Discover the Norwegian-Spirit: Ratings & Maritime News

In a heartbreaking incident, a 30-year-old Taiwanese man, identified by the surname Li, fell overboard from the cruise ship 'Norwegian Spirit' on August 8, 2024, while returning to Keelung. The fall occurred at approximately 11 a.m. from an upper deck, witnessed by a couple and a child who were admiring the sea. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the observant family immediately sought assistance. In response, the cruise ship halted its journey for around 40 minutes, initiating a search and rescue (SAR) operation while notifying the relevant maritime authorities. Sadly, Li's body was recovered shortly after the incident. He had been enjoying a six-day cruise that began at Keelung Port in Taiwan, which included stops in Nagasaki, Japan, and Jeju Island. Following the tragic event, his body was kept in a freezer onboard until the ship reached Keelung Port. Investigators have boarded the Norwegian Spirit to collect evidence and establish the events leading up to the fall, with the inquiry currently ongoing.

Dilek Ertek, a prominent 71-year-old Turkish entrepreneur and owner of Turkey's Tiffany & Co. operations, has been officially declared deceased following a tragic incident on October 26, 2022, when she fell from the Norwegian Spirit into the South Pacific near Tahiti. After extensive search efforts yielded no results, authorities have ceased the search for her body. CCTV footage revealed that Ertek fell from the ship around 3:00 a.m. on that fateful night, yet it was her Swiss boyfriend, aged 74, who was vacationing with her, who only reported her missing nearly 20 hours later. Following the incident, he was kept in isolation by the ship's crew in a separate cabin until the vessel docked at Papeete Port on October 31. Although Tahitian police interrogated him upon arrival, he was released due to insufficient evidence, and reports indicate that he has since returned to Switzerland. Adding to the intrigue, Ertek's son, Gokce Atuk, has claimed that several pieces of valuable jewelry were unaccounted for from her safe within the cabin. The circumstances surrounding her fall have raised suspicions, particularly because Ertek, standing at 5’2” and being a non-drinker, would find it challenging to accidentally tumble over the 3-foot-high balcony guard rail. Concerns regarding the investigation have surfaced, with reports that Tahitian officials did not conduct a thorough search of Ertek's cabin. In light of these factors, her family and legal representatives are pursuing legal action against Norwegian Cruise Line, the operator of the ship. Ertek had boarded the Norwegian Spirit on October 24 in Papeete and was looking forward to celebrating her birthday on November 5 in Bora Bora, with her voyage concluding in Honolulu.

In response to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, Princess Cruise Line has announced the cancellation of five voyages for the Diamond Princess, which has been docked in Yokohama—Tokyo's primary port—for over two weeks. This decision arises from the ship's extended quarantine period and the time required for the vessel to return to service. The Diamond Princess was initially scheduled to resume operations on April 29, coinciding with the beginning of Japan’s Golden Week celebrations. Additionally, the Majestic Princess will see its sailings from Keeling, the port serving Taipei, cancelled up until April 2, further impacting the line's schedule in the region. Similarly, the Sapphire Princess has had its departures scrapped through October 22, which includes a series of round-trip journeys from Shanghai, as well as routes from Singapore, Yokohama, and Hong Kong. As part of its restructuring, the Sapphire Princess is set to redeploy to Australia six months ahead of schedule, featuring 44 new cruises across five major cities. The new Australian itinerary will be available for booking starting February 27. Guests whose voyages have been cancelled will be fully refunded for their cruise fare, airfare arranged through Princess, hotel packages, pre-paid shore excursions, and will also receive a future cruise credit. The renowned Queen Elizabeth will not be stopping in Hong Kong on March 31 or Shanghai on April 4, with alternative ports yet to be disclosed. The Queen Mary 2's planned route from Asia to Australia has been adjusted, now including visits to Darwin on February 24-25 and Yorkeys Knob (Cairns) on February 29, before reverting to its original sailing schedule. Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Columbus will omit its March 17 stop at Tianjin (Beijing) and its March 23 call at Hong Kong, instead visiting Chan May in Vietnam. Another significant change comes from Norwegian Cruise Line, which has cancelled the Norwegian Jade’s departure from Singapore on February 17 and suspended all sailings of the Norwegian Spirit in Asia from April 15 to December 7. Instead, the refurbished vessel will embark on a variety of 17-, 20-, and 28-day voyages across three continents, launching from Dubai on March 2 and Cape Town on March 22, before making its inaugural homeport in Piraeus (Athens) on April 19. This ship's Greek itinerary will continue through November 8. Passengers have the option to cancel for a full refund or maintain their booking and receive a 50% credit of their cruise fare. Following Holland America Line's diversion of the Westerdam to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on February 13, subsequent voyages have been cancelled, including a 14-day Taiwan & Japan cruise and a 28-day excursion, with refunds and future cruise credits being provided to affected guests.