The 'Rotterdam', while bound for the Azores made a detour to Bermuda after a passenger encountered medical difficulties. The RCC Bermuda was contacted by the ship on April 14 at around noon, while it was sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Ponta Delgada. It had diverted to the island to disembark a 75-year-old passenger to receive medical care. In the late afternoon of April 15 the ship arrived offshore, and the patient was transferred to the pilot rescue boat 'St David' along with a member of the ships medical team. The patient was transferred to an ambulance at Ordnance Island along with the ships nurse allowing the cruise ship to continue her passage to the Azores with an ETA at Ponta Delgada as of April 20.
News
MSC EURIBIA
After the trips had no longer been bookable for a few weeks, MSC Cruises has now finally canceled the positioning trips from Kiel to Dubai with the 'MSC Euribia'. Due to the security situation on the Red Sea, where ships are being attacked by the Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, MSC Cruises has now reacted early to ensure security for booked guests. The 2024 summer season ends on October 19, 2024 in Kiel. The last guests of a one-week fjord cruise from/to Kiel and the guests of a six-day cruise from Copenhagen to Kiel will disembark there. MSC Cruises currently seems to be planning a trip around Africa for the 'MSC Euribia' without guests in order to safely move the ship from the summer sailing area in Northern Europe to the winter sailing area on the Persian Gulf. The first cruise in the Orient is scheduled to begin in Dubai on Nov 16, 2024. All sailings with the 'MSC Euribia' from Oct 19 to Nov 15 have therefore been cancelled. This applies to the Grand Voyage from Northern Europe to the Orient, which could also be booked in shorter sections. The period from Oct 19 to Nov 16 should be enough to take the 'MSC Euribia' from Kiel to Dubai without guests. New cruises to destinations in Africa are unlikely to be possible given the relatively short cancellation period. In addition to the 'MSC Euribia', according to the original schedule, the 'MSC Musica' is also scheduled to sail through the Red Sea in autumn 2024 to get to South Africa from the Mediterranean. Trips in the period from Oct 29, 2024 to Nov 22 cannot currently be booked. An alternative for the journey from Genoa to Durban is still unknown. Here, too, there could be travel cancellations or a new itinerary along the coast of West Africa.
MEIN SCHIFF 5
Due to the current situation in the Red Sea, TUI Cruises has been forced to cancel the trip of the 'Mein Schiff 5' from Dubai through the Suez Canal. Instead, the ship will take a course around Africa, which means that the port of Heraklion will not be reached until June 21, 2024. Due to this background, the trips on May 23, 2024, June 7, 2024 and June 14, 2024 with the 'Mein Schiff 5' must also be canceled. Bookings will be canceled free of charge in the next few days and guests receive a travel credit with a 10% discount on the cruise share for a new booking. This credit does not have a redemption deadline and can be used flexibly. The following trips with Mein Schiff 5 are affected: 15 nights – Dubai to Heraklion / May 23 – June 7, 2024 7 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Piraeus / June 7. – June 14, 2024 14 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Cyprus / June 7 – June 21, 2024 7 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Cyprus / June 14 – June 21, 2024 14 nights – Eastern Mediterranean with Cyprus & Crete / June 14 – June 28, 2024
DISNEY FANTASY
The USCG successfully evacuated a pregnant passenger from the 'Disney Fantasy' on April 15, 2024, in a long-distance operation 180 milesnorthwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, while the ship was en route from Port Canaveral to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The 35 years old woman of US nationality, had experienced health complications that required a higher level of medical care ashore. The evacuation was carried out by a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft. Once theys arrived, the Jayhawk aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer, while the Ocean Sentry monitored the conditions and provided support. The woman and the cruise ship doctor were successfully hoisted aboard the aircraft and then transported first to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, then taken by local emergency personnel to a nearby hospital. The 'Disney Fantasy' was sailing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary and was northwest of Aguadilla on Puerto Rico’s northwestern coast at the time of the evacuation. Report with photos and video: https://www.cruisehive.com/coast-guard-makes-long-distance-evacuation-from-disney-cruise-ship/128957 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz0KNCs7b5k
MSC MUSICA
After the trips had no longer been bookable for a few weeks, MSC Cruises has now finally canceled the positioning trips from Kiel to Dubai with the 'MSC Euribia'. Due to the security situation on the Red Sea, where ships are being attacked by the Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, MSC Cruises has now reacted early to ensure security for booked guests. The 2024 summer season ends on October 19, 2024 in Kiel. The last guests of a one-week fjord cruise from/to Kiel and the guests of a six-day cruise from Copenhagen to Kiel will disembark there. MSC Cruises currently seems to be planning a trip around Africa for the 'MSC Euribia' without guests in order to safely move the ship from the summer sailing area in Northern Europe to the winter sailing area on the Persian Gulf. The first cruise in the Orient is scheduled to begin in Dubai on Nov 16, 2024. All sailings with the 'MSC Euribia' from Oct 19 to Nov 15 have therefore been cancelled. This applies to the Grand Voyage from Northern Europe to the Orient, which could also be booked in shorter sections. The period from Oct 19 to Nov 16 should be enough to take the 'MSC Euribia' from Kiel to Dubai without guests. New cruises to destinations in Africa are unlikely to be possible given the relatively short cancellation period. In addition to the 'MSC Euribia', according to the original schedule, the 'MSC Musica' is also scheduled to sail through the Red Sea in autumn 2024 to get to South Africa from the Mediterranean. Trips in the period from Oct 29, 2024 to Nov 22 cannot currently be booked. An alternative for the journey from Genoa to Durban is still unknown. Here, too, there could be travel cancellations or a new itinerary along the coast of West Africa.