When Mother Nature throws her worst at cruise ships, heroes emerge. From hurricane evasions to dramatic ocean rescues, these are the stories of survival, bravery, and the incredible lengths crews go to keep passengers safe. Grab your life jacket and dive in!
150 miles off the Yucatan, Regal Princess spotted a makeshift boat of rusted metal taking on water with four people bailing frantically. The ship diverted, rescued all four, and passengers in the theater erupted in cheers.
Two passengers needed emergency evacuation from Ruby Princess simultaneously: a woman in cardiac arrest and a 99-year-old man who couldn't breathe or swallow. The US and Canadian militaries both scrambled helicopters.
An extratropical cyclone with 62 mph winds hit Costa Favolosa off the Brazilian coast at 11 p.m. The ship tilted violently. Plates and glasses flew off tables. Passengers braced for impact.
Scenic Eclipse II got stuck in pack ice near Antarctica. The US Coast Guard's only heavy icebreaker came to the rescue. The passengers? They were on the observation deck drinking champagne.
Winter Storm Hernando dumped 15+ inches on NYC, stranding MSC Meraviglia and Odyssey of the Seas. One lost a full day; both had to skip port calls.
Wind gusts snapped the forward mooring lines of MSC Seaside at Ocean Cay, and the bow drifted away from the pier while passengers were still on the island.
A harbor pilot fell into the Pacific Ocean while trying to board the Emerald Princess in rough Hawaiian seas. The ship had to cancel its entire port call at Kauai.
Wind gusts up to 48 mph snapped mooring lines at Port Canaveral, sending Norwegian Prima drifting from the dock during embarkation. Code Echo was announced.
The U.S. Coast Guard's only heavy icebreaker rescued a luxury cruise ship trapped in Antarctic ice—on the icebreaker's 50th anniversary.
What happens when medical emergencies occur at sea. From helicopter evacuations to surprising costs, here's how cruise ships handle health crises.
