famous cruise ship accidents

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The 9 Worst Cruise Ship Disasters

See recent posts by Neil Gladstone

The Titanic may be the most famous ship disaster, but surprisingly, it’s not even close to being the deadliest wreck that ever occurred on a luxury liner. If you’re trying to dissuade someone from taking a cruise, you should show them this list of maritime misadventures presented in no particular order. Disclaimer: The vast majority of cruises sail without incident and are safe and not filled with poop. (Oh yeah, we’ll get there.) Get your plate ready for a buffet of high-seas horror.

1. RMS Titanic

The many experts in 1912 who considered the Titanic “unsinkable” were to be proven wrong on the boat’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Thomas Andrews had designed the ship to withstand head-on collisions and rammings from other ships. However, the North Atlantic Ocean iceberg that took down the vessel scraped through five of its 16 watertight compartments. The boat would have reportedly remained afloat if it had only gone through four. Like other systems at the time, the Titanic’s lifeboats were designed to shepherd passengers to nearby rescue ships, not take them to shore. Unfortunately, help was many hours away in the wee hours of April 15 when the boat was going under. The poor crew organization also caused many lifeboats to leave the ship at far less than full capacity. Plus, they only had enough boats for about a third of the onboard. As a result, more than 1,500 people died — either on the ship or in the icy waters, waiting for help. A recent theory suggests a fire that started in the hull before the ship set sail weakened the vessel’s steel walls, making it susceptible to an iceberg that normally wouldn’t have caused as much damage.

2. Eastern Star’s Dongfang zhi Xing

In 2015, Dongfang zhi Xing was traveling on the Yangtze River in China when a thunderstorm struck, and the boat capsized. Ships in the area were warned that bad storms were coming and told to take precautions, but it is unclear if the Dongfang zhi Xing ever received the warnings and continued to sail. The ship was met with winds of up to 72-85 mph, and ultimately, a downburst (a strong downward wind) caused the ship to capsize and sink. Out of the 454 people on board, only 12 survived, making the total number of dead 442.

3. Carnival Cruise Line’s Triumph

A generator fire on Carnival Cruise Lines’s Triumph (now called Carnival Sunrise) left the ship powerless, and a late-night comedy punchline was born: “The Poop Cruise.” Without working bathrooms, passengers were forced to drop their payloads into red “hazardous waste” bags and stuff them into garbage cans left in the hall. Passengers described carpets soaked with more than two inches of raw sewage. News reports described the scene as a “shanty town” and a “new circle of hell.” One passenger reportedly called her husband and told him that their 12-year-old daughter had Skittles for breakfast. It took four days for the Triumph to be towed from the Gulf of Mexico to Mobile, Alabama, where it was possible to smell the ship from the dock. Later, 31 passengers claimed long-lasting damage, including PTSD, and sued. After the verdict, 27 of them split $118,000, many earning less than $3,000 (minus legal fees) for their troubles.

4. Costa Concordia

One of the biggest passenger ships ever wrecked, the Costa Concordia had 17 decks, six restaurants, a three-story theater, and enough room for 4,200 vacationers. On January 13, 2012, Captain Francesco Schettino agreed to a request by the ship’s chief maître d’, Antonello Tievoli, and sailed closer to Isola del Giglio than normal. Why? Tievoli, a native of Giglio, wanted to impress and “salute” local residents. Unfortunately, Captain Schettino turned off the ship’s alarm for the computer navigation system and later admitted he thought he knew the waters well enough to navigate by sight. However, the ship’s first mate testified that the captain had left his glasses in his cabin and requested them. The Costa Concordia struck an underwater rock, capsized, and sank, killing 32 passengers. Schettino’s worst maritime sin? He abandoned the ship with 300 passengers still onboard. A Coast Guard officer in contact with the ship at the time of the sinking claimed he told Schettino to get back onboard. After being convicted of manslaughter and pursuing several appeals, Schettino only started his 16-year prison sentence in May of 2017. The salvage effort (the ship was completely dismantled) was the largest effort of its kind.

5. SS Eastland

Launched in 1903, the SS Eastland was a passenger ship based in Chicago and used for tours. Although the ship had noted listing (tilting) since its inception and some measures had been taken to rectify this, the SS Eastland was still suffering from being top-heavy when boarding for a cruise in 1915. The ship was meant to sail from Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana, carrying workers from Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne Works for a picnic. On July 24, 2,572 passengers boarded, with many congregating on the open upper decks. While still docked, the ship began to list to the port side, and reportedly, at some point, more passengers rushed to the port side, causing the ship to roll onto its side completely. Despite the river’s bottom being just 20 feet below and the shore being about the same distance, a total of 844 passengers and crew members died, including 22 entire families.

6. Royal Pacific

When the Royal Pacific was first launched as a passenger ferry in 1964, it could carry 250 passengers, 91 cars, and 16 trucks. Sold and converted into a cruise ship in the late 1980s, the boat’s maiden voyage was a two-night “cruise to nowhere” from Singapore and sailed by Phuket, Malacca, and Penang before returning home. At around 2 a.m., when most passengers were asleep, the crew heard a loud bang, and the plates on the buffet table crashed to the ground. A Taiwanese trawler, Terfu 51, had accidentally rammed the ship, leaving a six-foot gash in the side. As the trawler pulled away, there was a deafening sound of metal scraping against metal. The PA system wasn’t working properly on the boat, but the safety officer ran downstairs to survey the damage. When he returned, he told everyone to put on their life jackets. Reports vary about how many passengers were impacted — most tallies number 30 dead and 70 injured. Several passengers also complained that a mix of Greek-, English- and Mandarin-speaking crew members led to few people understanding what anyone was saying.

7. SS Morro Castle

The story of the SS Morro Castle is so dreadful it’s surprising no Hollywood producer has turned the tale into a horror movie. Director Fritz Lang collaborated on a script about the tragedy, and named it “Hell Afloat” (which is a pretty apt description), but it was never made. Between 1930 and 1934, the SS Morro Castle regularly shuttled 480-plus passengers between Havana and New York. While onboard, there was no Depression to worry about and no Prohibition, which meant plenty of booze-filled partying. However, the September 1934 return sail from Cuba to the Big Apple seemed cursed. On September 7, Captain Robert Wilmott complained of stomach trouble after eating dinner and retired to his cabin, where he later died of an apparent heart attack. Chief Officer William Warms took command, and a few hours later, around 3 a.m. on September 8, a fire started in one of the storage lockers. The crew’s attempts to fight the fire were haphazard and inadequate, and soon, the blaze couldn’t be contained. Many crew members abandoned the ship, leaving confused passengers to fend for themselves in the dark, smoky hallways. Some jumped from the deck to their death in the water. Rescuers lined up on the Jersey Shore to meet the lifeboats carrying passengers. The next morning, the burning, black hull of the SS Morro Castle ran aground at Asbury Park, New Jersey. Of the 549 people aboard the cruise, 86 guests and 49 crew members died.

8. Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas

A cruise can be an oasis of calm in rough waters, but it’s also a petri dish of disease where viruses ricochet from passenger to passenger. In 2014, the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas cruise from New Jersey to the Caribbean earned the dubious honor of being the ship with more sick passengers than any other boat trip since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started keeping statistics more than 20 years ago. An estimated 700 passengers and crew members were sick at some point. Most cruise ship illnesses result from norovirus, that causes inflammation of the stomach and large intestines and regular trips to the “head.” If you’re wondering how to stay healthy on a cruise with sick passengers, plenty of handwashing (and avoiding ill people) is key. Bugs pass quickly through contact with ship railings, bathroom doors, and buffet food.

9. MTS Oceanos

Built by a French company and first launched in 1952, the MTS Oceanos was purchased by a Greek company in 1976. On August 3, 1991, Oceanos set sail for East London, South Africa, and headed north for Durban, led by Captain Yiannis Avranas. The ship reportedly headed into 40-knot winds and 30-foot swells, and thus, the typical sail-away outdoor deck party with British entertainers Moss and Tracy Hills was moved to an indoor lounge. The sea conditions worsened that night, leading to the ship rolling from side to side, and eventually, an explosion was heard due to a lack of repairs for the waste disposal system. This all led to the ship losing power and water filling its generator room, so the generators were shut down and the ship was led adrift. A distress call was sent and answered by numerous South African helicopters and a Dutch container ship. Shockingly, the captain and many crew members were among the first to be airlifted to shore, leaving the entertainment staff to coordinate the rescue efforts and help passengers to safety. All 571 passengers and crew members were saved by the time the ship sank nose-first into the sea.

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The world’s worst cruise ship disasters

Tragedies aboard cruise ships live on in infamy as the sinking of RMS Titanic, the biggest cruise disaster in history, bears witness. Ship-technology.com lists the worst ever cruise ship disasters.

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RMS Titanic

The sinking of RMS Titanic in April 1912 remains the worst, and the most infamous, cruise ship disaster in history. The sinking of the biggest passenger ship ever built at the time resulted in the death of more than 1,500 of the 2,208 people onboard.

The accident occurred when the ship hit an iceberg while cruising at its maximum speed of 23k on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The massive loss of life in the North Atlantic Ocean resulted mainly from hypothermia.

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RMS Titanic was the second of three Olympic-class ocean liners operated by White Star Line. It was constructed by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast in three years and was designed by the naval architect Thomas Andrews.

RMS Titanic measured 269.11m in length, 28.042m in breadth, had a gross tonnage of 46,328t and comprised nine decks. The cruise ship was equipped with 20 lifeboats for 1,178 people.

The steamship’s three propellers were driven by two four-cylinder, triple-expansion, inverted reciprocating steam engines and one four-blade low-pressure Parsons turbine.

RMS Lusitania

The sinking of RMS Lusitania in May 1915, after being hit by the German military submarine U-20, caused 1,201 deaths during a voyage from New York to Liverpool. She was considered the largest, fastest and most luxurious ship in the world at the time of her launch in June 1906.

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The Lusitania disaster resulted in the death of many Americans and became one of the major reasons behind the US entering World War I.

The German submarine targeted the submarine as a naval ship, as it was also carrying war weapons for the British.

RMS Lusitania was built by John Brown and Co. of Scotland and completed its maiden voyage in September 1907. The steamship was owned and operated by Cunard Company; a rival of White Star Line, which owned the Titanic.

RMS Lusitania had an overall length of 239.8m, beam of 26.7m, draft of 10.2m, depth of 18.4m, gross tonnage of 31,550t and ten decks. It was designed to accmmodate 2,165 passengers and 827 crew members. It was equipped with four 375kW generator sets and possessed a service speed of 25k and a maximum speed of 26.35k.

RMS Empress of Ireland

RMS Empress of Ireland, which sank in the Saint Lawrence River in May 1914, claimed the lives of 1,012 people out of the 1,477 people onboard. It was the second major cruise ship disaster after the Titanic disaster. The Ocean Liner operated on the North Atlantic route between Quebec and Liverpool in England.

The passenger steamship collided with the 6,000t Norwegian collier, the Storstad, following a thick fog which engulfed the river. Just five of the 42 lifeboats could be launched into the water due to the listing of the vessel on her starboard side. The accident was aggravated by the cold conditions, failure to close the ship’s watertight doors and failure to close all portholes aboard.

RMS Empress of Ireland was owned by Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. It was designed by Francis Elgar and built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering. The ocean liner was launched in January 1906 and completed her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Montreal in June 1906.

The cruise ship was 168m long, its beam measured 20m and gross tonnage was 14,191t. The ship was equipped with two steam engines and two quadruple expansion propellers, which provided a maximum operating speed of 20k.

MS Estonia, formerly known as Viking Sally, Silja Star and Wasa King during different periods from 1980 to 1993, sank in September 1994 during its voyage from Tallinn to Stockholm, resulting in 852 deaths, while 137 people were saved through rescue operations.

