NORWEGIAN SPIRIT

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Passenger fell over board and died

A passenger fell overboard from the 'Norwegian Spirit' on Aug 8, 2024, while en route back to Keelung. The man, identified as a 30-year-old Taiwanese national surnamed Li, fell from an upper deck at 11 a.m., while a couple and a child, who were looking out to sea, saw him plummet past them. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they quickly sought help. The cruise ship stopped for about 40 minutes while the crew initiated an SAR operation, notifying maritime authorities. The man's body was recovered shortly after. Li had been traveling with his brother on a 6-day cruise that departed from Keelung Port in Taiwan, visiting Nagasaki, Japan, and Jeju Island. His body was placed in a freezer until the ship docked at Keelung Port. Investigators have since boarded the vessel to gather evidence and determine the circumstances leading to the fall. The investigation remained ongoing.

Turkish tycoon declared dead after falling over board

Dilek Ertek, 71, the owner of the Turkish arm of Tiffany’s jewellery empire has been declared dead after falling from the 'Norwegian Spirit' on Oct 26, 2022 into the waters of the South Pacific just off the coast of Tahiti. The search for Ertek’s body has ceased and the tycoon has been declared dead. CCTV footage indicated that Ertek fell from the ship at 3:00 a.m., but her Swiss boyfriend – who was on holiday with Ertek at the time of her disappearance – did not report her missing until approximately 20 hours later. The 74-year-old boyfriend was isolated in a separate cabin and observed by crew until the ship docked at Papeete Port on Oct 31. He was then questioned by Tahitian police but later released due to a lack of evidence. It is believed that he has since returned to Switzerland. Ertek’s son, Gokce Atuk, told officials that several items of jewellery had gone missing from his mother’s safe in her cabin aboard the cruise ship. Many are considering her death as suspicious due to the missing items of jewellery, combined with the fact that Ertek was 5’2″ and tee-total – making it unlikely for her to accidentally fall over the 3′ high guard rail on the balcony of her cabin. Reportedly there were issues with the investigation as Ertek’s room was not properly searched by Tahitian authorities. The family, along with Ertek’s lawyers, are taking legal action against Norwegian Cruise Line, who operate the vessel. The tycoon boarded the vessel on Oct 24 in Papeete and was due to celebrate her birthday on Nov 5 on the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, with the cruise ending in Honolulu.

Changes in itineraries due to coronavirus

The Princess Cruise Line has cancelled five departures of the Diamond Princess' from Yokohama, the port for Tokyo where it has been stuck for more than two weeks. The cruise line says this is due to the ship’s prolonged quarantine period, and the anticipated time to prepare the ship to return to service. The ship was currently due to return to service on April 29, in time for the start of Japan’s Golden Week celebrations. Cruises have also been cancelled on 'Majestic Princess' all the way up to and including April 2. These included a series of round-trip departures from Keeling, the port for Taipei. Cruises on the 'Sapphire Princess' have been cancelled all the way up to and including Oct 22. These included a whole series of round-trips from Shanghai, and other cruises departing from Singapore, Yokohama and Hong Kong. The 'Sapphire Princess' will redeploy to Australia six months earlier than planned, and 44 new cruises from five major cities will be introduced as new itineraries to replace the cancelled Asia programme. This new year-long programme in Australia will go on sale from Feb 27. All booked guests on cancelled voyages will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, air fares (if booked with Princess), hotel packages, pre-paid shore excursions, along with a future cruise credit. The 'Queen Elizabeth' will no longer cbe alling at Hong Kong on March 31 and Shanghai on April 4, with replacement ports yet to be announced. The 'Queen Mary 2’s voyage from Asia to Australia has been modified with the introduction of the following Australian ports: Darwin on Feb 24-25 and Yorkneys Knob (for Cairns) on Feb 29. After sailing to Airlie Beach, the ship reverts to the original itinerary. Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ 'Columbus' will no longer call at Tianjin (for Beijing) on March 17 or Hong Kong on March 23, which has been replaced by Chan May in Vietnam. Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled the departure of the 'Norwegian Jade' from Singapore on Feb 17. In addition, all sailings in Asia on the 'Norwegian Spirit' have been cancelled from April 15 through to Dec 7. Instead, the newly refurbished ship will set sail on a series of 17-, 20- and 28-day voyages spanning three continents, including departures from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 2; and Cape Town, South Africa on March 22, 2020, before homeporting in Piraeus (for Athens) for the first time on April 19. She will then offer a season of seven-day voyages to the Greek islands, Turkey, and Israel through to November 8. Compensation?Passengers have a choice between cancelling and receiving a full refund, or remaining onboard the affected sailing and getting 50 per cent of their cruise fare credited back. After Holland America Line’s 'Westerdam' was diverted to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, arriving on Feb 13, the next voyage was cancelled. As a further precaution, the line has cancelled two further cruises departing on February 29. These are a 14-day Taiwan & Japan sailing, and a 28-day Taiwan, Japan and South Korea itinerary. Compensation? Guests will receive a full refund, and a future cruise credit for 50 per cent of the cruise fare paid.