A Carnival Dream lifeboat detached and fell into the water on Wednesday during a safety test in Cozumel. No injuries were reported, and the Galveston-based cruise ship was not damaged.
A standard lifeboat drill on a cruise ship from Galveston took an unforeseen turn on Wednesday when a lifeboat from the Carnival Dream came loose and fell into the water while the ship was docked in Cozumel, Mexico.
The event occurred around midday while travelers were strolling along the pier. Carnival Cruise Lines reported that crew members were “conducting an unmanned test of lowering one of the lifeboats when a latch got caught on one of the cables.” A cable malfunction led to the lifeboat becoming partially detached and dangling from the ship before it ultimately plunged into the harbor.
There were no injuries reported among passengers or crew, and Carnival confirmed that the ship did not incur any significant damage. Additional lifeboats underwent inspection and were determined to be unaffected. Images posted by passengers and travelers aboard nearby cruise ships captured the vivid orange lifeboat floating in the water before it became stuck against the dock.
At the time, multiple vessels were present in port, such as the Carnival Breeze, Regal Princess, Celebrity Eclipse, and Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, as reported by the cruise-tracking site Cruise Mapper.
The Carnival Dream set sail from Galveston on November 15, continuing its regular voyages through the Western Caribbean. Carnival has significantly increased its operations at the island port recently, with several ships now running year-round from Galveston.
Even though the Carnival Breeze is returning to New Orleans after eight years of operating from Galveston, the company has plans for more operations in Texas. Carnival Horizon is set to make its debut in May 2027, with Carnival Spirit following in October 2027, offering exciting itineraries to Cozumel and various other Caribbean destinations. The cruise line's Jubilee and Miracle are still based in Galveston.
Carnival President Christine Duffy emphasized the company's dedication to the thriving cruise market on the island. “Galveston is one of our most popular homeports, and this new deployment underscores our dedication to our Texas guests and the community by introducing more variety than ever,” she stated in September. Duffy mentioned that the four vessels scheduled to depart from Galveston in 2027–28 will each belong to a distinct class, providing travelers with a variety of choices to “select the fun that suits them best.”
The compromised lifeboat was subsequently secured, allowing the vessel to proceed with its planned itinerary without delay.
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