The cruise ferry accident was caused by rough sea conditions in the Baltic Sea, when wind speeds ranged from 35mph to 45mph. The bad sea conditions forced the ship to initially list on the starboard side and later sink completely.

The ferry was constructed by Meyer Werft at its shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, in 1980. The ferry, initially named Viking Sally, was delivered in June 1980 to its first owner Rederi Ab Sally. The vessel was operated by EstLine from 1993 to 1994.

MS Estonia measured 155.43m in length, 24.21m in breadth, had a draught of 5.55m, a gross tonnage of 15,598t and featured nine decks and ten lifeboats. The vessel was equipped with four 4,400kW diesel engines connected to two propeller shafts, and had an operational speed of 21k. The cruise ferry had capacity to accommodate 2,000 passengers and 460 cars.

SS Eastland

The SS Eastland disaster in July 1915 claimed more than 844 lives out of the 2,500 people onboard. The disaster occurred when the ship listed while being still tied to a dock in the Chicago River during preparations to cruise to Michigan City.

The probable causes of the disaster are believed to be the flaws in its design and construction, inadequacy of its ballast tanks and overloading. The accident occurred when the passengers embarked the ship. The ship initially listed to the starboard side and further to portside, throwing off passengers and trapping some in the interior cabins.

SS Eastland was owned by Michigan Transportation Company and operated by Chicago-South Haven Line. It was constructed by Jenks Ship Building Company, which specialised in constructing freighters but had no prior experience in construction of passenger vessels. The vessel was launched in May 1903.

The cruise ship had an overall length of 275m, width of 38m and gross tonnage of 1,961t. It was equipped with two triple expansion steam engines, four scotch boilers and two shafts. The vessel was designed for a top speed of 16.5k. It was equipped with 11 life boats and 37 life rafts.

Saint-Philibert Cruise Ship

Saint-Philibert was a twin screw-propelled small cruise ship that met with disaster in June 1931 resulting in the loss of about 500 lives, sparing just eight passengers while on its homeward run on the Loire Estuary in France.

The disaster was induced by harsh storms driving the passengers to take shelter behind the machinery casings, which caused the ship to list over. It was further struck by a wave causing her to sink. The ship, which carried approximately 500 people during the voyage, exceeded the normal carrying capacity by about 80%.

The inadequacy of the ship’s speed to face such waves, lack of coverings for shelter and absence of communication equipment further aggravated the situation. Besides, the captain and crew were considered unqualified.

Saint-Philibert cruise ship measured 32m in length and 6.4m in breadth, and had a draft of 2.74m and gross tonnage of 189t.

SS Admiral Nakhimov

The SS Admiral Nakhimov disaster in August 1986 resulted in the death of 423 people, mostly Ukranians, out of the 1,234 people onboard. The accident occurred in the Tsemes Bay near the port of Novorossiysk enroute Sochi.

The cruise ship collided with the large bulk carrier Pyotr Vasev at a speed of five knots, causing it to sink within a few minutes. The accident was caused by negligence of the captains of the two ships. The captain of Pyotr Vasev failed to heed the warning announced from SS Admiral Nakhimov, while the captain of Admiral Nakhimov was absent on the bridge at the time of the tragedy.

The passenger liner was originally named SS Berlin III and operated on the Crimean-Caucasian line. It was owned by Norddeutscher Lloyd and constructed by Bremer Vulkan.

SS Admiral Nakhimov had an overall length of 174m, beam of 21.02m and gross tonnage of 17,053t. It had a capacity to accommodate 1,125 passengers and 354 crew, and a cruise speed of 16k.

Aleksandr Suvorov

Aleksandr Suvorov, a river cruise ship of the Valerian Kuybyshev-class, met with disaster in June 1983 resulting in the death of 176 people out of the 415 people onboard, while cruising on the Volga-Don basin in Russia. The blame for the accident was placed on the captain who failed to prevent the accident and had not provided a proper order.

Just prior to the accident, an auction to be held at the cinema hall was announced, leading the passengers to the upper deck of the ship. The ship, which was cruising at a speed of about 13.5k at the time, crashed onto a bridge, failing to pass through the second span of the bridge. A freight train passing through the bridge was also affected by the crash, causing some cars to derail and fall on the ship.

Volga-Don Shipping Company was the operator of the ship at the time. Slovenské Lodenice constructed the vessel in Komárno, Czechoslovakia. The ship was restored after the accident and is currently operated by Vodohod.

Aleksander Suvorov has an overall length of 135.75m and width of 16.8m, and is comprised of four decks. It can accommodate 400 passengers and 83 crew, and runs on a 6CHRN36/45 (EG70 -5) diesel engine.

SS Morro Castle

The SS Morro Castle disaster in September 1934 resulted in the loss of more than 137 passengers and crew out of the 318 passengers and 240 crew onboard. The cruise ship was on its 174th return voyage to New York City from Havana.

The disaster was caused by a fire, which emanated from the cruise ship’s library and engulfed the entire ship. The fire was worsened by bad weather, inadequate crew and the ship’s design, which incorporated easily flammable interior materials. Just 12 lifeboats were launched out of the many lifeboats capable of rescuing 408 people.

The ship was owned by Agwi Navigation Co. and operated by Ward Line. It was constructed in 1930 at a cost of approximately $5m by Newport News Shipbuilding. The vessel completed her maiden voyage in August 1930 and served Ward Line along with its sister vessel SS Oriente for four years.

SS Morro Castle was 155m long, 21.6m wide and 11.9m deep, and had a capacity to carry 489 passengers and 240 crew. The steam turbo-electric liner was propelled by two turbines and sailed at a speed of 20k.

SS Andrea Doria

The SS Andrea Doria collided with the eastbound Swedish passenger liner Stockholm due to poor visibility caused by a thick fog. The disaster took place in July 1956 near the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, while cruising towards New York City resulting in the death of 52 people, while 1,660 people were rescued.

It is considered the world’s first major radar-assisted collision at sea, as the cause of the accident is assumed to be from the misreading of the radar. It was struck just aft and below the starboard bridge, and sank after 11 hours.

The ocean liner was owned by Italian Line and constructed by Ansaldo Shipyards of Genoa, Italy, at a cost of approximately $30m. It was launched in June 1951 and set out on its maiden voyage in January 1953.

SS Andrea Doria measured 212m in length, had a beam of 27m and a gross tonnage of 29,100t. It featured ten decks and was equipped with two steam turbines providing a top speed of 23k.

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The Worst Cruise Ship Disasters

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A cruise is supposed to be a week of rest, relaxation, and adventure, but for the people on the cruises on this list, it was a nightmare. This list is full of the worst cruise ship disasters in history, from disease outbreaks, to power outages, to shipwrecks.  

This list will make you think twice about going on that cruise to the Caribbean. Disasters like these are, statistically, not that common. But still, you would not want to be stuck on any of these unfortunate maritime adventures.

Viking Sky: Lost Power In Dangerous Waters Off The Coast Of Norway

March 14, 2019, the Viking Sky set sail off the coast of Norway with more than 890 passengers on board. For unknown reasons, the ship lost power in particularly dangerous waters off the Norwegian coast called Hustadvika. An evacuation team began airlifting passengers to safety via helicopter. The ship rocked in the waves and high winds, causing glass to shatter, heavy objects to fall and slide, and cabins to flood. 

The ship was stranded for 24 hours before it regained power and was tugged back to shore. Twenty people were injured, everyone's trips were refunded, and the rest of the cruise was canceled. 

Titanic: Hit An Iceberg

Though Titanic wasn't technically a cruise ship, its demise is the worst maritime mishap in history. The ship, which was supposed to be unsinkable, hit an iceberg and went under. About 1,500 people perished.

Costa Concordia: Ran Aground

S. S. Eastland: Tipped Over At Port

Seabourn spirits: bombarded by pirates.

In 2005, Seabourn Spirits was bombarded off the coast of Somalia by two boats of pirates . The ship's captain was able to outrun them, and thankfully only one person  was injured. The ship made it to port to repair the damage from grenades.

Royal Pacific: Collided With Fishing Trawler

In 1992, the Royal Pacific collided with a Taiwanese fishing trawler due to poor visibility in the middle of the night. The collision caused the cruise ship to sink, and 30 of the 530 passengers perished. 

Star Princess: Fire On Ship

In 2006, a fire broke out on the Star Princess while it was on its way to Jamaica. Three hundred rooms were damaged, 13 people had to be treated for smoke inhalation, and one person suffered a coronary because of the smoke. The cause of the fire was a discarded cigarette.

MTS Oceanos: Capsized Due To Negligence

The MTS Oceanos was carrying 571 passengers on a short cruise from East London to Durban, South Africa. The ship had been neglected and badly needed repairs, but it sailed anyway. It capsized because of a hole in the bulkhead. The captain abandoned ship without even bothering to send a distress call, but thankfully an entertainer named Moss Hills put out an SOS and successfully evacuated everyone on board. 

Carnival Triumph: No Working Toilets

Pacific Sun: Harsh Storm

Louis Majesty: Rogue Waves

Celebrity Mercury: Norovirus Outbreak

Carnival Splendor: Lost Power

Explorer of the Seas: Record Number Of Sick People

M.s. black watch: legionnaires disease.

Norwegian Dawn: Cabins Flooded

In April 2005, a rogue 70-foot wave hit the Norwegian Dawn , smashing windows and flooding 62 cabins. The ship encountered stormy weather on its way back to New York City from the Bahamas. About 300 passengers chose to get off early, in Charleston.

In the middle of the ocean, no one can hear you scream.

'We all suffer from PTSD': 10 years after the Costa Concordia cruise disaster, memories remain

GIGLIO, Italy — Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. But for the passengers on board and the residents who welcomed them ashore, the memories of that harrowing, freezing night remain vividly etched into their minds.

The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull. The blackout after the ship's engine room flooded and its generators failed. The final mad scramble to evacuate the listing liner and then the extraordinary generosity of Giglio islanders who offered shoes, sweatshirts and shelter until the sun rose and passengers were ferried to the mainland.

Italy on Thursday is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration that will end with a candlelit vigil near the moment the ship hit the reef: 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2012. The events will honor the 32 people who died that night, the 4,200 survivors, but also the residents of Giglio, who took in passengers and crew and then lived with the Concordia's wrecked carcass off their shore for another two years until it was righted and hauled away for scrap.

► CDC travel guidance: CDC warns 'avoid cruise travel' after more than 5,000 COVID cases in two weeks amid omicron

“For us islanders, when we remember some event, we always refer to whether it was before or after the Concordia,” said Matteo Coppa, who was 23 and fishing on the jetty when the darkened Concordia listed toward shore and then collapsed onto its side in the water.

“I imagine it like a nail stuck to the wall that marks that date, as a before and after,” he said, recounting how he joined the rescue effort that night, helping pull ashore the dazed, injured and freezing passengers from lifeboats.

The sad anniversary comes as the cruise industry, shut down in much of the world for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, is once again in the spotlight because of COVID-19 outbreaks that threaten passenger safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month  warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection.

► 'We found out while we were flying': Last-minute cruise cancellations leave travelers scrambling

► 'The Disney magic is gone' ... or is it?: Longtime fans weigh in on changes at Disney World

'We all suffer from PTSD'

For Concordia survivor Georgia Ananias, the COVID-19 infections are just the latest evidence that passenger safety still isn’t a top priority for the cruise ship industry. Passengers aboard the Concordia were largely left on their own to find life jackets and a functioning lifeboat after the captain steered the ship close too shore in a stunt. He then delayed an evacuation order until it was too late, with lifeboats unable to lower because the ship was listing too heavily.

“I always said this will not define me, but you have no choice," Ananias said in an interview from her home in Los Angeles, Calif. “We all suffer from PTSD. We had a lot of guilt that we survived and 32 other people died.”

