Latest news with #NorwegianCruiseLine
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Passengers stranded for 7 hours after Norwegian Epic breaks moorings in heavy winds
A routine port stop turned chaotic for thousands of passengers aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic last Friday when severe winds caused the ship to break free from its moorings in Catania, on the Italian island of Sicily. The incident began around 1 p.m. local time when powerful 60-mph wind gusts struck the vessel's port side. Witnesses reported hearing loud cracking sounds as the mooring lines began snapping one by one, causing the ship's stern to drift away from the dock. "We heard a very loud boom, and then there was another loud noise and screams," passenger Brian Koning, who was returning to the ship with his wife at the time, said in a Facebook post. "All those large orange diameter ropes started snapping about every 15 seconds." During the incident, a female passenger fell from the gangway. Koning said the woman hit her head on something before landing in the water, prompting her husband to leap in to save her. Norwegian Cruise Line noted that the crew rushed to help the pair. "On-duty crew members were able to immediately assist the guest from the water and see that they were evaluated by the medical team," a company spokesperson told ABC News in a statement. "It was determined that they sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment." MORE: Cruise ship saves passengers, pets from disabled catamaran in South Pacific The incident left more than 3,600 passengers stranded ashore for over seven hours, according to Koning. Port authorities closed the checkpoint as the ship was forced to move out to sea until conditions improved. "The disembarkation and embarkation process was paused until weather conditions improved and the ship was able to safely dock again," Norwegian Cruise Line told ABC News. Passengers were frustrated with how the company handled of the situation, according to Koning. "There was no communication from anyone from Norwegian Cruise Line," Koning said. "People started getting irritated. They took the water away, there was no drinks, no food, and only one bathroom with a couple of toilets." The ship eventually returned to port after replacing the broken mooring lines, allowing passengers to reboard that evening.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cruise passenger falls into sea after ship separates from pier in Sicily
(NEXSTAR) – A cruise passenger attempting to disembark at a port in Sicily fell into the Ionian Sea on Friday after the ship separated from the pier during strong winds, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed. The passenger, who was on the gangway when the incident occurred, was not seriously injured. Florida port workers accused of stealing thousands worth of cruise terminal artwork 'On duty crew members were able to immediately assist the guest from the water and see that they were evaluated by the medical team,' the spokesperson said. 'It was determined that they sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment.' The Norwegian Epic had departed from Civitavecchia, near Rome, on May 24 with planned stops at ports in Greece, Malta, Sicily, the western coast of Italy and France before returning to Civitavecchia on June 3. But after the incident, which occurred while docked in Catania, Sicily, passengers were delayed from disembarking and reembarking 'until weather conditions improved,' a spokesperson said. Video shared to social media also appears to show two moorings coming loose during the gusty weather, violently striking the back of the ship. A spokesperson for the cruise line was unable to comment on the video. NCL's spokesperson did not provide any additional statement on the passenger, nor whether they continued with the voyage after the incident. 'As always the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority,' the spokesperson said. The Norwegian Epic was en route from Cannes, France, to Civitavecchia on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
3 hours ago
- Climate
Passengers stranded for 7 hours after Norwegian Epic breaks moorings in heavy winds
A routine port stop turned chaotic for thousands of passengers aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic last Friday when severe winds caused the ship to break free from its moorings in Catania, on the Italian island of Sicily. The incident began around 1 p.m. local time when powerful 60-mph wind gusts struck the vessel's port side. Witnesses reported hearing loud cracking sounds as the mooring lines began snapping one by one, causing the ship's stern to drift away from the dock. "We heard a very loud boom, and then there was another loud noise and screams," passenger Brian Koning, who was returning to the ship with his wife at the time, said in a Facebook post."All those large orange diameter ropes started snapping about every 15 seconds." During the incident, a female passenger fell from the gangway. Koning said the woman hit her head on something before landing in the water, prompting her husband to leap in to save her. Norwegian Cruise Line noted that the crew rushed to help the pair. "On-duty crew members were able to immediately assist the guest from the water and see that they were evaluated by the medical team," a company spokesperson told ABC News in a statement. "It was determined that they sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment." The incident left more than 3,600 passengers stranded ashore for over seven hours, according to Koning. Port authorities closed the checkpoint as the ship was forced to move out to sea until conditions improved. "The disembarkation and embarkation process was paused until weather conditions improved and the ship was able to safely dock again," Norwegian Cruise Line told ABC News. Passengers were frustrated with how the company handled of the situation, according to Koning. "There was no communication from anyone from Norwegian Cruise Line," Koning said. "People started getting irritated. They took the water away, there was no drinks, no food, and only one bathroom with a couple of toilets." The ship eventually returned to port after replacing the broken mooring lines, allowing passengers to reboard that evening.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cruise ship passenger in Italy blown overboard by strong winds
CATANIA, Italy – Winds were strong enough to blow a passenger overboard a cruise ship docked in Italy last Friday. The passenger fell into the water off the Norwegian Epic docked in Catania, Sicily, according to a statement Norwegian Cruise Line made to several media outlets. Alaska Slammed By Atmospheric River As Summer Cruise Season Revs Up One passenger, Brian Koning, posted on social media that the 1,080-foot vacation liner broke loose from its moorings amid strong wind gusts around 1 p.m. local time. "All ropes snapped with loud bangs," Koning wrote. The FOX Forecast Center said wind gusts over 30 mph were reported at the nearby Catania-Fontanarossa Airport at the time. The Norwegian Cruise Line Epic was built in 2010 and was last refurbished earlier this year. It can hold up to 4,070 guests, according to the company's website. FOX Weather reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for a statement but has not yet heard article source: Cruise ship passenger in Italy blown overboard by strong winds
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Norwegian Cruise Line passenger falls in water when ship separates from dock
CATANIA, Sicily (WJW) — A guest aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship fell into the water Friday after strong winds caused the vessel to separate from the pier while docked in Catania, Sicily, according to the cruise line. Is it OK to leave device chargers plugged in all the time? An expert explains The incident occurred as the passenger was disembarking. Crew members on duty quickly rescued the guest from the water and the individual was evaluated by the ship's medical team, the company told FOX 8 in a statement. The guest sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. 'Due to strong winds, one of our ships separated from the pier while docked,' a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said. 'The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority.' Pop-Tarts bringing back fan-favorite flavor after six-year hiatus 'Disembarkation and embarkation were temporarily paused until weather conditions improved and the ship was able to safely dock again,' the company said in a statement. The cruise ship had departed Civitavecchia, Italy, on May 24 for a 10-day voyage with scheduled stops in Italy, Greece, Malta and France, according to CruiseMapper. No other injuries were reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
