Navigator Of The Seas accidents and incidents

29 August 2024Coast Guard Medevacs

On August 29, 2024, a 26-year-old female crew was medevaced from the ship located approx 30 mi/50 km west of San Diego (California USA). The woman was experiencing severe lower abdominal pain.

The USCG (Coast Guard Sector San Diego) was alerted about the medical emergency at 12:10 AM. In response, the CG Air Station San Diego dispatched a Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk (rescue helicopter). The aircrew hoisted the woman and flew her to the CG Air Station San Diego, from where she was ambulanced to the Hillcrest Medical Center at UC San Diego Health, in stable condition.

The incident occurred at the end of the 4-day "Catalina and Ensenada Cruise" (itinerary Aug 26-30, roundtrip from Los Angeles) visiting Santa Catalina Island CA (Aug 28) and Ensenada, Baja California Mexico (Aug 29).

24 February 2019Structural and Technical Issues

On February 13, 2019, RCI announced the cancellation of ship's first scheduled voyage following the drydock refurbishment in Freeport (Bahamas). The 5-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary February 24 - March 1) was from homeport Miami to Nassau (Feb 25) and Labadee (Feb 27). Company's official reason was construction delays due to poor weather conditions affecting the works on outer decks.

All bookings received full refunds plus future RCI cruise credit. The next scheduled cruise (9-day Southern Caribbean itinerary March 1-10) was not affected.

28 October 2018Structural and Technical Issues

On October 28, 2018, the vessel was forced to dock earlier than planned in call port Vigo (Spain) for repairs after a hole in the hull caused major flooding. Rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean broke one of the stabilizers, resulting in hull holing and water ingress (flooding). No injuries were reported.

The accident occurred during 10-day "Sunshine In The Canaries" cruise (itinerary October 26 - November 5) roundtrip from homeport Southampton (England UK) to Madeira Island, Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote) and Vigo Spain (originally scheduled for Nov 3). For November 5 was scheduled the westbound 13-day Transatlantic crossing (Nov 5-18) from Southampton to Miami.

After Captain's PA announcement of code "Bravo" (alerting for a serious incident), the crew in life jackets rushed to deal with the flooding. The ship started to take on water at ~3 am (Oct 28) following a “loud bang”. An entire fire zone (in the crew area) was closed in order to stop the leakage. Then the liner made the emergency stop at Vigo (as nearest seaport). Some temporary repairs were made before Vigo, where the problems were fixed during the overnight (24 hours) docking.

As compensation, all passengers received 25% cruise refund (in onboard credit, based on paid fares) plus 25% future RCI cruise booking discount. Royal Caribbean's official statement said the ship was fully operational, without impact on maneuverability or safety. Excepting Vigo, itinerary's other ports and times remained as planned.

03 January 2018Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On January 3, 2018, a tour boat with 10 cruise ship passengers (from Navigator Of The Seas and Celebrity Equinox) sank ~15 min after its departure from Cozumel Mexico. Passengers were instructed by the crew to head to the bow. As the boat quickly took on water, all of them jumped into the sea. They were soon rescued by other boats, No injuries were reported.

The ship was on 5-day Western Caribbean "New Year Cruise" (itinerary Dec 31-Jan 5) roundtrip from Miami to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

20 April 2017Crew / Passenger Deaths

On April 20, 2017, a 23-year-old female crew was reported missing after the ship’s docking in Kralendijk port (Bonaire). The RCI employee Adriana Morales de Florencio (of Mexican origin) disembarked the ship on April 20 but didn’t return onboard before it left the port.

On April 30, her body was found (buried on the shore). The cause of death was stab wounds. Body’s location was revealed by a suspect (identified by a CCTV camera) who was arrested. The man was last seen with Adriana soon after she disembarked the ship. The cruise ship was on a 9 -day Southern Caribbean cruise (itinerary April 14-23) roundtrip from Miami FL, visiting Labadee (Haiti), Willemstad (Curacao), Oranjestad (Aruba) and Kralendijk (Bonaire).

(law news) On February 7, 2018, the crew's killer was sentenced to 22 years in prison. The murdered woman had worked for RCI for less than 2 contracts.

15 July 2016Other Incidents

On July 15, 2016, the ship’s call at port Villefranche (Nice) was canceled due to security concerns after the July 14th terrorist attack.

04 March 2016Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On March 4, 2016, a 46-year-old male passenger disappeared after falling overboard at ~ 11 pm off the coast of Key Largo FL. The ship stopped and started a search and rescue operation, with the crew also throwing overboard lighted life preserver rings. The USCG was immediately notified, sending 2 search teams in the area (HC-144 aircraft, MH-65 helicopter), but the body was not found.

The man (David Mossman, of US origin) was traveling with his mother and fell from their cabin balcony on deck 10. The accident occurred on a 6-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary Feb 28 – Mar 5) to Barbados, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Haiti roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. The ship was returning to Port Everglades Florida from Labadee (Haiti).

30 May 2014Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(sexual) On May 30, 2014, when the ship docked in Falmouth (Jamaica), two male passengers (of USA origin) were arrested. They were accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger on the ship. The rape incident occurred at 5:30 am on May 29, when the ship was at open sea (approx 50 ml / 80 km off Jamaica) on a Galveston roundtrip itinerary.

22 March 2014Other Incidents

On March 22, 2014, two cruise ships – the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator and Carnival Magic – were stuck outside Galveston Bay, unable to enter the port and dock. A third cruise vessel (Caribbean Princess) was stranded at Port Galveston overnight.

The inconvenience was caused by a collision between fuel barge and a crude oil tanker. The accident led to the partial sinking of the barge and leaking over 150,000 gallons (nearly 570,000 liters) of fuel from the tanker, causing spillage in the Galveston Bay. The Carnival and Royal Caribbean liners delayed their dockings in Galveston TX.

15 August 2012Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(sexual) On August 15, 2012, a female passenger was sexually assaulted by a male crew. The incident happened on January 1, 2012, during a New Year cruise to Eastern Caribbean, and it was partially captured on CCTV video. The woman filed a federal lawsuit. On the morning of Jan 1, she had gone to an open deck’s whirlpool. She asked a crew for a towel. He led her into a bathroom and raped her. The CCTV footage showed her following the crew into the room, then her trying to escape and him dragging her back inside. She slipped away and reported the incident to the security staff.

12 May 2011Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(sexual) On May 12, 2011, a male crew was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a minor. A 17-year-old girl testified she was raped by a staff member (working on the ship as a musician). A civil lawsuit was filed in federal court on behalf of the minor. The girl boarded the ship in Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale FL) on March 3.

On March 5, when the vessel was at sea (in international waters), she was listening to a live band performance. The band’s singer invited her to dance, then ordered at the bar several alcoholic drinks for her. No one asked about her age. The intoxicated teenage girl then went to the singer’s cabin, where he engaged her sexually. Another crew was also present at the crime and took pictures during the incident. Later, the med staff offered her medical care and counseling. When the ship docked at homeport Port Everglades, FBI boarded for investigation.

14 March 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On March 14, 2010, during a "Spring Break Cruise", a young student suffered a critical injury (head trauma) in a swimming pool incident. His friends egged him to jump onto a net across the empty pool. After the net gave way, the man fell face down into the pool. He was disembarked in Cozumel joined by his family, and later died.

20 November 2009Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(armed robbery ashore) On November 20, 2009, two men ambushed and robbed at gunpoint a group of 17 passengers on an organized by Royal Caribbean tour in Nassau, Bahamas. The police report says passengers were touring the Earth Village in Chippingham on a guided tour when at ~ 1 pm two armed with shotguns men accosted the group.

The tour guide was tied up. The passengers were ordered to lay face down and were robbed of passports, phones, cash and credit cards, personal items. When this incident was happening, another tourist group came on the crime scene and they were robbed too.

12 August 2009Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

On August 12, 2009, the ship was operating a Mediterranean cruise from Athens (Greece). When the vessel docked in Piraeus port, 3 passengers and 3 crew were quarantined to their cabins after tested H1N1 positive (swine flu).

24 June 2009Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

On June 24, 2009, when the ship docked at call port Barcelona Spain, two female passengers (58-yo American and 34-yo Italian) were quarantined to their cabins after tested positive for swine flu (H1N1).

15 December 2008Structural and Technical Issues

On December 15, 2008, during a Transatlantic repositioning cruise, the ship experienced navigation problems with one of its two stabilizers. When entered drydock in January 2009, the vessel also received a new set of propellers.

23 October 2008Other Incidents

On October 23, 2008, while operating on a Mediterranean itinerary in Europe, the ship was forced to un-dock and leave early its stay in Cagliari (Sardinia Island, Italy). Strong wind overturned a tour bus on the quay. The incident caused the ship’s mooring lines to snap, then the gangway (telescopic bridge) dropped into the water. The Captain decided to leave Cagliari. No injuries were reported. The ship sustained only minor damages.

23 April 2008Propulsion / Power Loss

On April 23, 2008, upon docking at Port Lisbon (Portugal), the ship experienced a problem with one of its stabilizers. The vessel was first anchored in Tagus River and later was berthed in port. The ship was forbidden to leave Portugal until the propulsion problem was fixed.

The vessel sailed to Cascais (19 ml / 30 km west of Lisbon) for repairs, where both damaged aft stabilizers were removed. The cruise itinerary was changed, skipping the Spanish ports Cadiz and Malaga, also the call port Azores. The ship arrived in Barcelona at night. As compensation, all passengers received a 20% discount on a future Royal Caribbean cruise.

29 March 2006Drug Smuggling

On March 29, 2006, while the ship was docked in Philipsburg (St Maarten), a male crew jumped overboard from a crew deck. He reached the pier, climbed up a ladder and started walking toward the shore. He was arrested quickly, handcuffed and turned over to the ship’s security staff. Police K-9 units were brought on the ship and found drugs. The crew then was handed over to the local police.