Source: Cruise Junkie dot Com


Events at Sea by Cunard Line

Click here for Illness Outbreaks by Cunard Line

Click here for breakdowns by ship:   Caronia     QE II      QM2     



The events listed have been reported in the public domain or to cruisejunkie by passengers or crew members onboard.  The list is by no means comprehensive.  For that reason it is necessary to be cautious in drawing conclusions from the potentially limited data.  Keep in mind that some companies may be more transparent than others about things that go wrong; conversely, some companies may be better at concealing events and thereby project an appearance that is inaccurate.  With that said, the following list is still interesting, as are the patterns seen viewed separately by ship.




dd/mm/yy
Ship
2008
Incident
14.5.08
Queen Victoria
The ship, on its maiden call in Malta, hit the quay of the Valletta Waterfront, denting the stern of the ship. The unofficial reason for the incident is that the throttles of the 90,000 tonnes luxury liner got stuck. In a statement later in the evening the Malta Maritime Authority officially attributed the incident
to a mechanical failure in the ship. Carnival Corporation Chairman and CEO, Micky Arison, was onboard the ship when the accident happened. The ship remained in prit for repairs and left the following day, having to cancel its port call in Tunisia. Carnival Corporation is reported to be considering a lawsuit against the port because a Maltese pilot was steering the ship at the time; the local government claims the accident was the result of a mechanical failure on the ship and is the fault of the cruise line. Investigations contiunue.
Collision with pier
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2007
Incident
27.12.07
Queen Mary 2 The Daily Mirror reports a man was thrown off a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean after he was involved in a fight; he had to leave his daughter of nine with his parents onboard. He also had to pay for his flight back from the British Virgin Islands. But he claimed he was only defending himself from a stranger's attack. He said: "I was the victim and for that I was thrown off the ship." Cunard said: "Two guests were disembarked. The circumstances are being investigated." Passengers offloaded
15.12.07
QE II
A cross-channel ferry narrowly avoided a collision with the QE2. P&O Ferries Pride of Kent had to slam on the breaks when the cruise liner failed to give wat at sea off the Dover coast and sailed into the passenger ferry's path. A subsequent investigation said the QE2 was required to give way; when it became apparent that no avoiding action was being taken by the QE2, Pride of Kent reduced speed and allowed the ship to pass 0.6 mile ahead. Near-miss of collision
8.9.07
QE II
The ship set sail today following a 24 hour delay in Dubrovnik aused by a mechnical fault.  The ship was mid-way through a two week cruise of the Mediterranean.  The round trip cruise from Southampton began August 31 and will disembark September 15.
Mechanical problems -- Delayed in port
1.5.07
Queen Mary 2 A woman secured over £3,000 compensation after an anniversary cruise on the Queen Mary 2 turned into a nightmare.  In May 2006 she was on board the ship with her husband to celebrate their wedding anniversary, traveling from Southampton to Norway.  Whilst taking in the sights on her balcony one morning, a sheet of glass fell down towards her from a deck above. The glass missed her by inches but caused her to fall backwards to the ground, injuring her right wrist and right side. She explains: "I'd never been on a cruise before and I was frightened by what happened.  Whilst having rooms with a private balcony on the first morning on board I decided to go outside to take in the sights.   Out there it all happened very quickly and I saw something like a blue sheet coming towards me from above.  I moved back to try and avoid it because if I hadn’t the glass would have hit me.  See here for more information.
Personal injury suit
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2006
Incident
31.12.06
QE II
A 62-year-old female passenger from Germany, travelling with her husband on a 16 day Christmas / New Year's cruise from Southampton (London), was reported missing this morning while the vessel was traveling between Madeira and Southampton.  A search of the ship and surrounding waters proved unsuccessful.  The ship is due back to Southampton January 2.  Website for missing person -- appealing to passengers or crew on this cruise.
Passenger Missing
6.12.06
Queen Mary 2
From a passenger:  Leaving Barbados, we were advised that a door on one of the bow thrusters was malfunctioning, and we could only make 18 knots.  We arrived in  St. Kits 4 hours late, and a team from Miami flew in with divers to repair.  We were treated to a party on deck before arriving in St. Kits, with free drinks as compensation.  Divers apparently cleared the damage, and we left St. Kits on time and the rest of the cruise was on schedule.  FYI, we were 3-4 hours delayed (2 December) in embarkation boarding due to immigration (?) or computer problems.  Never did get the correct story, and ship left 2 hours late.  Restaruants onboard closed at the regular time that day, leaving many late boarding guests with little or no food until dinner. Mechanical problem
13.7.06
QE II
From a passenger:  We were on the QE2 Iceland/Norway cruise.  One evening out in the North Sea we were caught with a following sea and for a short time the wind beam on.  The result a 5 degree roll on top of a 5 degree list that lasted 20-30 minutes -- the video clip shows the result.  The rolls were very smooth and very controlled.  I've seen the old girl rolling further but the list was more than I have seen before.Needless to say no damage was caused and everything carried on as normal.  See video by clicking here.
Minor List
13.5.06
Queen Mary 2
