'Scary Experience': Cruise Ship Hits Iceberg Due To Dense Fog, Turns Back Over Damage

KEY POINTS

The ship hit the iceberg due to dense fog and low visibility
All guests were then told the cruise trip was being cancelled
The ship is expected to arrive in Seattle on Thursday

A Norwegian Cruise Line ship on its way to an Alaskan glacier had to turn back mid-trip after it hit an iceberg over the weekend, media reports said Monday.

The ship, called Norwegian Sun, struck the iceberg, also known as a growler, on Saturday. Authorities said the vessel had to be rerouted to Juneau for inspection.

“On June 25, 2022, while transiting to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, Norwegian Sun was engulfed by dense fog, limiting visibility and resulting in the ship making contact with a growler,” a Norwegian Cruise spokesperson told Cruise Hive, a blog dedicated to cruise news. “The ship remains fully operational and is currently on its way to Juneau, Alaska, for assessment."

The ship sustained damage after divers inspected it, Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn, a Coast Guard spokesperson, said according to Juneau Empire. Officials had to return the cruise ship to Seattle for repairs, Littlejohn added. He also said the ship called the Coast Guard to report the incident.

Authorities said no injuries were reported due to the accident, adding there was “high confidence” the ship would make it safely back to Seattle.

One passenger, who was with six of her relatives for a family vacation, expressed her sadness of the cancelation of her trip as her earlier planned break had been postponed for three years due to the COVID pandemic.

Alicia Amador, of Phoenix, Arizona, told the Juneau Empire she heard a “big noise” and then the ship moved as if it struck something.

“The whole boat came to a complete stop from the impact,” Amador said. “It was a scary experience.”

She estimated the iceberg was likely the “size of a semi-truck.” Amador added the Norwegian cruise officials said the ship would arrive in Seattle Thursday. She said her family was told they’d be reimbursed. The remainder of the current itinerary includes visiting Ketchikan on Tuesday, and Victoria, British Columbia, on Wednesday.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it will provide a full 100% refund, excluding BookSafe travel protection. Guests will also receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit to compensate for the unfortunate incident. The cruise line said the refund would be processed within five business days.