In a dramatic video now making the rounds on social media, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun, which is currently sailing Alaska, made significant contact with a piece of ice floating in the water.
The incident is said to have happened this weekend while the ship sailed near Hubbard Glacier.
In the video, you can hear the shock of passengers as the ship hits and then the size of the floating piece is revealed. While it’s hard to see the full scale of the ice, it’s obviously of significant size:
Following the contact, the ship rerouted to Juneau, Alaska, where it was assessed for damages from the impact.
According to Juneau Empire, “the ship remained at the Franklin Dock while it underwent inspections by divers where it was determined to have sustained damage, according to Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn, a Coast Guard public affairs specialist.”
However, the Coast Guard found that the ship could return to Seattle, albeit at slower speed.
The cruise line opted to cancel the remainder of the current cruise. It is currently en route to Seattle. According to a letter posted on a CruiseCritic message board, passengers on the ship will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, as well as a 100% Future Cruise Credit for another journey.
We contacted NCL about the situation and what it meant for upcoming cruises aboard Norwegian Sun.
Norwegian told us that the upcoming June 30, 2022 cruise originally planned from Seattle will be canceled as the ship undergoes repairs. You can see the full statement from NCL below:
“On June 25, 2022 while transiting to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, Norwegian Sun made contact with a growler. The ship sailed to Juneau, Alaska for further assessment, where it was decided that the current voyage would be shortened, and the cruise scheduled to embark on June 30, 2022 will be canceled, so that the necessary repairs can be made.
The ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle at reduced speed. All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned. We are communicating with all impacted guests directly. Additional information will be provided as appropriate.”
-Spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Sun was first launched in 2001. At 848 feet long, the ship can carry nearly 2,000 passengers and 900 crew members. The ship is sailing Alaskan cruises this summer before transitioning to Europe in the fall.
