Norwegian Gem accidents and incidents

June 2022Other Incidents

In late-June 2022, NCL announced "The Broadway Cruise” (7-night itinerary roundtrip from Manhattan Terminal NYC to Bermuda) featuring live performances from several musical artists.

The music-themed voyage (March 31 - April 5, 2023) was promoted by Sixthman (2001-founded music festival company, since 2012 operates as a theme cruise charter company owned by NCL) and EBG (Electronic Business Group/1998-founded, e-commerce company specializing in travel and entertainment).

Prices started from USD 1165 / EUR 1100 per person with double occupancy, according to Sixthman and EBG.

When the announcement was made (June 23, 2022), the list of musical performers included Alan Cumming, Jeremy Jordan, Joshua Henry, Kristin Chenoweth, Laura Benanti, Lena Hall, Randy Rainbow, Sierra Boggess, Taylor Louderman, with more artists to be included leading up to the voyage. Christopher Jahnke was contracted as musical director and supervisor.

April 2020Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) On May 1, 2020, the US-based news website Business Insider reported that according to obtained by them emails, at least two crew died on the NCL Gem ship in April.

The first death was on April 13th, when a crew filmed in PortMiami HAZMAT-geared personnel offloading and ambulancing a covered body on a stretcher. The second death was on April 30th - when the ship's senior physician (Alex Guevara) was found dead in his cabin. Both bodies were not autopsied.

Followed an email from NCL's Chief Medical Officer to the med staff fleetwide, which stated "Cardio-Respiratory Arrest" (heart attack) as the cause of both deaths, and "no symptoms of COVID-19".  According to shipboard employees, Dr Guevara was treated for pneumonia and never tested for COVID-19. Reportedly, a nurse who worked with him tested positive for the virus.

According to the NCL's email, the first death was a 56-year-old Filipino man who suffered tachycardia arrhythmia (heart palpitations and shortness of breath). He was treated onboard as The Bahamas denied debarkation in Bahamian ports.

In April, Norwegian Gem, together with several other fleetmates, was laid-up / anchored off Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. The cruise liners were without passengers after NCL suspended fleetwide shipping operations on March 14.

25 April 2019Crew / Passenger Crimes

On April 26, 2019, after the liner berthed in homeport Boston MA, a 45-year-old male passenger was arrested and charged with "assault" and "assault resulting in substantial bodily injury". The man (Adam Damian Panetta, from Farmingville NY) assaulted a female passenger on April 25, while the vessel was approx 320 km (200 mi) off New Jersey's coast.

The arrest was based on a CCTV video showing how he pulls by the hair a woman and drags her down the hallway's full length. The footage showed the man in the hallway (cabin corridor) attempting to open his cabin door. Then the woman started hitting him in the face with an open hand. He then turned toward her and punched her (with a closed fist) twice in the side of the head, after which she fell to the ground. He then entered his cabin, leaving her unresponsive/unconscious on the floor in the corridor. After ~1 min, he came out and leaned down to her. She eventually became conscious and started to crawl into the cabin. The man not only didn't assist her but while crawling he kicked her twice (in the buttocks), then followed her into her cabin. A short time later, both left the cabin with the woman holding over her head a blood-stained towel. Both later arrived at cruise liner's Infirmary where the woman was treated for head swelling (~8 cm, on the right side) and a laceration (2,5 cm, requiring 5 stitches).

The incident occurred at the end of a 7-day Bermuda cruise (itinerary April 19-26) roundtrip from Boston to Kings Wharf.

(law news/update) On September 27, 2019, the man pleaded guilty to "assault resulting in substantial bodily injury". The charge allows for up to 5-year jail sentence, 3-year supervised release and up to USD 250,000 fine. The sentencing was scheduled for January 8, 2020.

03 July 2018Crew / Passenger Deaths

On July 3, 2018, a male passenger drowned on Great Stirrup Cay (NCL's Bahamas private island). The man was discovered by a fellow passenger unresponsive and floating in the waters off the island around 1 pm. According to the Berry Island Police report, he was removed from the water and CPR was rendered. The man was then transported to Bullock's Harbour Community Clinic, where he was pronounced dead.

The incident occurred during 7-day Florida-Bahamas cruise (itinerary June 30 - July 7) roundtrip from homeport NYC New York to Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau.

09 November 2017Propulsion / Power Loss

On November 9, 2017, during 11-day Eastern-Southern Caribbean cruise (itinerary Oct 31 - Nov 11) from homeport NYC New York, the ship suffered partial power loss (Azipod/propulsion unit failure) resulting in reduced speed.

