Seabourn Quest accidents and incidents

April 2020Other Incidents

(crew repatriation) In mid-April 2020, Carnival Corporation developed a repatriation plan using 8 cruise liners from 3 of its brands - Princess Cruises (ships Caribbean, Crown, Island, Regal), HAL-Holland America Line (ships Nieuw Amsterdam, Veendam, Volendam) and Seabourn Cruises (ship Quest) to bring crew back home. The planned relocations (announced on April 18) included:

Caribbean Princess repositioning from The Bahamas to repatriate staff-crew to countries in the Caribbean and South America.

(two Transatlantic crossings) Regal Princess repositioning from Bimini Islands (Bahamas) to Europe (Southampton UK and Rotterdam Holland) to repatriate all European staff-crew. Crown Princess repositioning from Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA) to Asia and South Africa to repatriate all Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.

(Panama Canal transit) Island Princess repositioning from Fort Lauderdale to Asia to repatriate Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.

(three Panama Canal transitions) The 3 HAL ships (anchored near Great Harbour Cay Bahamas) - Nieuw Amsterdam, Veendam and Volendam - reposition to Asia to repatriate all HAL's Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.

(Transatlantic crossing) Seabourn Quest repositioning from Speightstown (aka Little Bristol, Barbados) to Europe, also carrying staff-crew from Seabourn Odyssey (also being anchored near Speightstown).

17 February 2018Crew / Passenger Deaths

On February 17, 2018, the ship's Captain Bjarne Larsen died. The ship was operating in South America, en-route from Ushuaia (Argentina) to Port Stanley (East Falkland Island). Captain Larsen joined Seabourn Cruises in 2009. He was previously employed by Fred Olsen and Hurtigruten.

11 September 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On September 11, 2015, at ~7 pm, a 59-year-old female passenger went overboard while the ship was en route from Boston MA to Bar Harbor ME, approx 10 ml / 16 km off Rockport MA / Cape Ann's coast.

The cruise ship started a search operation lowering all its tender boats. It was later joined by USCG vessels (boat and helicopter). The body was found, but unfortunately not able to be revived.

Reportedly, the couple (from California USA) had a violent quarrel in their cabin (on deck 10 ). Their altercation was reported to the ship's security by neighbours. The case was investigated by the FBI, which agents boarded the ship in call port Bar Harbor ME and left with boxes from their cabin.

(law news) In November 2015, the case was reported still “an active investigation”. FBI revealed woman's name (Wendy Portman Lewis) and occupation (co-owner of a luxury jewelry shop in Palm Desert CA). Her death certificate noted that the death (not “due to injury”) was pronounced at 7:55 pm.