ms Zuiderdam accidents and incidents

17 March 2022Drug Smuggling

On March 17, 2022, a 27-year-old male passenger was arrested in Port Uturoa (Raiatea Island, French Polynesia) after the police discovered in his luggage a total of 21 kg (46 pounds) of drugs (methamphetamine).

The man (Tahitian national) requested to offload a suitcase after MS Zuiderdam arrived and docked in Uturoa. When the border police officers inspected the suitcase they found ~4 kg (~9 pounds) of the drug inside. The rest of the drugs were found in his cabin, hidden in luggage.

According to local authorities, the seized drugs' worth in French Polynesia was ~US$50 million (~EUR 45,6M / ~GBP 37,9M), with street prices of ~US$2200 per gram in the country. The man remained in police custody on Raiatea for 4 days, then was transferred to Tahiti Island (Papeete). Reportedly, he was facing a jail sentence of up to 10 years for drug trafficking.

The incident occurred during the 35-day "Hawaii and Tahiti Cruise" (itinerary February 27 - April 3, roundtrip from San Diego, California USA), with call ports in California (Avalon/Santa Catalina Island), Hawaii (Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Kailua-Kona), Hawaii Island) and French Polynesia (Raiatea Island, Bora Bora Island, Moorea Island, Tahiti Island/Papeete, Fakarava Atoll, Tahuata Island/Vaitahu, Nuku Hiva Island/Taiohae).

December 2021Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) On December 28, 2021, the ship was allowed docking and passenger disembarkation in Port Guaymas (Sonora Mexico) despite a COVID outbreak onboard.

Jose Luis Alomía Zegarra (Sonora state's Health Minister) in a press conference announced that the liner had a total of 30 COVID-positive cases (all asymptomatic and discovered during the mandatory routine testing onboard), of whom 2 passengers plus 28 crew. The infected and their close contacts were all in isolation/quarantined to their cabins.

The ship (carrying ~2000 people/~1200 pax + ~800 crew) was operating a 10-day "Mexico Sea Of Cortez Holiday Cruise" (itinerary Dec 23 - Jan 2, roundtrip from homeport San Diego) with call ports Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto, Guaymas (Dec 28, port stay 8 am - 5 pm), Topolobampo, and Mazatlan.

09 June 2019Other Incidents

On June 9, 2019, the berthed in Port Kiel (Germany) liner was blocked from leaving the harbor. About 50 climate protesters tried to call international attention to the "catastrophic local and global consequences of cruises" and the poor working conditions aboard. Smash Cruiseshit group's activists used climbing equipment and small boats to delay ship's departure (planned for 4 pm) and also occupied a quayside crane. The conducted police operation took several hours and involved special forces. Eventually, all protesters were arrested and their boats confiscated. The cruise ship departed Kiel at ~10 pm.

The incident occurred at the end of 10-day "Jewels Of The Baltic Cruise" (itinerary May 31 - June 10) roundtrip from homeport Copenhagen Denmark to Tallinn Estonia, St Petersburg Russia, Helsinki Finland, Stockholm Sweden, and Germany (Warnemunde-Rostock, Kiel).

09 September 2018Other Incidents

On September 9, 2019, while en-route to St Johns (NF Canada) from Nanortalik (Greenland), the liner was diverted to assist AIDAluna ship's search operation for an overboard passenger.

The incident occurred during 20-day Transatlantic repositioning cruise (itinerary August 24 - Sept 13) from Copenhagen to NYC (USA) visiting Norway (Alesund), Iceland (Seydisfjordur, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Reykjavik), Greenland (Paamiut, Qaqortoq, Nanortalik) and Canada (St Johns NF, Halifax NS).

19 January 2012Fire Accident

On January 19, 2012, an engine room fire incident occurred at ~5 am. No injuries or damages were reported.

25 December 2010Crew / Passenger Deaths

On December 25, 2010 (Christmas Day), a 3-year-old girl drowned on Half Moon Cay Island (Bahamas). The kid was together with her father, who found her lying face down in the beach’s shallow waters. The girl was boated to Davis Harbour (Eleuthera Island, Bahamas), then transported by an ambulance to Rock Sound Clinic where was pronounced dead.

May 2010Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

April-May 2010, CDC reported on voyage Apr 20 to May 8, a Norovirus outbreak affected 73 passengers (out of 1846, or 4%) and 5 crew (out of 793, or 0,6%). The ship was on Panama Canal repositioning cruise to Alaska, leaving from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver BC Canada.

28 September 2009Coast Guard Medevacs

On September 28, 2009, at ~11 am, a female passenger was found unconscious in one of the ship’s jacuzzis (midship on Lido Deck 9). During the incident, the ship was transiting through Tillamook Bay (Oregon). A USCG helicopter medevaced and transported the woman to Tillamook County General Hospital.

30 November 2008Fire Accident

On November 30, 2008, the ship reported a small electrical fire, which was quickly extinguished, and without injuries or damages.

November 2008Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

October-November 2008, CDC reported on voyage Oct 23 to Nov 9, a major Norovirus outbreak affected a total of 262 passengers (out of 1820, or 14,4%) and 17 crew (out of 794, or 2,1%). The ship was on 17-day Transatlantic repositioning cruise from Europe to Florida (Venice to Fort Lauderdale).

26 May 2008Fire Accident

On May 26, 2008, the ship was in Europe (Mediterranean Sea). While docked in Dubrovnik Croatia, at ~1:30 pm, a fire broke out in a storage section. Fire trucks arrived at the pier to assist the vessel. The incident lasted for ~1 hour. No injuries were reported.

16 August 2007Crew / Passenger Deaths

On August 16, 2007, in a sponsored by Holland America, Alaska shore excursion in Ketchikan Alaska, a seaplane crash accident killed 5 of all 9 people, and 4 were medevaced to a Seattle hospital.

On the flightseeing tour, the seaplane crashed in Traitors Cove (inside narrows near Ketchikan AK), approx 200 ft / 60 m from the water. On the plane, 7 were Zuiderdam cruise passengers. The investigation showed bad flying conditions (high winds and low visibility/darkness).

26 July 2006Propulsion / Power Loss

On July 26, 2006, a technical malfunction near call port Skagway Alaska (failure of 1 of all 5 diesel-electric generators) resulted in an excessive black smoke released from the stacks. The heavy smoke was from the stacks exclusively, and for ~5 min. The smoke emission was so immense, it was reported coming at least 3 blocks into the town of Skagway.

29 March 2006Propulsion / Power Loss

On March 29, 2006, at ~midnight, while en-route from St Thomas USVI to Tortola BVI, the vessel suffered a total power loss and was drifting for ~1 hour.

January 2004Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

December-January 2006, CDC reported on the voyage Dec 30 (2005) to Jan 7 (2006), a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 105 passengers (out of 1888, or 5,6%) and 33 crew (out of 814, or 4,1%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea) and were quarantined to their cabins. The ship was on 10-day Caribbean "New Year's Cruise" from homeport Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) Florida.