Events at Sea 2013

EVENTS AT SEA
"All the Things that Can Go Wrong On A Cruise"

2013

Cruise Law News reports a 25 year old Filipino crew member died when the cruise ship was in Katakolo, Greece. The incident occurred early this morning when cruise passengers were preparing to disembark. A mooring line snapped while the crew member was standing on a mooring deck platform (at the level of deck 7). The crew member was violently struck by the recoiling rope. He was knocked overboard and into the water at the port. According to the news account, divers took several hours to retrieve the dead man's body in the murky water. The crew member was not fitted with either a harness or a life vest and he was not wearing a hard hat.

Lawsuit for illness outbreak

Damages for strip search

Changes in staffing arrangements

Pax death ashore on shore excursion

Death onboard (18 year old)

Loss of power - towed to port

Sexual assault investigation

Arrest for murder - thrown overboard

Possible lawsuit over illness outbreak

Fire - Dead in the water

5 crew die in accident

Propulsion problems - change of itinerary

Don't forget your passport

Pax respond to a Medical emergency

Environmental offense

Sexual assault - lawsuit filed

Arrested when coming ashore

Take refuge from storm / Delay next cruise

Crew member accidental death

Canceled calls to Argentinian ports

Itinerary change (one day canceled)

Mechanical problems - delayed departure

Date	Ship Cruise Line	Event	Type of Incident
January 1	Independence of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	ABC22 reports Cayman Islands authorities are searching for a passenger who has gone missing from a cruise ship. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Force says a cruise line passenger was reported missing Tuesday morning and search operations are underway. The 65 year old man's wife notified crew of her husband's disappearance before the ship arrived in the Cayman Islands. Company spokeswoman Tracy Quan says the person was last seen entering his room just before midnight. The missing passenger's identity and nationality was not disclosed by the company or police. The ship is on a six-night Caribbean cruise that departed from Fort Lauderdale on Sunday.	Pax missing/ Overboard?
December 30	Orchestra MSC Cruises	Cruise Law News reports a Facebook page focusing on the rights of Brazilians working on cruise ships reports today of a serious accident aboard a MSC cruise ship resulting in serious injuries to three crew members. The page is entitled Direito Do Trabalhador Brasileiro Em Navios Cruzeiros (Law Of Brazilian Workers On Cruise Ships). It states that an accident occurred on the MSC Orchestra involving three crew members who were working without proper equipment. The cruise line is alleged to have provided the correct equipment. They were cleaning a tank when gas escaped and an explosion occurred. One crew member was hospitalized and the two other men remain in serious condition in the cruise ship's infirmary.	Explosion - crew workers injured
December 30	Unnamed MSC Cruises	Cruise Law News reports a story about a MSC cruise ship dumping garbage bags into the sea off of the coast of Brazil. The story is based on a cruise passenger's account. You can see what appears to be black bags being thrown out of the ship from what a lower deck. The ship had sailed from Italy and the dumping seems to have occurred after the ship made its transatlantic voyage and before it arrived in Brazil. A news article from Brazil states that the disposal was close to the natural sanctuary of Fernando de Noronha, off the coast of Pernambuco. Here's the translation: "A passenger on the MSC cruise, which left Genoa, Italy, captured on video the moment official liner trash bags dumped at sea. According to international standards, the waste of these vessels should be treated and separated before being dispensed. According to the passenger, businessman Sergio de Oliveira, the staff of the ship began to throw the trash bags in the sea when the ship entered the Brazilian coast. The man also claims that one of the sites chosen for the drop was close to the natural sanctuary of Fernando de Noronha, off the coast of Pernambuco. The businessman lodged the complaint to the prosecutor in Apucarana."	Environmental
