cruise ship crash into each other

2 Carnival Cruise ships collide in Cozumel, Mexico; at least 6 people injured

Two Carnival Cruise ships collided at the port of Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday morning, causing damage to at least one of the ships and at least six reported injuries, according to the company.

"Carnival Glory was maneuvering to dock when it made contact with Carnival Legend which was already alongside," a spokesperson for the company wrote in an emailed statement. "We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship."

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Initially, there was only one reported minor injury of a Carnival Glory guest that occurred when a group was being evacuated from the dining room of one ship's decks 3 and 4. But the cruise line said that since its preliminary evaluation, six guests with minor injuries "have presented themselves to the Carnival Glory medical center for evaluation."

Makenna Morris, 21, from Salt Lake City, Utah, said that she was on the fourth deck of the Carnival Legend taking pictures when she noticed the Carnival Glory moving toward her ship. She said that as the Carnival Glory approached, she could hear passengers screaming as they prepared for the impact.

"I started hearing people yelling and screaming on the Royal Caribbean," Morris told NBC News. "That’s when I heard sounds of cracking and glass breaking.”

Morris also recalled hearing what sounded like scraping as the Carnival Glory made impact with the Carnival Legend.

“They ran into us and I was like 'holy crap'," Morris said. “The whole dining hall caved in and shattered.”

I hope everyone is ok on the Carnival Glory after it crashed into the Carnival Legend. @CarnivalCruise #MayYouAllBeSafe #Travel #cruise #FridayThoughts https://t.co/60eZJm8gGG — Journey with Josh 🩺 (@JheadRN) December 20, 2019

Carnival Cruise Line is an international cruise line and the largest one globally, according to the trade publication Cruise Market Watch.

Eight ships from various cruise lines were scheduled to dock at the Port of Cozumel on Friday. The Carnival Glory, which left its home port in New Orleans on Sunday, was scheduled to dock in the port at 10 a.m Friday, while the Carnival Legend was scheduled to dock at 8 a.m.

The ships' passengers have been advised to spend their day ashore in Cozumel.

Gwen Aviles is a trending news and culture reporter for NBC News. 

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Passengers aboard two crashed Carnival cruise ships recount the moment of collision captured on dramatic video

Lauren frias   .

• Video footage captured two Carnival Cruise Line ships colliding off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday.
• The Carnival Glory collided with the Carnival Legend, and the moment of collision shattered the Glory's back windows.

In the video, people filming the incident from the shore and a neighboring cruise line could be heard reacting with gasps of astonishment, yelling and cursing as the ends of cruise ships plowed into one another.

• However, passengers aboard the ships who felt the collision firsthand had varying experiences on when the point of impact was made.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Two Carnival Cruise Line ships collided off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday.

Video footage of the incident captured the Carnival Glory sliding into the Carnival Legend, and the moment of impact shattering the Glory's back windows.

A spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line told The Washington Post that the crash was an "allision," because technically one was not moving. The Legend was docked when the Glory crashed.

Passengers aboard the ships - who felt the collision firsthand - shared their varying experiences when from the point of impact.

Jordan Moseley, a passenger on the Carnival Legend, told Reuters that he was eating breakfast on the ship when he felt the crash.

"All of a sudden we felt the ship rock to one side and then back into place," Moseley told Reuters. "A few minutes later, the cruise director announced that the Carnival Glory had crashed into our ship while docking due to the high winds and rough ocean conditions in Cozumel."

Another Carnival Legend passenger, Christian Maxey, was in his cabin below deck during the crash. He told The Washington Post that the ocean had been rough throughout the duration of the cruise, so he didn't think much of the crash.

"I don't think people really understood that we had actually hit something, given that our weather had been rocky," he told The Post.

Mary Anne McKinley, another passenger aboard the Carnival Legend, echoed a similar sentiment of mistaking the crash for a big wave.

"The crash wasn't too bad," McKinley told CNN . "Just felt like a big wave crashing into the ship."

The same could be said for one passenger aboard the opposite ship Carnival Glory, Maddison Haynes.

"Last night we experienced some major motion on the boat, so this morning we assumed something similar was happening," Haynes told CNN. "We felt a jolt and didn't really think anything of it."

Carnival Legend passenger Makenna Morris, who was on the fourth deck of the boat when the crash happened, told NBC News that she could hear passengers screaming as the Carnival Glory moved closer to their ship.

"I started hearing people yelling and screaming on the Royal Caribbean," Morris told NBC News . "That's when I heard sounds of cracking and glass breaking."

Being on one of the upper decks, Morris was able to see the damage of the crash first-hand.

"They (the Carnival Glory) ran into us and I was like 'holy crap'," Morris said. "The whole dining hall caved in and shattered."

Six passengers sustained "minor injuries" in the crash, The New York Times reported.

"We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship," Chelsea Stromfeld, a spokeswoman for the cruise line, told The Times. "We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel."

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Carnival Cruise Line gives possible cause of accident in Mexico, apologizes to guests

Carnival Cruise Line ships collide in Mexico

Two ships for Carnival Cruise collided at a port in Cozumel on Monday morning. The company confirmed that one passenger was injured during an evacuation.

In a letter sent to guests on Friday, Carnival Cruise Line apologized for an earlier accident in Cozumel, Mexico , during which the Carnival Glory came into contact with the Carnival Legend while docking , resulting in six passengers sustaining minor injuries.

The captain of the Carnival Glory also confirmed an investigation into the cause of the accident, which the company currently believes was due to “spontaneous wind gusts and strong currents.”

CRUISE LINE ENLISTS 'LOVE BOAT' AND 'BACHELORETTE' STARS FOR WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

“Dear Carnival Glory Guest,” begins the letter, which is attributed to Carnival Glory Captain Pero Grubjesic. “Welcome back from your day ashore. We hope you enjoyed your time in Cozumel.”

The Carnival Glory cruise ship, right, crashes into the Carnival Legend on Friday morning. The cruise line currently believes the collision was caused by “spontaneous wind gusts and strong currents.” (Matthew Bruin/Reuters)

Grubjesic then apologized for that morning’s incident, which occurred as the Glory was “maneuvering” into its docking position, he said.

“A formal investigation is underway to confirm the cause of the accident, which we believe was due to spontaneous wind gusts and strong currents. The ship has been inspected by the required authorities and there are no issues that impact our ability to sail safely back to New Orleans.”

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Grubjesic also confirmed that the six guests who presented themselves for medical examination following the collision had already been treated and released.

“Once again, we apologize for the disruption this may have caused,” Grubjesic wrote. “We will be extending a US$100, per stateroom, onboard credit to your Sail & Sign account.”

The ship itself stayed docked in Cozumel shortly longer than anticipated, Carnival says, to “complete some of our work.” Carnival Cruise Line also confirmed that guests planning to dine in the Platinum Restaurant dining area that evening would be accommodated, presumably as a result of the incident.

The ship left port in Cozumel on Friday evening at approximately 9 p.m. CST.