Prosecutors blamed the delayed evacuation order and conflicting instructions given by crew for the chaos that ensued as passengers scrambled to get off the ship. The captain, Francesco Schettino, is serving a 16-year prison sentence for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship before all the passengers and crew had evacuated.

Ananias and her family declined Costa’s initial $14,500 compensation offered to each passenger and sued Costa, a unit of U.S.-based Carnival Corp., to try to cover the cost of their medical bills and therapy for the post-traumatic stress they have suffered. But after eight years in the U.S. and then Italian court system, they lost their case.

“I think people need to be aware that when you go on a cruise, that if there is a problem, you will not have the justice that you may be used to in the country in which you are living,” said Ananias, who went onto become a top official in the International Cruise Victims association, an advocacy group that lobbies to improve safety aboard ships and increase transparency and accountability in the industry.

Costa didn’t respond to emails seeking comment on the anniversary.

► Royal Caribbean cancels sailings: Pushes back restart on several ships over COVID

'We did something incredible'

Cruise Lines International Association, the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, stressed in a statement to The Associated Press that passenger and crew safety was the industry's top priority, and that cruising remains one of the safest vacation experiences available.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the victims of the Concordia tragedy and their families on this sad anniversary," CLIA said. It said it has worked over the past 10 years with the International Maritime Organization and the maritime industry to “drive a safety culture that is based on continuous improvement."

For Giglio Mayor Sergio Ortelli, the memories of that night run the gamut: the horror of seeing the capsized ship, the scramble to coordinate rescue services on shore, the recovery of the first bodies and then the pride that islanders rose to the occasion to tend to the survivors.

► Cruising during COVID-19: Cancellation, refund policies vary by cruise line

Ortelli was later on hand when, in September 2013, the 115,000-ton, 1,000-foot long cruise ship was righted vertical off its seabed graveyard in an extraordinary feat of engineering. But the night of the disaster, a Friday the 13th, remains seared in his memory.

“It was a night that, in addition to being a tragedy, had a beautiful side because the response of the people was a spontaneous gesture that was appreciated around the world,” Ortelli said.

It seemed the natural thing to do at the time. “But then we realized that on that night, in just a few hours, we did something incredible.”

A Timeline of Notable Cruise Ship Accidents and Saves

By Keith Mulvihill

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

After the six tragic deaths reported from the sinking of the Costa Concordia, many people are thinking about ship safety. But in general, cruising is a very safe way to travel, and the industry has a good record: As Cruise Lines International's Michael Crye pointed out this week, more than 100 million passengers boarded cruise ships since 2005 and less than 20 deaths related to maritime accidents have been recorded. That's not bad at all. Here, a timeline of notable past accidents.

The Ship: Costa Concordia ( Costa Cruises )

What Happened: The vessel ran aground off the coast of Tuscany.

Casualties: At least 6 (search efforts are still ongoing).

The Ship:_ _ Louis Majesty ( Louis Cruise Lines )

What Happened: Waves as high as 26 feet crashed into the ship off northeast Spain.

Casualties: 2

**The Ship: ** Carnival Splendor ( Carnvial )

What Happened: An engine room fire left the ship without any power. The vessel, with its 4,500 passengers, had to be towed by tugboat to San Diego.

Casualties: None

The Ship: Costa Europa (Costa Cruises)

**What Happened: **The ship crashed into the pier at Sharm El Sheikh when trying to dock in bad weather.

Casualties: Three crew members

The Ship: Brilliance of the Seas ( Royal Caribbean )

**What Happened: **Winds reached 70 knots in a terrible storm , tossing the ship so violently that windows broke and furniture was strewn about.

**Casualties: **None

The Ship: Sea Diamond (Louis Cruise Lines)

What Happened: Hit a reef off the coast of Santorini in April of 2007 and sank soon after. 1,600 aboard.

Cruise Ship: Star Princess ( Princess Cruises )

What Happened: A fire broke out , possibly from a cigarette left burning on a balcony. The fire caused damage in up to 250 cabins.

Casualties: 1

The Ship: Norwegian Dawn ( Norwegian Cruise Line )

**What Happened: **Struck by a 70-foot rogue wave that flooded cabins and broke windows.

The Ship: Sun Vista (Sun Cruises)

What Happened: Fire in the engine room spread to the entire ship. All passengers and crew abandoned ship, which sank in the straits of Malacca.

**The Ship: ** Achille Lauro (Starlauro, now MSC)

What Happened: An engine room fire engulfed the ship forcing 1,000 passengers to evacuate. The vessel sank in the Indian Ocean off East Africa.

**The Ship: ** Sally Albatross (Sally Cruise)

What Happened: The ship ran aground outside of the Gulf of Finland and was towed to shallow waters. All her passengers evacuated.

The Ship: _Oceonos _(Epirotiki Lines)

What Happened: Rough seas led to damage to the hull. Flooding ensued and the ship was evacuated.

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10 years later, Costa Concordia disaster is still vivid for survivors

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Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio . But for the passengers on board and the residents who welcomed them ashore, the memories of that harrowing, freezing night remain vividly etched into their minds.

The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull. The blackout after the ship’s engine room flooded and its generators failed. The final mad scramble to evacuate the listing liner and then the extraordinary generosity of Giglio islanders who offered shoes, sweatshirts and shelter until the sun rose and passengers were ferried to the mainland.

Italy on Thursday is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration that will end with a candlelit vigil near the moment the ship hit the reef: 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2012. The events will honor the 32 people who died that night, the 4,200 survivors, but also the residents of Giglio, who took in passengers and crew and then lived with the Concordia’s wrecked carcass off their shore for another two years until it was righted and hauled away for scrap.

“For us islanders, when we remember some event, we always refer to whether it was before or after the Concordia,” said Matteo Coppa, who was 23 and fishing on the jetty when the darkened Concordia listed toward shore and then collapsed onto its side in the water.

“I imagine it like a nail stuck to the wall that marks that date, as a before and after,” he said, recounting how he joined the rescue effort that night, helping pull ashore the dazed, injured and freezing passengers from lifeboats.

The sad anniversary comes as the cruise industry, shut down in much of the world for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, is once again in the spotlight because of COVID-19 outbreaks that threaten passenger safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises , regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection.

A dozen passengers on cruise ship test positive for coronavirus

The passengers, whose infections were found through random testing, were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, according to the Port of San Francisco.

Jan. 7, 2022

For Concordia survivor Georgia Ananias, the COVID-19 infections are just the latest evidence that passenger safety still isn’t a top priority for the cruise ship industry. Passengers aboard the Concordia were largely left on their own to find life jackets and a functioning lifeboat after the captain steered the ship close too shore in a stunt. He then delayed an evacuation order until it was too late, with lifeboats unable to lower because the ship was listing too heavily.

“I always said this will not define me, but you have no choice,” Ananias said in an interview from her home in Los Angeles. “We all suffer from PTSD. We had a lot of guilt that we survived and 32 other people died.”

Prosecutors blamed the delayed evacuation order and conflicting instructions given by crew for the chaos that ensued as passengers scrambled to get off the ship. The captain, Francesco Schettino, is serving a 16-year prison sentence for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship before all the passengers and crew had evacuated.

Ananias and her family declined Costa’s initial $14,500 compensation offered to each passenger and sued Costa, a unit of U.S.-based Carnival Corp., to try to cover the cost of their medical bills and therapy for the post-traumatic stress they have suffered. But after eight years in the U.S. and then Italian court system, they lost their case.

“I think people need to be aware that when you go on a cruise, that if there is a problem, you will not have the justice that you may be used to in the country in which you are living,” said Ananias, who went onto become a top official in the International Cruise Victims association, an advocacy group that lobbies to improve safety aboard ships and increase transparency and accountability in the industry.

Costa didn’t respond to emails seeking comment on the anniversary.

Cruise Lines International Assn., the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, stressed in a statement to the Associated Press that passenger and crew safety were the industry’s top priority, and that cruising remains one of the safest vacation experiences available.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the victims of the Concordia tragedy and their families on this sad anniversary,” CLIA said. It said it has worked over the past 10 years with the International Maritime Organization and the maritime industry to “drive a safety culture that is based on continuous improvement.”

For Giglio Mayor Sergio Ortelli, the memories of that night run the gamut: the horror of seeing the capsized ship, the scramble to coordinate rescue services on shore, the recovery of the first bodies and then the pride that islanders rose to the occasion to tend to the survivors.

Ortelli was later on hand when, in September 2013, the 115,000-ton, 1,000-foot long cruise ship was righted vertical off its seabed graveyard in an extraordinary feat of engineering. But the night of the disaster, a Friday the 13th, remains seared in his memory.

“It was a night that, in addition to being a tragedy, had a beautiful side because the response of the people was a spontaneous gesture that was appreciated around the world,” Ortelli said.

It seemed the natural thing to do at the time. “But then we realized that on that night, in just a few hours, we did something incredible.”

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13 Worst Cruise Lines By Injuries and Assaults – 2023 Picks

Although the sinking of the Titanic is widely considered among the worst cruise ship incident, as of 2023, there are many where more than one passenger was killed or maimed. At the outset, not all cruise ship disasters involved man overboard (MOBs) or drownings. Some involve mass disease transmission, being abandoned on a shore excursion, or being stranded at sea on casino cruises, often with endlessly flowing alcohol. In any event, not all cruise companies make it. Dream Cruises, a subsidiary of Genting Hong Kong, has struggled with its mega-ships cutting as it has flooded traditional cruise businesses. There is a proven formula to success, often leaving dissatisfied passengers full of fear in its wake.

This article by world-famous cruise ship lawyer Michael Ehline covers the 13 worst parent cruise lines. We included noteworthy incidents, including sinkings, fires, robbery, and sexual assaults on passengers by crew and others, as follows:

13 Worst Cruise Ship Incidents and Assaults in History By Cruise Line

Here are some of the notable worst cruise ship accidents and assaults in history and more:

1. Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival is one of the largest cruise companies globally. Carnival also maintains a growing list of multiple brands under its umbrella, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises , Holland America Line , and others. Carnival does a lot of business in United States ports and owns so many ships. Naturally, this billion-dollar corporation tops our list of worst cruise lines EVER.

2013 Carnival Triumph “Poop Cruise” (0 Dead)

Date: December 18, 2013

Dead and Injured: 0 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: The Carnival Triumph experienced an engine fire in February 2013, leaving the ship adrift in the Gulf of Mexico on an eight-day nightmare cruise that was supposed to be four days. Although there were no fatalities, passengers endured challenging conditions due to raw sewage aboard until the ship was towed to port. (Passengers said carpets were soaked with more than two inches of raw sewage, and no air conditioning! (Gross.)

2010 Carnival Splendor Fire (0 Dead)

Date: November 8, 2010

Dead and Injured: Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: Dubbed “ three days of hell,” the Carnival Splendor’s engine room caught on fire in November 2010, causing passengers to cope with unflushed toilets, bags of vomit, and only Spam to eat. Luckily, no one aboard was killed or seriously wounded, making this story an inconvenience and emotional turbulence.  

2006 Star Princess, Princess Cruises Fire (0 Dead)

Date: March 23, 2006

Description: A fire broke out on the Star Princess in March 2006, resulting in one death and several injuries.

Costa Cruises, aka Carnival Corporation & plc

Costa Crociere S.p.A., or Costa Cruises, is an Italian cruise line that includes Costa Cruises Shipping Ways comma Cargo. Established in 1948, it has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc since 2000.

