oceania cruise fire

3 Die After Fire Breaks Out on Oceania Cruise

Published december 11, 2014 • updated on december 12, 2014 at 11:42 am.

Oceania Cruises said three people died on the cruise ship Insignia when it had a fire in the engine room while docked in St. Lucia Thursday morning.

The cruise line said the fire was contained to the engine room and extinguished. Three crew members and two contractors who were working on the ship at the time of the fire were taken to a medical facility on the eastern Caribbean island country.

Oceania said two of the contractors and one crew member died as a result of their injuries.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred this morning on Insignia. We have extended our heartfelt condolences to the families of those involved and are offering them our full support. This is truly an emotional time for all of us at Oceania Cruises,” the company said in a statement.

The ship was on a 10-day cruise that left San Juan, Puerto Rico on Dec. 7 and was scheduled to arrive in Miami on Dec. 17.

The rest of the cruise was canceled and charter flights were arranged to bring all 656 guests back to Miami. Oceania said it was also providing hotel accommodations in Miami until flights to the guests’ hometown can be arranged.

Passengers who arrived in Miami early Friday said they heard an explosion and saw smoke.

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"It smelled like the bottom of a volcano," said Trish Radeff. "I could not breathe, it was awful."

Elizabeth Barrett said she saw the attempts made to save the victims.

"I saw one fellow they were resuscitating on the dock and he was already expired by the time they got to him, they did try very valiantly to bring him around but it wasn't successful," said Barrett, from Scottsdale, Arizona. "It was a sad day."

The cruise line also said it was giving a complete refund to all of the travelers and a 50 percent credit towards a future Oceania cruise.

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Home » News » 3 dead after fire on Oceania cruise ship

3 dead after fire on Oceania cruise ship

Three workers are dead after an engine fire broke out on Insignia, a cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises.

According to a report on Cruise Critic, the three dead included one crewmember and two contractors, and the fire was contained to the engine room thereby not injuring any of the 684-passengers onboard.

The fire broke out at about 8:30am yesterday while docked in St. Lucia, according to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Oceania's parent company.

“Arrangements are being made for guests and crew to be accommodated at local hotels until transportation to Miami is arranged,” An Oceania spokesperson told Cruise Critic.

The ship departed San Juan for a 10-day cruise, which was set to end in Miami on December 17.

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Three Killed in Engine Room Fire Aboard Luxury Cruise Ship

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MS Insignia file photo

Update: U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB Investigating Deadly Fire

Three people have died from injuries sustained in an engine room fire aboard an Oceania Cruises cruise ship.

The fire broke out Thursday morning aboard the MS ‘Insignia’ while docked at Port Castries in St. Lucia.

Initial reports said that three people were being treated at a local hospital. A statement from Oceania Cruises later updated that three of the people, including one crewmember and two contractors, had died from their injuries and two others were injured.

“Three crewmembers and two contractors who were working onboard were transferred to a local medical facility. We are deeply saddened to learn that two contractors and one crewmember did not survive. We extend our deepest condolences to their families during this very difficult time,” the Oceania Cruises statement said obtained by Cruise Critic .

There are no reports of injuries among passengers and the fire was reported to be contained within the engine room.

The Insignia was on a 10-night cruise that departed from San Juan on December 7 and was scheduled to arrive in Miami on December 17. The remainder of the cruise has been cancelled, according to Oceania Cruises.

The 30,277 ton Insignia was built in 1998 and has accommodations for 684 passengers and 400 crew. The ship only recently completed a $50 million retrofit this spring.

Miami-based Oceania Cruises is now a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings Ltd. after NCL acquired Oceania’s former parent company, Prestige Cruises International, for $3 billion in September.

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Caribbean cruise liner fire kills three

Oceania Insignia was docked in St Lucia when workers died in blaze that broke out in engine room

A crew member and two contractors died when a fire broke out on board a luxury cruise ship docked at the eastern Caribbean island of St Lucia , officials said.

The 656 passengers on the Oceania Insignia were evacuated safely and the remainder of the cruise was cancelled, Oceania Cruises said. A crew member was in hospital, said Jason Lasecki, spokesman for the company.

