Oceania Riviera accidents and incidents

02 January 2019Drug Smuggling

On January 2, 2019, upon debarkation from the ship in PortMiami, a 31-year-old male crew was arrested and charged with drug smuggling ("intentionally import a controlled substance"). Wilford Thobourne (from Johannesburg, South Africa) tried to smuggle 3,7 pounds (1,7 kilos) of cocaine with a street value over USD 200,000. The drugs were found hidden inside his sandals' soles and in his underwear.

The incident occurred at the end of 14-day Caribbean Pearls Cruise (itinerary Dec 19 - Jan 2) roundtrip from PortMiami to Great Stirrup Cay Island (Bahamas), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Gustavia (Saint Barthelemy), Fort-de-France (Martinique), Bridgetown (Barbados), Roseau (Dominica), Castries (St Lucia), St Johns (Antigua), Kingstown (St Vincent, Grenadines) and Philipsburg (St Maarten).

(law news) The man was due to appear before a federal judge for a detention hearing on January 9, with court arraignment scheduled for January 17 in Miami.

02 January 2019Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On January 2, 2019, while the liner was berthed in PortMiami, a 38-year-old male crew died after falling from Deck 16's golf putting green (forward-starboard) on the pier. The man (Giuliano de Cicco, Italian) was working on the ship as Assistant Destination Manager (Oceania Cruises' Shore Excursions department). The ship delayed the passenger embarkation for ~2 hours.

The incident occurred at the beginning of 10-day "Sunny Charms" cruise (itinerary Jan 2-12) roundtrip from PortMiami to Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Philipsburg (St Maarten), St Johns (Antigua), Castries (St Lucia) and Gustavia (St Barthelemy).

April 2016Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

March-April 2016, CDC reported on itinerary Mar 22 – Apr 3, Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 98 passengers (out of 1204, or 8,1%) and 6 crew (out of 776, or 0,8%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours. The 14-day Southern Caribbean cruise was roundtrip from homeport Miami.

February 2016Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In February 2016, CDC reported on itinerary Feb 12-22, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 79 passengers (out of 1225, or 6,5%) and 3 crew (out of 773, or 0,4%). The ship was on 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from homeport Miami to Grand Turk, San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Barthelemy, Philipsburg (St Maarten), Tortola (BVI), Samana (Dominican Republic), Nassau (Bahamas).

18 November 2015Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

November-December 2015, CDC reported on itinerary Nov 18 - Dec 2, a Norovirus outbreak affected 74 passengers (out of 1160, or 6,4%) and 12 crew (out of 776, or 1,6%). Twice a day, reports of illness cases were sent to CDC’s VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program). The ship was on 14-day Transatlantic crossing (repositioning cruise) from Europe to Florida (Barcelona to Miami) with scheduled call ports Cartagena (Spain), Royal Naval Dockyard (Bermuda, Nov 28-29) and Nassau (Bahamas, Dec 1). The scheduled stop in Bermuda was cancelled as local authorities deemed the outbreak “public health risk”.

15 November 2012Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

In November 2012, CDC reported on itinerary Nov 15 to 29, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 37 passengers (out of 1019, or 3,6%) and 13 crew (out of 767, or 1,7%). Onboard announcements were made regularly to notify passengers of the illness outbreak, to encourage case reporting and hand hygiene. The ship operated on a 14-day Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from homeport Miami Florida.

11 May 2012Other Incidents

The cruise ship’s christening ceremony was originally scheduled for April 19, 2012 (Monte Carlo, Monaco). In January 2012, the shipowner Oceania announced that the vessel’s inaugural cruise will be delayed due to labour strikes at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard. The ship was named in Barcelona on May 11, 2012. The 10-day maiden voyage started on May 16 (oneway itinerary from Venice to Piraeus-Athens).