2012 Costa Concordia: The Capsized One (32 Dead)

Date: January 2012

Dead and Injured: 32 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: On January 13, 2012, the vessel Costa Concordia struck an underwater rock near Isola del Giglio island as it sailed too close to the shore. Captain Francesco Schettino decided to turn off the computer navigation alarm, believing he could navigate the waters without assistance. However, the absence of his glasses led to critical errors, and by the time he retrieved them, the damage was done, the ship ran aground on a treacherous reef. To make matters worse, it happened off the coast of Italy, ruining the vacations and lives of many families. Thirty-two passengers had tragically lost their lives, 64 others suffered injuries, and one missing person was never found, leaving families and friends in anguish.

The immense effort to salvage the Costa Concordia took a painstaking year and eight months to bring the ship upright again finally. Subsequently, another ten months of meticulous work were needed to transport the boat back to port, where it could be dismantled and salvaged. Read more here .

Cunard Line Owned by Carnival?

Yes. Cunard, pronounced as /ˈkjuːnɑːrd/, is a prominent British shipping and cruise line with its headquarters located at Carnival House in Southampton, England. It operates under Carnival UK and falls under the ownership of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Since 2011, Cunard and its fleet of three ships have been registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. This change in registration is a notable aspect of their operations.

Notable Cunard Line Accidents

Rms lusitania sinking.

Date: May 7, 1915

Dead and Injured: 1,198 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: RMS Lusitania, named after the Roman province corresponding to modern Portugal, was a remarkable British ocean liner launched by the Cunard Line in 1906. Notably, it earned the prestigious Blue Riband title for the fastest Atlantic crossing in 1908, holding this honor until the completion of the Mauretania three months later. At the time of her sinking, she had briefly held the title of the world’s largest passenger ship. Tragically, on her 202nd trans-Atlantic crossing, on May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania 11 miles (18 km) off the western coast of Ireland. This devastating event claimed the lives of 1,198 passengers and crew members.

White Star Line is Now Carnival?

Yes. The now-defunct White Star Line, a British shipping company, emerged from the remnants of a defunct packet company. Through gradual growth and development, it established itself as one of the leading shipping companies globally, offering passenger and cargo services between the British Empire and the United States. Unlike many other lines prioritizing speed, White Star set itself apart by emphasizing comfortable and enjoyable journeys for upper- and lower-class travelers.

Merger with Cunard to Carnival: In 1934, White Star Line merged with its main competitor, Cunard Line, forming Cunard-White Star Line. Later, in 1950, Cunard acquired White Star’s share in the joint venture. Cunard continued as an independent entity until 2005 when it became part of Carnival Corporation & plc. Cunard ships still honor White Star Line’s legacy by using the term “White Star Service” to represent the company’s high standard of customer service.

Notable White Star Incidents

1912 Sinking of the RMS Titanic (1,500 Dead)

Date: April 15, 1912

Dead and Injured: 1,500 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: The subject of many movies, RMS Titanic, the so-called “unsinkable” British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line. Although the world-famous shipwright designed her, Thomas Andrews, she still sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. After striking an iceberg, she lost over 1,500 lives out of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, making it the deadliest sinking of a single ship up to that time. She remains the most fatal peacetime sinking of an ocean liner or cruise ship. The tragedy captured public attention, became a foundational theme in disaster films, and inspired numerous artistic works and news stories. Recently, a submersible imploded while diving on the sunken Titanic.

Seabourn Cruise Line, aka Carnival Corporation & Plc

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Seabonr is part of the renowned Carnival Corporation & plc.

2005 Seabourn Spirits Pirate Attack (0 Dead)

Date: November 5, 2005

Dead and Injured: 0 Dead, 1 Ghurkha Injured

Description: With 115 passengers onboard, Spirit was attacked by two speedboats filled with Somali pirates. They had been launched from a mother ship about 115 km off the coast of Somalia. The pirates fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the ship, but the crew responded with bravery and repelled the attackers. During the attack, no passengers were injured. Still, the ship’s master-at-arms, Som Bahadur Gurung, showed exceptional courage while trying to combat the raiders using a long-range acoustic device (LRAD). Gurung was hit by shrapnel during the encounter.

For their bravery and courage, security officer Michael Groves and Som Bahadur Gurung, an ex-Gurkha, were honored by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Groves received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, and Gurung received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery. After the attack, the ship altered its course to Port Victoria in the Seychelles for repairs, deviating from the original plan to go to Mombasa in Kenya, sailing to Singapore. It was able to resume its original schedule later.

2. Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean is another major player in the cruise industry, owning brands like Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara. This is another cruise company that relies on US business.

Noteworthy Royal Caribbean Group Accidents

2006 mariner of the seas mob death (1 dead).

Date: May 15, 2006

Dead and Injured: 1 Dead, Injured None

Description: In 2006, onboard the Royal Caribbean ship Mariner of The Seas, a tragic incident occurred when a young man named Daniel Dipiero went missing while on a cruise with his friends. It was reported that he fell off the ship’s side, and the investigation revealed that he had been served too much to drink. This unfortunate event served as a reminder of the importance of responsible alcohol service and safety measures on cruise ships to prevent such accidents.

2002 Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas Accident (0 Dead)

Date: September 19, 2002

Description: En route from Florida to Bonaire, the liner suffered a fire in a store room on Deck 13. The fire produced heavy smoke and caused interior damage. The whole of Deck 13 and sections of Deck 12 were closed.

Celebrity Cruises, aka Royal Caribbean Group

Celebrity Cruises, a cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Royal Caribbean Group. The company’s origin traces back to 1988, when the Greece-based Chandris Group founded it. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises merged with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, solidifying its position in the industry.

A distinctive feature of Celebrity Cruises is its signature logo, an “Χ” displayed on the funnel of their ships, which represents the Greek letter chi and stands for “Chandris,” paying homage to its founding group. The company’s Greek roots are reflected in its logo, adding a unique touch to its branding.

2010 Celebrity Mercury Norovirus Disaster

Date: February 2010

Dead and Injured: 0 Dead, 435 Injured

Description: In 2010, a harrowing norovirus outbreak struck the Celebrity Mercury cruise ship, affecting over 400 of the 2,600 passengers and crew onboard. The highly contagious virus spread rapidly, causing widespread illness and distress among those on the vessel. The Centers for Disease Control investigated the situation, identifying it as a norovirus outbreak.

In response to the crisis, the cruise line and health authorities swiftly implemented containment measures, isolating affected individuals and implementing rigorous sanitation protocols to prevent further spread. Medical staff onboard worked tirelessly to care for those afflicted while the crew diligently disinfected and sanitized all public areas to mitigate the risk of infection.

Despite the challenges, the resilience and collective efforts of the passengers, crew, and medical personnel allowed the situation to be managed effectively.

Pullmantur Cruises Now Royal Caribbean Group?

Yes. Pullmantur Cruises, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, was established in the late 1990s as an extension of the Madrid-based travel agency Pullmantur. In 2006, it came under the ownership of the U.S.-based Royal Caribbean Group through its parent company, and Royal Caribbean later divested a 51% share of the cruise line to Springwater Capital. Now the risk is shared with this Spain-based investment firm while retaining a 49% stake.

2008 Zenith Disaster (1 Dead)

Date: July 27, 2008

Dead and Injured: 1 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: The Pullmantur-owned Zenith cruise ship collided with the berthed MS Aegean Pearl in Venezuela in 2008 while maneuvering for docking , causing one death and several injuries.

3. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd

Owns Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises and does cruises to Hawaii as its claim to fame.

2005 Norwegian Dawn Death Wave (0 Dead)

Date: April 16, 2005

Dead and Injured: 0 Dead, 4 Injured

Description: The Norwegian Dawn was hit by a 70-foot massive wave in rough weather, causing two injuries and the flooding of 62 cabins and decks following subsequent waves against the hull. Fortunately, no hands died during that vacation tour collision.

4. MSC Cruises

MSC is a European-based cruise line with a significant presence in the industry, offering cruises worldwide and growing.

MSC is Now Star Lauro Cruises

Also known as Lauro Lines , founded by Achille Lauro in 1960 in Naples, Italy, initially operated two ships:

• MS Angelina Lauro
• MS Achille Lauro.

However, unfortunate incidents such as the burning of MS Angelina Lauro in 1979 and the hijacking of MS Achille Lauro in 1985 caused financial difficulties for the company, so in 1988, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) ventured into the cruise business by acquiring the liner Monterey. A year later, in 1989, MSC purchased Lauro Lines , branding it StarLauro Cruises , operating two ships:

• Achille Lauro.

In 1995, StarLauro Cruises underwent a name change and became known as MSC Cruises.

Notable Star Lauro Cruise Accident

1994 ms achille lauro cruise ship disaster (2 dead).

Date: November 30, 1994

Dead and Injured: 2 Dead, 8 Injured

Description: On November 30, 1994, the Achille Lauro caught fire off the coast of Somalia, carrying 979 passengers and crew to South Africa. Italian officials initially attributed the fire to a discarded cigarette. Still, later analysis suggested it started in the engine room due to a crankcase explosion, causing cooling oil to enter the exhaust. Lack of supervision led to the fire spreading uncontrollably before being discovered. The situation worsened despite efforts to battle the fire, including using hoses and buckets. The vessel was eventually abandoned the following day after the ship tilted, developing a list.

Some passengers and crew had to climb down a rope ladder from the stern to reach inflatable boats due to flames blocking the main lifeboats, resulting in two fatalities and eight injuries during the evacuation. The USS Gettysburg and USS Halyburton were among the ships that responded to the emergency. The Achille Lauro sank on December 2, 1994, witnessed by a fire tugboat. The wreckage has never been located as of 2023.

5. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is a UK-based, Norwegian-owned cruise shipping line with four cruise ships. It falls under the ownership of Bonheur and Ganger Rolf is headquartered in Ipswich, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom, and remains a division of the Fred Olsen Group.

Deadly Fred Olsen Cruise Incident

2007 robert heath legionnaire’s disease (1 dead).

Date: July 31, 2007

Description: In 2007, bacteria was found on a Fred Olsen Cruise, leading to an early end of the trip, as reported by the UK Telegraph. A passenger named Robert Heath fell ill shortly after returning home and tragically passed away despite being prescribed antibiotics. An inquest concluded that Fred Olsen Cruises exposed Heath to Legionnaires’ disease. It was also revealed that the two doctors he saw during his illness did not provide adequate medication and failed to respond to his deteriorating condition, as reported by the Telegraph. As a result, the cruise line settled his wife’s wrongful death case for over $100,000.

6. Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies SS Lines

A passenger and cargo shipping company based in New York City, Agwilines Inc (Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies Steamship Inc) operated four main lines during the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s:

• Mallory Line
• Porto Rico Line

Later, the Clyde-Mallory Lines, founded in 1908, had offices in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Washington. However, in 1949, Graham-Newman Corporation purchased a controlling interest in Agwilines Inc, acquiring 70,000 shares. Graham-Newman Corporation was an investment corporation established in 1926 by Benjamin Graham and Jerome Newman and was ultimately liquidated in 1954.

Famous Agwilines Inc Incident

Ss morro castle (137 dead).

Date: September 8, 1934

Dead and Injured: 137 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: The SS Morro Castle, an American ocean liner, was set ablaze due to a mechanical problem after a fire started in one of the storage lockers. She ran aground during its journey from Havana, Cuba, to New York City, United States, on September 8, 1934, after Chief Officer William Warms took command from his sickly Captain, Robert Wilmott. Several crew members abandoned the ship after insufficient firefighting attempts.

Most passengers were left alone without life jackets to try and navigate through the smoke-dimmed hallway inferno. The devastating incident resulted in the loss of 137 confused passengers and crew members despite rescuers lined up, rushing to help the lifeboats carrying passengers (mainly residents) away from the large cruise ship towards the Jersey Shore during the wee hours.

7. Chonghaejin Ferry Lines

Chonghaejin Marine Company Ltd., also known as Cheonghaejin Marine Company Ltd., was a South Korean shipping company that operated the ferry MV Sewol.

