A Carnival cruise ship recently had a close encounter with a piece of drifting ice while sailing through Alaska, sparking dramatic comparisons to a “Titanic moment” among passengers. The Carnival Spirit grazed an errant piece of ice last Thursday in the Tracy Arm Fjord, prompting both concern and fascination among those aboard.
Despite the incident, Carnival Cruise Line assured passengers and the public that no damage was sustained by the ship. In a statement to Fox Business, the company confirmed that the vessel was thoroughly assessed and found undamaged, allowing it to continue its scheduled seven-day cruise. The ship will dock at its final destination in Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday.
While the ship remained unharmed, passengers took to social media to share their dramatic experiences. Cassandra Goskie, a passenger aboard the Carnival Spirit, posted a TikTok video, humorously captioned, “It’s a Titanic moment.” In the video, she can be heard exclaiming, “Oh, we are hitting it,” as fellow passengers watched from the deck. Goskie later praised the cruise line’s handling of the situation, saying, “Carnival did an AMAZING job of keeping all the passengers and staff safe and updated.”
From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord! Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!” pic.twitter.com/KIUkrlLtx9
— James Spann (@spann) September 6, 2024
Some passengers also shared their experiences on X (formerly Twitter), with one user posting photos and updates from a local meteorologist. “We are on the Carnival Spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy Arm Fjord! Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!” the post read.
Despite the comparisons to the ill-fated Titanic, Carnival Cruise Line maintained that the ship’s operations were unaffected, and passengers were kept well-informed throughout the journey.
Following the ice encounter, the Carnival Spirit continued its journey, with no interruptions to its itinerary. The ship’s safe return to its final destination serves as a reminder of the company’s commitment to ensuring passenger safety and maintaining operational efficiency, even in unexpected situations.
While the incident provided a thrilling story for some passengers, Carnival’s swift response and damage-free report ensured a smooth sailing experience for everyone aboard.
