Video: Celebrity Cruises ship goes adrift in busy Alaska port
Celebrity Edge is the latest cruise ship to break its moorings and go adrift during a severe weather mishap in a port of call.
In recent weeks, several cruise ships have been caught off guard by unexpected high winds while docked in ports around the world.
Although cruise ships have advanced propulsion systems and stabilizers designed to withstand rough seas and intense weather, they aren’t completely protected from Mother Nature’s wrath.
Related: Royal Caribbean cruisers witness risky stunt at Alaska cruise port
In multiple recent incidents, extreme winds have caused cruise ship’s mooring lines to break — even ripping the heavy bollards holding ship’s mooring lines right off the pier in some cases.
In one such accident that was widely covered in the news, Norwegian Epic suddenly drifted from the dock in Catania, Italy on May 30, causing one passenger to fall into the water from the ship’s gangway as a result.
But Norwegian Epic isn’t the only ship that’s struggled to stay docked as winds have recently whipped through cruise ports. That same weekend, MSC Seascape broke its moorings in The Bahamas, and Holland America Westerdam’s lines snapped while docked in Ketchikan, Alaska.
In every case, capable cruise ship captains and crew members quickly sprang into action when their ships broke free from their moorings, keeping their passengers safe and preventing more serious accidents.
As the latest weather-related cruise port incident unfolded during a sudden, unusual storm in Juneau, Alaska’s Gastineau Channel on June 16, a witness caught a video of the moment Celebrity Edge went adrift, nearly colliding with another ship in the crowded port.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Celebrity Edge breaks its moorings in Juneau, Alaska
As Celebrity Edge began to rapidly drift from the dock, witnesses reported that its gangway fell into the water as its mooring lines snapped.
The ship began to drift quickly toward Carnival Luminosa, which was anchored nearby in the channel. The captains of both ships reacted quickly, but narrowly avoided a collision.
Carnival Luminosa swiftly backed up to make space for Celebrity Edge in the channel as it powered up, stabilized, and dropped anchor.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
Related: Unsung hero helps Norwegian Cruise Line passengers in crisis
The video shows that the storm swept through the channel suddenly and dramatically, with the wind picking up first before heavy rain set in. A rare severe thunderstorm warning with wind gusts up to 60 mph and penny-sized hail was issued for the Juneau area by the National Weather Service.
Thunderstorms very rarely occur in Juneau and southeast Alaska during the summer season — on average, only once every two years — making the severe weather incident even more unusual.
Celebrity Edge is a popular ship for Alaska cruises
Sailing Alaska cruises now through mid-September, Celebrity Edge is currently sailing a seven-night Alaska Dawes Glacier cruise from Seattle visiting Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, and Skagway in Alaska as well as Victoria, British Columbia.
Hailed as the most immersive ship in Alaska, Celebrity Edge features a unique outward-facing design that’s ideal for glacier viewing. Celebrity Edge Series ships are specifically designed to create a closer connection between passengers and their destinations.
Related: Celebrity Cruises plans massive ship upgrades
Celebrity Edge is one of three Celebrity Cruises ships sailing in Alaska this summer. The ship is joined in the region by Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit, which sail from Vancouver and Seward, Alaska.
Carnival Luminosa is cruising alongside Celebrity Edge through the Last Frontier this summer, sailing similar Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier itineraries from Seattle.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