2014 Sewol Ferry Disaster (300 Dead)

Date: April 16, 2014

Dead and Injured: 300 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: Although not an actual cruise ship, the South Korean ferry Sewol capsized in April 2014, leading to the deaths of over 300 passengers, mostly high school students. In 2015, Captain Lee Jun-seok was convicted of homicide and sentenced to life in prison for the Sewol disaster. The incident deeply traumatized the country and significantly affected the then-leader, Park Geun-hye. The ferry operator, Cheonghaejin, was also held responsible, and the court ordered it to share the costs.

8. GAP Shipping, Bahamas

G Adventures is a prominent cruise operator specializing in small-group escorted tours for big timers. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, it has a global presence with 28 offices worldwide. The company boasts an extensive portfolio, Including over 700 itineraries in at least 100 countries at any given time, catering to around 200,000 travelers from 160 countries annually.

The company has partnered with the National Geographic Society, creating a unique program called “National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures.” This program includes 80 special tours that align with responsible and sustainable travel principles while offering enriching and educational experiences. It also owned the ill-fated MS/MV Explorer

2007 MS/MV Explorer (0 Dead)

Date: November 23, 2007

Description: The MS Explorer, MV Explorer, was a Liberian-registered cruise liner. It was a pioneering vessel designed to navigate the frigid Antarctic Ocean. On November 23, 2007, it became the first cruise ship to sink in those waters after colliding with an iceberg.

9. Epirotiki Lines

Epirotiki, a defunct shipping company with roots dating back to 1850, had a diverse fleet encompassing cruise vessels, cargo ships, and tanker vessels. The company operates in various maritime industry sectors, providing passenger and cargo transportation services.

Noteworthy Epirotiki Line Accident

1991 mts oceanos disaster (0 dead).

Date: August 4, 1991

Description: MTS Oceanos, a cruise ship built in France and owned by Greece, tragically sank in 1991 due to uncontrolled flooding. The ship’s captain, Yiannis Avranas, and some crew members were found guilty of negligence for abandoning the passengers without assistance. Fortunately, all 571 passengers and crew were ultimately rescued thanks to the courageous actions of the ship’s entertainers. They sent a mayday signal, launched lifeboats, and aided in the rescue efforts by facilitating the landing of South African Marines from naval helicopters.

It’s worth noting that Epirotiki Lines, the company that owned MTS Oceanos, had experienced the loss of two other ships in the three years leading up to the sinking. Their flagship, Pegasus, sank merely two months prior, and MV Jupiter dropped three years earlier.

10. Hurtigruten AS

Hurtigruten AS is a prominent Norwegian coastal ferry service and cruise line based in Oslo, Norway. It shares its name with the iconic Hurtigruten, the coastal ferry service it operates along the Norwegian coast.

As of 2020, a significant 81% of company ownership belonged to TDR Capital. At the helm of Hurtigruten AS is Daniel Skjeldam, serving as the CEO, and guiding the company’s operations and strategies.

Noteworthy Hurtigruten AS Accident

2011 ms nordlys (2 dead).

Description: The MS Nordlys, operated by Hurtigruten, caught fire off the coast of Norway in September 2011, leading to two fatalities.

11. Republique Senegal, Ministere de l’Equipement, Dakar / Senegal

Under the authority of the Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, the entity is responsible for:

• The preparation, coordination, and execution of the budget.
• The management of personnel and equipment.
• The Budget and Finance Division.
• The Human Resources Division.
• The Logistics and Equipment Division.

Noteworthy Republique Cruise Ferry Incident

2002 ms joola capsising.

Date: September 26, 2002

Dead and Injured: 1863 Dead, Injured Unknown, Survivors 64

Description: In 2002, the Senegalese ferry MS Joola operated by the Armed Forces of Senegal, capsized off the coast of Gambia, resulting in one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history, with over 1,800 lives lost.

12. Michigan Transportation Company

It appears to have been a now defunct, large corporation that offered many sister companies involved in lake and ocean transportation of goods and passengers.

Noteworthy Michigan Transportation Company Cruise Accident

1915 ss eastland port tip over (844 dead).

Date: July 24, 1915

Dead and Injured: 844 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: The SS Eastland (“the speed queen of the Great Lakes”), operated by the Chicago-South Haven Line, was moored near the Clark Street Bridge on the Chicago River, getting ready to take passengers to Michigan City for a company picnic. It capsized on its port side at the harbor’s edge, killing 844 2,500 passengers (mainly Western Electric employees) and crew members that day, including 22 entire families. The ship never left the river, making it a devastating event that profoundly impacted everyone involved.

As you can see, there are more than ten worst cruise ship disasters in history to discuss, and it is cruise line-centric.

13. Australian National Line (ANL)

Australian National Line (ANL) was a coastal shipping line founded by the Government of Australia in 1956. Over the years, it played a crucial role in maritime transport and contributed significantly to the nation’s coastal shipping operations.

In 1998, the Howard government decided to sell ANL, leading to its acquisition by CMA CGM, a global shipping and logistics company. The transfer of ownership marked a significant shift in the Australian maritime industry, as ANL became part of a more extensive international shipping network under CMA CGM’s management that once owned the Royal Pacific Ferry.

Noteworthy ANL Accident?

1992 royal pacific trawler crash (30 dead).

Date: August 23, 1992

Dead and Injured: 30 Dead, Injured Unknown

Description: The Royal Pacific, initially a passenger ferry from 1964, had a capacity of 250 passengers, 91 cars, and 16 trucks. After being sold and converted into a cruise ship in the late 1980s, its maiden voyage was a captivating two-night “cruise to nowhere” from Singapore, passing by Phuket, Malacca, and Penang. During its journeys, an unfortunate incident occurred when it was struck by a Taiwanese fishing trawler, despite taking evasive maneuvers upon receiving a warning from its Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). A broken PA system made it hard to warn passengers, coupled with the crew who abandoned the passengers.

Worst Cruise Ship Rapes and Sexual Assaults By Liner?

Here are some notable cases:

• 2019 Carnival Sensation : In 2019, a crew member on the Carnival Sensation was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a female passenger.
• 2016 Carnival Liberty: A passenger on the Carnival Liberty reported being sexually assaulted by another passenger while on the ship. A young woman claimed she was slipped a date rape drug aboard the Carnival Miracle
• 2016 Disney Wonder : In 2016 a Disney Cruise Line employee was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl while the ship was docked in San Pedro, California.
• 2015 Carnival Breeze Cruise : In 2015, a crew member on the Carnival Breeze was arrested for sexually assaulting a female passenger.
• 2013 Carnival Triumph : In 2013, a teenage girl reported being sexually assaulted by a crew member while sailing aboard the Carnival Triumph.
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: Has also faced several sexual assault allegations on different ships over the years. Some cases have resulted in arrests and expensive legal actions.

Cruise lines, such as Norwegian, appear to be experts at losing videotapes and other evidence of assaults or raped females or children being thrown overboard. Cruise, dock walk the gangplank at foreign ports at your own risk, especially if a single woman drinking and caring for kids during dinner at restaurants with no chaperone. You could be jumped on a shore excursion or hijacked by pirates and forced to perform sex acts in exchange for your life. Worse, your attackers can still throw you into the sea with no tender boat or liferaft in sight. As you fall to your death , it is no comfort if the criminal is arrested, placed in a cruise ship jail , and convicted of manslaughter. Your life will still be over!

We just covered the 13 worst cruise lines by accidents and sexual assaults at sea. Are you an author or former cruise ship officer, or are you seeking experts or books on this topic? We are dedicated to exposing the secrets Cruise lines don’t want to face and are willing to spend the next minutes or hours assisting you too. We offer free initial consultations to all cruise ship victims 24/7 as well. If you want help from the right law firm, you can contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a confidential conversation to tell us your side of the story and get things under control!

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Michael Ehline is an inactive U.S. Marine and world-famous legal historian. Michael helped draft the Cruise Ship Safety Act and has won some of U.S. history’s largest motorcycle accident settlements. Together with his legal team, Michael and the Ehline Law Firm collect damages on behalf of clients. We pride ourselves on being available to answer your most pressing and difficult questions 24/7. We are proud sponsors of the Paul Ehline Memorial Motorcycle Ride and a Service Disabled Veteran Operated Business. (SDVOB.) We are ready to fight.

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2 crew members die on Holland America ship; fire breaks out on Carnival cruise

MIAMI — Two crew members died on board a Holland America cruise ship, and a fire broke out on a Carnival ship while both of the ships were in the Bahamas this weekend, officials said.

The two crew on the Florida-based Nieuw Amsterdam died Friday during an "accidental steam release" while it was calling at the private resort island Half Moon Cay, Holland America said in a statement on Sunday.

"There was an accidental steam release in an engineering space on board Nieuw Amsterdam, which sadly resulted in the death of two crew members," the cruise line said.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority and the Dutch Safety Board were investigating the exact cause of the release, Holland America said.

A representative of the Bahama’s Coroner’s Court did not immediately respond to a request for information, such as the crew members’ identities and the cause and manner of death.

The cruise line said the conclusions of any investigation would be taken seriously. "Safety is always our top priority, and we are working to understand what, if anything, can be learned from this tragic accident," it said.

Passenger Laine Doss said she was on board when the captain announced the deaths on the vessel's P.A. system.

"We were celebrating the last day of the cruise," she said, when the mood changed "to something extremely somber."

The captain's voice broke, she said.

"He broke down crying," Doss said. "There was a moment of silence that the captain requested. And that entire scenario did affect the entire cruise. Things were canceled, joyous events were canceled, and we really just thought about mortality — the people who perished on the ship."

Crew members were being offered counseling, Holland America said.

Dutch government inspectors determined the vessel to be "fully operable," and this was "confirmed" by the U.S. Coast Guard, the cruise line said.

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson said she was looking into the statement and was unable to immediately confirm it.

The Nieuw Amsterdam returned Saturday to its home port of Fort Lauderdale, guests disembarked, and the vessel has embarked on a cruise with a stop in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on Monday, Holland America said.

"All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this event," the cruise line said. "We’ve been in contact with the families of both team members and are offering our support to them and to all of our crew at this difficult time."  

The ship set sail out of Fort Lauderdale on March 16 for a seven-night trip.

Fire on the port-side exhaust funnel of another Florida-based cruise ship in the Bahamas, the Carnival Freedom, rocked some passengers Saturday and took the ship out of commission for repairs, the cruise line said.

No injuries were reported.

In a statement Sunday, Carnival Cruises acknowledged witness reports of a lightning strike or the sound of thunder before the fire erupted.

Passenger Heath Barnes said the ship was on a detoured path, destined for an unscheduled stop in Freeport, as a result of stormy weather and high winds when fire started.

"I was shocked," he said. "I mean, I looked out there and you're not supposed to see black smoke and fire shooting out of the tail end of the cruise."

The blaze was preceded by "the loudest thunder-lightning clap that I've ever heard in my life," Barnes said.

Ship personnel extinguished the fire, Carnival Cruises said.

The cruise line said a technical team determined the ship sustained enough damage that it will need repairs before it can be returned to scheduled cruises. The funnel was stabilized, passengers were expected to be returned to Port Canaveral, and the ship will set off to Freeport for repairs, it said.

"The damage is more than we first thought and will require an immediate repair to stabilize the funnel, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 and March 29 cruises from Port Canaveral," Carnival Cruises said.

Passengers scheduled for those late-March cruises are being offered full refunds and credit that can be used for a future cruise, it said.

It was the second funnel fire on the Carnival Freedom since 2022.

Marissa Parra is a national correspondent for NBC News based in Miami, Florida.

