Seven Seas Voyager accidents and incidents

25 September 2018Ship Collision / Allision

(pier collision) On September 25, 2018, upon leaving Port Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy), the liner struck the pier with its stern.

The accident was due to bad weather (a series of wind gusts with speeds over 75 kph / 45 mph) and occurred shortly after the assisting tugboat released its mooring lines. No injuries were reported.

The vessel sustained only minor hull damage (aft-portside) but had to remain in port overnight. As a result, the scheduled for Sept 26 port call (Sorrento, Italy) was dropped and replaced with a sea day as the ship continued directly to the next call port Giardini-Naxos (Sicily, Italy). Some cosmetic repairs were completed on October 1, during the scheduled port stay in Koper (Slovenia). Compensation to passengers for the missed port call was not offered.

The accident occurred during a 12-day Mediterranean and Adriatic cruise (itinerary Sept 20 - Oct 2) from Monte Carlo (Monaco) to Venice (Italy), visiting Marseille, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Sorrento (skipped), Giardini-Naxos, Corfu, Kotor, Split, and Koper. Earlier, due to extreme weather conditions in the Mediterranean, the cruise itinerary was altered with 2 seaport changes - Sorrento was substituted with Capri, and Giardini-Naxos with Catania.

Note: Actually, this type of marine accident is called “allision” (striking a fixed object) as opposed to “collision” (striking another vessel).

17 March 2013Propulsion / Power Loss

On March 17, 2013, while en-route to Shanghai China, the vessel experienced propulsion problems resulting in reduced speeds, cancelled call port (Xiamen China) and ~6 hours late arrival.

03 February 2013Crew / Passenger Deaths

On February 3, 2013, a 24-year-old female crew was found dead in her cabin while the ship was docked in call port Darwin Australia. The woman (Jackie Kastrinelis, from Groveland MA, USA) worked on the ship for 2 years as lead singer in the theatre’s evening show “Cirque Voyager”. Her death was ruled non-suspicious (“sudden unexplained death syndrome”).

Reportedly, the woman previously suffered a head injury during a show rehearsal. The young woman had an ex-boyfriend (Roman, of Ukrainian origin, working on the ship as a saxophonist), a boyfriend Jaanus (of Estonian origin, working on the ship as engineer) and Daniel (who admitted having sex with her ~30 hours before the death). The police report revealed that door swipe records from the night of death didn’t match the accounts provided by these three men.

04 October 2010Propulsion / Power Loss

On October 4, 2010, due to azipod (propulsion) problems, the 14-day Mediterranean cruise from Athens to Venice was officially cancelled. All passengers were flown home from Athens Greece. They received as compensation full refunds. From port Piraeus (Athens) the ship moved to Genoa Italy for drydock repairs. The next scheduled cruise (itinerary Oct 17-27, Venice to Athens) was also cancelled.

14 March 2010Ship Collision / Allision

On March 14, 2010, while leaving Victoria Harbour (Hong Kong China), the cruise ship hit the stern of a Star Ferry ship (MS Twinkling Star).

The result was minor hull damage to the ferry. No injuries were reported.

22 March 2009Propulsion / Power Loss

On March 22, 2009, while en-route to Dubai UAE, one of the ship’s azipods (propulsion units) was entangled in a fishing net. All attempts to release the propeller failed. The result was reduced cruising speed and drydocking in port Dubai for repairs.

Due to the accident, the itinerary was altered by cancelling some call ports along the route (Mumbai India, Abu Dhabi UAE). Two scheduled cruises (itineraries April 18 and May 8) were officially cancelled. The Suez Canal repositioning cruise from Dubai to Istanbul Turkey had most of its call ports cancelled (except Muscat Oman, Safaga Egypt, Aqaba Jordan) and Istanbul was replaced with Rome Italy. Home flights were also rearranged.

All passengers were compensated with a full refund plus USD 500 in future RSSC cruise booking discount. Followed a month-long drydock in Genoa for repairs.

26 November 2008Propulsion / Power Loss

On November 26, 2008, the ship experienced propulsion issues (suffering propeller damages) after it entangled fishing nets. The accident resulted in reduced cruising speed and delayed with 1-day arrival in homeport Fort Lauderdale Florida. The ship was ending a Transatlantic cruise from Europe to the USA. All passengers were compensated with air changes. The next scheduled itinerary was changed – call port Santo Tomas de Castilla (aka Matías de Galvez, Guatemala) was dropped.

21 October 2008Ship Collision / Allision

(pier collision) On October 21, 2008, the ship hit with its stern (aft) the docking quay in Rhodes Town (Greece).

The vessel sustained only minor hull damage. No injuries were reported.

Note: Actually, this type of marine accident is called “allision” (striking a fixed object) as opposed to “collision” (striking another vessel).

27 November 2006Structural and Technical Issues

On November 27, 2006, the vessel’s drydock stay was extended in order to complete all the needed repairs on the azipod motors. As a result, 2 cruises (itineraries Nov 30 and Dec 4) were cancelled.

14 September 2006Boat Rescue

On September 14, 2006, while navigating in the Mediterranean Sea (Europe) and off Spain's coast, at ~10 am the ship rescued 9 men from a capsized boat. They were provided with cabins, food and clothing, and on September 15 turned over to the authorities in call port Barcelona.