The fire, which began in the engine room, was contained. The US National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending officials to help with the investigation, which was being led by the Marshall Islands where the ship is registered.

The Insignia had departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday for a 10-day cruise and was scheduled to arrive in Miami on 17 December.

The ship was built in 1998 and refurbished this year. It rejoined the Oceania fleet in May after operating as a charter for two years, according to Oceania. The Insignia has 400 crew members and its officers and staff are European.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred this morning on Insignia,” said Lasecki, adding that passengers would be fully refunded and charter flights had been arranged to take them to Miami, as well as accommodation until they could be flown to their cities of origin. Oceania’s president and other officials were in St Lucia.

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Long Island Couple Recounts Fatal Fire On Oceania Insignia

December 15, 2014 / 2:49 PM EST / CBS New York

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island couple who were aboard the cruise ship that caught fire in the Caribbean last week are recounting the harrowing experience.

The fire began Thursday in the engine room of the Oceania Insignia, which was docked in St. Lucia during a 10-day cruise through the Caribbean that had been scheduled to end in Miami on Dec. 17.

Jerome and Jerilyn Goldchain of Oceanside were among the 656 passengers who were aboard the Insignia.

Long Island Couple Recounts Fatal Fire On Luxury Cruise Ship

"We were sitting down for breakfast and all of a sudden the lights went out," Jerome Goldchain told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera. "Then all the chefs came running out of the kitchen and ran off the ship. The crew left the ship before the passengers."

All of the passengers were evacuated safely and the remainder of the cruise was canceled. Passengers were flown back to Miami late Thursday and on Friday.

The Goldchains said they feel lucky the ship was in port in St. Lucia and not at sea when the fire broke out.

"I'm happy I'm alive and I'm here," Jerilyn Goldchain said.

"It's nice to be home," Jerome Goldchain said. "It was a very harrowing experience and I hope we never have to go through with it again."

Oceania Cruises have offered passengers full refunds and 50 percent off their next cruise.

A technical team is investigating to determine what went wrong in the engine room, said Victor Gonzalez, Oceania executive vice president for passenger services.

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. National Transportation Safety Board are assisting with the investigation, which is being led by the Marshall Islands, where the ship is registered.

The ship was built in 1998 and underwent a multimillion-dollar refurbishing earlier this year. The Insignia has 400 crew members, and its officers and staff are European.

One crew member and two contractors were killed in the fire.

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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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Fatal ship fire alters historic world cruise

Oceania Cruises has canceled a significant portion of what was to be an historic, 180-day around the world cruise , while the 684-passenger Insignia undergoes repairs in San Juan. The ship was the scene of a fatal engine room fire earlier this month.

"We finished our initial repair assessment for Insignia and expect the ship will remain in San Juan for an estimated nine weeks to complete the required work," the line tells USA TODAY in a statement. "Due to the fact repair time is longer than we anticipated, we regrettably must modify our Around the World cruise and alter three Grand Voyages aboard Insignia."

The world cruise, which was to embark Miami on January 10, will now begin in modified form in Singapore on March 22, the line said. Fares for the cruise began at $41,999.

The Grand Voyages were sold as 90- to 128-day segments of the world itinerary.

Guests on the modified itineraries can choose to continue with the sailing and receive a full refund for the canceled cruise days, along with a 25% future cruise credit. For those continuing with their cruise, the line said it would provide complimentary business class airfare to Singapore and a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay.

Or they can opt out of the cruise altogether for a full refund and future cruise credit.

"We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and greatly appreciate our guests' understanding," the line said.

The fire, which occurred while the ship was docked in Port Castries, St. Lucia on December 11, claimed the lives of two contractors and a crew member. Another crew member was injured.

The 656 passengers onboard at the time were safely evacuated from the ship and flown to Miami.

An investigation into the cause of the fire was conducted in St. Lucia by the Marshall Islands, where the ship is registered, with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board.

There has been no public report on what the investigation found.