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

30 Famous Shipwrecks In The World

Shipwrecking is truly a big loss of material possessions and human lives. A rough estimate by the United Nations shows at least 3 million shipwrecks are lying across ocean floors. There are over 5000 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes that have taken the lives of over 30,000 mariners. There is also a shipwreck museum at whitefish point.

Several maritime accidents in the past, as depicted in popular movies, poems and dramas, depict the heartwrenching tales of lost ships, their lamenting crew and hopeless passengers who drowned in the depths of oceans and seas.

Shipwrecks are essential discoveries that tell stories of the past, helping us connect the dots in history. For future generations, shipwrecks provide a window to the long histories of conflict, survival, and the history of destinies. They are testimonies to the trade and cultural exchanges of our predecessors.

Over countless centuries, many ships have fallen prey to accidents caused by human negligence. Nonetheless, these shipwrecks excite history buffs and laypeople alike. They are often seen as treasure chests and shrouded in mystery.

Many enthusiastic travellers, brave warriors and merchants have found their final resting place at the bottom of mighty seas and oceans. In addition to being important sites of cultural interest, these historical monuments contribute significantly to a healthy marine ecosystem and support recreation and the growing diving industry.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found Atlanta 650 feet below Lake Superior. The 172-foot schooner barge sank in 1891. Its recent discovery was the steamer Cyprus, which went down in 1907. North Carolina Coast also has a diverse history of seafaring.

Marine archaeologists have discovered many shipwrecks in the area, including the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the pirate Blackbeard, which sunk in 1718 CE, and USS Monitor, the earliest steamship with an iron hull, built for the Union during the American Civil War.

In this article, we take you through the pages of history to some of the precious maritime treasures on the ocean floor.

Table of Contents

1. SS Edmund Fitzgerald

The majestic SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American freighter. The ship was launched on 7th June 1958 and was the biggest vessel to ply on the Great Lakes of North America at that time. 

It carried a cargo of Taconite iron ore from mines near Minnesota to the ironworks in Ohio, Michigan and Detroit. She was a famous ship that broke its previous records and set new ones in its 17 years of service.

She embarked on her last unfortunate voyage from Wisconsin, near Duluth, on 9th November 1975. She was carrying a cargo of ore pellets and was headed by Captain Ernest M. McSorley. 

The ship was destined for a steel factory in Detroit and was moving when she was joined by another ship SS. Arthur M. Anderson. The next day, both ships were caught in a strong storm with hurricane winds and almost 11 m high waves. 

On the evening of 10th November 1975, Edmund Fitzgerald sank around 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. The entire 29-member crew went down with it in what has become the greatest Great Lakes Shipping Tragedy of all time. 

She was found by an aircraft belonging to the US Navy on 14th November 1975. Three expeditions were conducted at the site, and at the request of the family members of the crew, the ship’s bronze bell was retrieved on 4th July 1995. 

2. HMHS Britannic

Belonging to the Olympic class of steamships, the White Star Line vessel was the youngest sistership of the RMS Olympic and the RMS Titanic. It was constructed to be a passenger liner; however, she functioned as a hospital ship from 1915 until she finally sank in November 1916.

She entered service before the First World War started. She was carefully designed, and lessons learned from the sinking of the Titanic were implemented in its construction to make it safe and comfortable. 

In 1915-16, she sailed between Britain and the Dardanelles. On 21st November 1916, she was shaken by a blast which occurred due to a naval mine of the German Navy. The incident took place near the Greek island of Kea in the Aegean Sea. 

The ship sank around an hour later and killed 30 people. She became the biggest ship that sank during World War I and, more so, tragically. Of the 1066 people, 1036 survived and were rescued from the water and the lifeboats. 

In 1975, its wreck was located, and it became the world’s biggest and most well-preserved passenger liner.

3. HMS Curacoa

HMS Curacoa was a light cruiser constructed for the Royal Navy. She functioned as a flagship most of the time. Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet in 1919, she was sent to the Baltic to support the British forces in their campaign during the Civil War in Russia. 

After encountering a naval mine, she suffered damage and was sent to be repaired. Later she was shifted to the Mediterranean fleet in 1922-23 to support British Troops in Turkey. 

She was converted to a training ship in 1933, and in 1939, before the Second World War started, she was made into an anti-aircraft cruiser. 

After 1940, she became an escort ship. In 1942, she escorted the RMS Queen Mary, which resulted in the tragedy. The former was carrying around 15,000 US troops and was moving in a zigzag course to avoid German bombers and possible enemy vessels. 

Queen May caught up with the escort ship Curacoa and was trying to overtake her. One of the seamen of Curacoa, Ernest Watson, was admiring Queen Mary when he noticed its bow swinging toward the cruiser. He realised that the two ships were soon going to collide.

The 20 times bigger Queen Mary rammed into Curacoa’s metal plating and sliced it in half before it sank in no time. Out of 430 men onboard, only 99 seamen and 2 officers survived. 

4. The fleet of Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan’s lost fleet is one of the most famous shipwrecks of old times. Two Mongolian invasion fleet attempting to attack Japan was wrecked in storms in 1274 and 1281, killing tens of thousands of troops.

Several artefacts belonging to these vessels were found centuries later on the seabed of the Imari Gulf. In October 2001, an entire shipwreck claimed to originate from Fujian in south China was discovered by archaeologists.

Recently in 2015, archaeologists located a Mongolian ship in a bay close to the city of Matsuura, near the island of Kyushu.

5. The Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada, a fleet of 130 ships on a mission to invade England in 1588, was disrupted by storms, and a large number of the Armada’s ships were wrecked on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland, killing around 5000 soldiers.

Among the drowned were most of the soldiers and crewmembers of the 32-gun warship La Juliana, built near Barcelona in 1570.

In 1985, local divers discovered the wreckage of three fleet vessels, including La Lavia, La Santa Maria de Vision, and La Juliana. In 2015, several cannons from La Juliana were found in the sands off Streedagh in Co Sligo.

6. RMS Titanic

RMS Titanic, the most famous ship for never making her destination, was the largest cruise ship of its time. The Titanic was built in Ireland at the Harland and Wolff shipyard. It was considered to be the most developed ship of that era.

However, the Titanic, famously described as ‘unsinkable,’ unfortunately sank after colliding against an iceberg on its maiden voyage- from Southampton to New York City- on 14 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Around 1,517 people lost their lives in one of the biggest marine tragedies in history.

After many unsuccessful expeditions, the wreck was finally located by a joint French–American expedition in 1985. Several artefacts and debris have been removed from the shipwreck and are displayed in the National Maritime Museum in England.

Many schemes were proposed to raise the ship, but the fragile condition of the vessel prevented such plans. The 2001 UNESCO Convention now protects the wreck of the RMS Titanic.

7. RMS Empress of Ireland

Canadian ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River on 29 May 1914 after colliding with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad due to thick fog, killing 1012 people.

The vessel was en route from Quebec City to Liverpool, with 1057 passengers and a crew of 420 abroad, when the ship went down in one of the worst disasters in Canadian maritime history.

At present, the wreck of Empress of Ireland lies in a shallow 130 ft of water.

Several divers have recovered several valuables, including silver bars, a brass bell, and a stern telemeter, from the ship on several occasions after the incident.

8. MS Estonia

The Estonia ship casualty in the Baltic Sea is one of the biggest maritime incidents in the recent past. The cruise ferry MS Estonia, built in the German shipyard Meyer Werft, was en route to Stockholm from the Estonian province of Tallinn when it sank on 28 September 1994.

Over 800 people lost their lives in this horrifying incident, and most of the bodies were never recovered.

The cause of the accident remains controversial as there are many theories about the cause of the sinking. The most commonly known reason for the accident is said to be the rough weather conditions that the ship encountered.

However, other sources disregarded this reason and stated that because of the ship’s military involvement, bombs were planted by rival countries to destroy the ship.

After the accident, there were demands from the relatives of the deceased to raise the vessel to give a land burial. And at the same time, there were discussions to raise the ship for a detailed inspection to know the cause of the accident.

However, the Swedish government decided to bury the vessel, and thousands of tons of pebbles were dropped on the site.

As per the Estonia Agreement 1995, the burial site has been designated as a sea grave and prohibited the exploration of the wreckage.

9. The Andrea Doria

The Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria sank after colliding against the Swedish ship MS Stockholm in July 1956, killing 46 people.

The vessel, which had 1,134 passengers and 572 crew members on board, was en route to New York City when it met with one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

However, despite the severity of the incident, not many lives were lost thanks to the timely communication by the ship’s authorities and commendable rescue efforts.

After the sinking of the vessel, divers Peter Gimbel and Joseph Fox managed to locate the wreck of Andrea Doria.

Today, resting in some 240 feet of the North Atlantic water, the wreck of Andrea Doria has become a popular site among scuba divers, being called “Mount Everest of scuba diving.”

10. HMS Victory

The 100-gun ship of the Royal Navy, HMS Victory, was launched in 1737 and met with an accident in the English Channel in 1744.

The sinking of HMS Victory, one of the worst British naval disasters in the English Channel, claimed the lives of more than 1,000 sailors.

The ship disappeared in the Channel Islands, and for over 250 years, there was no sight of any remains of the ship.

The shipwreck was discovered in 2008 by the Odyssey Marine Expedition of the United States around 43 nautical miles from where it encountered the storm and disappeared.

As a military wreck, the remains of HMS Victory are now the property of the British Government under maritime laws.

11. MV Doña Paz

The Philippine-registered passenger ferry MV Doña Paz was en route from Leyte Island to Manila when it sank after colliding with the oil tanker MT Vector on 20 December 1987.

One of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history, the collision claimed the lives of at least 4,386 people.

Reports then revealed that the vessel was overcrowded, the ship did not have a radio, and passengers didn’t have immediate access to life jackets.

The ship, now known as ‘Asia’s Titanic,’ was mostly destroyed in the collision due to the fire.

12. The Carpathia

The British passenger liner RMS Carpathia is best known for rescuing survivors from the Titanic when the cruise ship met with an accident.

However, Carpathia met with the same destiny when it was destroyed by a German submarine in the year 1917, at the time of World War I.

The vessel was attacked by three torpedoes from a German U-boat when it was moving as part of a convoy travelling from Liverpool to Boston, and five people were killed in the accident.

The Carpathia wreck was found in 1999 by a company known as Argosy International Ltd, in 600 ft of water, 298 km west of Land’s End, sitting upright on the ocean bed.

13. The Mary Rose

The Mary Rose was a warship in the navy of the Tudor King Henry VIII and was destroyed while leading an action against a French ship in Solent on the Isle of Wight on 19 July 1545.

The ship sank in a strait of the English Channel, claiming the lives of hundreds of men.

This shipwreck was salvaged in 1982 by the Mary Rose Trust, and now the artefacts are displayed in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

The artefacts discovered in the Mary Rose were unique, offering immense knowledge about the equipment of naval warfare of that era.

14. The Vasa

The Vasa was a Swedish war vessel built during the 17th century, and it was the most high-tech warship when it set sail. However, the ship sank during its maiden voyage in the year 1628 in Stockholm Harbor.

Many unsuccessful attempts were made to raise the ship from the seabed in the following years.

Finally, the Vasa was recovered in 1961, and at present, the remains of the Vasa are stored at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, where it attracts more than a million visitors per year.

15. The Rhone

The iron-hulled steamship RMS Rhone was a UK Royal Mail Ship or packet ship owned by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. This ship was lost in a hurricane off the coast of Salt Island in the British Virgin Islands in 1867, killing 123 people.

The topmast of the vessel remained above the waterline for a long period after the accident, and the Royal Navy blew up the stern of the ship only in 1950 due to navigational hazards.

At present, because of the way the shipwreck is positioned in the water, the Rhone is regarded as the best diving destination in the Caribbean.

16. The Sultana

In one of the worst and least recognised maritime disasters in the history of the US, the explosion and sinking of steamboat Sultana on 27 April 1865 took 1,800 lives on the Mississippi River near Memphis.