A 40-year old crew member died after a fight with a 49-year old crew member.  Both men are Filipino.  The assailant was confined to his cabin and investigations begun. 
Crew Fight - Death
2.5.06
QE II
Transport Canada confirmed the ship had discharged 3,000 litres if what crew described as "paper pulp in Canadian waters off Cape Breton on September 9, 2005.  Investigators say it is unclear what was dumped, but there was some specualtion it was primarily toilet paper. 
Environmental
14.2.06
Queen Mary 2
Cunard announced two sailing would be cancelled so a propeller pod problem can be repaired.  A 12 day Mediterranean cruise in May will be replaced with a six day Norwegian fjords voyage, and a seven night Caribbean cruise in November has been cancelled .  The propulsion problem has affected other schedules.  According to a passenger who is on a Rio to New York cruise in April (as reported in the Miami Herald), "I sought assurances from Cunard that my cruise would proceed as scheduled, and was told there were no problems.  I made my final payment last week.  I now find that visits to Salvador in Brazil and Fort Lauderdale have been cancelled and St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands substituted."
Cancellations / Itinerary changes
22.1.06
Queen Mary 2
The BBC reports that passengers have threatened mutiny over the dropping of three port calls on the voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Rio.  They complain that they weren't told of the schedule change (dropping of all port calls) until after the ship left for Rio and that they should have been given the option to not take the cruise.  Some passengers threatened to refuse to disembark when the ship arrives in Rio.  At the same time, More than 200 passengers joined in joint litigation (class action suit) against Cunard.  Shortly after an announcement on January 26 that the ship would arrive in Rio 22 hours later than scheduled, and likely in view of widespread media attention and negative publicity along with the planned legal action, Cunard capitulated and offered passengers a full refund for the cruise and airfare.  Threat of a class asction suit was dropped.
Threatened Mutiny
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Class Action
---
Line Capitulates
17.1.06
Queen Mary 2
The ship returned to Fort Lauderdale shortly after leaving port for a 38-day trip around South America and ending in San Francisco.  The ship departed shortly after 1 PM but soon returned because something felt wrong with one of the azipods (propulsion units).  An investigation revealed that the ship touched some sort of submerged object and one of the four motor pods was damaged.  The ship left 41 hours later than its initial departure and will operate on 3 rather than 4 motors (meaning reduced speeds.  The first segment of the cruise,which began in New York and for which Fort Lauderdale was an unscheduled stop, will skip its port calls in St. Kitts, Barbados, and Salvador in order to end in Rio on January 27.  Passengers on the first segment will  receive a 50% refund; those continuing on the second and final segment ending in Los Angeles will receive a six-day pro-rata refund.
Engine problems
---
Delay
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2005
Incident
27.6.05
QEII
More than 200 passengers have signed a petition protesting a decision to anchor nearly three miles away from Tuesday's fleet review that are part of Trafalgar 200 events.  Passengers claim brochures promised the shoip would be "at the heart and soul" of the festivities -- Cunard says the "slight change" in location was to accommodate the increase in the number of vessels taking part in the fleet review.  Read details here.
Disappointed passengers
30.5.05
QEII
British media report that police are investigating a woman's claim that she was sexually assaulted aboard the cruise ship on May 25.  A 25-year-old crew member was arrested in connection with the allegation.
Sexual Assault
19.4.05
Queen Mary 2
An 82 year old German passenger jumped overboard into the icy waters of the North Atlantic off Newfoundland's Grand Bank sometime in the evening.  This is the second suicide this year on the Queen Mary -- the first was in January when a US passenger killed himself while on a Caribbean cruise (further details on the latter case are not available).
Passenger  overboard - Suicide
14.4.05
QEII
One of three tapestries commissioned by Cunard in 1969 was reportedly thrown overboard by crew members.  In addition, another tapestry was damaged and crew toilets were vandalized.  Three crew members were arrested when the ship docked in Southampton April 16.
Vandalism
12.2.05
QEII
12 passengers arriving for a segement of the world cruise were "bumped" because the ship was overbooked.  Passenger bumped were transferred instead to the Sapphire Princess for a cruise to New Zealand.
Overbooked
1.1.05
QEII
According to passengers aboard QE2, the liner lost power in the early hours of New Year's Day while on her Christmas Cruise. Without power there is no propulsion, ventilation, lighting or water. Apparently, the ship drifted in this state for about an hour before power was restored. Power loss
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2004
Incident
25.6.04
Queen Mary 2
A BBC investigation led the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency to warn Carnival Corporation that panels in 900 of the bathrooms "do not fully meet fire regulation standards."  The ship was fitted with 1300 additional smoke alarms and there are plans to install sprinklers in the bathrooms.
Noncompliance with Fire Standards
11-19.6.04
Queen Mary 2
I received the following from a passenger:  There was a man overboard incident during the carribean cruise from 6-11 to 6-19-04;  the rumor aboard was that it was a suicide. There was also a delay in St Thomas because they did not have the "paperwork" in order with the USCG. This delayed disembarkation more than 3 hours. Man Overboard

