Iceberg Threatens Carnival Cruise

We've all seen James Cameron's film depicting events leading up to Titanic's sinking on April 14th, 1912. The one word that people don't want to hear when they're passengers on a cruise ship is "Titanic." When the Carnival Cruise Ship Spirit recently collided with an iceberg in Alaska, one passenger exclaimed it was a "Titanic moment." When the incident occurred, Carnival Spirit was headed toward Juneau, known for its natural beauty and spectacular glaciers. Several passengers captured The event on video, which went viral on social media platforms. The "Titanic moment" comment was made just before the vessel hit the floating ice. The video was posted on TikTok.

Another passenger stated that the crew did an excellent job assessing for damage and keeping everyone safe. The incident occurred in Tracy Arm Fjord, south of Juneau. Tracy Arm Fjord is a popular cruise ship route with stunning waterfalls, 4,000-foot rocky cliffs, and huge icebergs. The spectacular fjord is 32 miles long and averages about a mile wide. Snowfall from the Stikine Icefield results in ice flowing into the valleys, forming massive glaciers and creating dramatic scenery.

No Injuries or Damage To the Carnival Ship Were Reported

The cruise ship collided with a block of floating ice. Despite concerns over what would happen when the ship hit the ice, no one aboard the Spirit was injured, and there was no damage to the cruise ship. Passenger Saurabh Singhal stated that after the ship hit the floating iceberg, it stopped for several hours while an evaluation was done to assess for damage. Some passengers expressed concern over the incident. However, after an inspection, a Carnival Cruise Lines representative reassured passengers that despite the delay, there was no damage to the ship's hull. A representative for Carnival has said the incident caused no disruptions to the cruise line's operation. Following the incident, the Spirit continued its cruise to its destination at the port in Skagway.

Carnival Spirit sailed through Alaska without further incidents in the fjord and returned to Seattle. Since the incident occurred, Carnival Spirit embarked on a 14-day round-trip cruise to Alaska without further issues due to floating ice. An official of the cruise line described the incident as the ship hitting "an errant piece of drifting ice." Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations. However, local officials are concerned about the influx of thousands of tourists who come to view the Mendenhall Glacier, which is diminishing rapidly.

Cruise Ship Incidents in Alaska Aren't Uncommon

Alaska's waters are among the most challenging for navigating cruise ships. The hard, thick ice can cause significant damage to a ship's propellers or hull, and the currents and powerful winds in the region often make navigation even more difficult.

The Carnival Spirit wasn't the first incident involving a cruise ship in Alaska. In June 2022, the Norwegian Cruise Line's Sun hit a portion of an iceberg known as a "growler" near Hubbard Glacier, off the coast of Yakutat and 200 miles northwest of Juneau. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an iceberg must be 16 feet above sea level and between 98 and 164 feet thick. Smaller sections of floating ice are called "growlers" or "bergy bits."

The massive glacier is more than six miles wide and meets the Pacific Ocean. The impact on the Norwegian Sun was more significant than that on the Carnival ship. According to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard, the iceberg damaged the ship's starboard bow. The Coast Guard Sector Juneau Prevention Team sent in divers to assess the damage to the ship's starboard side and declared the vessel was seaworthy. Some passengers were knocked off their feet by the impact. One family from Nevada said the collision sounded like a loud door slamming.

Passenger Benjamin Talbott was chatting with his family when his brother noticed an object floating in the water. His brother began recording with his phone as the ship hit the iceberg. He said the impact was so powerful that the entire ship shook. When he heard the loud boom, he looked toward the front of the ship and noticed the iceberg turning over and falling. Norwegian Cruise Lines cut the voyage short. The Norwegian Sun returned to Seattle at reduced speed, where passengers disembarked, and the ship underwent necessary repairs. Norwegian Cruise Lines reported that there were no injuries to passengers as a result of the incident.