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"Boom. The whole ship shakes": Cruise ship that hit iceberg in Alaska arrives in Seattle for repairs

July 1, 2022 / 5:58 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Cruise Ship Iceberg

A cruise ship that struck an iceberg in Alaska has docked in Seattle for repairs.

The Norwegian Cruise Line ship Norwegian Sun arrived Thursday. It hit part of an iceberg Saturday near Hubbard Glacier in Alaska.

The ship was turned around to Juneau, where it underwent inspection. It was cleared by authorities to travel at lower speeds to Seattle.

CBS Seattle affiliate KIRO-TV reports that the ship can hold 2,000 passengers.

A Nevada family who was onboard says the impact sounded like a loud door being slammed.

Benjamin Talbott was hanging out with his family when his brother, Anthony Romo, noticed something in the water and told him to take out his phone. Talbott recorded as the cruise ship struck the big chunk of iceberg.

"Then all sudden, boom, the whole ship shakes. And I'm like, 'Well, what's going on?' And then I had to start recording and I looked at the front of the ship and all I see is this ... iceberg just turning over and coming down. And I was like, 'Oh my God, we hit an iceberg,'" he said.

Dave Morgan, a passenger on the ship, told KIRO a repair person at the shipyard told him the damage was 14 inches by 10 feet and the plan was to bring in a welder to put a piece of metal over the damage.

Morgan said passengers weren't allowed to leave the ship during the inspection in Juneau.

"The whole boat came to a complete stop from the impact," passenger Alicia Amador told the  Juneau Empire . "It was a scary experience."

A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson told KIRO the ship's next cruise was canceled, and "All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned."

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Norwegian cruise hits iceberg near Alaska, no injuries reported

The ship will return to Seattle on Thursday.

A Norwegian cruise ship has canceled its nine-night Alaskan trip after the ship crashed into an iceberg off of the Alaskan coast on Saturday.

While there were no injuries and patrons and staff made it to Alaskan docks safely, the cruise line has canceled the rest of the scheduled trip and will return to Seattle Thursday morning.

The Norwegian Sun was transitioning to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska when the ship made contact with a growler, the cruise line told ABC News.

A growler is a small iceberg that has less than 3.3 feet of ice showing above the water, and is under 6.6 feet in width, the National Snow & Ice Data Center reports.

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

After impact, the ship changed course to dock in Juneau, Alaska, for further assessment. There, the company decided the cruise would be shortened and future trips canceled.

"The ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle at reduced speed," a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said. "All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned."

MORE: Cruise prices remain low as summer travel costs skyrocket

A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson told Cruise Hive the ship was "engulfed by dense fog, limiting visibility and resulting in the ship making contact with a growler."

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

MORE: Fully vaccinated ship docks in San Francisco with multiple COVID cases aboard

Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert known as The Cruise Guy, told ABC News that growlers are very common when passing through areas with glaciers.

Chiron said ships do not usually get within 1,000 feet of the glaciers themselves, and commonly have impact with small pieces of ice that have broken off and floated away from the glaciers.

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

While impact with these pieces is common in the area, it is uncommon for a cruise to change its scheduled trip due to such an impact, Chiron said.

Chiron believes that Norwegian acted with "an abundance of caution" when it decided to start its voyage back to Seattle after assessing damages.

MORE: Norwegian Cruise Line CEO says requiring vaccines is 'safest way to travel'

He said the ship was "obviously safe enough" since passengers were allowed to stay on the ship to return to Seattle.

Chiron does not think the patrons should worry because ship captains are used to these waters and will continue to sail there without issue.

Norwegian Cruise Line said guests on the canceled cruise would receive a full refund, plus an additional future cruise credit valued at 100% of the original voyage fare paid. Travelers on the canceled cruise scheduled for June 30 will also receive a full refund, a future cruise credit valued at 50% of the original voyage fare, plus up to $300 per person for any airline cancelation/change fees.

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The trip will not go on: Ship hits iceberg in Alaska, derails cruise for thousands of travelers

Gene Sloan

As icebergs go, it wasn't all that big. But it was big enough to ruin the vacation plans for thousands of would-be Alaska tourgoers.

