all the staff-crew on all RCI ships (fleetwide).

One of the infected was disembarked and hospitalized in Galveston. The other crew tested COVID-19 positive but was not showing the symptoms and remained quarantined onboard. As of April 2, a total of 11 other crew on Liberty OTS were isolated after showing high temperature.

All people on the ship were transferred from their crew deck cabins to passenger staterooms (on upper decks) and isolated (in separate cabins, one person per room), with food and beverages delivered by on-duty staff. Temperature screening to all staff-crew was conducted twice daily.

08 January 2020Structural and Technical Issues

On January 8, 2020, RCI announced the cancellation of five Western Caribbean cruises (7-day itineraries roundtrip from homeport Galveston TX) to extend the drydock time for the ship's scheduled for 2021 Royal Amplified refurbishment in Freeport (at Grand Bahama Shipyard).

All booked customers were emailed about the cancelled voyages. RCI provided all bookings with the options to either rebook on Liberty OTS (other itineraries in 2021), rebook with the exact departure dates on Jewel OTS, rebook another RCI cruise or cancel with a full refund. The 5 cancelled itineraries were departures February 14, February 21, February 28, March 7, March 14.

28 November 2019Crew / Passenger Deaths

(car crash) On November 28, 2019, at ~3:45 pm, while the cruise liner was berthed in Port Belize (Belize City), a female passenger (Texas citizen) died ashore in a car crash accident. The 77-year-old woman (Carolyn Gillis) was not seat belted. She was thrown through a tour van's windshield and died instantly. According to the van's driver, the vehicle (Ford Freestyle) flipped several times following a tire blowout. The accident happened close to Carmelita village (Orange Walk District) on Phillip Goldson Highway (connecting Belize City with Mexico's Quintana Roo state).

The elderly woman was cruising with 6 family members, who were also on this independently booked tour. Her 79-year-old husband suffered a cut to the right ear, bruises to the right arm and abrasion to the left hand. Their 45-year-old son suffered an abrasion to the left arm, while his 43-year-old wife suffered cuts to the left knee and abrasion on the back. Their 13-year-old son suffered an abrasion to both knees, while their twin daughters sustained minor injuries to the necks and heads.

The incident occurred during 7-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary November 24 - December 1) roundtrip from homeport Galveston TX and visiting Honduras (Isla Roatan), Belize (Belize City port stay 8 am - 5 pm) and Mexico (Cozumel).

25 September 2018Fire Accident

On September 25, 2018, at ~1:45 am, while en-route from Texas USA to Roatan Island (Honduras), the ship suffered an engine room fire accident. The fire emergency (code Bravo) was announced via the PA system (loudspeakers in passenger cabins and common areas).

By ~2:30 am was made a 3rd /the last announcement (first directed to the crew, then to the passengers) that the situation is under control. At ~ 10:30 am, from the Navigation Bridge, the Captain announced that of one of all 6 main diesel engines caught fire and is currently out of service and that the remaining engines are operational.

The accident occurred at the beginning of 7-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary Sept 23-30) roundtrip from homeport Galveston TX to Roatan Island, Belize City and Cozumel (Mexico).

24 April 2017Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On April 24, 2017, a 39-year-old male crew was reported missing (presumably fell overboard). The man (Norman DeCastro, of Filipino origin) worked on the ship as bartender. The search for him started after he didn’t report for work. He was last seen on a CCTV camera at ~1:30 am (April 24).

He was officially reported missing at 4:30 am, after a complete shipboard search was conducted. Followed an USCG search and rescue operation via one patrol boat dispatched from Galveston TX. The USCG ship was assisted by an airplane dispatched from Corpus Christi Airport (Nueces County Texas).

The accident occurred in Gulf of Mexico, approx 170 ml (270 km) southeast of Galveston Texas. The ship was en-route to Cancun, on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary April 23-30) roundtrip Galveston to Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman Island and Falmouth Jamaica. The USCG operation was suspended in the afternoon of April 25, after searching an area of over 17,100 km2 (6,600 ml2).

21 December 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

On December 21, 2015, an 8-year old boy drowned in a swimming pool on Lido Deck 11. The kid was spotted and pulled out of the water (unconscious) by a passenger. The ship’s med team immediately responded administering CPR and attempting resuscitation for over an hour – unfortunately, unsuccessful.