The ship was used at the end of the American Civil War to transport the POWs from the Union army back home, and the vessel met with an accident after the explosion of its boilers.

The ship’s wreck was found in 1982 in a soybean field on the Arkansas side, around 6 km from Memphis.

Featuring a few relics from the ship, a temporary Sultana Disaster Museum was opened in 2015 on the 150th anniversary of the tragedy.

17. The RMS Republic

The steam-powered ocean liner RMS Republic, built-in 1903, was lost at sea after colliding with the Lloyd Italiano liner SS Florida in 1909.

The vessel was en route from New York City to Gibraltar and Mediterranean ports when it met with an accident that killed six people.

Several rumours suggest that the Republic was carrying valuables, including gold, when she went down off Nantucket, Massachusetts.

The Republic wreck, found in 1981 by Captain Martin Bayerle, lies upright around 80 km south of Nantucket Island, around 250 feet underwater.

18. RMS Lusitania

British ocean liner RMS Lusitania was the world’s largest passenger ship for a brief time when it launched in 1906.

The vessel was sunk on 7 May 1915 after being attacked by a German U-boat off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1962 passengers and 1191 crew members.

The disaster occurred on the 202 nd trans-Atlantic crossing of RMS Lusitania. After a few salvage efforts, several items were recovered.

Currently, the wreck lies 11 miles south of the lighthouse at Kinsale, Ireland, with around 300 feet of water.

19. USS Arizona

The USS Arizona was a US Navy Battleship. It was named after the 48th state and was the last vessel of the Pennsylvania class. She was commissioned in 1916 and participated in crucial missions and operations during the First World War.

The ship escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference and was deployed to serve in the Greco-Turkish War in 1919. In 1921, she joined the Pacific Fleet. In the 1920s and 30s, USS Arizona participated in training exercises and was refurbished too.

It provided relief efforts in 1933 after an earthquake near Long Beach, California. In 1940, the home port of the Pacific Fleet shifted from California to Pearl Harbour, a move to check the Japanese influence.

On 7th December 1941, the Japanese forces launched an attack on Pearl Harbour. The USS Arizona was struck by several bombs dropped by aeroplanes. Hence, the ship sank, taking with it about 1177 naval officers and crew. Unlike other ships attacked the same day, Arizona was damaged badly and could not be repaired or brought back.

Its shipwreck is located at Pearl Harbour’s bottom, near the USS Arizona Memorial, built in memory of those who died during the attack.

20. USS Indianapolis

The USS Indianapolis was a heavy cruiser of the US Navy, belonging to the Portland Class. It was launched in 1931 and played a major role in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the Second World War. It was a part of many wars and campaigns, such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

On 30th July 1945, the ship was headed to Leyte from Guam when it was struck by 2 torpedoes fired by I-58, a Japanese submarine. They hit the ship near its bow, which caused it to sink in no time. She sank in just 12 minutes with most of its crew onboard.

Unfortunately, there was also a communication error, and its sinking could not be reported on time. The crew was left in the open water for 4 days without food and drinking water before a patrolling plane spotted them and rescued the survivors. However, till then, many of the crew had perished as a result of dehydration, shark attacks, exposure and saltwater poisoning.

The ship was carrying 1196 crew, of which only 316 survived. The sinking of the USS Indianapolis is one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. Naval history.

In 2017, a search team found the ship’s wreckage in the Philippine Sea at a depth of around 18,000 ft and in 2018, the crew was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

21. HMS Hood

HMS Hood was the Royal Navy’s Battlecruiser constructed during the First World War. Although new vessels were being built at that time, Hood remained the biggest warship in the world for two decades after it was commissioned in 1920. Her prestige and honour were evident through her nickname ‘The Mighty Hood’.

The ship had to patrol the waters and also functioned as an escort ship in the North Atlantic. In May 1941, Hood and another ship called Prince of Whales were told to intercept the German warship Bismarck and Prince Eugen, which were headed to the Atlantic to attack convoys.

On 24th May 1941, during the Battle of Denmark Strait, the ship was hit by many German shells, which led to many explosions and its sinking with the loss of all but 3 of her 1418 crew members. Since the ship was considered invincible and was a symbol of power for the navy and British people, its sinking affected British morale.

22. SS Central America

SS Central America, also known as the Ship of Gold, was an 85 metres long sidewheel steamer. She operated between Central America and the eastern coast of the U.S. in the 1850s.

The steamship sank in 1857 off the South Carolina coast due to a hurricane. 425 of her 578 passengers and crew went down with the ill-fated ship, which was also carrying 30,000 pounds of gold and other precious items. The ship was on its voyage from Panama to New York.

Its sinking was a crucial event in American history since it contributed to the panic of 1857, a financial crisis which went on for many years.

In the 1980s, a team of explorers found the wreck of SS Central America, and they recovered some amount of gold and other precious items from it. The discovery of this vessel and its treasures was said to be one of the greatest archaeological finds of the century.

23. Bismarck

Named after Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the battleship Bismarck was constructed for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine. She was laid down in 1936, launched in 1939 and work on it was completed in 1940, after which she joined the German Fleet. Bismarck and Tirpitz were the largest battleships ever constructed by Germany, and they were two of the biggest ships built by a European power at that time.

However, it sank on 27th May 1941 in the North Atlantic, a significant event in naval history. In May 1941, Bismarck engaged in a battle with the British Royal Navy’s HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales. Eventually, Bismarck sank the Hood with its firepower but sustained damages and retreated to France for repairs.

However, the Royal Navy was now determined to sink Bismarck and pursued the battleship by launching a massive search operation. After a few days, Bismarck was located, and she was attacked by 15 torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. Hence, the ship was hit, and its steering gear became inoperable.

The next morning, two British warships and two heavy cruisers attacked Bismarck. The ship ultimately sank, taking most of its crew with it.

24. HMAS Sydney

HMAS Sydney was a light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy during the times of the Second World War. On 19th November 1941, she engaged in a battle with the German cruiser Kormoran off the western coast of Australia.

The German auxiliary cruiser was disguised as a Dutch freight ship and was carrying out raiding operations in the Indian Ocean. In the skirmish, the Koromoran was damaged severely, but it managed to get a lucky hit on the Australian cruiser, which led to a catastrophic explosion on the HMAS Sydney. It not only destroyed the ship, but all of its 645 crew members were killed as the ship sank.

There is a debate among experts as to what exactly happened since there were no survivors to give a first-hand account. However, it is believed that the Koromoran fired a torpedo that struck Sydney’s Magazine, which led to the explosion. The sinking of HMAS Sydney was a big tragedy for Australians.

25. USS Yorktown

USS Yorktown was an aircraft carrier of the US Navy that operated during the Second World War. It was named after the 1781 Battle of Yorktown and was commissioned in 1937. She was the lead ship of her class and took part in many important battles, such as the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

Yorktown sank two Japanese fleet carriers and took Japanese aerial attacks at Midway. On 4th June 1942, during the Battle of Midway, she was crippled by a Japanese aircraft. She lost power, and salvage efforts began. She was being towed by USS Vireo. However, on the afternoon of 6th June, I-168, a Japanese submarine fired many torpedoes, of which 2 struck Yroktown, and the third hit the USS Hammann, a destroyer of the US Navy, which was providing auxiliary power to Yorktown.

As the situation became dangerous, the repair crew evacuated Yorktown, which ultimately sank on 7th June 1942.

26. SS Eastland

The SS Eastland was a passenger vessel built in 1903 by Jenks Shipbuilding based in Port Huron, Michigan, for the Michigan Transport Company. The ship was used for tours, taking passengers from Chicago to several destinations across Lake Michigan.

On 24th July 1915, the SS Eastland was about to leave for Michigan City, Indiana, with over 2500 people and crew onboard when tragedy struck. The vessel listed heavily to one side while it was still docked at the wharf. In a couple of minutes, the ship capsized with many people trapped below deck.

Rescue efforts could not save all and led to the death of 844 people, making it one of the deadliest and heart-wrenching maritime disasters in the history of the U.S. Most people on the ship were immigrants from the Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Hungary and Austria.

The cause of the tragedy was said to be an amalgamation of many factors in the ship’s design and construction, and also overcrowding plus improper loading of cargo.

27. MV Wilhelm Gustloff

The MV Wilhelm Gustloff was initially a cruise ship. However, it was taken by the German Navy in 1939 to serve as a transport vessel for German military personnel and refugees. She also served as a hospital ship in 1939-1940.

Launched in 1937, the ship was intended to be named Adolf Hitler but was instead christened after Wilhelm Gustloff, leader of the Swiss branch of the Nazi party, who was assassinated in 1936. Hitler decided to name the ship after him when he met the former leader’s widow at the memorial service.

On 30th January 1945, the ship was torpedoed by Soviet Submarine S-13 in the Baltic Sea. This happened when the vessel was evacuating civilians and military personnel from East Prussia and the German-controlled Baltic States as the Red Army closed in.

She sank in less than 60 minutes, killing around 9400 people, mostly civilians.

28. General Slocum

General Slocum was a steamship named after Civil War General and New York Congressman Henry Warner Slocum. Owned by Knickerbocker Steamboat Company, the ship operated in the city of New York as an excursion steamer for another 13 years.

She was constructed in Brooklyn, New York, in 1891 and during her service, she was involved in many mishaps, including many groundings and collisions. It started four months after she was launched as she ran aground off Rockaway, and tugboats were used to set her free.

On 15th June 1904, the ship caught fire and sank in the East River, New York City. During the accident, she was carrying the members of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church to a church picnic. Around 1021 out of the 1342 people were killed in the accident.

The fire was caused by a cigarette or a possible spark from one of its boilers which ignited the highly flammable material on the ship. It was not equipped with enough lifeboats, and the crew was not properly trained to manage such situations.

29. HMS Birkenhead

HMS Birkenhead, or HM Troopship Birkenhead of the Royal Navy, was one of the 1st ships to have an iron hull. She was made to be a steam frigate but later transformed into a troopship before it was commissioned.

She was launched in 1845 and sank off the South African coast on 26th February 1852, which led to the deaths of more than 400 people, including women and children.

When she sank, the Birkenhead was on a mission. She was carrying troops to South Africa for the Frontier Wars and also had a few civilians. However, she hit an uncharted rock and began to take in water.

There were not enough lifeboats for everyone, and so the soldiers stood on the deck to allow the women and children to get on the few lifeboats available onboard. This act of chivalry has come to be known as the Birkenhead Drill.

However, in spite of this bravery by the soldiers and members of the crew, more than 400 people died when the ship sank.

30. El Cazador

The El Cazador was a Spanish brig that sailed in the late 18th century, ultimately sinking in the Gulf of Mexico in 1784. In the 1770s, the economy of Spanish Louisiana was suffering due to the usage of paper money not backed by gold or silver. Hence Carlos III, the King of Spain, decided to replace the paper money with Spanish silver coins.

In 1784, the ship left the port of Veracruz in Mexico to deliver a huge shipment of silver coins to New Orleans. The ship’s captain was Gabriel de Campos y Pineda. However, Cazador never reached its destination. It is argued that the ship was caught in a storm and sank off the Louisiana coast, taking precious cargo with it.

In 1993, the wreck of El Cazador was found by a shrimp boat captain Jerry Murphy who was fishing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. After the successful salvage effort, thousands of silver coins were found in the vessel’s hold. They were in a pretty great condition despite being in the water for over 200 years.

The discovery of El Cazador and its treasure is said to be one of the greatest maritime finds of the 20th century.

There are many famous shipwrecks in the world apart from the ones mentioned above. However, these shipwrecks have captivated people’s imaginations for many years.