December 29	Adventure of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	CTV News reports the U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a Canadian man who reportedly went overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship headed to Puerto Rico. Canadian Tien Phuoc Nguyen, 26, was last seen by other passengers at approximately 8:46 p.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard said in a statement released Sunday. He is reported to have jumped overboard. The cruise ship was approximately 15 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico’s Mona Island when the incident occurred. Nguyen was on the final night of a seven-day cruise with his family. Royal Caribbean said in its own statement Sunday that as soon as the ship’s captain was alerted, the vessel was stopped, turned around, and authorities were contacted. The location of the ship at the time of the incident was recorded by its onboard GPS system, and the incident was also captured on surveillance cameras, Royal Caribbean said. The Coast Guard says MH-65 Dolphin helicopters and a patrol boat are being used in the search effort and the FBI is investigating why the man may have jumped overboard. After the Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the search, the ship continued toward its final destination of San Juan, Puerto Rico.	Overboard
December 28	King Seaways DFDS Seaways	Daily Mail reports two men have been arrested after a fire broke out on a ferry in the North Sea. A 26-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of arson and a 28-year-old man on suspicion of affray, police confirmed this morning. Both are currently helping officers with enquiries. More than 1,000 people were aboard the King Seaways service which left North Shields, near Newcastle, at 5pm and was heading for Ijmuiden near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The blaze broke out at around 10pm last night. Six people were airlifted to hospital and around 17 more treated for smoke inhalation.	Fire
December 28	Oasis of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	Cruise Law News reports that several passsengers became sick with gastrointestinal symptoms including severe nausea, diarrhea and vomiting on the last cruise. The cruise line has not disclosed how many passengers or crew experienced symptoms like this yet, and there is no indication whether the illnesses are in fact due to norovirus or some other virus. Royal Caribbean sent passengers embarking today on the Oasis the following: "Hello, this is Royal Caribbean International. We would like to provide you with some important information regarding your Saturday, December 28, sailing onboard Oasis of the Seas out of Port Everglades, Florida. During the ship's last sailing, a number of guests experienced a gastrointestinal illness. We will conduct enhanced sanitizing onboard the ship and within the terminal to help prevent any illness from affecting your cruise. Therefore, your check-in and boarding will be delayed. Because space and seating in the terminal is limited, we ask that you not arrive to the port before 1:30 PM. Check in will take place between 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation and we look forward to welcoming you onboard."	?Illness?
December 27	Costa Serena Costa Cruises	From a reader:The ship shifted its port of embarkation/disembarkation from Savona to Genoa because of severe weather. The distance between the two ports is 55 kilometers by car. But the cruise terminal in Genova was closed for Christmas holiday. The passengers for embarkation and disembarkation were alone in a closed cruise terminal in Genova. (see this in Italian media)	Port change (embark / disembark)
December 26	Akademic Shokalskiy	Sydney Morning Herald reports a cruise ship is trapped by ice in Antarctica. Early on Wednesday morning, MV Akademic Shokalskiy, a tourist ship recreating Sir Douglas Mawson’s 100-year-old Australasian Antarctic Expedition signalled it was stuck in heavy pack ice. While ships often get surrounded by pack ice around Antarctica, the Russian Shokalskiy, a medium-sized vessel with about 74 crew and passengers, was in danger of being hit by a large iceberg. Just before 5am the Rescue Co-ordination Centre, part of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Canberra, ordered three ships, a Chinese and French vessel and the Aurora Australis, to lend assistance (which is located 1500 miles south of Hobart). The ship left from New Zealand for a 28-day Australasian Antarctic Expedition on 1 December. An AMSA spokeswoman told the AAP that it would take at least two days for the nearest rescue ship to reach the MV Akademik Shokalskiy and the vessel wasn’t in any immediate danger.	Distress Call - Trapped in ice
December 21	Rhapsopdy of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	Sydney Morning Herald reports aman's body has been recovered from the ocean after falling overboard at 2:00 AM this morning. The ship was about 300 nautical miles east of Brisbane when the man was seen falling from the ship, a spokesman said. "Life rings and marker smoke were deployed by the vessel at the same time, the ship immediately turned around and launched rescue boats," he said. "The Rescue Coordination Centre tasked one other merchant vessel, the Pacific Pearl, and the Queensland government's King Air to assist in the search." The ship left Sydney bound for Noumea on Thursday night as part of a nine-night tour of the south Pacific.	Overboard