The vessel was rerouted to Bridgetown Barbados, where all passengers were disembarked and flown back to NYC. The next scheduled Caribbean cruise (itinerary Nov 11-21) was cancelled. As compensation, all booked passengers received a full refund, plus 50% future NCL cruise credit (based on the cancelled cruise fare paid). NCL also covered airfare change fees (up to USD 300 pp) for passengers with independently purchased airfare.

24 July 2016Coast Guard Medevacs

On July 24, 2016, two male passengers with medical complications (unspecified) were medevaced by two USCG vessels (MH-60 helicopter, C-130 Hercules) dispatched from Air Station Elizabeth City (North Carolina). The NCL ship was approx 75 ml (120 km) northeast of Cape Henry Virginia when the USCG was notified.

The rescue vessel arrived at the ship’s current position (approx 60 ml / 95 km east of Wachapreague Inlet) at ~5 am. Both men were airlifted and flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The incident occurred while the ship was en-route from homeport NYC to Port Canaveral, on 7-day Florida Bahamas cruise (itinerary July 23-30) visiting also Great Stirrup Cay Island and Nassau.

March 2016Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

March 2016, during 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise (itinerary March 12-22) from homeport NYC New York, the ship reported around 2% of its passengers suffering from Norovirus symptoms. Due to the infection risk, the ship was denied berthing at the scheduled call port Philipsburg (St Maarten) on March 18.

Later, CDC issued an official report, according to which the Norovirus outbreak infected a total of 128 passengers (out of 2882, or 4,4%) and 7 crew (out of 1100, or 0,6%).

17 May 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

On May 17, 2015, a 10-year-old girl drowned in an onboard swimming pool (Tahitian Beach Pool on Lido Deck 12). The kid was found by other passengers face-down in the water and unresponsive. Some of them were medical doctors and nurses. They immediately started working on the girl poolside until the ship’s med team arrived on the scene. The administered CPR procedures failed to revive her.

When the accident occurred, the ship was approx 80 ml / 130 km east of Myrtle Beach SC. The ship was on 7-day Florida Bahamas cruise (itinerary May 16-13) from homeport NYC New York to Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay Island and Nassau.

29 April 2015Boat Rescue

On April 29, 2015, while en-route from Nassau Bahamas to NYC New York, the ship detoured to assist in a search and rescue operation conducted by two Royal Caribbean ships – Enchantment of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas. They were searching for a seaman who fell overboard from his yacht. Soon the cruise vessels were joined by a USCG helicopter. After ~1 hour aerial search, the man was found and successfully rescued.

29 January 2015Coast Guard Medevacs

On January 29, 2015, a 66-year-old female passenger suffered diabetes complications and was medevaced by USCG helicopter team. The ship was approx 220 ml / 350 km off North Carolina's coast. The woman was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

26 March 2014Coast Guard Medevacs

On March 26, 2014, the ship requested assistance for a male passenger in medical distress. The man was travelling on a honeymoon cruise with his newly-wed wife. He was medevaced at ~5 pm by USCG helicopter MH-60 Jayhawk dispatched from Elizabeth City NC. They met the NCL ship approx 180 ml / 290 km off North Carolina’s coast, airlifted and transported the passenger to Albemarle Hospital (Elizabeth City).

November 2013Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

November 2013, CDC reported on voyage Nov 16 to 25, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected a total of 111 passengers (out of 2600, or 4,3%) and 3 crew (out of 1064, or 0,3%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours.

27 January 2013Coast Guard Medevacs

On January 27, 2013, a female passenger suffered an appendicitis attack and was USCG-medevaced. The ship had to return back toward Puerto Rico to meet the USCG helicopter. The incident caused ~3 hours late arrival in homeport NYC.

05 January 2010Propulsion / Power Loss

On January 5, 2010, the vessel reported propulsion problems resulting in temporary power loss/drifting and itinerary change (call port San Juan Puerto Rico was skipped). On the next scheduled cruise (also Caribbean roundtrip from homeport NYC New York) the ship continued to experience problems with one of its Azipod thruster units.

Passengers reported constant listing to starboard and vibrations for 5 days until the ship arrived in call port Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas USVI), where the propulsion unit was fixed.

14 December 2009Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On December 14, 2009, 7 passengers sustained injuries in a bus crash accident on NCL-sponsored shore excursion in Port Canaveral Florida. At ~2 pm, on Merritt Island, the tour bus with all 43 passengers and crew was hit by a car. The car driver was killed.