From the unfortunate sinking of the Titanic to the mysterious disappearance of many ships, stories of ships have become a part of our collective history and culture. They have been depicted in art, paintings, movies, songs etc.

While shipwrecks took countless lives and led to immense suffering, they helped engineers to design more efficient and safer ships.

The sinking of ships also led to the implementation of stricter regulations and enforcement of new safety rules for ships at sea, which revolutionised maritime travel as well.

Today, these shipwrecks inspire marine enthusiasts to uncover the mysteries behind them and remind us of the ruthlessness and dangers of the sea and the strength of the human spirit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shipwrecks

1. What is the most famous shipwreck?

The RMS Titanic is the most tragic shipwreck in the world. It has become popular due to the 1997 movies directed by James Cameron.

2. What Great Lake has had the most shipwrecks?

All great lakes have hundreds of shipwrecks, but most are found in Lake Erie.

3. What is the most popular unfound shipwreck in the world?

Flor de la Mar is the most famous shipwreck, filled with diamonds, gold and other riches.

4. What is the deepest shipwreck ever found?

The U.S.S Samuel. B Roberts was found in the Philippine Sea at 22,916 feet. It is the deepest shipwreck ever found.

5. Can you claim a shipwreck?

Yes, a country can claim ownership rights of a vessel if it owns the ship. Even if the vessel was sunk for hundreds of years, ownership rights could be claimed.

You may also like to read:

• 11 Books On Shipwreck And Maritime Archaeology You Might Be Interested In
• 6 Latest Shipwrecks Found Around the World
• 10 Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Disclaimer:  The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared, or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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21 Comments

I love ships all my life

I have loved ships my hole life

National Maritime Museum, in England, reminds the memories of the most prestigious voyage of the Titanic. All the shipwreck are wonderful and amazing.

The Edmund Fitzgerald should be on that list, as its even more known & legendary than some of the ships listed there already.

I <3 THE TITANIC BROOO

Ships are so cool

Im so jelly man.

ships are cool bro

Ship are so cool

Ship are so cool man lit

Ever since I found out about the rms titanic I got so interested that I had to look for more shipwrecks the lovibond shipwreck is also my favorite it said love and jeoulsy is the talk of this haunted ship

Ships looks better when at the bottom of the Ocean….

Ever since I found out about the titanic I watched all videos about ships mysteriously disappearing or sinking

Cloaked in my wolf skin shawl, nestled in my comfy recliner of rich Corinthian leather; surrounded by deep mahogany and nurtured by my oaked Cabernet I can help but think: my god, ships are cool.

USS Arizona , Edmund Fetzgerald and HMHS Brittanic are also famous shipwrecks

Thank you Mitch for the value addition

I love ships sinking. It’s satisfying.

No USS Indianapolis?

Completely inaccurate about HMS victory which was never lost and was retired to the naval dockyard in Portsmouth England It has never been decommissioned and is the oldest commission vessel in the Royal Navy

the ship im looking for on here ISNT THERE

Very satisfying comments about ships. But really Edmund Fitzgerald, HMHS Britannic and HMS curocia aren’t here? It seemed this site is incomplete. Author might not got his full payment to do this 😂.

Looks like the author was on a sinking ship when it came to researching those particular vessels!

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The World's Most Famous Cruise Ships

Quick -- name three recently built cruise ships. Can't do it? With new ships setting sail every year, each one striving to stand apart from a crowded fleet as the biggest or boldest, it becomes hard to remember most of their names. Or any of their names, for that matter.

Among the more than 500 passenger ships that have ever plied the waters of the world as ocean liners or cruise ships, there is only a handful with names that stick in the memory -- some for notable milestones or roles in world history, others for notorious disasters.

Even if you can't remember which ship you're sailing on next, see if you're tuned into some of the most famous cruise ships in the world.

On This Page

Ss united states, carnival mardi gras, pacific princess, costa concordia, carnival triumph, oasis of the seas.

An obvious top choice, the RMS Titanic is famous for more than its horrific sinking in the frigid waters of the Atlantic, creating one of the deadliest commercial maritime disasters in history. At the time of its maiden voyage, it was the largest ship afloat at more than 46,000 gross tons. For reference, the current largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, tops 228,000 tons.

Beyond its size, Titanic, like its sister ships of the White Star Line (Britannic and Olympic), brought something relatively new to the transatlantic passenger market -- luxury and comfort.

While we're talking ocean liners , which are designed primarily to transport passengers from point to point (compared with the floating hotels that are today's cruise ships), we would be remiss if we didn't include RMS Queen Mary.

Alongside sister ship RMS Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary operated a transatlantic route from 1936 to 1949 under the short-lived depression-era partnership between the Cunard and White Star lines, followed by continuing service through 1967 for Cunard. Its tenure included service as a troop carrier between Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom during World War II. The years at sea were not without mishap; Queen Mary suffered a near-capsizing roll in 1943 and ran aground in 1949.

Since 1967, the ship has been permanently moored in Long Beach, California, adjacent to the Carnival cruise terminal. It now operates as a museum, event center and unique hotel, allowing visitors to sleep in first-class staterooms. Some claim the ship is haunted, and visitors can take evening ghost tours.

The ship's successor in name, RMS Queen Mary 2, was, as of 2019, the only passenger ship currently operating full time as an ocean liner offering year-round transatlantic crossings.

Before the age of grand ocean liners waned, SS United States entered the market as the largest liner built entirely in the U.S., as well as the fastest transatlantic ship, with an average speed of over 35 knots during its maiden crossing in 1952. Often called the "Big U," the ship still holds the westbound speed record for transatlantic passenger service, known as the Blue Riband.

The U.S. government helped finance a portion of the construction, ensuring that the ship could easily be converted into a troop carrier or hospital ship if the need arose. The United States was retired from service in 1969 but stood at the ready as a reserve ship for the U.S. Navy until 1978.

Since then, the fate of the ship has been uncertain, with a long string of ownership changes and failed schemes to bring the ship up to current operational and safety standards for cruise ships, position it as a permanently docked hotel or even sell onboard condominiums. The ship has narrowly escaped the scrapyard more than once.

Today, the cruise ship -- most famous for American engineering -- rests in Philadelphia under the ownership and care of the SS United States Conservancy, awaiting a potential new life as a waterfront attraction and museum.

Queen Elizabeth 2, though built as an ocean liner, became famous more as a hybrid craft that brought together the best of a traditional ocean liner and a modern cruise ship -- ideal for its pioneering annual world cruises.

Following the ship's career of almost four decades and more than 5 million miles that included service as a troop carrier in the Falklands War and a massive conversion from steam power to diesel, Cunard retired QE2 in 2008. After almost a decade out of public use, QE2 opened as a luxury hotel in Dubai in 2018.

While not having quite the same name recognition as our top four ships, the original Carnival Mardi Gras holds a significant spot in cruising history as Carnival's first cruise ship.

As the era of ocean liners ended, those ships were up for grabs by companies ready to cash in on the concept of cruising for cruising's sake. Enter Carnival, which purchased Empress of Canada, an ocean liner launched in 1960. It gave the ship a new lease on life in 1972 as Mardi Gras, the first "Fun Ship."

Its sister ship, Empress of Britain, became Carnival's second ship, sailing under the name Carnivale. It was not until 1982 that Carnival launched its first purpose-built ship, Tropicale, which heralded the era of new cruise ships and a phasing out of the old converted ocean liners.

Mardi Gras changed ownership and names several times before its eventual sale for scrap in 2003 after 42 years in service. In December 2018, Carnival announced the revival of the name Mardi Gras for its largest ship built to date, set to launch in 2020.

Known for its appearances in most episodes of television series "The Love Boat," the original Pacific Princess sailed around the globe from 1975 to 2002, operated by Princess Cruise Lines. As the popular TV show fueled the explosion of the cruising industry, the ship also became well known.

Before it was dubbed "The Love Boat," Pacific Princess first was operated by Flagship Cruises with a singular purpose of cruising between the United States and Bermuda between 1971 and 1975 under the name MS Pacific.

As with many famous cruise ships, Pacific Princess' years at sea were not always smooth sailing. In 1998, crew members reportedly used the ship in a drug smuggling operation in the Mediterranean. Its final voyage as Pacific Princess was in 2002, when Princess replaced the vessel in the fleet with the former Renaissance Cruises' R Three , which still holds the name Pacific Princess.

sinking of Costa Concordia remains one of the most tragic moments in the history of modern cruising, serving as a strong reminder of why safety onboard cruise ships must be a priority.

On January 13, 2012, Concordia hit a rock off Isola del Giglio, northwest of Rome, creating a 160-foot gash along the port side. With crippled propulsion and electrical systems, the ship took on water, listed badly to the port side, then eventually grounded itself on its starboard side, resting precariously near a 260-foot-deep crevasse.

All but 32 passengers and crewmembers onboard survived the harrowing wreck and almost six-hour evacuation. Captain Francesco Schettino was subsequently imprisoned for manslaughter.

Costa Concordia was eventually salvaged and sold for scrap.

Also counted among the infamous cruise ships of recent years is Carnival Triumph, which gained notoriety for a 2013 cruise during which an engine room fire resulted in massive systems failures and loss of power off the coast of Mexico. Lights and air-conditioning ceased to function, and sewage flowed through passenger areas of the ship, earning the ill-fated trip the nickname "The Poop Cruise."

Triumph was eventually towed to safety in Mobile, Alabama, after drifting without power for four nights in challenging conditions. While docked there undergoing repairs, Triumph sustained hull damage when high winds tore the ship loose from its moorings. Damage from both incidents was eventually repaired, and Triumph returned to service.

In 2019, Triumph received a massive refurbishment to become the second Sunshine-class ship, complete with a new name: Carnival Sunrise .

Royal Caribbean has long been famous for its vessels, which are marvels of ship-building engineering. Much of the fleet has held top size rankings among modern cruise ships, but Oasis of the Seas ushered in a new era of size, capacity, entertainment and design, making it one of the most memorable vessels sailing the world's oceans today.

With a gross tonnage of more than 225,000 tons, Oasis has a crew larger than many cruise ships' passenger counts -- more than 2,400. The crew serves more than 6,000 passengers at maximum capacity, a record for passenger ships when Oasis made her maiden voyage in 2009.

The innovative above-the-water design includes the world's first park at sea with more than 14,000 live plants and unique architecture featuring two towers of balcony cabins on either side of the ship, facing both outward toward the sea and inward toward the opposite tower with empty space in the middle. This design creates seven decks of open-air balcony cabins with blue sky overhead and views of public spaces below.

With those towers, combined with the rear-facing Aqua Theater, the ship has one of the most famous profiles in modern cruising history -- at least until the next big innovation comes along.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

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• Celestyal Journey ship collides with Kusadasi Port's pier during...

Celestyal Journey ship collides with Kusadasi Port's pier during docking attempt

Celestyal Cruises ' ship Celestyal Journey collided with the pier at Port Kusadasi Turkey during an unsuccessful docking maneuver.

The incident occurred on Monday, April 15, around noon, as the 12-deck ship approached the dock at an excessive speed. The ship is currently operating a 7-day "Idyllic Aegean Cruise" (itinerary April 13-20) roundtrip from Piraeus-Athens .

Despite attempts by the crew to deploy the anchor, the vessel could not decelerate adequately, resulting in an impact with the concrete structure using its bow bulb. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries among passengers or individuals onshore, and the collision caused minor damage to both the ship and the dock structure.

The vessel (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 5883) has volume 55877 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 7447 tons, max draught 7,5 m. The powerplant is based on Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 12ZAV40S, ZA40S) with combined output 34,56 MW (46345 hp). The registered shipowner is OASIS SHIPPING SERVICES SA (previously AEGEAN GODDESS INC), while the registered manager is OPTIMUM SHIPMANAGEMENT SERVICE.

For more Celestyal Journey incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page .