December 20	Celebrity Infinity Celebrity Cruises	Cruise Critic reports went without running water for a little more than five hours yesterday, which limited passenger access to drinking water, working toilets and showers. During this time, crew members provided affected cabins with bottled water. The water went off at 6:30 AM and was restored at 11:45 PM. (NOTE: I wonder how one takes a shower with bottled water.)	No running water
December 20	Sapphire Princess Princess Cruises	Cruise Critic reports the ship spent a second, unscheduled, day in Cabo San Lucas yesterday after an onboard medical emergency necessitated the ship's return to port Wednesday. Princess Cruises' spokeswoman Karen Candy told Cruise Critic, Sapphire Princess was en route to Puerto Vallarta when the medical emergency occurred. The ship returned to Cabo, where it had been docked for the day, to transfer the passenger to an onshore hospital, then spent the night at sea. "Due to the delay, the ship was unable to make the originally scheduled call to Puerto Vallarta and returned to Cabo for a second port day," she added. Princess is looking into adding another port, possible San Diego, to replace the Puerto Vallarta stop.Sapphire Princess departed Los Angeles on Sunday, December 15 for a seven-night roundtrip Mexico sailing.	Change of itinerary
December 16	Celebrity Constellation Celebrity Cruises	From a passenger: Constellation scheduled to leave Key West yesterday, Dec. 15 @ 5pm. Repair needed and waiting on part(s). At 8:05am, December 16, still no evidence of upcoming departure. Scheduled to be "at sea" day on the way to Cozumel. UPDATE: Cruise Critic reports the ship will lkeave Key West at 10PM Monday night and that Cozumel has been dropped as a port of call and replaced by Nassau on December 18. There is no indication that passengers have been compensated for the delay or the change of itinerary.	Technical issue with engine / Delayed departure / itinerary change
December 14	Viking Amorella Viking Cruises	Bloomberg News reports the passenger ferry lost power and ran aground in the Aaland archipelago southwest of Finland. No one was injured among the ship’s 1,945 passengers, who will remain on the vessel, which will continue its voyage to Mariehamn and is scheduled to arrive by 11 p.m. local time, Viking Line said in a statement on its website. The situation on the ship is calm and stable and there is no leak, the company said. Passengers may stay on the ship overnight in Mariehamn, capital of the Aaland region, before boarding M/S Viking Grace to Turku or M/S Rosella to Stockholm, the company, based in the town, said in the statement. M/S Amorella was en route to Stockholm from Turku, when it hit rocks at Julgrund, outside of Foegloe, at 12:40 p.m. Finnish time. The Baltic Sea isn’t yet frozen. The vessel, built in 1988 in Split, Croatia, is capable of carrying 2,400 people and 450 cars, according to Viking Line’s website.	Aground - Lost power
December 13	Saga Ruby Saga Holidays	Travel Mole reports Saga has been forced to cancel a month-long cruise to the Caribbean onboard the ageing Ruby after one of its generators failed after it left Southampton, leaving it without effective air conditioning. Instead, the ship - which was on its final voyage - will cruise around the Mediterranean. Saga Shipping's managing director Robin Shaw has flown to Tenerife, where the ship has docked, to inform the 650 passengers onboard of the change of itinerary, said the Mirror. Passengers who don't wish to continue on the cruise, which is now expected to include Monaco on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day at sea and New Year's Eve in Gibraltar, will be flown back to the UK and given a full refund. After the ship returns to Southampton on January she will be sold to Asia buyers who plan to turn her into a hotel.	Itinerary change/ Canceled cruise
December 12	Pacific Princess Princess Cruises	From a passenger: Pacific Princess canceled its scheduled Casablanca stop on Dec 12th due to high winds in Gibraltar which closed the port on Dec 11th. Refuelled morning of the 12th and now head to Funchal for scheduled port stop Saturday, dec 14.	Missed port call
December 11	Nieuw Amsterdam Holland America Line	CNN reports that on the morning of December 10 a 70 year old man fell into the water between the pier and Costa Luminosa while both ships were docked at Grand Turk. The man remained afloat for 10 mi nutes until a crew member ffrom Nieuw Amsterdam jumped into the water and helped the man to safety.	Passenger falls from ship in port
December 10	Royal Princess Princess Cruises	From a passenger: On December 2, 2013, around noon, the ship discontinued ship to shore tendering to Princess Cays due to heavy sea swells which lasted all afternoon. Tendering operations from shore to ship continued despite the heavy swells. A number of tender passengers returning to the ship during the afternoon got sea sick in the tenders.	Weather and private island