The fire cut short a 10-day Caribbean cruise out of San Juan. A subsequent holiday cruise on the Insignia, scheduled to embark on December 17, was also canceled.

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Cruise Ship Fire Leaves 3 Dead, Passengers Evacuated

Update December 12, 2014: All passengers were flown back to Miami on a charter flight.  Oceania has cancelled the December 17 sailing so repairs can be made to the ship.

The fire happened at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Thursday and all passengers were evacuated from the ship. There are no reports of injuries to any passengers at this time.  The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

Five workers were send to a local hospital for treatment, three crew members and two contractors. One crew member and the two contractors died from burns they sustained in the fire.

The remainder of the cruise has been canceled.  The Insignia was on a 10 night cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida with port stops in St. Kitts, Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia, Saint Vincent, Martinique, and St. Barts.  The MS Insignia is a 30,000 gross ton ship and there were 600 passengers and 400 crew members on the ship at the time of the fire.

Passengers will be accommodated in local hotels until arrangements can be made for flights back to Miami.

Cruise Fever has reached out to Oceania Cruises and will update this page when we received word from the cruise line.  We will continue to monitor this breaking story and will have all updates as more information becomes available.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members of those who passed away in this tragic incident on the MS Insignia.

Oceania Cruises was recently purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line and they currently have five luxury cruise ships in their fleet.

Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

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Price Adjustment Question

By Gull , June 28, 2023 in Oceania Cruises

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My apologies if this has been asked before - I searched and couldn't find it.

I booked a cruise in late May and now the exact same cruise with same offers is now available for less. The Oceania Rep I used has not been very helpful with questions about a price adjustment. I'm tempted to cancel and rebook, this time using a TA.

Has anyone been able to get an adjustment?

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AMHuntFerry

5 minutes ago, Gull said: My apologies if this has been asked before - I searched and couldn't find it.   I booked a cruise in late May and now the exact same cruise with same offers is now available for less. The Oceania Rep I used has not been very helpful with questions about a price adjustment. I'm tempted to cancel and rebook, this time using a TA. Has anyone been able to get an adjustment?  

If there is truly a net savings you should be able to get it. That said, talk to a TA today (or call the O line and talk to a different rep); fares change on July 1st and you will be required to use the new SimplyMore program (replacing cruise only and OLife), plus sales end June 30th and fares may (almost certainly will) go up.

Call  & just speak to someone  at O  if still no satisfaction then ask for  a supervisor  or someone higher up the food chain

 If there is availability in the cabin category that you have booked it should not be  a problem

Before you cancel check the fine print to make sure you are not in the penalty time frame

Flatbush Flyer

1 hour ago, Gull said: My apologies if this has been asked before - I searched and couldn't find it.   I booked a cruise in late May and now the exact same cruise with same offers is now available for less. The Oceania Rep I used has not been very helpful with questions about a price adjustment. I'm tempted to cancel and rebook, this time using a TA. Has anyone been able to get an adjustment?  

I’ve gotten many O price adjustments -particularly when the original reservation was a book onboard with low price natch guarantee.

3 hours ago, Gull said: ... I booked a cruise in late May and now the exact same cruise with same offers is now available for less. The Oceania Rep I used has not been very helpful with questions about a price adjustment. I'm tempted to cancel and rebook, this time using a TA. Has anyone been able to get an adjustment? 

I book my own cruises with O trying to use the same O rep since first booking with O in January 2021. Get to know a O rep and stick with him/her. Get their phone extension/e-mail.

I try to book a G/F when I first find a cruise I like. Then I rebook the cruise to a better cabin at a future sale. So I may go from F to C to A3. Did that exactly on Riviera on my late 2023 10 night cruise that I ordinally booked in early 2022 and have then upgraded to a better cabin at lower rates twice, the last time off the Extraordinary Savings Sale. The A3 at $1899 PP less expensive than the C rate that had been on sale which was only slightly more expensive than the original F cabin rate.