Unlike public swimming pools, most cruise ships don’t have lifeguards stationed at the onboard pools. The accident occurred while the ship was at sea, en-route from Galveston to Mexico on the second day of a 7-day Western Caribbean "Christmas Cruise" from Galveston TX (roundtrip itinerary Dec 20 – 27) with call ports Cozumel, Roatan, Costa Maya.

22 March 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On March 22, 2015, a 47-year-old male passenger jumped overboard at ~9 pm. According to a witness, the man “climbed over a railing” on deck 12. The ship was on a 4-day Mexico cruise to Cozumel, and en-route to homeport Port Everglades, approx 20 ml / 32 km off the US coast (Marathon, Florida Keys archipelago).

01 May 2013Other Incidents

("big money" incident) On May 1, 2013, the renown international law firm “DLA Piper Global” chartered the whole ship for a business partner meeting at sea. The law company booked the ship for a Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona. The roundtrip itinerary was a coastal voyage to Nice, France.

On this Royal Caribbean cruise ship charter, they spent over USD 3 million (charter fee), plus the extra costs for beverages, shore excursions and international flights for all the guests travelling to Spain.

DLA Piper Global Law Firm represents mostly large multinational corporations and high-technology companies. Statistics show DLA Piper made over USD 2,4 billion in 2012. The company has 100+ offices and 4200+ employees worldwide.

03 December 2012Coast Guard Medevacs

On December 3, 2012, a medical emergency (male passenger with a serious injury and needing advanced surgery) forced the ship to change the itinerary, skipping the Falmouth port (Jamaica). The ship’s course was also alternated so the injured man can be medevaced by USCG helicopter crew. Blood donations from passengers were also needed to assist him. Strong winds prevented the helicopter to land on the cruise ship's helipad, so he had to be airlifted in a basket.

20 November 2012Crew / Passenger Deaths

On November 20, 2012, two passengers died ashore in Cozumel, when their sand buggy lost control and struck a guardrail. The other 2 passengers – the driver and his wife, suffered not life-threatening injuries. The dead couple (Jim Melillo and Susan Borges) was from Orlando, and well known for their charity work in Central Florida. They were also part of a 28-friends group who was on a Carnival Cruise Lines organized 6-hour dune buggy riding tour in Cozumel.

30 January 2012Crew / Passenger Deaths

On January 30, 2012, a 47-year old female passenger died on the ship after missing a step and falling down a staircase. The woman was leaving the ship’s disco club “Catacombs”. When the incident happened, the ship was en-route to homeport Port Everglades on a 4-night roundtrip itinerary.

05 January 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On January 5, 2011, a 21-year-old male passenger jumped overboard from Deck 12. His family reported he was missing at ~9 am. When the conducted onboard search didn't find the man, CCTV camera records were reviewed. The footage showed that he climbed over the railing and jumped at 3:25 am.

The incident happened when the ship was at sea and en-route to Belize, approx 6 ml / 10 km west off Turneffe (Maaga Caye). Belize Coast Guard assets carried out a search and rescue operation, but the body was never found.

21 January 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On January 21, 2010, a 37-year-old male passenger was found dead in his cabin, just before lunchtime. The cruise ship was booked under charter by a tour operator catering to gay travel.

28 October 2009Crew / Passenger Deaths

On October 28, 2009, a former Royal Caribbean Captain, the 57-year-old Tore Myhra (Norwegian-born), died in a Miami hospital of Legionella pneumophila after becoming ill on the cruise ship. He suffered from Legionnaire’s Disease (pneumonia) symptoms – respiratory difficulty, dry cough, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting. The man was travelling with his wife and daughter. The family filed in Florida a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean for damages, but the case was dismissed in 2012.

04 June 2009Crew / Passenger Deaths

On June 4, 2009, a 62-year-old female passenger died ashore while swimming with her husband near Royal Palms, Florida. Assisted by another passenger who was jet-skiing in the area, she was brought to shore. Police and paramedics found her unconscious. In a local hospital, she was pronounced dead.

May 2007Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

May-June 2007, CDC reported on voyage May 26 to Jun 2, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 200 passengers (out of 3846, or 5,2%) and 12 crew (out of 1425, or 0,8%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins.