Norwegian Dawn accidents and incidents

24 February 2024Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

On the evening of February 24, 2025, after bypassing Reunion Island (skipping the call at Saint-Denis), Norwegian Dawn reached Mauritius a day ahead of the scheduled (for Feb 25th) arrival at Port Louis. However, citing concerns about a potential illness outbreak (of cholera or GI/Norovirus) the Mauritian maritime authorities blocked the vessel/denied entry "to mitigate health risks".

According to an NCLH/Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings representative, a total of 15 passengers on the current voyage exhibited mild symptoms of a GI/gastrointestinal illness.

The ship's Master (Captain Hakan Svedung) informed passengers of the possibility of a cholera outbreak on board.

The ship planned to disembark in Port Louis ~2000 tourists, while another 2000 were scheduled to board simultaneously. Affected passengers and those joining the cruise in Mauritius proceeded with embarkation/disembarkation on February 27th.

The accident occurred during the 12-day voyage from Port Louis to Cape Town (itinerary February 25-March 8) with scheduled visits to Reunion Island (Saint-Denis/Feb 26th/canceled), Madagascar (Antsiranana-Diego Suarez/Feb 28th, Nosy Be Island/Feb 29) and South Africa (Richards Bay/Mar 3rd, Gqeberha-Port Elizabeth/Mar 5, Mossel Bay/Mar 6th).

Note: In January 2024, in Zambia alone, the Doctors Without Borders charity reported 700+ cholera cases. For two years (Jan 2022 through Jan 2024), the UN reported cholera outbreaks in seven countries in southern Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, Congo), with ~190,000 cases and 4000+ deaths.

May 2022Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) In May 2022, during a Transatlantic cruise from the USA to Europe, the ship experienced a COVID outbreak which resulted in two canceled call ports.

The accident occurred during the 16-day crossing from NYC New York to Southampton England (itinerary April 28 - May 14) with call ports in Canada (Reykjavik), Northern Ireland (Belfast), Ireland (Dublin), Netherlands (IJmuiden), Belgium (Zeebrugge-Bruges), and France (Le Havre-Paris). As the ship was denied docking and passenger disembarkation in Belgium and France, the visits to ports Zeebrugge and Le Havre were canceled and replaced with days at sea.

After docking in Southampton, all passengers were allowed to debark the ship, with the COVID-positive disembarking last. NCL didn't disclose the number of infected. Ex-passengers' Facebook posts suggested between 120-220 cases (infected passengers only), all were quarantined in their staterooms, with room service provided complimentarily.

As compensation for the missed ports, NCL offered a 50% refund in FCC (future cruise credit), automatically transferred to a future voyage.

27 March 2018Coast Guard Medevacs

On March 27, 2018, a 3-year-old boy (suffering intestinal problems) was medevaced from the liner approx 200 ml / 320 km southwest of Key West Florida. The boy and his mother were hoisted and flown by a USCG helicopter team to Lower Keys Medical Center (Key West FL).

The ship was en-route from homeport Tampa to Cozumel, Mexico, on a 7-day itinerary (March 25 - April 1) to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan Island, Harvest Caye.

20 November 2017Coast Guard Medevacs

On November 20, 2017, a 56-year-old male passenger (with stroke-like symptoms) was USCG-medevaced from the ship, approx 55 ml (90 km) off North Carolina's coast. The man was airlifted by an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter (deployed from Air Station Elizabeth City) and flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

October 2017Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

October 2007, CDC reported on voyage Oct 14 to 26, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected a total of 149 passengers (out of 2169, or 6,9%) and 15 crew (out of 1056, or 1,4%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours. The ship was on 12-day Atlantic Coastal (Canada New England) cruise from homeport NYC New York.

14 August 2017Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On August 14, 2017, a 15-year-old male passenger was reportedly raped by a 30-year-old male passenger on the ship while docked in Kings Wharf (Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda). The ship remained berthed there in the period Aug 13-16.

The rapist (Adam Christopher Boyd, from Bay Springs, Mississippi USA) was charged with one count of sexual abuse of a minor. The man was arrested in Bermuda and extradited back to the USA. Criminal charges were filed on August 30. The incident occurred on a 7-day Bermuda cruise roundtrip from homeport Boston MA to King's Wharf (aka Royal Naval Dockyard, 3-day port stay).

The boy was reportedly drinking alcohol with other teenagers on Deck 13 when he was met by Boyd. The man told him that he was a hairdresser and offered to braid his hair. Reportedly, he asked the boy about his age, to which he clearly answered 15. Then the man escorted him back to his stateroom.

Cruise liner’s CCTV footage showed them both leaving Deck 13 early in the morning (Aug 14), the boy appearing to be intoxicated (which was later verified by another passenger). When they reached a secluded area on Deck 14, the man kissed the boy and put his hands down the kid’s pants and genitals. Then the boy was anally raped. He reported the incident to his family, who in turn alerted ship’s security and local police. The Bermudian police officers took the minor to a hospital where he was administered a rape kit (sexual assault forensic exam).

According to the affidavit, the adult man violated Title 18 USCA Section 2243 defying "sexual abuse of a minor" as knowingly engaging (or attempting to engage) in a sexual act with a person under the age of 16 and who is 4 or more years younger than the assailant. The crime carries a 5 to 15 years jail sentence plus a fine up to USD 250,000.

02 January 2016Drug Smuggling

On January 2, 2016, US federal authorities arrested in port NOLA New Orleans 5 male crew and charged them with cocaine smuggling. One of the arrested men (of Jamaican origin) was carrying USD 19,000 wrapped in plastic bag. He confessed the money was intended to buy drugs.

The drug bust happened when the ship was docked in homeport NOLA. Homeland Security agents spotted 3 of the crew gathered inside a restroom at Riverwalk Mall (located near the cruise terminal) and acting suspiciously. After the arrest, agents seized a shoulder bag with 6 packages of cocaine.

Once in custody, the men admitted to smuggling and agreed to cooperate. According to the complaint, the total quantity of smuggled cocaine was ~4,75 kilos / 10,5 pounds. The drugs were imported from Honduras (Roatan). The other call ports along the 7-day Western Caribbean "New Year Cruise" (itinerary (Dec 27 – Jan 2) were Belize City, Costa Maya and Cozumel Mexico.

18 July 2015Coast Guard Medevacs

On July 18, 2015, a 19-year-old female passenger suffered appendicitis and at ~10 pm was medevaced by a USCG helicopter. The woman was transported to Hyannis MA (Barnstable Municipal Airport), then transported by an ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital.

19 May 2015Ship Grounding

On May 19, 2015, at ~5 pm, the ship ran aground (hit a coral reef) in Bermuda shortly after leaving call port King’s Wharf. The incident was the result of steering system malfunction, which sent the vessel off course. After being grounded for ~6 hours, the vessel was floated off with the high tide, then moved to an anchorage position nearby for inspection.

After the inspection (done by an independent dive team and the ship’s engineering crew) the ship's structural integrity was confirmed. No injuries or hull damages were reported. On the next day, it continued the voyage back to homeport Boston MA.

Note: Most ship grounding accidents (when the marine vessel’s hull impacts the seabed) happen at lower cruising speeds since the ships operate in known to be shallow waters. Such incidents usually result in stranding (with or without significant hull damages). However, if the hull is breached, the result would be flooding, which may compromise the vessel’s stability and safety. The well-known example of such a tragic accident is the Costa Concordia sinking after hitting a rock in January 2012.

17 April 2015Drug Smuggling

On April 17, 2015, a 35-year-old male crew was arrested and charged with cocaine smuggling. The arrest was made when the ship docked at Coxen Hole (Roatan Island, Honduras). The man (Keneth Antonio Salas Taylor, of Nicaraguan origin) worked in the ship's galley/kitchen. He was arrested while trying to board the liner with a package of the drug hidden under his clothes. The ship’s security discovered the drugs and reported the incident to the local police.

24 August 2013Propulsion / Power Loss

On August 24, 2013, during the Bermuda cruise from NYC, due to engines failure, the ship lost power and drifted for ~2 hours in the Atlantic Ocean. After fixing the problem, it reached Bermuda as scheduled.

14 March 2012Crew / Passenger Deaths

On March 14, 2012, a 61-year-old female passenger died on an NCL-sponsored shore excursion in Dominica. The woman was snorkelling with friends when she started to experience difficulties in the water. Later on shore, she collapsed. The administered CPR failed to revive her.

28 October 2011Crew / Passenger Deaths

On October 28, 2011, two passengers died (separately) on the ship. A 67-year-old female passenger died from natural causes. A 23-year-old male passenger was found dead in his cabin (unknown cause of death).

16 October 2011Drug Smuggling

On October 16, 2011, a  58-year-old male passenger was arrested, charged with marijuana smuggling into Bermuda (~23,5 g) and two days later fined USD 10,000. The drugs were found in his cabin using a drug-sniffing dog.