December 10	Arcadia P&O Cruises	Cruise Critic reports the cruise line has cancelled a two-night cruise due to strong storms in Northern Europe. The storms have delayed the ship leaving her refurbishment, which has been done in dry dock in Bremerhaven, Germany since the end of November. The ship was due to sail from Southampton to Zeebrugge, this Sunday (December 15). Its next cruise from Southampton to Madeira on December 21, is not affected.	Cruise canceled
December 10	Seabourn Cruises	Bermuda Sun reports the cruise line has been charged with breaching tax information exchange legislation in Bermuda. Shelly Durrant, a representative of Seabourn Cruise Line, appeared in court this morning. She pleaded not guilty on behalf of the firm to failing to provide information as required of the International Cooperation Tax Information Exchange Agreement Act. No details of the case were given. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner adjourned the matter to March 12 for trial. Saul Froomkin QC represents the cruise line.	Court case
December 10	Allure of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	A reader at Cruise Critic reports "we are just leaving Nassau 2+ hours late because of an issue with the lift cable of lifeboat number 1. At the biweekly test it appeard to snapped. We are, after talking to HQ, the shipyard and Bahamas authorities leaving lifeboat 1 in Nassau and will be picking it up again on the way back after they repaired the cable. Another writes: "Oasis sailed for the better part of it's entire first year without the #1 lifeboats on either side, after they were damaged in the transatlantic. I believe they had to re-engineer the mount to be protected in weather."	Lifeboat problems - one removed
December 10	Legend of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	Cruise Critic reports on November 25, Legend of the Seas lost a lifeboat, while anchored near Cabo San Lucas, when one of the boat's pulleys malfunctioned. Line spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez tells Cruise Critic that the decision to continue sailing without the boat was approved by government officials in the Bahamas, where the ship is registered. When Legend returned to Cabo San Lucas four days later on its subsequent sailing, the boat was recovered and reattached to the ship.	Lifeboat problems - one removed
December 9	Freedom of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	From a reader: Just received a text from my parents who boarded Freedom this afternoon in Port Canaveral. The ship sailed around 4 or 5pm this afternoon. It turned around about 3 hours later due to a medical emergency and returned to Port Canaveral around 1030pm where they dropped off the medical emergency (passenger plus luggage). They just left the port again a few minutes ago (@11:30PM).	Delayed - Itinerary change?
December 7	Spirit of France P&O Ferries	Kent on Line reports Port of Dover police have charged three men after an assault on a cross-Channel ferry. The incident happened P&Os Spirit of France in March as the vessel returned to Dover. The men have been charged with assaulting a passenger on board the ferry, causing actual bodily harm. They are also jointly charged with threatening unlawful violence towards others. Inspector Neil Care from the port of Dover police, said: “This was a particularly difficult and protracted inquiry which, although it has taken some time, we have been determined to conclude.	Assault with serious bodily injury
December 6	Celebrity Millennium Celebrity Cruises	Cairns Post reports an elderly couple were forced to disembark while the ship was docked at Yorkeys Knob -- they were told they were not allowed back aboard because the ship's doctor was concerned for Mrs Arnold's safety. Mrs Arnold's story has gone viral after her nephew Don Stones posted a complaint on his Facebook page. His post has been shared more than 5200 times on the social media website. "I posted it not only because they are my family, but because no one should (treat someone) like that and be allowed to get away with it," he said. Mr Stones said his aunt was forced to stand at Yorkeys Knob marina with her and her husband's suitcases because she was not able to find her way back to her cabin. "She was staying on board while her husband went to view Cairns while the ship was docked," he said. "On his arrival back from sightseeing he was met by his wife and told they were not allowed back on the ship because the doctor did not think they were the kind of people who should be on the cruise ... if she was left alone." Mrs Arnold was found by the ship's staff while trying to find her cabin and she was upset and crying, Mr Stones wrote. "The couple, on the pension mind you, paid over $12,000 for the cruise, which will probably be the last one they will be able to go on together (and) had to find