Norwegian Cruise Line on Tuesday canceled the next Alaska sailing of its 1,976-passenger Norwegian Sun, citing damage to the ship sustained over the weekend when it hit a small iceberg near Alaska's Hubbard Glacier.

The line also is ending the vessel's current sailing early.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Norwegian Sun was sailing toward Hubbard Glacier on Saturday in foggy conditions when it plowed into the low-lying chunk of ice, which Norwegian has characterized as a growler.

A growler is a type of very small iceberg that only rises a meter or less above the waterline and is often difficult to see from the bridge of a ship.

From video of the incident posted by passengers on Twitter, the ice chunk appeared to be about the size of a bus with most of its body underwater.

In the wake of the incident, the vessel skipped its Saturday visit to Hubbard Glacier and a subsequent Sunday call scheduled for Skagway, Alaska, and sailed directly to nearby Juneau, Alaska, for an assessment of damage to the exterior of the vessel.

After the assessment, the line concluded the ship would need to undergo repairs at its home port of Seattle before continuing its summer schedule of Alaska cruises.

A spokesperson for Norwegian wouldn't comment on the extent of the damage to the ship or the repairs that were needed. But authorities have certified that the vessel is seaworthy. It departed Juneau late Monday for Seattle, where it is due back on Thursday.

"The ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle at reduced speed," Norwegian said Tuesday in a statement sent to TPG. "All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned."

No one was injured during the incident, a spokesperson told TPG.

Cruise ships are equipped with radar designed to detect floating objects in the water that could be a hazard, and the bridges on cruise ships are staffed around-the-clock with crew members tasked with scanning the horizon for obstacles.

But growlers and other small icebergs known as "bergy bits" (the latter a tad bigger than growlers) can be difficult to detect by radar due to their small size.

Norwegian didn't respond to questions from TPG about why Norwegian Sun hit the iceberg.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruising in Alaska

Cruise ships are designed to withstand damage from colliding with ice at sea, even in cases where the ice pierces the hull of the vessel and allows water to enter. All cruise ships in the modern era have been built with multiple compartments that can be sealed off using watertight doors, allowing a vessel to stay afloat even when taking on water.

Some cruise ships, particularly those designed to operate in the polar regions , are built with extra-tough hulls that allow them to regularly bump through floating ice and even run up onto ice sheets. Some of the hardiest cruise vessels, known as expedition cruise vessels, are able to break through floating ice.

Related: This cruise vessel is so tough it can beach itself on floating ice

Ship collisions with growlers and other small icebergs are not uncommon and usually don't result in major damage to a vessel. The chunk of ice that Norwegian Sun hit over the weekend was, notably, almost imperceptibly small when compared to the icebergs that have sunk vessels in the past.

The iceberg that sank the Titanic in 1912, for instance, is estimated to have stood 100 feet above the water line and have been 400 feet long. That would make it a couple hundred times bigger than the piece of ice that Norwegian Sun hit over the weekend.

Serious ship accidents involving icebergs have been very rare in the modern era. It's been 63 years since a passenger on a ship has died after a collision with an iceberg. The last known passenger ship sunk by an iceberg with casualties was the Hans Hedtoft, in 1959. All 95 passengers and crew on the Danish cargo and passenger vessel perished after it hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage off the coast of Western Greenland.

Norwegian Sun was on a nine-night sailing to Alaska out of Seattle that began on Tuesday when it collided with the ice chunk. The trip was scheduled to include calls at the Alaskan towns of Sitka, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan; Alaska's Icy Straight Point; and Victoria, British Columbia, in addition to a visit to Hubbard Glacier.

Passengers only had the chance to visit Sitka and Icy Strait Point before the trip was cut short.

Norwegian said passengers on the current sailing of the vessel will receive a full refund of their fare plus a future cruise credit in the amount of 100% of what they paid.

Passengers on the ship's next sailing, which was scheduled to begin June 30, will receive a full refund plus a future cruise credit in the amount of 50% of what they paid, as well as up to $300 per person in reimbursements for any airline cancellation or change fees they incur.

Built in 2001, Norwegian Sun is one of Norwegian's oldest and smallest vessels . It's one of five Norwegian ships currently assigned to Alaska sailings for the summer.

