A blaze aboard the Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, left Royal Caribbean International's flagship without electricity on Tuesday while docked in Costa Maya, Mexico. According to Nathaniel Derrenbacher, spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group, the cruise line's parent company, the vessel experienced a brief power loss during the incident, as reported by USA Today.
Derrenbacher clarified that the fire was confined to a crew area and was swiftly extinguished with no injuries reported. The ship's backup power systems were immediately activated, and main power systems were restored shortly after, he explained.
The spokesperson did not provide further details on the exact location of the fire or the duration of the power outage. Despite the incident, the ship's itinerary remained unaffected. The Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, is currently on a week-long Western Caribbean voyage, having departed from Miami, Florida, on Saturday, according to CruiseMapper. The ship is expected to visit Cozumel on Wednesday.
This event follows a fire in the exhaust funnel of Carnival Freedom, a ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, in March, marking the second such incident on that vessel in less than two years.
The Icon of the Seas is the lead ship of the Icon class. It entered service on January 27, 2024, from the port of Miami in the United States, boasting a gross tonnage of 248,663 tons.
Fire Incident on Icon of the Seas: Key Questions Answered
In light of the recent fire aboard the Icon of the Seas, several pertinent questions have arisen. Here are some crucial details to help understand what happened and how it was managed.
Where did the fire occur on the Icon of the Seas?
The fire was confined to a crew area and was quickly extinguished without any injuries.
How did the power outage affect the ship's operations?
The ship experienced a brief power loss, but backup power systems were immediately activated, and main power was restored shortly after. The itinerary was not affected.
Has there been any previous incidents of fire on cruise ships?
Yes, in March, there was a fire in the exhaust funnel of Carnival Freedom, a ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. This was the second such incident on that vessel in less than two years.