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The initial incident, which Carnival is referring to as an allision as opposed to a collision (seeing as one of the ships was not actually moving at the time), took place on Friday morning at approximately 8:50 a.m.

Footage taken by onlookers shows the Carnival Glory maneuvering toward the dock alongside the Carnival Legend, scraping its stern against the Legend’s bow.

Carnival had initially received reports of one person injured while being evacuated from a dining area; five additional minor injuries were reported by Friday afternoon.

The Carnival Glory is due back in New Orleans on Dec. 22.

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Janine Puhak contributed to this report.

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"This Is Bad": Cruise Ships Crash Into Each Other At Mexico Port

Several passengers on the carnival ships and the nearby oasis of the seas - which the glory appeared to veer uncomfortably close to - posted videos and photos of the incident and the aftermath..

Carnival Glory was trying to dock when it "made contact" with the smaller Carnival Legend (Reuters)

A Carnival cruise ship trying to dock in Cozumel, Mexico, crashed into an already-docked ship at the port Friday morning, leaving six passengers injured.

According to Carnival Cruise Line spokesman Vance Gulliksen, Carnival Glory was trying to dock when it "made contact" with the smaller Carnival Legend, which was already docked. He referred to the crash as, technically, an "allision," a nautical term meaning one of the objects was not moving when it was struck. It wasn't immediately clear how the accident happened.

Experts said they expected investigators to look at several factors: what the mooring plan was for the Carnival Glory, what role wind and other weather might have played, whether the ship's engines had any issues that could have affected propulsion and what was going on at the ship's controls.

"I cannot say with certainty here, but my hunch is that these ships are frequent callers on this port," says Kyle McAvoy, a retired Coast Guard captain and marine safety expert with consulting firm Robson Forensic. "It's probably something that is done very often by these two ships at this specific port and so it may be somewhat of a routine. So what went wrong this time? That's what this investigation will have to figure out."

Several passengers on the Carnival ships and the nearby Oasis of the Seas - which the Glory appeared to veer uncomfortably close to - posted videos and photos of the incident and the aftermath. A spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean International, which owns Oasis of the Seas, said the ship was not impacted and did not have any damage.

One woman on the Carnival Legend narrated as she watched the moving ship veer toward the nearby Oasis of the Seas.

Video of the crash of the #CarnivalLegend and #carnivalglory and near miss of the #royalcaribbean boat @NBCNews @CNN @KSL5TV @fox13 @foxnewsalert @abcnews @abc4utah pic.twitter.com/T3a3aWSPZO - Maddie Morris (@maddie__morris) December 20, 2019

"Stop, stop, stop," said the woman, whose user name on Twitter is Maddie Morris. "Oh my gosh, this is bad."

"We are assessing the damage, but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship," Gulliksen said in an email. "We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel."

Early Friday, he said one passenger on Carnival Glory suffered a minor injury when he or she was part of a group of people evacuated from the dining room on the third and fourth decks of that ship. Later in the afternoon, Carnival sent an updated statement saying six passengers had gone to the ship's medical center with minor injuries. Photos on social media show a crumpled exterior and several broken windows.

"Someone could have died!" one man said as he recorded video from the pier.

The damage to Carnival Glory is seen after a collision with another cruise ship at Cozumel cruise port, Mexico December 20, 2019 in this image obtained from social media (Reuters)

Jordan Moseley, who was a passenger on Carnival Legend, said in a Twitter message that he was eating breakfast on the ship when the crash happened.

"All of a sudden we felt the ship rock to one side and then back into place," he said. "A few minutes later, the cruise director announced that the Carnival Glory had crashed into our ship while docking due to the high winds and rough ocean conditions in Cozumel."

So uh yeah, just witnessed a cruise ship crash in Cozumel. #carnivalglory #carnivallegend pic.twitter.com/WbtioFqVKe - Jordan Moseley (@j_moseley) December 20, 2019

Christian Maxey, 20, was in his cabin a couple decks below the point of impact when he felt "a little bit of an impact." He said the ocean had been rough so far on the cruise, even forcing the ship to miss a stop in Grand Cayman.

"I don't think people really understood that we had actually hit something, given that our weather had been rocky," he says.

He said the first acknowledgement that something had happened came 45 minutes to an hour after the strike. The cruise director did not explicitly say what happened, according to Maxey.

"He said, 'We've had a boo boo,'" Maxey says.

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Later, the captain gave an update with more information, but still encouraged passengers to enjoy their day in Cozumel. Maxey, who was sailing with his parents, said he would probably stay near the ship to get any updates. The voyage is scheduled to end Sunday in New Orleans, and Carnival said early Friday neither ship's itinerary would be disrupted.

"It's been a weird cruise," Maxey says.

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Two Carnival cruise ships collided in Cozumel, Mexico

The Carnival Glory and Carnival Legend collided Friday morning while at port in Cozumel, Mexico, leaving one passenger injured.

Eyewitness video of the aftermath shows a portion of the Carnival Glory’s deck was left crushed.

“We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship,” Carnival Cruises’ told CNN in a statement.

The company said six guests with minor injuries went to the Carnival Glory medical center for evaluation.

Carnival describes the incident as an allision between the two ships. An allision is a nautical term used to describe when a moving ship collides with a stationary object,such as another ship.

The Carnival Glory was “maneuvering to dock,” and hit the Carnival Legend, which was already docked, the cruise line said.

It does not appear the either cruise liner’s itinerary will be affected by the crash, as Carnival says they’ve told guests to enjoy their day ashore.

“The crash wasn’t too bad,” Carnival Legend passenger Mary Anne McKinley told CNN. “Just felt like a big wave crashing into the ship.”

Carnival Glory passenger Maddison Haynes described the crash similarly.

“Last night we experienced some major motion on the boat so this morning we assumed something similar was happening,” Haynes told CNN. “We felt a jolt and didn’t really think anything of it.”

McKinley says an on-board announcement after the crash said the currents caused the crash. Haynes told CNN that an on-board announcement said high winds were a factor.

CNN Business’ Chris Isidore contributed to this report.

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Two cruise ships crash into each other

Video shows the moment the liners collide, article bookmarked.

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Two cruise ships have crashed into each other in Mexico.

The Carnival Glory collided with the Carnival Legend by Cozumel port on 20 December.

Video shows the moment the liners hit each other, with visible damage being done to the stern of the Glory.

According to Carnival , both ships are still seaworthy and there was only one “minor” injury reported.

The cruise brand told The Independent : “Carnival Glory had an allision with Carnival Legend this morning in Cozumel. Carnival Glory was manoeuvring to dock when it made contact with Carnival Legend which was already alongside.

“We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship. We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel.

“There is one reported minor injury of a Carnival Glory guest that occurred when a group of guests were evacuated from the dining room on Decks 3 and 4.”

Eyewitness Matthew Bruin said the Glory also appeared to nearly collide with a third ship.

He tweeted footage of the event, along with the caption: “Carnival Glory just crashed into Carnival Legend and almost crashed into Oasis of the Seas at the Cozumel cruise port.”

Passenger Wendy Brewer tweeted: “10 year anniversary cruise just crashed. License and insurance please!”

It follows a cruise ship crashing into a dock and a tourist river boat on one of Venice’s busiest canals earlier this year.

Four people were injured in the accident, Venice port authorities reported.

It happened on the Giudecca Canal – a major thoroughfare that leads to Saint Mark’s Square – on 2 June.

Video of the crash shows the 80-metre cruise ship apparently unable to halt its momentum, blaring its horn as it ploughs into the much smaller river boat and the dock as dozens of people run away in panic.

“Some scared passengers dived into the water, while others fled the boat,” Venice resident Ida Ossi told local media.

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One Carnival Cruise Ship Hits Another, Injuring 6

The Carnival Glory crashed into the Carnival Legend while “maneuvering to dock” in Cozumel, Mexico, a spokeswoman for the cruise line said.

Carnival Cruise Ship Hits Another in Mexico

The bow of a cruise ship sliced through a deck of another ship near a port in cozumel, mexico..

“Here it goes. Through the windows.” [crash] “You got the video?” “Yup.” “In!” “He’s going to hit us next.” “Oh, he’s hitting us.” “I don’t know what to tell you.” “Get your video!” [arguing] [horn]

By Liam Stack

One Carnival cruise ship crashed into another while trying to dock at a port in Mexico on Friday, leaving six injured passengers, a damaged hull and a handful of expletive-laden social media videos in its wake.

The crash happened as the Carnival Glory cruise ship was “maneuvering to dock” in Cozumel, an island off the Caribbean coast of Mexico, and struck the Carnival Legend, which was already docked, Chelsea Stromfeld, a spokeswoman for the cruise line, said in an email.

Ms. Stromfeld said six passengers sustained “minor injuries,” including one who was hurt while a group of guests were evacuating a dining room on Decks 3 and 4.

“We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship,” she wrote. “We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel.”

Videos of the crash were captured by bystanders and shared widely on social media. They showed the nose of the Glory striking the back of the Legend, causing a great crashing sound and ripping a hole in the side of the ship.

“He’s going to hit us next!” a man can be heard yelling in one video . The video appeared to have been taken from the deck of another nearby cruise ship, but no additional crashes were reported on Friday.

The Carnival Glory is a Miami-based ship registered in Panama that has been carrying passengers since 2003, according to the cruise line . It carries about 1,150 crew members and has a maximum guest capacity of 3,756, but the company did not say how many people were on board at the time of the crash.

The Carnival Legend is a smaller ship. It carries about 930 crew members, can accommodate up to 2,610 guests and has been in service for the company since 2002. It is based in Tampa but registered in Malta, the cruise line said.

Liam Stack is a general assignment reporter. He was previously a political reporter based in New York and a Middle East correspondent based in Cairo. More about Liam Stack

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Massive Carnival cruise ship crashes into pier standing thousands of partygoers in Jamaica

A cruise ship crashed into a pier Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded in Jamaica for 12 hours.

A pier fender on the port town of Ocho Rios collapsed due to strong winds and swells, Carnival says. The ship then crashed into the pier.

Worried travelers who had exited the cruise say they then witnessed the boat leave for what was later revealed to be a different stop.

"We're watching our ship sail off into the rainstorm. We're like - nobody knew what was happening," passenger Dyllon Price told WOFL .

The passengers say they were left waiting in a rainy open field well into the night, as the US warns tourists to "reconsider travel" to the island amid skyrocketing murders.

READ MORE: Wave of sex attacks and murders spark travel warning to Jamaica

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The ship was sheduled to be in Ochos Rios from 8am to 4pm. The crash happened around 11am Tuesday, Carnival says.

Passengers were stuck on the island for nearly 12 hours before they could get back on the ship.

"We had a couple thousand people just out in a field in the pouring rain and no shelter, no food, no drinks. I think there was one toilet," said passenger Adam Middleton.

Ironically, the cruise is hosting a music festival called "ShipRocked." The ship had already avoided stopping in Grand Cayman because of the rain, Carnival said.

Pasengers were stuck in Jamaica amid warnings from the US government, which is telling Americans to remain vigilant after at least 65 people were killed on the island in January.

"That was absolutely in our minds," Middleton said.

No injuries were reported.

"I don't think we ever should have docked," Price said. "It might have been a bummer to skip Jamaica, but not as bad as it was to be stuck on the island for 12 hours."

Carnival told the Miami Herald guests would "never be left behind" at any stage.

The firm said "our guests were not and would never be left behind," adding that those ashore "were taken care of by the Carnival team and shore excursion partners."

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Watch the terrifying moment 2 Carnival cruise ships crashed into each other in Mexico

Videos posted on Twitter and YouTube show two Carnival Cruise Line ships colliding in Cozumel, Mexico.

A video published on YouTube on Friday shows the back end of the Carnival Glory approaching the front end of the Carnival Legend, which cut through the Glory's rear windows.

• A Carnival representative said neither ship suffered damage that would affect its ability to operate.

Six Carnival Glory passengers received minor injuries, the representative added.

• Sign up for Business Insider's transportation newsletter, Shifting Gears, to get more stories like this in your inbox .
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

According to Matthew Bruin, who uploaded a video of the incident on Twitter , the Carnival Glory nearly hit Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas ship as well.

Bruin uploaded the video on Friday and indicated that the incident happened shortly before the video was published.

"We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship," a Carnival representative said. "We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel."

This story has been updated.

Have you worked on a cruise ship? Do you have a story to share? Email this reporter at [email protected] .

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• Royal Caribbean uses this psychological trick to get you to spend more money
• An Oakland City Council member wants to use cruise ships to house homeless people — but her plan faces a big obstacle
• The parents of the toddler who fell from the 11th floor of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship are suing the company

• Main content

Mexico cruise ship crash: Two Carnival vessels filmed colliding at port

The giant Carnival Cruise cruiseships crash into each other as terrified witnesses turn the air blue in fear near the Cozumel, Mexico port

• 15:52, 20 Dec 2019
• Updated 17:46, 20 Dec 2019

Terrifying video shows two massive cruise ships crash into each other as onlookers scream in fear.

Video shows the two giant Carnival Cruise vessels carrying hundreds of people come together as an onlooker reports a "loud explosion".

Terrified holidaymakers were evacuated from the dining room of the Carnival Glory after it smashed into the Carnival Legend near the Cozumel, Mexico port, this afternoon.

Twitter user Ty Harris (@Thugle), posted a video taken from another ship, and said: "Have the only footage I know of, of the cruise ships crashing as it happened.

"Excuse the language, the loud explosion and the sudden realisation of a ship inside of another ship was very startling lol. Carnival glory and carnival legend." [sic.]

* Were you on the cruise ship? Email [email protected]

Terrified passengers on the third ship scream "he's going to hit us!"

While Matthew Bruin (@BruinMatthew) tweeted: "Carnival Glory just crashed into Carnival Legend and almost crashed into Oasis of the Seas at the Cozumel cruise port."

Carnival Cruise have replied to tweets showing the videos.

They said: "We are assessing the damage to both ships.

"There is one reported minor injury of a Carnival Glory guest that occurred when a group of guests were evacuated from the dining room on Decks 3 and 4."

In another tweeted reply, the company said: "We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship.

"We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel."

They added that: "The next cruise for both ships is not impacted."

Morgan Saxton of KUTV News tweeted that it appears "all damage is above the water-line."

Rudy Harper of WXYZ 7 Action News said: "The Carnival Glory crashed into the Carnival Legend while trying to leave the port of Cozumel this morning, according to a viewer.

"Check out the damage to the stern."

Pictures posted on Twitter shows several windows have been blown out on the Carnival Glory.

Parts of the balcony are hanging loose and one corner of its stern is smashed in.

The Carnival Glory is on a seven-night cruise to the Western Caribbean out of New Orleans while the Carnival Legend is also on a week-long cruise to the same area from Tampa, Florida.

The collision was said to have happened at 8.50am local time.

In a statement, Carnival said the Carnival Glory was manoeuvering to dock when it collided with Carnival Legend, which was already alongside, ABC Action News reports.

Carnival described the crash as an allision, a nautical term describing when a moving ship collides with a stationary ship.

This would mean the Carnival Legend was already docked.

Carnival Legend passenger Mary Anne McKinley told CNN : "The crash wasn't too bad. Just felt like a big wave crashing into the ship."

While Carnival Glory passenger Maddison Haynes told CNN: "Last night we experienced some major motion on the boat so this morning we assumed something similar was happening.

"We felt a jolt and didn't really think anything of it."

Mary Anne said an announcement was made on the ship suggesting currents caused the crash.

While Maddison said an announcement on the Carnival Glory said high winds were a factor.

MORE ON Cruise ship crash Carnival Cruise Lines Mexico

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Enormous MSC Cruise Ship Crashes Into Crowded Venice Port, Injuring at Least Five

By Caleb Jacobs

Posted on Jun 3, 2019 11:35 AM EDT

A commercial cruise ship suffered a catastrophic engine failure off the coast of Venice, Italy on Sunday, leaving it uncontrollable as it headed toward a nearby dock. With no effective way of steering the vessel, it resultantly crashed into the harbor—a hotspot for tourists—injuring five people, according to the Associated Press.

The news has made headlines worldwide with videos of the incident also being posted online, showing the situation from a firsthand perspective:

Operated by MSC, the Opera cruise ship was built to hold more than 2,675 passengers and, in this instance, it was carrying travelers back to Venice after visiting Kotor, Montenegro as well as the Greek cities of Mykonos, Santorini, and Corfu. Two nearby tugboats worked to guide the ship away from the dock after the captain immediately reported the engine failure but failed.

As can be heard in the videos, those aboard the ship and on shore were left wondering aloud what might come of the shipwreck. 

While there are obvious and immediate effects that come with a crash of this magnitude, Italian activists are using the episode to make a political point. Recently, there’s been a swing of protest regarding Venice’s acceptance of cruise ships that, due to their size , block narrow waterways and obstruct tourist views. This was not lost on Twitter after Sunday’s happenings as Italy’s environment minister Sergio Costa posted:

“What happened in the port of Venice is confirmation of what we have been saying for some time. Cruise ships must not sail down the Giudecca. We have been working on moving them for months now … and are nearing a solution.”

Quello che è successo nel porto di #Venezia è la conferma di quello che diciamo da tempo: le #GrandiNavi non devono passare dalla Giudecca. Per questo da mesi insieme ai ministri @DaniloToninelli e @BonisoliAlberto stiamo lavorando per spostarle e siamo vicini alla soluzione — Sergio Costa (@SergioCosta_Gen) June 2, 2019

A politician with the Italian Left party, Nicola Fratoianni, even went as far as to call cruise ships “steel monsters” which “risk carnage” in the seaside town.

Curioso quel Paese che blocca navi che salvano vite e permette a grandi navi di attraversare #Venezia … Situazione intollerabile. Interrogazione in Parlamento, e subito blocco passaggio navi da crociera dal canale della Giudecca #NoGrandiNaviVenezia https://t.co/eff5oAC3hj — nicola fratoianni (@NFratoianni) June 2, 2019

An MSC spokesperson explained to NPR   that the cruise ship is now being moored at the Marittima terminal and has begun passenger operations.

Latest in News

We’re finally going to see the new scout evs on october 24 we’re finally going to see the new scout evs on october 24, a judge told gm it has to face that class action lawsuit over bad transmissions a judge told gm it has to face that class action lawsuit over bad transmissions.

Princess Cruises ship that crashed into San Francisco pier cleared for departure

New passengers had until 11 a.m. PT to decide whether to continue to Alaska.

The Ruby Princess cruise ship that was damaged after it crashed into a pier in San Francisco is expected to set sail on Sunday afternoon after it was cleared for departure.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced early Sunday morning that repairs on the ship, which startled sleeping San Francisco residents Thursday morning when it collided with Pier 27, are complete.

MORE: Cruise ship still docked in San Francisco after hitting pier

The Coast Guard lifted the Captain of the Port order at 1 a.m. PT Sunday.

The ship was scheduled to depart at 2:30 p.m. PT., Princess Cruises said in a statement.

New passengers who boarded the ship after the accident had until 11 a.m. PT on Sunday to decide whether to continue to the next port or disembark and end their trip. A total of 2677 guests and 1161 crew were expected to be on board when the ship departs -- down from the more than 3,000 guests who initially boarded, according to Princess Cruises.

MORE: Out-of-control cruise ship crashes into tourist boat on busy Venice canal

Originally a 10-day cruise, the trip has been whittled down to seven days and will return on July 16 as originally planned after stops in Ketchikan, Alaska, on July 12 and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, on July 13, according to Princess Cruises.

Guests who boarded Thursday were given the option to cancel their trip and receive a 100% refund on their cruise fare, post-cruise hotel packages and transfers booked through Princess, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items and taxes, fees and port expenses, according to the cruise line.

They were also offered a 50% voucher for a future cruise. Guests who did decide to stay aboard and embark on the shorter journey to Alaska will receive a partial refund of 75%.

MORE: USS McCain the 4th Navy warship to crash in Asia in 2017

The ship was returning from a 10-day cruise to Alaska when it slammed into San Francisco's Pier 27, a large dock on the waterfront of The Embarcadero that hosts cruise ships leaving and arriving in San Francisco Bay.

There were 3,328 guests and 1,159 crew members on board when it crashed, none of whom were injured and all safely disembarked, according to Princess Cruises.

While the ship was visibly damaged, the dock took the brunt of the crash, witnesses said.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident, according to police.

ABC News' Nicholas Kerr and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

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Human Interest Stories

Two carnival cruise ships crash into each other in cozumel.

Carnival Cruise is currently assessing the damaged caused by two ships that just crashed into each other in Cozumel, Mexico. As ABC New s explains, “A Carnival Glory ship was attempting to dock when it hit a Carnival Legend ship in the morning hours.” Guest were evacuated shortly after the incident. One person had minor injuries.

In a statement from Carnival, they say, “We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship. We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel.”

A lot of passengers and bystanders took video and pictures of the incident and put them on social media. See some of the footage below.

MORE: Dramatic video shows the moment two Carnival cruise ships collided while attempting to dock in Cozumel, Mexico. https://t.co/Dioih68YLd pic.twitter.com/VOTYcOfS04 — ABC News (@ABC) December 20, 2019

Carnival Glory cruise ship hit Carnival Legend while maneuvering in Cozumel, the cruise line says: "We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship." Photo: Maria Hieb pic.twitter.com/MKgkyLwmQd — NBC News (@NBCNews) December 20, 2019

Earlier today a couple of @CarnivalCruise ships had a little incident. The waves are quite large and the winds are fierce. Always reporting crashes...be it on land or at sea. #MaritimeJamJen #VacationMode pic.twitter.com/ZUeTtB4aQP — Jen DeSalvo (@TheJenDeSalvo) December 20, 2019

https://twitter.com/PureWireNews/status/1208067899983826945

https://twitter.com/Thugle/status/1208038318463733760

https://twitter.com/cmaxeyy/status/1208047250351501313

Way to start off the morning #carnivalcruise pic.twitter.com/WNdPPClVja — Clay Gentry (@Dawgsfan0311) December 20, 2019

White Star Line: "Our ships suck" Carnival: "Hold our GPS." #carnivalcruise — Brooke 🦅⛵️⚓️🐗✡️ (@brookied820) December 20, 2019

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You Gotta See This

Two carnival cruise ships crash into each other in cozumel.

Carnival Cruise is currently assessing the damaged caused by two ships that just crashed into each other in Cozumel, Mexico. As ABC New s explains, “A Carnival Glory ship was attempting to dock when it hit a Carnival Legend ship in the morning hours.” Guest were evacuated shortly after the incident. One person had minor injuries.

In a statement from Carnival, they say, “We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship. We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel.”

A lot of passengers and bystanders took video and pictures of the incident and put them on social media. See some of the footage below.

MORE: Dramatic video shows the moment two Carnival cruise ships collided while attempting to dock in Cozumel, Mexico. https://t.co/Dioih68YLd pic.twitter.com/VOTYcOfS04 — ABC News (@ABC) December 20, 2019

Carnival Glory cruise ship hit Carnival Legend while maneuvering in Cozumel, the cruise line says: "We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship." Photo: Maria Hieb pic.twitter.com/MKgkyLwmQd — NBC News (@NBCNews) December 20, 2019

Earlier today a couple of @CarnivalCruise ships had a little incident. The waves are quite large and the winds are fierce. Always reporting crashes...be it on land or at sea. #MaritimeJamJen #VacationMode pic.twitter.com/ZUeTtB4aQP — Jen DeSalvo (@TheJenDeSalvo) December 20, 2019

https://twitter.com/PureWireNews/status/1208067899983826945

https://twitter.com/Thugle/status/1208038318463733760

https://twitter.com/cmaxeyy/status/1208047250351501313

Way to start off the morning #carnivalcruise pic.twitter.com/WNdPPClVja — Clay Gentry (@Dawgsfan0311) December 20, 2019

White Star Line: "Our ships suck" Carnival: "Hold our GPS." #carnivalcruise — Brooke 🦅⛵️⚓️🐗✡️ (@brookied820) December 20, 2019

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Two carnival cruise ships crash into each other in cozumel.

Carnival Cruise is currently assessing the damaged caused by two ships that just crashed into each other in Cozumel, Mexico. As ABC New s explains, “A Carnival Glory ship was attempting to dock when it hit a Carnival Legend ship in the morning hours.” Guest were evacuated shortly after the incident. One person had minor injuries.

In a statement from Carnival, they say, “We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship. We have advised guests from both ships to enjoy their day ashore in Cozumel.”

A lot of passengers and bystanders took video and pictures of the incident and put them on social media. See some of the footage below.

MORE: Dramatic video shows the moment two Carnival cruise ships collided while attempting to dock in Cozumel, Mexico. https://t.co/Dioih68YLd pic.twitter.com/VOTYcOfS04 — ABC News (@ABC) December 20, 2019

Carnival Glory cruise ship hit Carnival Legend while maneuvering in Cozumel, the cruise line says: "We are assessing the damage but there are no issues that impact the seaworthiness of either ship." Photo: Maria Hieb pic.twitter.com/MKgkyLwmQd — NBC News (@NBCNews) December 20, 2019

Earlier today a couple of @CarnivalCruise ships had a little incident. The waves are quite large and the winds are fierce. Always reporting crashes...be it on land or at sea. #MaritimeJamJen #VacationMode pic.twitter.com/ZUeTtB4aQP — Jen DeSalvo (@TheJenDeSalvo) December 20, 2019

https://twitter.com/PureWireNews/status/1208067899983826945

https://twitter.com/Thugle/status/1208038318463733760

https://twitter.com/cmaxeyy/status/1208047250351501313

Way to start off the morning #carnivalcruise pic.twitter.com/WNdPPClVja — Clay Gentry (@Dawgsfan0311) December 20, 2019

White Star Line: "Our ships suck" Carnival: "Hold our GPS." #carnivalcruise — Brooke 🦅⛵️⚓️🐗✡️ (@brookied820) December 20, 2019

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Utopia of the Seas vs. Icon of the Seas: Comparing Royal Caribbean’s new cruise ships

Dock Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas side-by-side, and you're likely to notice a couple things. The first is that as the largest and second- largest cruise ships in the world , respectively, they're both massive. The second is that, despite their similar size, they look a bit different.

If you're unfamiliar with the details of the vessels, it can be overwhelming to figure out which of these two behemoths is the better fit for your next sailing.

From onboard vibe and cabin options to entertainment, here are some of the key similarities and differences in a showdown of Utopia vs. Icon of the Seas.

Even though Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are currently the world's two biggest cruise ships, there's still a size difference between the two.

At 250,800 gross registered tons, 20-deck Icon of the Seas carries 5,610 people on a double-occupancy basis (when there are two people booked in each cabin) and about 7,600 passengers when every berth is filled. That's in addition to 2,350 crew members.

While still incredibly large, the slightly smaller 18-deck, 236,473-ton Utopia of the Seas can accommodate 5,668 travelers at double occupancy and roughly 6,988 guests when it's full. Nearly 2,300 crew members work on board.

Although Icon of the Seas has two more decks than Utopia, it carries fewer people than Utopia does at double occupancy but more when it's full. That's because Royal Caribbean specifically designed Icon of the Seas for families, assuming that parents would share cabins with their children.

In the line's 2024 second-quarter earnings call, Royal Caribbean executives said the ship has been operating with a 132% load factor , meaning it routinely sails with more than two people — sometimes three, four or even five — per cabin.