23 hours ago, MEFIowa said: I book my own cruises with O trying to use the same O rep since first booking with O in January 2021. Get to know a O rep and stick with him/her. Get their phone extension/e-mail.   I try to book a G/F when I first find a cruise I like. Then I rebook the cruise to a better cabin at a future sale. So I may go from F to C to A3. Did that exactly on Riviera on my late 2023 10 night cruise that I ordinally booked in early 2022 and have then upgraded to a better cabin at lower rates twice, the last time off the Extraordinary Savings Sale. The A3 at $1899 PP less expensive than the C rate that had been on sale which was only slightly more expensive than the original F cabin rate.

When you say you rebook, does that mean you have to cancel and book a new reservation, or does that mean you simply call and change to a different cabin at a lower rate than it might have been when you first booked?

It means you keep your current booking...number stays the same..cabin and pricing changed if you choose to do so. Same thing happens if you change your booking to utilize benefits of new post July 1 Simply More program.

4 hours ago, SSFrance69 said: When you say you rebook, does that mean you have to cancel and book a new reservation, or does that mean you simply call and change to a different cabin at a lower rate than it might have been when you first booked?

I think he waits for the sales then gets his cruise repriced to the  new deal

I am guessing  though

Same booking number for our C ($1994 PP, Apr 2022) to B4 ($2249 PP, May 2022 to B3 ($1749 PP, Apr 2023) on Riviera, for example. The booking number stays the same. I just changed the cabin and go with the new sales price for it.

As you can see, I'm using the sales to get to better cabins at good or hopefully lower prices.

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Carnival Cruise Ship Catches Fire for Second Time in 2 Years After Passengers Report Lightning Strike

The incident marks the second time in two years this particular ship has caught fire. It has caused the cancellation of two upcoming voyages

A Carnival cruise ship’s exhaust funnel caught fire on Saturday during a trip to the Bahamas, causing the company to cancel its next two voyages.

This is the second time in less than two years that the Carnival Freedom, based in Port Canaveral, Fla., has been impacted by a fire.

"Regrettably, the damage is more than we first thought, and will require an immediate repair to stabilize the funnel, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 and March 29 cruises from Port Canaveral," Matt Lupoli, Carnival Cruise Line's senior manager of public relations, told Florida Today in a statement. "The funnel has been stabilized for the ship’s return to Port Canaveral overnight to disembark guests, and then it will go to the Freeport shipyard on Monday afternoon to begin the required repairs."

PEOPLE has reached out to Carnival, but did not immediately hear back.

While the cause of the fire is still being investigated, Carnival noted in a post on X Saturday that eyewitnesses reported the possibility of a lightning strike.

One of the cruise’s passengers, Heath Barnes, posted footage of the incident on Facebook Saturday afternoon.

In a statement to TMX, Barnes said it had been storming on and off and he was on one of the ship’s upper decks when he experienced “the loudest thunder and lightening [sic] I have ever heard.”

After he returned to his cabin for about 15 minutes, his nephew and two friends came to tell him the ship was on fire.

“I thought they were giving me a hard time but I got up and went out on the balcony and sure enough the flames and smoke was pouring out of the tail,” he continued, adding that he took the videos from his balcony before travelers were asked to stay indoors.

Related: Carnival Cruise Ship Catches Fire During Visit to Turks and Caicos Islands

Carnival's brand ambassador John Heald addressed the incident on Facebook, acknowledging that those impacted by the cancellations “will be feeling very disappointed.” 

“And I want to add my apologies and my assurances that when you rebook using your full refund and your 100% future cruise credit, that the crew will be standing by to give you all the Fun you deserve,” he added.

Related: 2 Holland America Line Crew Members Killed During Onboard 'Incident' in the Bahamas

In May 2022, the Carnival Freedom caught fire during a five-day cruise to Turks and Caicos.

At the time, Carnival Cruise Line verified that a fire broke out in the funnel of the ship while it was in Grand Turk.

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The company said its "emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished" the flames.

"All guests and crew are safe, and the ship's guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore," Carnival added.

The 948-foot Carnival Freedom, built in 2007, can hold just over 3,500 passengers, according to Cruise Mapper .

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Embark on Greenland & Iceland Cruises

For a limited time, receive more luxury for less with up to a 4 category upgrade* on select sailings.