Delay
1.6.04
Caronia (1)
A passenger reported that the ship "suffered a total power failure following a leak from a swimming pool that took out the main electric board.  Drifted for approximately 2 hours before patial power restored.  Incident caused delay resulting in revised inierary.  No reports of injury (well none mentioned to passengers)."
Power failure
12.4.04
Queen Mary 2
The ship arrived in Southampton, at the end of its second transatlantic cruise, 3.5 hours late.  The ship was delayed in Lisbon while a problem with a door over a bow thruster was repaired.  It was unable to make up the time from Lisbon to England becaus e one of the back-up engine turbines had not been working properly since the start of the trip.  Delayed arrival
6.4.04
Queen Mary 2
The ship encountered gale fore 12 winds and 70 foot seas on its maiden transAtlantic crossing.  Click here for photos. Heavy Seas
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2003
Incident
15.11.03
Queen Mary 2
Fifteen people died on Saturday when a dockside gangway to the Queen Mary 2 collapsed at Saint-Nazaire in western France. As up to 50 visitors were walking onto the liner across a gangway, the structure collapsed under them, injuring about 32 people, 12 of them seriously
Accident
12.3.03
Caronia
Three passengers arrested after British police seized 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of cocaine found in luggage.  The seizure in Southampton had a street value of US$1.8 million
Drug bust
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2002
Incident
27.6.02
QE II
Two workers airlifted (from 250 miles southwest of Ireland) after they were blasted with scalding steam from a faulty boiler valve.  See: Report of the Escape of Steam and Hot Water on Board QE2 in the mid Atlantic Resulting in one Fatality on 23 June 2002 , Marine Accident Investigation Branch Report 17/2003 Workers injured
24.5.02 QE II
Departure delayed from NYC because of a leak in a condenser.  Departs more than 13 hours late.  Arrival in England expected to be on schedule.
Delayed departure
21.5.02
QE II
A large sea water leak was discovered in the aft engine room, caused by the perforation (by corrosion) of a sea water inlet pipe.  The leak was stopped after several efforts (over 36 hours), but not before several hundred tones of sea water had to be pumped overboard so that workers could get at the leaking pipe in the engine room (which was submerged by water from the leak).  For additional details see Report of Investigation into Flooding of Aft Engine Room of Passenger Ship Queen Elizabeth 2, 21/22 May 2002, Marine Accident Investigation Branch Report 9/2003 Flooding of Aft Engine Room
23.2.02 Caronia
Detained and fined by Brazilian authorities after nearly 8000 gallons of heavy fuel oil spilled into Guanabara Bay near Rio de Janeiro.  Departure delayed one day and ship fined $410,000. Environmental
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2001
Incident
22.7.01
QE II A 28 year old crew member (reportedly a chef) went overboard while the ship was 95 miles off the south west coast of Ireland
Passenger overboard
5.4.96
Royal Viking Sun
The ship was holed as it struck a coral reef in the Gulf of Aquaba.  Passengers were evacuated and sent home.  The ship was detained by the Egyptian Government and fined $23.5 million.
Grounded - Holed
7.8.92
QE II
Grounding of the United Kingdom Passenger Vessel RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Near Cuttyhunk Island Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts August 7, 1992.  (NTSB Report Number: MAR-93-01) Grounded
   