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Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruise ship hits iceberg in alaska, returns to seattle for repairs.

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SEATTLE -- A cruise ship that struck an iceberg in Alaska has docked in Seattle for repairs.

Video shows the moment the ship hit the iceberg on Saturday.

The ship was turned around to Juneau, where it underwent inspection. It was cleared to travel at lower speeds to Seattle by authorities.

The Norwegian Sun arrived in Seattle Thursday. It hit part of the iceberg near Hubbard Glacier in Alaska.

Passengers said the impact was so hard that it caused some of them to fall over.

A Nevada family who was onboard says the impact sounded like a loud door being slammed.

Benjamin Talbott was hanging out with family when his brother, Anthony Romo, noticed something in the water and told him to take out his phone. Talbott recorded as the cruise ship struck the big chunk of iceberg.

"Then all sudden, boom, the whole ship shakes. And I'm like, 'Well, what's going on?' And then I had to start recording and I looked at the front of the ship and all I see is this an iceberg just turning over and coming down. And I was like, Oh my God, we hit an iceberg," he said.

The voyage was cut short and guests disembarked in Seattle due to necessary repairs for the ship, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said.

No injuries were reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Juneau  | Tourism

Norwegian Sun cruise ship docks in Juneau after hitting iceberg

June 27, 2022 by Claire Stremple

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

Coast Guard divers in Juneau assessed damage to the 2,000-passenger cruise ship Norwegian Sun on Monday.

The Norwegian Cruise Lines ship hit an iceberg near Hubbard Glacier on Saturday. A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines said the ship was “engulfed by dense fog, limiting visibility,” and that’s the reason it hit what the cruise line is calling a “growler” — a small iceberg about the size of a grand piano.

But passenger Jason Newman of Atlanta, Georgia, says the fog had cleared when he felt the impact.

“The ship had a severe judder,” he said “You could feel the strike. And then it listed minorly.”

He said passengers did not hear from the captain until 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning, when he confirmed the ship had struck an iceberg.

Open water dotted with floating ice

Newman says passengers were allowed a five-hour shore leave Sunday night in Juneau but were confined to the ship on Monday.

“They told us they couldn’t get the authority to approve us to leave the ship,” he said.

Newman said the cruise line had canceled the entire day of tours for everybody on board by 10 a.m. He had planned a jeep tour in the morning.

“I’m sure that all the tour operators lost revenue,” he said.

The cruise ship was moored at Franklin Street Dock in Juneau until Monday afternoon when it left port. It skipped port calls in Ketchikan and Victoria and headed back to Seattle directly for repairs, according to a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line. The U.S. Coast Guard and other maritime authorities gave it clearance to sail.

The cruise line did not reveal the extent of the damage, but the Norwegian Sun’s next cruise—set to embark on June 30th—is canceled.

Passengers say the cruise line has offered full refunds on the cruise and credits on a future sailing.

This story has been updated to reflect that the ship left Juneau Monday afternoon and cut its itinerary short to head back to Seattle for repairs.

Claire Stremple

Alaska news reporter.

I believe every Alaskan has a right to timely information about their health and health systems, and their natural environment and its management. My goal is to report thoughtful stories that inform, inspire and quench the curiosity of listeners across the state.

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Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruise ship hits iceberg in alaska, returns to seattle for repairs.

KABC logo

SEATTLE (KABC) -- A cruise ship that struck an iceberg in Alaska has docked in Seattle for repairs.

Video shows the moment the ship hit the iceberg on Saturday.

The ship was turned around to Juneau, where it underwent inspection. It was cleared to travel at lower speeds to Seattle by authorities.

The Norwegian Sun arrived in Seattle Thursday. It hit part of the iceberg near Hubbard Glacier in Alaska.

Passengers said the impact was so hard that it caused some of them to fall over.

A Nevada family who was onboard says the impact sounded like a loud door being slammed.

Benjamin Talbott was hanging out with family when his brother, Anthony Romo, noticed something in the water and told him to take out his phone. Talbott recorded as the cruise ship struck the big chunk of iceberg.

