Has Any Major Cruise Ship Sunk?

By Anna Duncan

Cruise ships are a popular way to get away and enjoy the open ocean air. However, cruising can also be dangerous.

Cruise ships have been known to sink due to a variety of factors, such as weather, mechanical failure, and human error. Unfortunately, this has happened in the past and it could happen again in the future.

Most recently, the Costa Concordia was wrecked off the coast of Italy in 2012. The ship ran aground on a reef near Giglio Island after its captain deviated from the planned route.

The disaster resulted in 32 deaths and over 150 injuries. It was one of the worst maritime disasters in recent history.

The sinking of the Titanic is perhaps one of the most famous cruise ship disasters. The Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912. Over 1,500 people lost their lives in this tragedy.

Other notable cruise ship sinkings include:

  • The SS Eastland capsized while docked in Chicago on July 24th 1915 killing 844 passengers.
  • The MS Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine during World War II resulting in 9,400 deaths.
  • The MS Al Salam Boccaccio 98 sank off Egypt’s coast due to bad weather conditions in 2006 killing over 1000 passengers.

Conclusion:

It is clear that major cruise ships have sunk due to various causes over time. While modern ships are equipped with numerous safety measures, accidents can still occur when people are involved. For those considering taking a cruise vacation, it is important to do your research and make sure that you are traveling with a reputable company.