Cruise Ship Narrow Escape: Celebrity Edge Avoids Collision with Carnival Luminosa in Juneau Thunderstorm

In a recent incident that has captured the attention of the cruise industry, the Celebrity Edge cruise ship narrowly avoided a collision with the Carnival Luminosa while docked in Juneau, Alaska. The incident occurred during a sudden and severe thunderstorm that swept through the area, with wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph and penny-sized hail. The storm caused the Celebrity Edge to rapidly drift from its moorings, with its gangway falling into the water as its mooring lines snapped. The ship drifted towards the nearby Carnival Luminosa, which was anchored in the channel. However, the captains of both ships reacted quickly and narrowly avoided a collision. Carnival Luminosa swiftly backed up to make space for Celebrity Edge, which powered up, stabilized, and dropped anchor. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. The Celebrity Edge is a popular ship for Alaska cruises, 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. The ship is one of three Celebrity Cruises ships sailing in Alaska this summer, joined by Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit, which sail from Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. The incident highlights the challenges that cruise ships face when docking in ports during extreme weather conditions. Although cruise ships have advanced propulsion systems and stabilizers designed to withstand rough seas and intense weather, they are not completely protected from Mother Nature’s wrath. In recent weeks, several other cruise ships have been caught off guard by unexpected high winds while docked in ports around the world, with mooring lines breaking and even heavy bollards being ripped off the pier in some cases. In one such incident, the 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. The 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 to keep their passengers safe and prevent more serious accidents. The Juneau incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for unexpected weather conditions while cruising. Passengers should always follow the instructions of their ship’s crew and stay informed about local weather conditions. To stay up-to-date on the latest news and deals in the cruise industry, sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.