Mariner Of The Seas accidents and incidents

25 June 2023Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

In the afternoon on June 25, 2023, while the ship was at sea (en route from Fliroda to Curacao) and navigating southeast of Dominicana (approx 30 mi/50 km off Punta Cana) a 42-year-old female passenger accidentally went overboard from her cabin's balcony on deck 10.

Local authorities were immediately contacted and the ship initiated a search and rescue operation. Thankfully, the rescue efforts were successful. The woman was found and recovered alive and safely brought back on board in good health. The itinerary was not altered and the voyage continued as planned.

At ~5:45 pm Dominicana time (~21:45 UTC) the ship contacted USCG Sector San Juan (Puerto Rico) to report the overboard but a medevac was not requested. The woman remained in the infirmary and on the next day (Jun 26th) was disembarked and hospitalized in Willemstad (Curacao).

The incident occurred during the 8-day "Southern Caribbean with Perfect Day Cruise" (itinerary June 23 - July 1, roundtrip from Port Canaveral/Orlando, Florida USA) with call ports in the Netherlands Antilles (Willemstad Curacao/Jun 26, and Oranjestad Aruba/Jun 27), and the Bahamas (CocoCay/Jun 30).

March 2023Structural and Technical Issues

In February 2022, due to a scheduled drydock in 2023, RCI canceled the ship's departures (19x total/18x in 2022 + 1x in 2023) from Port Canaveral for the period January 7th thru April 1st/including.

For rebooking were offered itineraries on Jewel OTS also homeported in Port Canaveral.

An additional voyage (departure April 1, 2023) was canceled in mid-March 2023, due to prolonged drydocking. The last was canceled the 5-day Western Caribbean roundtrip (April 1-6) with planned visits to Mexico's Costa Maya and Cozumel.

The drydock project (conducted at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport Bahamas) was for routine maintenance works.

As compensation, RCI offered the options of rebooking (with 50% of the original fare paid transferred to an FCC/Future Cruise Credit) or canceling (with a full refund, including all pre-paid amenities). RCI also waived non-refundable deposit change fees (for changing ship or departure date) and reimbursed (up to US$200) all non-refundable transportation change fees (purchased via RCI) like pre-paid flights, trains, car rentals, etc.

20 April 2022Ship Collision / Allision

On April 20, 2022, the docked/berthed in Freeport (Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas) cruise ship's stern (aft superstructure) was contacted by the slow-speed navigating cargo ship Tropic Freedom (2018-built bulk cargo vessel, IMO 9809928). No injuries and only "minimal damage" were reported.

Mariner OTS was operating a 4-day "Perfect Day Bahamas Cruise" (itinerary April 19-23) roundtrip from Port Canaveral/Orlando, Florida USA.

Curiously, the cruise liner was in Freeport due to a last-minute itinerary (announced on April 19th), as the scheduled day at sea was replaced with Freeport for wetdock maintenance.

Note: Actually, this type of marine accident is called “allision” (striking a fixed object) as opposed to “collision” (striking another vessel).

10 May 2020Crew / Passenger Deaths

(crew suicide) On May 10, 2020, a male crew was found dead onboard. The man (Chinese) worked on the ship as a dining room attendant. When the incident occurred, Mariner OTS was without passengers and anchored at sea, in the area west of CocoCay Bahamas.

02 September 2019Other Incidents

Due to Hurricane Dorian, the 4-day Bahamas cruise (itinerary September 2-6) was canceled. The roundtrip voyage from homeport Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida) was planned to visit Nassau (Sept 4, 8 am - 9 pm) and CocoCay (Sept 5, 7 am - 5 pm).

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).

19 March 2019Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On March 19, 2019, a male passenger was reported overboard while the liner was en-route from Miami to Nassau Bahamas. Via ship's PA system was announced several times code "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar” (meaning "man overboard"). The ship conducted a search and rescue operation, and luckily, the man was soon successfully rescued and brought alive onboard.

The incident occurred at the beginning of 4-day Bahamas cruise (itinerary March 18-22) roundtrip from homeport Miami Florida to Nassau and Coco Cay Island.

09 February 2019Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On February 9, 2019, the liner returned earlier to Miami due to a medical emergency. A male passenger fractured his pelvic bone and required emergency treatment in a hospital. The ship was scheduled to visit Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay, but due to strong winds passenger tendering there was impossible and the port call was canceled.

Reportedly, the man fell off the SkyPad (bungee trampoline/virtual reality facility on Deck 13-aft) after the harness that held him snapped off. Around 5 hours later he was offloaded to a rescue boat in PortMiami.

The incident occurred during 2-day Bahamas cruise (itinerary Feb 8-10) roundtrip from homeport Miami to Coco Cay Island (planned port stay 7 am - 5 pm).

(CruiseMapper email  from an anonymous passenger) The alpha call went out at 12:54 pm, the ship turned back toward Miami around 1:45. We docked at PortMiami at 9 pm to unload the injured passenger and then went back out to sea.

(law news) On March 12, 2019, the injured passenger (Casey Holladay, 26-year-old) filed a lawsuit for USD 75,000. The lawsuit stated that the SkyPad activity "has a hard surface with no padding or safety nets surrounding it". Following the lawsuit, the Sky Pads on Mariner OTS and Independence OTS were temporarily closed (in March and April).