"Then all sudden, boom, the whole ship shakes. And I'm like, 'Well, what's going on?' And then I had to start recording and I looked at the front of the ship and all I see is this an iceberg just turning over and coming down. And I was like, Oh my God, we hit an iceberg," he said.

The voyage was cut short and guests disembarked in Seattle due to necessary repairs for the ship, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said.

No injuries were reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Norwegian Cruise Line ship hits iceberg on its way to Alaska glacier

Portrait of Nathan Diller

A Norwegian Cruise Line ship hit a small iceberg over the weekend, the cruise line said Monday.

A spokesperson  the cruise told USA TODAY in an email that on Saturday "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 growler is an iceberg that has less than 3.3 feet showing above the water, and that is under 6.6 feet across, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center .

"The ship remains fully operational and is currently in Juneau, Alaska, for assessment," the spokesperson added. "Additional information will be provided as appropriate." They did not say whether any passengers or crew members had been injured.

Cruise Hive first reported the news, noting that the ship skipped its Skagway port of call to head to Juneau. The cruise line did not respond to further requests for comment about whether it changed course.

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Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert known as The Cruise Guy, said that this kind of incident is "extraordinarily rare."

"The ships take extraordinary caution to avoid (icebergs)," he said.

Chiron noted that ice does regularly fall from glaciers and float in the water, saying, "It's kind of like a car driving down the street and there's a tire in the road or a piece of road debris and you hit it."

As ships get closer to glaciers, he said, the number of growlers increases.

"Sometimes they bump them, and you know, no big deal," Chiron said, noting that it is rare, however, for a cruise line to amend its plans to check for damage.

As for whether prospective passengers should be concerned by the news, Chiron said, "The answer is no."

Norwegian previously  canceled another cruise midsailing in March after the ship collided with the channel bed in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The cruise line said in a statement at the time that "while there is minor damage to the ship's hull, all guests and crew are safe. The current cruise will be shortened, and the cruise scheduled to embark on March 19 will be canceled so that the necessary repairs can be made."

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Norwegian Cruise ship damaged after striking iceberg in Alaska

The norwegian sun was transiting to hubbard glacier when it made contact with a growler.

Jennifer Lopez, a passenger aboard the Norwegian Sun, describes the frightening moment her cruise ship connected with an iceberg in Alaska. 

Norwegian cruise passenger on ship striking iceberg: 'It was a pretty hard hit'

Jennifer Lopez, a passenger aboard the Norwegian Sun, describes the frightening moment her cruise ship connected with an iceberg in Alaska. 

JUNEAU, Alaska – A Norwegian Cruise Line ship filled with passengers struck a small iceberg over the weekend in Alaska.

The Norwegian Sun was transiting to Hubbard Glacier when it made contact with a growler, a spokesperson for the cruise line told FOX Weather. A growler is an iceberg less than 6.6 feet across that floats with less than 3.3 feet showing above water, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

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The ship sailed to Juneau, Alaska, for further assessment, where it was decided that the current voyage would be shortened. It was later given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle at reduced speed.

"The Norwegian Sun sustained damage to the starboard bow (right, front) of the ship after making contact with an iceberg Saturday," U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Melissa McKenzie said. "Contracted divers along with a member from the Coast Guard Sector Juneau Prevention Team assessed the damage and deemed it seaworthy to make way to its home port in Seattle for repairs."

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun cruise ship is docked at the Port of Jacksonville amid the Coronavirus outbreak on March 27, 2020, in Jacksonville, Florida.

(Sam Greenwood / Getty Images)

"The whole boat came to a complete stop from the impact. It was a scary experience," passenger Alicia Amador told the Juneau Empire .

When the ship hit the iceberg she said she heard a "big noise," and then felt the ship move as if something had hit it. Amador described the iceberg as the "size of a semi-truck."

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After spending a day docked in Juneau, the damaged cruise ship departed the port Monday afternoon, the Juneau Empire reports.  All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned.

You could be in for some rough waters if you're setting sail this summer. Cruise lines are in the same boat as airlines and having trouble getting enough workers on board. FOX Business correspondent Ashley Webster reports that could force some cruise lines to do everything from close onboard restaurants to even cancel some sailings.