To understand the layout of Utopia of the Seas vs. Icon, you'll first need to know about Royal Caribbean's neighborhood concept. Each distinct area of the ship groups popular themed offerings together in a layout that helps to control passenger flow.

The original vessels in the Oasis Class , to which Utopia of the Seas belongs, had seven neighborhoods, which have carried through to Utopia.

The seven neighborhoods are:

• Central Park: An outdoor promenade with shops, bars and restaurants that's also home to more than 10,000 live plants — with a resident gardener — and inward-facing balcony cabins that overlook the space
• The Boardwalk: A boardwalk-style open-air space with a hot dog stand, a candy and ice cream shop, arcade games, a carousel, inward-facing balcony cabins and the innovative wake-facing AquaTheater, which features high-diving shows
• The Royal Promenade: An indoor social hub with a mall-like vibe where passengers will find a pub, a karaoke lounge, two cafes (including a Starbucks), retail outlets and guest services. Inward-facing cabins with windows overlook this neighborhood, and occasional parades and parties take place here.
• Pool and Sports Zone: The place for active outdoor pursuits and watery fun, incorporating surf simulators , rock climbing walls, miniature golf, a sports court, a zip line, bars, the entrance to the Ultimate Abyss dry slide (which drops 10 decks to The Boardwalk), teen clubs, an arcade, grab-and-go casual dining, four pools and several hot tubs, as well as kids water play areas and waterslides
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center: The place for all things related to health, wellness, fitness and pampering, featuring free-to-use exercise equipment, for-fee fitness classes and personal training, a sizable jogging track, Ping-Pong tables, and spa and salon services like massages, manicures, pedicures and hairstyling
• Entertainment Place: A tucked-away cluster of indoor entertainment venues like casinos, a comedy club, a nightclub, the ship's main theater, an art gallery, and Studio B — a multipurpose space that houses ice skating, laser tag and theme parties
• Youth Zone: The location for Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean's kids club, which encompasses activity and learning rooms and separate spaces for babies and toddlers, kids and tweens; also where passengers will find the escape room (on ships that have one)

As Royal Caribbean has evolved its ships over time, new neighborhoods have been added. In addition to the ones above, Utopia of the Seas has an eighth zone — the Suite Neighborhood. It affords access to a private sun deck with hot tubs, a dedicated lounge, a sit-down restaurant and 24-hour concierge service for passengers booked in the vessel's most expensive accommodations.

With the debut of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class , of which Icon of the Seas is a part, a few of the key areas have been removed, relocated and reimagined, making Icon feel a bit more segmented than Utopia of the Seas.

Like Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas has eight neighborhoods, but only three of them — Central Park, the Royal Promenade and the Suite Neighborhood — are the same as the ones you'll find on Utopia.

Note: Although Icon of the Seas doesn't have the Youth Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center and Entertainment Place neighborhoods, the ship still offers the Adventure Ocean kids club, onboard spa and fitness facilities and a cluster of similar entertainment venues.

Brand-new neighborhoods on Icon include:

• Surfside: A dedicated space for families with young children, offering family-friendly eateries and a bar with mocktails, a candy shop, an arcade, a carousel, a playground, kids splash areas and a wake-facing infinity pool; replaces The Boardwalk
• AquaDome: A giant dome-like glass and steel structure with 220-degree ocean views that houses a now-indoor AquaTheater for high-diving and acrobatic shows and the AquaDome Market, Royal Caribbean's first food hall, as well as bars and a Royal Caribbean gift shop
• Chill Island: Replaces the "pool" portion of the Pool and Sports Zone found on Oasis Class vessels; offers four pools — including one with a swim-up bar — sun loungers, hot tubs and cabanas for rent
• Thrill Island: Replaces the "sports" portion of the Pool and Sports Zone; features staples like the rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf course and sports court. It also has a ropes course-style attraction and the largest water park at sea, which incorporates multiple waterslides.
• The Hideaway: An adults-only area just below Thrill Island; provides a suspended infinity pool, loungers, hot tubs, a Champagne bar and a party atmosphere

The Royal Promenade has also had a bit of a facelift on Icon of the Seas. Deck 6, which used to overlook the space, now wraps completely around instead of only partially, and a giant three-deck light-up sphere called The Pearl has been added as part art installation and part structural support. It also provides a way for passengers to move between the two decks of the Royal Promenade. Walls of windows on either side bring lots of light into the space.

The Royal Promenade's lower deck no longer has the hydraulic "levitating" Rising Tide Bar, which has been removed, along with Cafe Promenade. Instead, the usual standalone Starbucks kiosk has moved into a more permanent venue, and the Pearl Cafe has been added one deck above.

You can find more information about changes to Central Park and the Suite Neighborhood in the "Dining" and "Cabins" sections below, respectively.

Although both ships do a great job of catering to all types of passengers, Icon of the Seas was designed specifically to appeal more heavily to families with the addition of the Surfside neighborhood, as well as a slew of cabins designed to sleep more than two people.

Meanwhile, because Utopia of the Seas is the first brand-new ship to exclusively sail short three- and four-night voyages, Royal Caribbean bills the vessel as the "World's Biggest Weekend." It's perfect for quick getaways, a fact that the line's executives say lends the ship a more party-hearty — but not uncouth — atmosphere.

If you're traveling with your children on Utopia, you'll still find plenty for them to do at the ship's water play areas and Adventure Ocean kids club , but you'll also find more live music than ever before. There's a heavy emphasis on parties , too, including one with a frat party theme and another — a pool party — with music, giveaways and guns that shoot Champagne.

Both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas have standard inside cabins, ocean-view options with windows, rooms with balconies and a variety of suites, including huge ones for families with amenities that are every kid's dream.

Icon debuted with 14 new cabin and suite types to choose from out of 28 total accommodation types. Many are family-friendly rooms that sleep four passengers; some can accommodate six or eight. In total, 313 cabins and suites are listed specifically as family-focused accommodations, but most standard rooms can sleep more than two people.

Of particular note on Icon of the Seas are new Panoramic Suites, which exist in part of the AquaDome. They offer natural light through part of the structure, which serves as a floor-to-ceiling window in each cabin.

Representing a change to the Suite Neighborhood, new Icon Loft Suites are two-deck-high accommodations, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large balcony with a private dining area and floor-to-ceiling windows.

And, finally, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is the pinnacle of accommodations onboard. The three-deck-high suite is an evolution of the Ultimate Family Suite that wowed guests on Oasis Class ships. In addition to kid and adult sleeping areas, this 1,772-square-foot top-level suite features an in-suite slide, a movie-viewing room, a karaoke machine and spacious indoor and outdoor living spaces.

The only major cabin addition on Utopia of the Seas is a group of Solarium Suites. These bright, airy and spacious digs were added above The Solarium, the ship's tranquil adults-only space.