13 June 2011Drug Smuggling

(law news) On June 17, 2011, a male passenger was sentenced to 30 months in jail for smuggling marijuana into Bermuda (street value ~USD 100,000). The man (of US origin) received USD 7,000 for delivering the drugs. Then he tried to transfer the money via Western Union, where the staff asked him to prove a legitimate income. He had no such documents, so he brought the money back to the ship and stashed it in his cabin’s safe. Notified, Bermuda Customs officers boarded the ship, searched his stateroom (June 13) and found the cash along with drug residue.

27 August 2010Propulsion / Power Loss

On August 27, 2010, after experiencing engine problems (resulting in reduced cruising speed), the vessel left early call port King’s Wharf Bermuda (~11 hours early than originally scheduled) and arrived in homeport NYC New York ~1 hour late. Passengers were compensated with US$50 in onboard credit per cabin.

28 June 2010Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On June 28, 2010, a 53-year-old male passenger was fined USD 5000 after admitting a sexual assault on an 18-year-old female passenger. The incident occurred at a dinner in the Main Dining Room restaurant. He and his family were dining together with the girl’s family, where under the table he inappropriately touched her legs several times with his foot.

11 December 2009Crew / Passenger Crimes

On December 11, 2009, on an NCL-sponsored shore excursion in St Lucia, a group of 14 passengers were robbed by 4 masked and armed men. At ~11 am, the cruise ship tourists were returning to Castries from a waterfall excursion when the masked men approached and robbed them of all valuables. No injuries among the passengers were reported.

27 November 2009Propulsion / Power Loss

On November 27, 2009, at ~9 am, while returning to homeport Miami FL, the ship experienced power loss (power outage) incident, approx 95 ml / 150 km north of Puerto Rico. USCG assets (helicopters and boats) arrived at the scene for assistance. The power loss affected all the cruise vessel’s hotel services – electricity, running water, toilets and air-conditioning systems. After some power was restored, the NCL ship managed to arrive by its own power to San Juan Puerto Rico for repairs.

17 October 2009Drug Smuggling

(law news) On October 17, 2009, a male passenger was sentenced to 7 years in jail in Bermuda. The man was charged for marijuana smuggling. All 32 packages (~5 kilos, street value USD 252,000) were found in his cabin.

11 May 2008Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On May 11, 2008, at ~8 pm, a 46-year-old female passenger fell overboard near Atlantic City NJ. The ship was on 7-day Bermuda cruise from homeport NYC New York. Due to bad weather, the search operation was called off. CCTV camera showed the woman trying to climb between two cabin balconies then falling overboard.

May 2007Propulsion / Power Loss

On March 30, 2007, the shipowner NCL announced that on May 29, 2007, the ship will enter drydock in Boston MA for propulsion system repairs. Two scheduled itineraries (May 26, June 2) were cancelled. All booked passengers received a full refund plus 25% future NCL cruise booking discount.

21 November 2006Propulsion / Power Loss

On November 21, 2006, the ship was en-route from NYC to Florida when propulsion problems forced it to dock unscheduled at ~6:45 pm in Norfolk VA. The ship stayed in port ~1 day for repairs, leaving on Nov 22 at ~5 pm. As compensation, all passengers received a full refund, plus 25% future NCL cruise booking discount and US$100 in onboard credit per cabin.

02 July 2005Propulsion / Power Loss

On July 2, 2005, during NYC to Bahamas cruise, after leaving call port Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas), the ship experienced propulsion issues with one of its two Azipod thrusters. The incident resulted in reduced cruising speed and itinerary change – call port Nassau was dropped.

16 April 2005Ship Listing

On April 16, 2005, while en-route from the Bahamas to NYC New York and sailing in rough weather, the vessel encountered off Georgia’s coast three consecutive 70 ft / 21 m rogue waves. The last wave caused the most serious damages, breaking windows on upper decks 9 and 10 (including at Navigation Bridge), also flooding several decks below. A total of 62 passenger staterooms were flooded. The hull was also damaged (bent) after the spare anchor hit the deck.

The ship’s infirmary reported 4 passengers with minor injuries during the incident. The ship diverted its course to Charleston SC for repairs, from where continued to New York. It arrived late in NYC (by 1 day). As compensation, all passengers received free onboard drinks, 50% refund plus 50% future NCL cruise booking discount. The next 6-night Bahamas cruise from NYC was revised to 7 nights.