their own way back to their home," he wrote. "This is a disgusting way to treat anybody, let alone an elderly couple, without even trying to resolve the issue at hand." A Celebrity Cruises spokeswoman said staff felt it was "necessary to disembark" Mrs Arnold after she was found disoriented on the ship. "Mrs Arnold was escorted to the ship's onboard medical facility while attempts were made to contact Mr Arnold, who was ashore and could not be reached," she said. "Regrettably, since we were concerned for Mrs Arnold's safety and wellbeing while aboard the ship, particularly in a cabin with its own balcony, we felt it was necessary to disembark her." The spokeswoman said the ship's care team arranged transport from the ship to Cairns Hospital. "Mr and Mrs Arnold will receive a pro-rata refund for the remaining nine days of their sailing, as well as full refund of the monies paid for their second cruise," she said (but to date, almost two months later, it has not been received). The cruise line says it is working with the Arnold's travel agent to ensure that it is processed quickly."	Elderly couple evicted -- and the cruise industry is concerned about its image?
December 6	Rhapsody of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	Cruise Law News reports the ship is delayed at port in the South Pacific due to unspecified problems with the ship. AIS tracking systems shows the cruise ship in the port of Port Vila, Efate in the Vanautu islands. We do not see any news of the situation on line. There is no indication of the reason for the delayed departure.	Mechanical problems - delayed
December 5	Freedom of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	From a passenger: The ship returned to the St Maartin dock just after departing due to a medical emergency.	4th medical evacuation in 2 days
December 4	Freedom of the Seas Royal Caribbean International	Cruise Critic reports the ship altered its itinerary Tuesday when three passengers were evacuated from the vessel for medical reasons. Line spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said the ship traded a planned call on St. Thomas for a stop in San Juan on Wednesday as a result. Martinez also verified that the three incidents "... were not related, just an odd occurrence." Cruise Critic member Karter is onboard and had this to say about the events: "... the coast guard airlifted one person off Coco Cay. We were then diverted to Nassau to evacuate two more people." The rest of the itinerary has remained unchanged, and there has been no word yet on whether passengers on the sailing will be offered any sort of compensation for the port swap.	Itinerary change
December 2	Victoria Clipper IV Clipper Vacations	gCaptain reports authorities in Seattle have arrested a man accused of stealing a high-speed passenger ferry from a dock and attempting to take it on a joyride across Elliott Bay. The Seattle Police Department reports that a man was able to commandeer the Victoria Clipper IV passenger ferry Sunday morning while docked at Pier 69 on the Seattle waterfront. The vessel was discovered to be about 300 yards from the pier at 7 a.m. and at first appeared to be adrift. However, upon closer inspection by a tugboat sent to retrieve the vessel it was discovered that there was a man in the pilothouse. After negotiating with the man, a SWAT team was able to board the vessel and arrest the suspect. When asked what he intended to do with the vessel, the man told police he had planned “to take the boat to West Seattle.” The suspect -identified as 33-year-old Samuel Kenneth McDonough- was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of burglary, reckless endangerment, malicious mischief and failing to register as a sex offender, the Seattle police department said. Officials are still working to determine how the man was able to commandeer the ship.	Ship stolen
December 2	Multiple ships	Otago Daily Times reports torm force winds gusting over 50 knots prevented two large cruise ships, including Voyager of the Seas, from entering Otago Harbour yesterday, in a ''disappointing'' day for Dunedin's visitor industry. Voyager, which had been due to dock about 6.30am yesterday, waited off the Otago heads for more than five hours, hoping for a break in the weather. But after high winds continued within the harbour, the vessel then left for its planned visit to Fiordland. And Pacific Pearl, due to arrive at 7am, headed for its next port, Akaroa.	Missed port call
December 1	Ocean Countess Majestic International	Maritime Matters reports the ship, completed in 1976 as Cunard Countess, is currently ablaze at Chalkis, where she has been laid up since her most recent charter to U.K.-based Cruise and Maritime Voyages. The ship was scheduled to return to cruise service in 2014 but this now looks unlikely as aerial video footage shows her superstructure fully engulfed in flames.	Fire