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• Greenland & Iceland Experiences

Majestic Landscapes

Our Greenland & Iceland cruises bring you to the edge of the Arctic Circle and fill your days with magnificent fjords, dramatic natural wonders and outdoor adventures on these remote North Atlantic island countries. Cruise Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice, to experience the famed Blue Lagoon, the popular Golden Circle route, Reykjavik’s Viking Settlement Exhibition, stark lava fields, volcanoes, glaciers and much more. Meanwhile, the shores of Greenland give way to sparsely populated hinterlands, impressive fjord systems, the colonial harbor of Nuuk and Paamiut’s rich Inuit culture.

Greenland & Iceland Special Offers

From insider tours of this region’s boundless natural wonders and immersions in local communities to fascinating historical explorations, our Greenland & Iceland shore excursions bring you the best of the local attractions, culture and history. More extended evening stays across the region give you the chance to immerse yourself in Greenland & Iceland with in-depth explorations, adventures ashore and leisurely, meaningful touring.

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Baltic & Scandinavia Ports

Extend your stay before or after your Greenland & Iceland cruise at one of these luxurious hotels, carefully selected for their superb location, ambiance, world-class standards of service, cuisine and amenities. Our hotel packages include free air date changes up to 3 days before or after your cruise; free transfers between the airport, hotel and ship; and porterage. You’ll also enjoy the services of our exclusive Oceania Cruises hospitality desk at each hotel.

Featured Greenland & Iceland Hotels

Grand Hotel Reykjavik

Reykjavik, iceland.

Grand Hotel Reykjavik is a first-class hotel for travelers who demand excellent service and facilities. As the largest hotel in Iceland, Grand Hotel Reykjavik features more than 300 rooms and is situated in an ideal location in the city – a quiet area and yet close to services, restaurants and recreation. All of the hotel rooms are very spacious and equipped with desirable amenities. The hotel restaurant, Brasserie Grand, offers a varied menu to suit every need. The chefs create both international delights and mouth-watering, fresh Icelandic seafood specialties. The wine list includes a wide range of internationally recognized choices.

LOTTE NEW YORK PALACE

New york, united states.

With a nod to its illustrious past, Lotte New York Palace has taken an ambitious leap into the future by combining old-world elegance with present-day luxury. Lotte New York Palace turned an iconic New York City property from a historic Madison Avenue gem to Midtown’s premier modern hotel. This Midtown Manhattan hotel features 909 rooms and suites – including 176 spacious Towers accommodations – which provide the perfect setting for relaxation and inspired stays in New York City. Unique dining venues, such as the newly opened VILLARD Restaurant and Pomme Palais, offer everything from imaginative breakfast dishes to signature pastries and sandwiches. The hotel’s famed Villard Mansion built in 1882 is recognized as a New York City landmark and gracefully blends with a contemporary 55-story tower. The Madison Avenue Courtyard provides a dramatic entryway to the hotel’s grand lobby.

Our Iceland Pre- and Post-Cruise Land Programs invite you to immerse yourself in the culture and spectacular natural beauty of this region. These multi-day, in-depth Land Programs include exclusive tours, premium hotel stays, airport transfers when arriving and departing the day your program begins and ends, and often times locally inspired meals and porterage too.

Greenland & Iceland Land Programs

Super Jeep Adventure: The South Shore

Set off on a thrill-seeking exploration of the Icelandic wilds in a 4x4 Super Jeep and a snowmobile. This four-day adventure is punctuated with visits to hot springs, ancient glaciers, lagoons, roaring waterfalls and mountain lakes in Thingvellir National Park, Langjökull, Hafnarfjörður and several other unique locations in the Icelandic highlands.

• 2 nights at the Hilton Hotel or similar
• 1 night at the Land Hotel or similar (standard room)
• Lunches (1 drink included)
• Day tours and admission fees per the program itinerary
• Excess luggage storage in Reykjavik

Today’s Featured Greenland & Iceland Cruises

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From the Oceania Cruises Blog

3 REASONS TO VISIT ICELAND RIGHT NOW

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