Dining experiences

All of your favorite Royal Caribbean dining staples — including Chops Grille steakhouse , Izumi sushi, Giovanni's Italian, Sorrento's pizza , Playmakers sports bar , Park Cafe, El Loco Fresh Mexican and the Windjammer buffet — have reprised their roles on both Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.

But it's the new additions that truly stand out on both of these ships.

On Utopia of the Seas, cruisers can enjoy grab-and-go items from the Spare Tire food truck or immerse themselves in for-fee train-themed dinner theater at Royal Railway: Utopia Station. Additional extra-cost options run the gamut from affordable shaved ice to ultrahigh-end Japanese food at Omakase, an eight-course experience that's limited to just six people at a cost of $130 per person.

If you're searching for an exclusive dining option on Icon of the Seas, check out the Empire Supper Club, which mixes an eight-course dinner with music for a cost of $200 per person. A major new addition to the Central Park neighborhood, the restaurant seats only 38 people, and it has an art deco theme that's also a nod to New York.

Or, if you're celebrating a milestone, you can rent your very own space at Celebration Table. It costs a flat fee of $999 for up to 14 people, and it's the same price regardless of how many of the seats you fill. It's located in the ship's Hooked Seafood restaurant, but you can choose the cuisine you'd like the chef to prepare. The list includes American, Italian, Asian and seafood.

New family-friendly options abound, including Pier 7, a specialty restaurant with a California theme. It's free for kids and a la carte for adults, and the menu serves items like Baja fish tacos, Korean fried chicken and warm toffee chocolate cake.

The new AquaDome Market is Royal Caribbean's first food hall experience and offers a variety of cuisines like Mediterranean, Asian, mac 'n' cheese, salads, sandwiches and desserts free of charge. Or check out the Pearl Cafe for complimentary small bites and coffee drinks.

Entertainment

Both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas present a variety of theater shows, comedy, high-diving acts, Royal Promenade parades and themed parties, as well as a ton of live music and daily activities to keep passengers busy.

As for what's different, the AquaTheater on Icon of the Seas has moved from The Boardwalk neighborhood — Deck 6, aft, on Oasis Class ships like Utopia — to the new AquaDome, which is indoors instead of open-air. Performances on both ships involve synchronized swimming, dancing, high-diving, acrobatics and more. Utopia's show, dubbed "Aqua80," incorporates songs from the '80s but with a modern twist, and "Aqua Action!," performed on Icon, has a movie theme.

Similarly, both vessels have their own ice rinks with specially developed ice-skating performances. On Icon of the Seas, the Absolute Zero ice rink, found on Deck 5 in the Royal Promenade, replaces Studio B, which is on Deck 4 on Utopia of the Seas. The new and improved version on Icon is round instead of rectangular, and the shows also differ in theme.

On Icon, "Starburst" is themed around the elements (carbon, helium, etc.). Group, solo and pairs skating numbers are combined with next-level juggling by a character dubbed "The Starman." On Utopia, "Youtopia" presents a blend of contemporary and retro music, gorgeous costumes (some that look like candy) and nearly flawless execution.

In the main theater, passengers can expect to find "All In" on Utopia. The show celebrates some of history's most iconic parties and music festivals like Studio 54 and Burning Man. However, if Broadway-style shows are what you seek, Icon of the Seas might be more your speed; the ship features performances of "The Wizard of Oz" on board.

As mentioned, Utopia of the Seas is focused more on parties than any other Royal Caribbean ship. Onboard soirees include Senses, a pool deck party where cruisers will find house music and sunset scenes on the giant outdoor movie screen; ReZolution, where passengers wear white and become living art through a series of high-tech projections; and Plunge, a daytime pool party

And, finally, what would any Royal Caribbean cruise be without a Royal Promenade parade? On Utopia, you can join in "The Effectors Homecoming Parade." It's a departure from the full show "The Effectors" performed in the Royal Theater on Icon of the Seas. The homecoming parade on Utopia picks up the storyline at the end of the theater production when (spoiler alert) the band of superheroes — Captain Viz, Lume, Pixel and Reverb — defeat their archnemesis, Crash, and his sidekick, Burn.

Itineraries and pricing

One of the biggest areas in which the ships differ is itinerary. While Utopia of the Seas focuses strictly on three- and four-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral near Orlando, Icon of the Seas runs weeklong voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami .

Both ships include calls on Perfect Day at CocoCay , the line's private island, on most of their routes. Utopia visits mainly Nassau in the Bahamas, Perfect Day and Cozumel in Mexico with little deviation.

Due to its longer schedules, Icon offers a wider variety of port calls, including stops at St. Kitts and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten, the Dutch side of St. Martin; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico; plus Labadee , Haiti, another of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, depending on the itinerary.

In terms of pricing, because Icon of the Seas offers seven-night cruises while Utopia's are only three and four nights, the former will cost more overall to book.

When I compared per-night pricing just before publication, the least expensive Icon of the Seas sailing I could find was $1,186 per person for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing in January 2025. That works out to $169 per person, per night, for an inside cabin — not a bad price, considering Icon of the Seas is the industry's largest (and also one of its newest) vessels.

Comparatively, the least expensive Utopia of the Seas voyage I located for the same time period was $593 per person for a four-night Bahamas and Perfect Day sailing. That's $148 per person, per night — slightly less than Icon of the Seas' cheapest nightly rate.

Rates will vary by sailing date, destination and cabin type, but due to demand, both ships are on the higher end of Royal Caribbean's pricing. You should expect to pay a premium for cabins on both Icon and Utopia.

Bottom line

When it comes to Utopia of the Seas vs. Icon of the Seas, they're both large ships that have plenty on board for passengers of all ages to do, see, eat and drink. Both have excellent kids clubs, phenomenal entertainment, a plethora of bars and restaurants and a wide selection of cabin types.

If you're looking for a short cruise, a weekend getaway or a sailing that will cost you less overall, or if you want more of a party atmosphere, Utopia of the Seas should be your pick. Of the two, it's also the best ship if you're a fan of the original Oasis Class neighborhoods.

However, prospective Royal Caribbean cruisers will likely feel more at home on Icon of the Seas if they're cruising with young children and want a dedicated family space, have a larger budget or want a weeklong voyage, or prefer to sail on the absolute largest cruise ship afloat.

Find out more about Royal Caribbean:

• The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruises
• Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes explained
• Royal Caribbean cruise ships by size
• Royal Caribbean cruise ships by age
• All you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites
• Royal Caribbean food
• Royal Caribbean drink packages
• Where you can cruise with Royal Caribbean
• How to find the best Royal Caribbean ship for you
• Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program
• How to pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise

Ukraine war latest: Zelenskyy reveals plan after Kursk invasion; more than 50 killed in double missile strike

Two missiles have killed more than 50 people and injured hundreds in a city in central Ukraine, one of the deadliest attacks by Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken about his intentions after Kyiv launched an incursion into Russia last month.