December 1	Eurodam Holland America Line	From a passenger: Just returned from a 7 day jaunt on the Eurodam. High winds and swells on Sunday night caused us to miss our scheduled stop at Half Moon Cay.	Missed port call
November 30	Viking Magni Viking Cruises	NY Post reports a couple has slapped Viking Cruises with a $5 million class action lawsuit claiming the company knew its ship was “plagued with electrical problems” before a breakdown that forced guests to be bused around to dreary destinations. Manhattan attorney James P. Cinque and his wife Marie-Helene Cinque booked their two week jaunt aboard the Viking Magni for Sept. 24 through Oct. 8. The Viking Cruises brochure boasted an “unforgettable” trip along a “stunning stretch” of the Rhine River with “friendly, attentive, award-winning service,” according the Manhattan civil suit. But the cruise line allegedly hid from its passengers that the Viking Magni had suffered power issues during the prior cruise. Ten days into the Cinque’s voyage the electrical system failed again. “The boat limped into the closest port” and when it could not be fixed, the 200 passengers were loaded onto cramped buses for seven-hour trips between stops, according to court papers. “The boat shouldn’t have broken down,” James told The Post in an interview. “It’s not like it was an act of God,” he said. When the James, 62, and Marie-Helene, 58, asked for a refund and to leave the group, they were told they would have to do so at their own expense. "We were taken to Frankfurt instead of the beautiful cities along the river,” James said. “We spent one whole day on the bus. We missed Amsterdam entirely,” he griped. The attorney said he only filed the suit after all the arguments with Vikings’ customer service reps got him was a 50 percent credit for a future trip.	Lawsuit
November 29	Norwegian Spirit Norwegian Cruise Line and Aida Stella	Lanzarote Information reports the harbour in Arrecife has been criticised in the past for it’s inability to operate normally when the weather comes from the South, the strong waves caused disruption with two cruise ships due to dock and the car ferry left early to avoid the worst of the waves. The Norwegian Spirit opted to stay over in Santa Cruz de Tenerife instead of docking in Lanzarote, which meant a loss of income from the 2,000 passengers aboard. Aidastella was the second cruise ship caught in the adverse weather, in this case the company decided to reorganise their route through the islands and will dock in Lanzarote with 2,000 passengers this morning instead.	Missed port call / itinerary change
November 26	Multiple ships	The Bahamas Weekly reports the Port Controller, Commander Patrick McNeil, wishes to clarify the circumstances surrounding today’s cancellation of the visits of the cruise ships, Allure of the Seas, Carnival Conquest and the Disney Dream, to the Port of Nassau. Commander Mcneil has reported that the Allure of the Seas, the Carnival Conquest, and the Disney Dream were scheduled to call at the Port of Nassau on Monday, 25th 7am, and 8am, respectively. However, according to the Port Controller, the captains of the Allure and the Conquest decided to cancel in advance the visits to Prince George Wharf, due to a weather system which had entered the Northwest Bahamas late Sunday evening. The Port Controller has also advised that the Disney Dream did enter Nassau Harbour at 8am, assisted by the tug “Snapper” and two private tug boats. However, as the vessel was attempting to dock, it was unable to complete the maneuver, due to wind gusts of approximately 38 knots, and the Captain of that vessel made the decision to leave the Port of Nassau. Bahamas Tribune reports a broken tugboat was in fact responsible for three cruise ships carrying around 10,000 passengers being unable to dock in Nassau Harbour during rough weather earlier this week. According to a government insider, the same tug boat had been malfunctioning for six months while officials tried to negotiate to have the necessary repairs made. However, on Monday, when the tug was found inoperable there was no contingency plan in place, to pull the The Allure of the Seas, Carnival Conquest or Disney Dream to the dock,	Missed port call (Nassau)
November 25	Carnival Magic Carnival Cruise Lines	The Houston Chronicle reports in the Strand area of Galveston near the cruise terminal Sunday, apparently there were so many people vocally upset about toilet problems on their just-ended cruise that somebody who wasn't even on the ship decided to alert the media after overhearing them. Cruise line officials said any passenger claims that Carnival Magic was without working toilets for a 24-hour period are overblown. According to Jennifer de la Cruz, vice president of public relations for Carnival Cruise Lines, water was shut off for about two hours after the ship docked in Galveston. Almost all passengers had exited the vessel at the end of their cruise at the time of the repairs, de la Cruz said. The embarkation for the next cruise began just after 11 a.m., which de la Cruz says is earlier than expected, and water service was restored by then.	No water??
