Watch: Cruise Ship Collides With Large Piece Of Drifting Ice In Alaska

A Carnival cruise ship collided with a large piece of ice while sailing in Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord last week. Despite the unexpected incident, no one was injured, and the Carnival Spirit sustained no damage.

According to a Carnival Cruise Line representative, the ship hit “an errant piece of drifting ice” while navigating the scenic waterway south of Juneau, known for its magnificent beauty and floating ice.

The ship waited for many hours to examine the situation before continuing its journey after determining that the hull was unharmed.

The Carnival Spirit completed its seven-day Alaska cruise without any further incident. On Tuesday, it returned to Seattle, Washington, before starting another 14-day round-trip to Alaska.

Video Credits: HFU/YouTube

Videos of the incident soon circulated on social media, with one passenger referring to it as a “Titanic moment.” Another passenger shared on social media that the ship stopped “for hours to assess damages,” but the trip was not interrupted.

Experts say that while Alaska’s seas are known to be challenging for cruise ships to navigate due to severe winds, currents, and hard ice, such incidents are rare. A marine pilot in southeast Alaska stated that the ice might potentially harm the hull or propellers but added that the situation is unusual.

A cruise industry expert said that modern cruise ships are designed to travel in various conditions and can handle ice waters, particularly in Alaska, where experienced captains are familiar with the area.

From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord! Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!” pic.twitter.com/KIUkrlLtx9

— James Spann (@spann) September 6, 2024

Image Credits: James Spann/X

The incident is similar to one that occurred in 2022 when a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel, the Norwegian Sun, collided with an iceberg while sailing in Alaska. The collision damaged the starboard bow, but no injuries were reported.

As Alaska continues to be a popular cruise destination, some locals have expressed concerns about congested waterways.

Reference: CNN, Economic Times