Summer of shortages: Rough waters ahead for cruise lines

You could be in for some rough waters if you're setting sail this summer. Cruise lines are in the same boat as airlines and having trouble getting enough workers on board. FOX Business correspondent Ashley Webster reports that could force some cruise lines to do everything from close onboard restaurants to even cancel some sailings.

"The cruise scheduled to embark on June 30 will be canceled so that the necessary repairs can be made," the cruise line said in a written statement.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE BOOKING YOUR NEXT CRUISE

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

Hubbard Glacier in Disenchantment Bay.

(John Greim/LightRocket / Getty Images)

Flowing over 75 miles and calving into the sea with a face 6 miles wide, Hubbard Glacier near Yakutat is the longest tidewater glacier in North America, according to the National Park Service. It's 25% larger than the state of Rhode Island.

The glacier was named in 1890 for Gardiner Hubbard, the first president of the National Geographic Society.

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Cruzely.com | Everything Cruising

Dramatic Video Shows NCL Ship Hitting Iceberg; Next Cruise Canceled

In a dramatic video now making the rounds on social media, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun, which is currently sailing Alaska, made significant contact with a piece of ice floating in the water.

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

The incident is said to have happened this weekend while the ship sailed near Hubbard Glacier.

In the video, you can hear the shock of passengers as the ship hits and then the size of the floating piece is revealed. While it’s hard to see the full scale of the ice, it’s obviously of significant size:

Following the contact, the ship rerouted to Juneau, Alaska, where it was assessed for damages from the impact.

According to Juneau Empire , “the ship remained at the Franklin Dock while it underwent inspections by divers where it was determined to have sustained damage, according to Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn, a Coast Guard public affairs specialist.”

However, the Coast Guard found that the ship could return to Seattle, albeit at slower speed.

The cruise line opted to cancel the remainder of the current cruise. It is currently en route to Seattle. According to a letter posted on a CruiseCritic message board , passengers on the ship will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, as well as a 100% Future Cruise Credit for another journey.

We contacted NCL about the situation and what it meant for upcoming cruises aboard Norwegian Sun.

Norwegian told us that the upcoming June 30, 2022 cruise originally planned from Seattle will be canceled as the ship undergoes repairs . You can see the full statement from NCL below:

“On June 25, 2022 while transiting to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, Norwegian Sun made contact with a growler. The ship sailed to Juneau, Alaska for further assessment, where it was decided that the current voyage would be shortened, and the cruise scheduled to embark on June 30, 2022 will be canceled, so that the necessary repairs can be made.   The ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle at reduced speed. All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned. We are communicating with all impacted guests directly. Additional information will be provided as appropriate.”   -Spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Sun was first launched in 2001. At 848 feet long, the ship can carry nearly 2,000 passengers and 900 crew members. The ship is sailing Alaskan cruises this summer before transitioning to Europe in the fall.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, ncl announces sailings from a new u.s. port… turning an entire region into a cruise mecca, price hike: ncl boosting soda & coffee package prices up to 27%, ‘be on time’: cruisers show little sympathy for ncl passengers who missed ship, ncl makes history with first seasonal sailing from galveston, texas, ncl unveils its next ship — norwegian aqua — and it’s a must-see, 20+ norwegian cruise tips, tricks, and things to know, leave a reply cancel reply.

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Norwegian cruise ship hits iceberg in alaska; rest of trip canceled: reports.

A Norwegian Cruise Line ship on the way to an Alaskan glacier hit an iceberg over the weekend and is being turned around due to damage.

The ship, the Norwegian Sun, smacked into the minor iceberg, also known as a growler, on Saturday and was rerouted to Juneau for inspection.

“On June 25, 2022 while transiting to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, Norwegian Sun made contact with a growler,” a Norwegian Cruise spokesperson told The Post.

“The ship sailed to Juneau, Alaska for further assessment, where it was decided that the current voyage would be shortened, and the cruise scheduled to embark on June 30, 2022 will be canceled, so that the necessary repairs can be made.”

On Monday, the Juneau Empire reported the ship sustained damage after divers inspected it and it had to return to Seattle for repairs, according to Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn, a Coast Guard spokesperson.

Littlejohn said the ship called the Coast Guard to report the incident and told officials there were no injuries, according to Juneau Empire.

