Vision Of The Seas accidents and incidents

28 March 2024Other Incidents

On March 28, 2024, Royal Caribbean emailed customers booked on Vision OTS' next scheduled voyage (departure April 12th) that the ship will sail from Norfolk VA instead of Baltimore MD. The announcement also included info on an itinerary change

The itinerary change followed the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge (across the Patapsco River) after a container ship struck one of the bridge's support pillars. The maritime accident essentially blocked Baltimore Harbor from shipping traffic.

The revised "Southeast Coast and Bahamas Cruise" itinerary was shortened from 8 days to 7 days (April 12-19) and left from Norfolk instead of Baltimore. The original route included visits to South Carolina (Charleston/Apr 14), Florida (Port Canaveral-Orlando/Apr 15) and The Bahamas (Freeport/Apr 16, and Nassau/Apr 17).

The changed itinerary included a sea day (Apr 13) and visits to Charleston SC (Apr 14), Port Canaveral (Apr 15), Freeport (Apr 16) plus two more sea days (Apr 17-18). Embarkation/debarkation was in Norfolk, with check-in scheduled for 12:30-3:30 PM.

Note: Royal Caribbean last homeported in Norfolk Virginia in the period 2007-2010.

The other large liner based in Baltimore (Carnival Legend) was also temporarily moved to Norfolk.

23 December 2023Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On December 23, 2023, a 41-year-old male passenger went overboard while the ship was navigating along the East Coast USA (~127 mi/205 km east of Charleston SC) en route from Maryland to Florida.

The USCG was contacted and a rescue helicopter arrived at the scene at 9:51 pm (2:51 UTC)). The ship deployed a rescue boat to assist in the search for the missing man. Vision OTS searched for the man for ~6 hours and at ~ 2 am was released and resumed the voyage.

The search and rescue operation was commanded by USCG’s Sector North Carolina. The Captain's call was received at 7:17 pm (0:17 UTC). For the mission were dispatched two aircraft (Lockheed C-130 Hercules) - one from Elizabeth City NC and one from Clearwater FL. The body was not found.

The incident occurred at the beginning of the Christmas-themed 8-day "Perfect Day Holiday Cruise" (Florida-Bahamas itinerary/Dec 22-30, roundtrip from Baltimore MD) with call ports in Florida (Port Canaveral/Dec 24), the Bahamas (Resorts World Bimini/Dec 25, CocoCay/Dec 26, and Freeport/Dec 27).

21 September 2023Other Incidents

On September 21, 2023, RCI officially canceled the ship's September 23rd voyage (5-day roundtrip from Baltimore Maryland) due to Hurricane Ophelia. The decision was made following forecasts of high winds and swells around Baltimore.

The canceled 5-day "Bermuda Cruise" (itinerary Sept 23-28) was a roundtrip from homeport Baltimore, with a planned overnight stay in King's Wharf on Sept 25-26.

As compensation, all affected bookings were fully refunded (100%), including Gov taxes, port fees, pre-paid gratuities, pre-purchased (if any) packages, amenities, shore excursions, as well as flights purchased through RCI. In addition, all bookings received a 50% FCC (future cruise credit) to be used towards an RCI cruise if booked by December 31st (2023).

Note: Hurricane Ophelia (2023) was a powerful tropical storm in the Atlantic that developed on September 17th (east of Florida) and on September 22nd moved northward, with landfall in North Carolina (off near Emerald Isle/Carteret County NC) at 10:15 UTC. On the same day (Sept 22) was declared a state of emergency in three East Coast USA states (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina). The storm's max sustained winds were 70 mph/110 km/h, while gusts reached up to 80 mph/130 km/h.

04 May 2020Other Incidents

On May 4, 2020, due to the upcoming fleetwide crew repatriation, Royal Caribbean cancelled two planned for June cruises on Vision OTS and Anthem OTS. The cancelled departures were for June 13 (Vision OTS, 12-day "Mediterranean Greek Isles Cruise" itinerary roundtrip from Barcelona Spain) and for June 20 (Anthem OTS, 8-day "Spain and Portugal Cruise" itinerary roundtrip from Southampton UK).

All affected bookings were provided with 2 option - 125% refund in FCC (Future Cruise Credit) with rebooking or 100% cash refund.

05 September 2019Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) In the morning on September 5, 2019, a 26-year-old male crew died after falling off the cruise liner and into the sea. The ship was docked in call port Livorno (Pier 47 Terminal, port stay 7 am - 7 pm) and the Filipino man was performing maintenance works at vessel's starboard side. According to Italian media sources, the crew was not wearing PPE (personal protection equipment) as required by the “work aloft” procedures.

The man fell into the water between the liner and an adjacent cargo ship and didn't surface. Port's harbormaster office and city's fire brigade immediately launched a search and rescue operation. Fire department divers subsequently located and retrieved the body.

The incident occurred during 12-day Western Mediterranean cruise (itinerary Sept 3-15) roundtrip from homeport Barcelona (Spain) to France (Villefranche-sur-Mer), Italy (Livorno, Civitavecchia-Rome, Salerno, Venice), Croatia (Split) and Montenegro (Kotor).

12 June 2018Crew / Passenger Crimes

This report is related to the theme "Anchored Cruise 2018". This was a ship charter on 5-day itinerary (June 7-12) roundtrip from Barcelona to Cannes (June 8), Ibiza (June 10) and Palma de Mallorca (June 11). Based on the overall onboard experience, major UK media described the themed cruise as "drug-fueled orgy".

The liner was charted to "Anchored Cruises" - a UK company promoting once-in-a-lifetime, festival-like experience with "sun, sea and sass", wild pool parties, DJs, loud electronic music.