Wednesday 4 September 2024 06:11, UK

• Missiles kill more than 50 people in double strike on Ukrainian city
• 'Russian scum will pay,' Zelenskyy vows
• Video shows damage left by deadly attack
• Mongolia explains why Putin was not arrested
• Ukraine plans to indefinitely hold seized territory in Russia, Zelenskyy says  
• Watch: Zelenskyy discusses Kursk invasion in TV interview
• Big picture: Everything you need to know on the war this week
• Live reporting by Katie Williams

Expert view

• Dominic Waghorn: Putin rubbing salt in wounds as Kyiv pleads for long-range attacks
• Sean Bell: Strike proves Putin's priority is on Ukraine, not incursion into Russia

Welcome back to our live coverage of the Ukraine war.

Yesterday saw Russia carry out one of the deadliest attacks of the war as it struck a military academy and nearby hospital in the central city of Poltava with two ballistic missiles, killing at least 51 people and injuring 271 more.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last night that some people were still under the rubble and everything was being done to save as many lives as possible.

Earlier in the day he said "Russian scum" would be held accountable for the deadly strike.

The region is now in three days of mourning over the attack, which Russia is yet to comment on.

Less than a day after the strike on Poltova, Ukrainian authorities said Russia launched an airstrike on the northeastern Sumy region, hitting a university building. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.

Elsewhere, Vladimir Putin received a red-carpet welcome as he visited Mongolia on his first trip to a member country of the International Criminal Court.

The lavish visit came despite the ICC having a warrant out for Mr Putin's arrest on allegations of war crimes - with member countries bound to detain suspects. Mongolia, however, said this would be too difficult as it is dependent on Russian-sourced energy.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest throughout the day today.

That brings an end to our live coverage of the Ukraine war for this evening.

We'll be back with any major developments overnight and our rolling updates will continue soon.

Before we go, here's a reminder of the day's key events:

• Ukrainian authorities said at least 51 people were killed and more than 200 injured in a Russian ballistic missile attack on the central city of Poltava. The missiles hit a military academy and a nearby hospital, officials said;
• Three days of mourning were declared by Poltava regional head Philip Pronin after one of the deadliest attacks of the war;
• Moldova's government said its energy dependence on Russia made it difficult to heed a requirement by the International Criminal Court  to arrest Vladimir Putin  as he visited the country.
• Meanwhile, several government ministers resigned and the deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office was sacked ahead of an expected government reshuffle;
• And Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC News in an exclusive interview that Ukraine planned to indefinitely hold territory seized in its shock invasion of Kursk last month as part of a plan to force Mr Putin to the negotiating table.

Washington plans to send more military aid to Ukraine in the coming weeks, the White House has said.

National security spokesperson John Kirby told a briefing that the US's support for Kyiv remains "unshakeable" and it was focused on strengthening Ukraine's military and defences against Russian attacks.

He noted that the US recently announced another drawdown of military assistance - and said it intends to send another round of aid in the coming weeks.

Mongolia ignored the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin as it rolled out the red carpet to receive him today.

The Russian president should, in theory, have been handcuffed as he arrived - but the Mongolian government said earlier that it was difficult to arrest him due to the country's position of energy dependence on Moscow (see 17.35 post).

Mr Putin was welcomed in the main square of Ulaanbaatar by an honour guard as a crowd of people watched behind temporary barriers.

He and Mongolian leader Ukhnaa Khurelsukh later laid a wreath at a monument to Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov, visited a school curated by a Russian economic university and attended a reception ceremony where Mr Putin gave a toast.

Russia has launched another attack on Ukraine, officials have said, less than a day after its deadly ballistic missile strike killed more than 50 people in Poltava.

The regional administration of the northeastern Sumy region said Russian forces launched an airstrike on Sumy city tonight, hitting one of its university buildings.

It said a guided bomb was believed to have been used in the attack. There were no details of any casualties.

"All necessary services are available on site," the administration said in a post to Telegram .

We reported earlier on Voldymyr Zelenskyy's comments that Ukraine plans to indefinitely hold territory it has seized in its Kursk invasion (see 18.17 post).

Asked about the surprise invasion in an interview with our US partner network   NBC News , Mr Zelenskyy said the operation was aimed at restoring Ukraine's "territorial integrity".

He also said Kyiv did not "need" Russian land - but he remained silent on what the next steps would be.

Watch a clip from the interview here...

People are still trapped under the rubble of a building destroyed by a Russian attack in Poltava, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

Rescue efforts are ongoing and rubble is still being cleared, he said in his nightly address.

The Ukrainian president confirmed at least 51 people have died and 271 are injured as a result of one of the deadliest attacks of the war so far.

"I am grateful to all the rescuers, doctors, medical nurses and all the Poltava residents who have joined in to help, donated blood, and who provide support," he said.

"We know that there are people under the rubble of the destroyed building. Everything is being done to save as many lives as possible."

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted a video of his meeting with the UN's nuclear chief Rafael Mariano Grossi in Kyiv today.

Mr Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, met the Ukrainian president ahead of his visit to the Zaporizhzhia power plant, where he said the situation was "very fragile".

"The station is again on the verge of being on a blackout. We've had eight of those in the past. A blackout [means] no power; no power, no cooling. No cooling, then maybe you have a disaster," he told reporters before the meeting.

Mr Zelenskyy said his talks with Mr Grossi were focused "on the issue of strengthening nuclear safety in Ukraine, ensuring constant monitoring not only of the state of NPPs (nuclear power plants), but also of substations that are critical for their operation".

Russia has launched a new military-focused school course as it looks to prepare teenagers "mentally and physically" for service, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

In its latest intelligence update, the ministry said the course for 15 to 18-year-olds is part of a new programme called "Foundations of Security and Defence of the Motherland".

Over 11 modules, students will cover a range of topics including "combined arms combat and small arms familiarisation", it said.

"The programme seeks to create and will likely result in a more militarised and security focused society," the MoD said.

It added that the new youth strategy in Russia was aimed primarily at preparing "pre-conscription age teenagers mentally and physically for military service".

Russia has also increased the number of summer camps for children which involve various military activities, according to the MoD.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office, Rostyslav Shurma, according to a decree on the presidential website.

Ukrainian media outlets had been reporting that the dismissal of Mr Shurma, who took up the role in November 2021, was being considered by parliament.

The decree does not explain why he was sacked.

Meanwhile, Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's deputy prime minister responsible for European integration, has resigned, according to Ukraine's parliamentary speaker.

Her resignation comes after Ukraine's strategic industries, justice and environment ministers also tendered their resignation earlier today (see 15.37 post).

An expected shakeup of Ukraine's government comes at a critical time during the war with Russia, and ahead of Mr Zelenskyy's visited to the US this month where he hopes to present a "victory plan" to Joe Biden.

The Ukrainian president said changes were being undertaken to ensure Ukraine had the strengthened government it needed. 

"Autumn will be extremely important. Our state institutions must be structured in such a way so that Ukraine can achieve all the results it needs," he said.

"For this, we must strengthen some areas of the government and changes in its makeup have been prepared. There will also be changes in the (president's) office." 

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