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

A Norwegian Cruise spokesperson confirmed to The Post that the ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle “at reduced speed.”

“All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned,” the spokesperson said.

One passenger was with six of her relatives for a family vacation that was postponed three years due to the COVID pandemic.

The Norwegian Sun was rerouted to Juneau after hitting the iceberg.

Alicia Amador, of Phoenix, Arizona, told Juneau Empire she heard a “big noise” and then the ship moved as if it struck something.  She estimated the iceberg was the “size of a semi-truck.”

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

She told the newspaper that Norwegian told her Monday the rest of the trip was canceled and the ship would arrive in Seattle on Thursday. She said her family was told they’d be reimbursed.

Workers inspect the hull of the Norwegian Sun cruise ship after it struck a small iceberg.

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UPDATE – 6/27 at 9 pm:

In a statement to Cruise Radio around 9 pm on Monday, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said “On June 25, 2022 while transiting to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, Norwegian Sun made contact with a growler. The ship sailed to Juneau, Alaska for further assessment, where it was decided that the current voyage would be shortened.”

“The ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle at reduced speed. All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned.”

“Guests will receive a full refund of the voyage fare paid, with an additional future cruise credit valued at 100% of the original voyage fare paid. We are communicating with all impacted guests directly. Additional information will be provided as appropriate.”

Original Article:

A Norwegian Cruise Line ship had to alter its normal Alaskan itinerary after the ship wound up hitting an iceberg while navigating through a fog bank.

How Did Norwegian Sun Hit an Iceberg?

norwegian sun hubbard glacier alaska

It’s almost impossible to hear the words “cruise ship” and “iceberg” without thinking of the Titanic . And while that is, of course, the most famous (and tragic) example of what can happen when the two collide, it’s also the most extreme. According to a 2012 report by the BBC , there were approximately 57 incidents in the northern hemisphere in which ships of various sizes hit icebergs between 1980 and 2005. This is a rate of 2.3 per year, according to Brian Hill, of the Institute for Ocean Technology, who maintains a database of more than 680 iceberg-ship incidents.

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So how did the Norwegian Sun wind up having a close encounter of the iceberg variety? According to a statement from Norwegian Cruise Line, the incident took place on June 25. “While transitioning to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska,” NCL told Cruise Hive , “ Norwegian Sun was engulfed by dense fog, limiting visibility and resulting in the ship making contact with a [small iceberg].”

hubbard glacier pixabay

Although the ship remains “fully operational,” it was redirected to Juneau, Alaska, so that the company could ascertain whether any significant damage had been done to the hull. As a result, the ship was forced to skip its scheduled stop in Skagway.

As of this reporting, the ship was still docked in Juneau. While onboard operations were all operating as expected, there’s no word at this time as to when the ship will set sail or the extent of the damage which may have been done.

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Norwegian cruise ship hits iceberg near Alaska, set to return to Seattle for repairs

by Gerald Tracy

Photo: Norwegian Cruise Lines press room photo

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A cruise ship is making its way back to Seattle for repairs after hitting an iceberg over the weekend.

The US Coast Guard in Anchorage confirmed with KOMO News the Norwegian Sun hit the iceberg in Alaska near Hubbard Glacier not far from Yakutat Bay this past Saturday.

The ship reported the damage to the starboard bow and divers were sent out to check out the damage. The USCG said the ship was then told to return to Seattle.

Officials tell KOMO News the repairs are not urgent but must be done. Coast Guard officials also checked out the ship and confirmed the assessment. No injuries were reported.

KOMO News has reached out to Norwegian Cruise Lines for comment, its spokesperson gave us the following statement.

“On June 25, 2022 while transiting to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, Norwegian Sun made contact with a growler. The ship sailed to Juneau, Alaska for further assessment, where it was decided that the current voyage would be shortened, and the cruise scheduled to embark on June 30, 2022 will be canceled, so that the necessary repairs can be made. The ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and other local maritime authorities to return to Seattle at reduced speed. All guests currently onboard will disembark in Seattle as originally planned. We are communicating with all impacted guests directly. Additional information will be provided as appropriate.”

norwegian cruise ship iceberg

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COMMENTS

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