November 25	Norwegian Gem Norwegian Cruise Line	The CDC reports 111 of 2600 passengers (4.27%) and 3 of 1064 crew (0.28%) have reported ill with gastrointestinal illness. CDC Vessel Sanitation Program officers are monitoring the outbreak and providing support to both the ship and the cruise line; monitoring and support will continue into the subsequent voyage as is VSP’s standard practice.Specimens will be sent to the CDC lab for testing. The ship was on a 16 day cruise ending in on November 25.	Illness
November 25	Ship unknown Carnival Cruise Lines	WSVN news reports a South Florida family is filing a lawsuit after their son claimed he was beaten by a security guard on board a Carnival cruise ship. "My friends and me, we sneaked into the nightclub," said the teen, who has not been identified. The teen was 14 years old at the time and acknowledges he tired to go inside the nightclub on board the Carnival Imagination in late June. The teen ran out when a security guard saw him and said he was chased by the guard into a stairwell. "He grabs me by the shirt, slams me like really heard against the wall," the teen said. The teen said the security guard let go of him when a passenger started taking pictures while another passenger intervened. The guard eventually took the teen to his parents' cabin. The teen told his mother what happen. "First of all, I couldn't believe it. I was very, very upset because we came for a family vacation, and my son was beat up," said the teen's mother, Mary Or. The family said the security guard left the teen with a bulging disk in his neck. They have hired an attorney and filed a lawsuit against Carnival. "And Unfortunately, at a distinct level, precisely where he was thrown up against the wall, he now has an injury to his spine," said attorney Spencer Aronfeld. "He's under the care and treatment of a neurologist and also a psychologist because of the type of emotional trauma that he had experienced on this cruise." The teen said he has been left with pain and stiffness in his neck. "Like, you know, when you are shocked, and you don't really feel anything, and the next couple of days, I started to feel it," said the teen. The family said they are filing a lawsuit because they want the security guard fired and want to prevent another family from enduring the pain of a similar experience. "He didn't go to war, he went on a cruise. We went on a cruise," said the teen's father, Darren Gaon.	Lawsuit - Assault of pax by security
November 23	Preziosa MSC Cruises	Noticias International reports on the death of a passenger which is label one way by the cruise line and another way by the family. The family of Mercedes Lessi Ray, 87 , who died aboard a cruise through Europe on Tuesday (19 Nov) , said the cause of death was not sudden illness Paraná , as initially concluded by the cruise line. " My grandmother had better health than ours," says Bruna Reis, granddaughter of Mercedes. According to her, the elder, who was accompanied by her two daughters, suffered a head injury after tripping on the stairs.This version, according to Bruna, was confirmed by an expert. "The fall occurred at about 20:30, when I was going out to dinner, but her little heart came only to stop at 9am the next day." MSC Cruises, however, says the fall was caused by a sudden illness and ruled that there were no obstructions on the stairway. The body of Mercedes , which had to be frozen, spent three days at sea and landed today in Salvador. The cruise will end in Santos, on the coast of São Paulo onTuesday (26) .	Conflicting accounts of cause of passenger death
November 20	Magnifica MSC Cruises	Ekathimerini reports the ship suffered minor damages and a small crack after hitting a jetty at the Piraeus port in the early hours of Wednesday. No injuries were reported on board the Panama-flagged cruiser carrying 2,469 passengers and 965 crew members. An investigation was underway to determine the causes of the accident. Cruise Law News subsequently reported that MSC issued a statement stating that the damage was minor and that the vessel's itinerary was not affected. The ship was suppose to leave port hours ago; however, the cruise ship's bridge cam still shows the ship in port as of the time of the posting (10:55 PM) of this article tonight (image above). A team of repair personnel reportedly are working to try and fix the damage. We received photographs from a person on the Magnifica who wishes to remain anonymous. We are told that the damage to the hull measured approximately 8 & 1/2 feet by 11 & 1/2 feet. The hull was ruptured above the water line. Interior damage to the ship was reported as you can see in other photos on our Facebook page.	Collision with pier