It was reported that during the chartered voyage most of the young passengers were taking drugs (weed and cocaine), drinking excessively, passing out around the swimming pool, vomiting in the pool and over the railings into the sea. Some were assisted by the crew, taking them back to their staterooms in wheelchairs. Many passengers were walking around the ship half naked.

22 May 2018Propulsion / Power Loss

On May 22, 2018, while navigating in Eastern Mediterranean and en-route from Mykonos to Santorini, the ship suffered power outage resulting in propulsion loss and drifting with only emergency lighting on. Soon the power was restored, but AIS data showed highly reduced speed (13 kph) while moving toward Santorini Island.

The accident occurred during 12-day Greek Isles cruise (itinerary May 14-26) roundtrip from homeport Barcelona to call ports Cannes, Livorno, Rome, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Valletta.

24 December 2017Coast Guard Medevacs

On December 24, 2017, a 23-year-old female passenger diagnosed “suspected internal bleeding from a prior incident” was medevaced from the ship approx 100 ml (160 km) south of Southwest Pass (Louisiana). The woman was airlifted by a USCG helicopter and flown in stable condition to Jefferson Medical Center (New Orleans).

The ship was on 6-day Western Caribbean "Christmas Cruise" (itinerary Dec 23-29) roundtrip from Galveston TX to Mexico (Costa Maya, Cozumel, Progreso).

08 December 2017Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On December 8, 2017, a 24-year-old male crew was reported missing and presumably overboard. The man was from Mauritius. He checked into his shift (as swimming pool attendant on deck 9) at 5 am and disappeared sometime thereafter.

The accident occurred at the beginning of a 5-day Western Caribbean cruise (itinerary Dec 9-14) roundtrip from Galveston to Mexico (Costa Maya, and Cozumel).

29 December 2015Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

On December 29, 2015, the ship made an unplanned stop in call port Cozumel Mexico to offload 2 passengers. Initially were reported two bodies being offloaded (in body bags) and carried away by 2 ambulances. Later, the ship’s Captain announced via the PA system that due to illness 2 passengers were disembarked in Cozumel.

On Dec 23, he made another announcement about both of them being well. One of them even rejoined the ship on Dec 24 (scheduled stop in Cozumel). The ship was on 7-day Western Caribbean "Christmas Cruise" (itinerary Dec 19-26) roundtrip from homeport Tampa Florida to Roatan (Honduras), Belize City, Mexico (Costa Maya, and Cozumel).

08 December 2014Coast Guard Medevacs

On December 8, 2014, a 59-year-old male passenger suffered from a heart attack and was medevaced to Tampa FL by a USCG helicopter team dispatched from St Petersburg, Florida.

February 2013Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

February 2013, CDC reported on the voyage Feb 25 to Mar 8, a Norovirus outbreak affected 118 passengers (out of 1991, or 5,9%) and 3 crew (out of 765, or 0,4%). All sick experienced the Norovirus symptoms (Gastrointestinal disease) of vomiting and diarrhoea. The next departure from homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) was delayed for extensive sanitizing.

At the same time, there was a major fire on Carnival Triumph (now Sunrise). These accidents affected the shares of both the largest cruise companies in the stock market. Royal Caribbean stocks fell 2,9% (to USD 34.35 per share) and Carnival Cruise Line's fell 1,5% (to USD 35,69 per share).

20 December 2012Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On December 20, 2012, a 59-year-old male passenger was forcibly removed from the ship in St John’s (Antigua). The forced disembarkation was due to an altercation incident, in which he attacked a 53-year-old male passenger (who used a service dog). The attacker was removed for violating the cruise line’s guest conduct policy (inappropriate/abusive behaviour). The ship was on a 6-day cruise (itinerary Dec 14-20) from homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale FL).

19 December 2012Crew / Passenger Deaths

On December 19, 2012, a male passenger died ashore during a sponsored by Royal Caribbean shore excursion in Dominica. The deceased (Jim Caves, from Riverside CA) was snorkelling when felt sick, experiencing difficulties in breathing. The man was transported to a local hospital where he died.

March 2010Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

On March 6, 2010, according to local news media reports, 348 people (of all 1987 passengers and 765 crew) suffered from Norovirus symptoms when the vessel was anchored in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The itinerary started in Santos Brazil and included as ports of call Buzios, Rio and Ilhabela.

22 February 2006Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(sexual) On February 22, 2006, a 35-year-old female passenger reported sexual assault. The woman (from Sacramento CA, USA) was assaulted and also battered by one of the ship’s security guards, who entered her cabin. During the incident, the ship was on a Mexico Riviera cruise (itinerary Feb 19-22). The lawsuit was filed on August 8, 2006.

February 2006Propulsion / Power Loss

On February 19, 2006, port call Mazatlan was dropped from the itinerary due to propulsion system problems (short circuit in the propulsion motor starboard). The incident resulted in reduced cruising speed. The problems occurred first on Feb 9 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, while the vessel manoeuvred for docking. Then it caused several hours late arrival in homeport Los Angeles CA. and on the next itinerary port call Puerto Vallarta was skipped.

As compensation, all passengers received US$100 in onboard credit. Those on the shortened itinerary received US$200 in onboard credit. On both voyages, they were given the option to cancel at the last minute (without refund).

09 August 2003Propulsion / Power Loss

On August 9, 2003, while operating in Alaska, propulsion motors malfunctioning caused the ship to leave 17 hours late the call port Ketchikan AK.

18 July 2003Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(sexual) On July 18, 2003, when the ship docked in Skagway AK, a 28-year-old male passenger was arrested and charged for sexual assault of a 22-year-old female passenger. The incident happened near Glacier Bay, Alaska.