1. Costa Concordia
One of the most well-known, recent disasters, it ran aground and partially sank, with over 4000 passengers on board. 24 died and 64 were injured while 7 remain missing. The situation was handled badly, with the captain downplaying it to delay evacuation. The ship then developed a list which seriously hindered the rescue attempt.
2. Bulgaria
In July 2011 this cruise ship sank in the River Volga, Russia, carrying close to 200 passengers. The bodies of around half of those were recovered and 80 were rescued. An investigation into violations aboard the ship was carried out but the cause remains unclear.
3. SS Norway
In May 2003, an explosion in the boiler room killed 4 crew members just half an hour after docking in Miami, after a week-long Caribbean cruise. 21 suffered burns from high-pressure steam but the 2000 passengers were safely evacuated.
4. Costa Europa
3 crew members were killed when this luxury liner crashed into the pier at Sharm el-Sheikh in stormy weather, February 2010. Four tourists were injured and transported to hospital in stable condition.
5. Louis Majesty
2 died and 6 were injured when 8ft rogue waves hit the Cypriot cruise liner off the north-east coast of Spain in March 2010. The waves shattered windows at the front of the ship and much water was taken on board.
6. Costa Allegra
Almost 1000 passengers and crew were stranded aboard the Costa Allegra in February 2012 when a fire broke out in the engine room, leaving the ship powerless and drifting 2000 miles away from the main island of the Seychelles. Supplies had to be airlifted while the rescue mission was being prepared.
7. Brilliance of the Seas
In December 2010, a cruise liner was battered by a violent storm as it tried to reach port in Alexandria. Passengers were flung around the ship with nearly 30 injured by furniture overturning and glass shattering throughout the ship.
8. Pacific Sun
When the Pacific Sun was hit by an unexpected storm in July 2008, 400 miles off the coast of New Zealand, passengers feared for their lives as waves reaching as high as the fifth deck threw them around the ship. At least 42 passengers were badly injured.
9. Ushuaia
A cruise ship carrying 122 passengers was stranded on the Antarctic coast after striking ice in December 2008. Food and fuel supplies began to dwindle and the ship started taking on water but all the passengers and crew were evacuated to safety by naval ships and aeroplanes.
10. MS Sea Diamond
Nearly 1600 passengers had to be rescued from a cruise ship which struck rocks at Santorini, a Greek island, in April 2007. Although no one was injured, the 469-foot ship sank 15 hours after the last of the passengers were evacuated.
Guest post provided by Bon Voyage Cruises, have a safe holiday and why not enjoy one of our many Caribbean cruise holidays.