(1) Caronia: ex-Sagafjord (Cunard)




Illness Outbreaks at Sea by Cunard Line

dd/mm/yy
Ship
2007
30.12.07
Queen Victoria
The British media reports 80 passengers (4%) onboard the ship's 16-day Christmas/New Year's cruise have contracted norovirus and are quarantined in their cabins. The ship left London December 21 and returns January 6. This is the ship's second cruise after being christened in early December. Passengers have dubbed the trip as the "cruise from hell" after complaining about poor room service, blocked toilets, a lack of Christmas decorations, cold food, and extra charges for tea and coffee.
12.1.07
QE II
The ship reported that 10 of 1002 (1.0%) crew and 136 of 1652 (8.23%) passengers had reported ill on the  8 - 22 January cruise from New York to Los Angeles.   Symptons were consistent with gastrointestinal illness (e.g., norovirus).   Update January 15: 22 of 1002 (2.2%) crew and 243 of 1652 (14.71%) passengers reported ill.  Update January 22:  28 of 1022 (2.79%) crew and 276 of 1652 (16.71%) passengers reported ill.
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2006 and earlier
27.2.06
Queen Mary 2
Centres for Disease Control report that an elevated number of Queen Mary 2 passengers and crew were experiencing symptoms consistent with acute gastroenteritis.  On February 22, the ship’s medical staff reported that 31 of 1271 (2.44%) crew were ill and 86 of 2498 (3.44%) passengers were ill. The predominant symptom was diarrhea.  The 14 day voyage concluded on February 22, 2006, (sailing dates: 02/08/2006-02/22/2006) in Los Angeles, CA.
6.3.04

Queen Mary 2
The ship reported that 33 passengers (1.35%) and 55 crew (4.07%) were ill with symptoms consistent with Norovirus.  The CDC posted this information on its website on March 17th, which is twelve days after the ship had docked in Fort Lauderdale (from Sint Maarten); 19 days after it was first alerted that an unusual number of passengers and crew had reported being ill.
25.2.04

QE II
The ship, on a world cruise, reported five days after leaving Sydney, Australia for Guam that 82 passengers and 24 crew had reported gastrointestinal illness likely caused by Norovirus.
19.1.04
QE II
29 passengers (1.86%) and 46 crew (4.56%) reported gastrointestinal illness suspected to be caused by Norwalk-like virus.  The twelve day cruise ended in Los Angeles on January 19.
18.1.03
QE II
Outbreak investigation by CDC for gastrointestinal disease caused by Norwalk-like virus -- 75 passengers (4.52%) and 19 crew (1.96%)
30.4.02
Caronia
45 passengers (6.67%) and 2 crew (.51%) reporetd ill on the cruise running April 18-30.
24.3- 5.4.02
Caronia
225 passengers (and at least 15 crew) reported symptoms of gastroenteritis.  An investigation determined the cause to be e coli from water bunkered at Guatemala.  It was ingested with water and ice cubes made from the water.  See CDC for more information.
11.3 - 29.3.01
Caronia
78 passengers (19.35%) and 44 crew members (11.58%) reported ill -- norovirus.