12 August 2016Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(overboard) On August 12, 2016, a 32-year-old female passenger (of Chinese origin) was miraculously rescued by fishermen after she accidentally fell overboard from the Mariner ship and was adrift at sea for over 38 hours. The overboard incident occurred on Aug 10th (at ~9 pm) while the cruise ship was returning to homeport Shanghai (China) en-route from Fukuoka (Japan). The 5-day roundtrip cruise from Shanghai (itinerary Aug 7-11) also visited South Korea (Jeju Island).

10 November 2013Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(sexual) On November 10, 2013, a female crew was allegedly sexually assaulted by a male crew (Meugin Fredericks). On December 3, 2015 (law news) she filed a lawsuit against the Royal Caribbean line and the defendant in a Miami court with claims sexual assault, negligence, and strict liability.

After attending a co-worker’s birthday party, she returned to her cabin and found there the defendant having sex with her roommate. She left the cabin, and when later returned she found both of them asleep. Then she got into her bed and fell asleep. Later she was awoken by the man whose hand was wrapped around her throat. He was ripping off her bra, then proceeded and raped her.

She first notified the cruise ship’s chief security officer about the incident, then went to the infirmary for a rape kit. After her report,  the complaint allegedly was “bullied, harassed and physically threatened” by various crew members. She reported these incidents to the ship’s Human Resources manager, to which he responded “there’s nothing that could be done”. Royal Caribbean didn’t provide her with appropriate therapy, nor with any counseling or treatment.

27 March 2013Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(sexual) On March 27, 2013, a 49-year-old male passenger was arrested in Galveston and charged with sexual assault of a minor. The man (of US origin - from Tucson AZ) was involved in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old teenage boy. The incident happened when the ship was in international waters. The boy’s testimony said the man gave him alcohol, then made advances resulting in sexual contact.

29 January 2010Other Incidents

On January 29, 2010, a false bomb threat caused a total blockade of the ship and the entire Port Everglades cruise port (Fort Lauderdale FL). Onboard lifts and anything below passenger decks were off limits for passengers. Divers had to make numerous dives under the vessel for inspection, while law enforcement units were searching the ship’s lower decks.

09 November 2009Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On November 9, 2009, while docked in Los Angeles CA, 3 ambulances and numerous paramedics were sent to the ship due to 3 medical emergencies. 3 passengers suffered from serious injuries reported at ~6 am. The emergencies included a pregnant woman and 2 passengers injured after slipping and falling on the ship. They all were disembarked and transported to San Pedro Peninsula Hospital.

28 July 2007Fire Accident

On July 28, 2007, a fire incident on service deck 0 (the incinerator area) cased smoke, also smelled on some passenger decks. The fire was soon extinguished. The vessel was on 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage roundtrip from Port Canaveral Florida.

17 May 2007Drug Smuggling

On May 17, 2007, while docked in Phillipsburg (St Maarten), local authorities searched the ship and uncovered a major drug trafficking operation for importing marijuana from Aruba into St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles). The intercepted drug canal was also used for trafficking large amounts of cocaine to the USA (Miami).

22 October 2006Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On October 22, 2006, a disruptive passenger behavior was reported on the ship. It was caused by a large group (500+ members) booked as “alternative lifestyle” (gay-themed) cruise. Several incidents resulted in some other passengers leaving the ship.

Many passengers described the “cruising experience” witnessed as “uncalled behavior”, and some as “Roman orgy”, especially at the Solarium (adults-only sundeck area). The line’s reaction was adding more guards to the ship’s security staff, adding more deckchairs at the Solarium and keeping kids out of the area.

July 2006Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

July 2006, CDC reported on voyage Jul 23 to 30, a major Norovirus outbreak affected a total of 248 passengers (out of 3671, or 6,8%) and 6 crew (out of 1206, or 0,5%). The ship was operating on a 7-day roundtrip Caribbean itinerary from Port Canaveral.

16 May 2006Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On May 16, 2006, a 21-year-old male passenger jumped overboard when the ship was at open sea en-route from homeport Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. The man was reported missing at 11 am by his friends. The USCG received the report of the incident at ~7 pm, then launched a search and rescue operation following back the ship’s 120 ml / 190 km long track. The body was never found. The missing passenger was reported been heavily drinking. The review of CCTV cameras showed him falling over the railing at 2:16 am.

17 March 2006Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On March 17, 2006, 3 male passengers (among them 15- and 16-year-old teenagers) were arrested in Jamaica (port Ocho Rios) and accused in possession of marijuana. The boys were arrested at the pier while waiting to board the ship.

04 November 2005Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On November 4, 2005, a disruptive passenger behavior on board was reported, caused by a large group (1500+ members) booked as “Hogs on the High Seas” (Harley Davidson bikers-themed) cruise. Among the incidents reported were yelling, mooning, walking on decks, sitting at bars topless.

January 2005Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

January 2005, CDC reported on voyage Jan 16 to 23, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 132 passengers (out of 3465, or 3,8%) and 5 crew (out of 1190, or 0,4%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins. The ship was operating on a 7-day Caribbean cruise roundtrip from homeport Port Canaveral Florida.