Earthquakes Cause Cruise Concerns In Caribbean & Eastern Mediterranean

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A series of earthquakes has caused concern for cruise passengers, with one popular island destination removed from itineraries for now due to the ongoing disturbances.

Cayman and Santorini earthquakes

The Caribbean was rocked on the evening of Saturday 8th February 2025, when a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck near the Cayman Islands, triggering multiple tsunami warnings across the region.

The quake, which occurred around 130 miles southwest of the Caymans, prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to issue advisories for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands.

Tsunami surges of up to 10 feet were anticipated for Cuba, with smaller waves of 1 to 3 feet expected around the Cayman Islands.

Fortunately, by 8:25 p.m. EST, the NOAA lifted the warnings for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but the threat remained for the Caymans and Cuba for a little while longer.

Ultimately, the warnings were lifted everywhere, but not before they had caused widespread concern amongst the cruise community.

Several cruise ships, including Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit, were in the vicinity of the earthquake when it occurred.

Celebrity Summit, which was in George Town, Grand Cayman at the time, remained in port due to the tsunami advisories, with no immediate departure scheduled.

Other vessels, like Costa Cruises’ Costa Fascinosa and Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, were also sailing near the quake zone.

Passengers reported some rocking, but no major disruptions were noted, with vessels at sea generally safe from the quake’s direct impact.

The most significant risk posed by such earthquakes comes from potential tsunamis, which can cause dangerous coastal flooding and structural damage to ports.

However, cruise ships are designed to withstand seismic waves and are typically unaffected by quakes that occur beneath the ocean floor.

Greek island Santorini struck by multiple quakes

While the Caribbean begins to assess the effects of this seismic event, the volcanic island of Santorini in Greece is facing its own seismic challenges, as a series of earthquakes has rattled the region, leading to cancelled port calls by Viking Ocean Cruises.

Since 31st January, Santorini has experienced an unusual series of quakes, including a strong 5.3-magnitude tremor on 10th February, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency.

The ongoing seismic activity, which has seen tremors ranging from 3.0 to 5.0 magnitudes, has caused concern about the potential for a larger, more destructive quake.

Thousands of residents and visitors have left the island, and the local government has closed schools and ordered evacuation drills at the island’s hospital. The situation has led Viking Cruises to cancel scheduled port calls for its 930-guest Viking Star.

The Viking Star, currently on a 10-night Greek Odyssey cruise, was originally scheduled to call at Santorini on 10th February. Instead, the ship will visit Chania, Crete.

The ship’s upcoming 14-night Cities of Antiquity cruise, which departs on 13th February, will also skip Santorini, with Crete taking its place once again.

Although other cruise calls to Santorini later in the year may proceed as planned – the island is due to be a mainstay of many Mediterranean itineraries during the summer – the current seismic situation makes the future of all upcoming visits to the island uncertain.

This disruption comes as Santorini and other popular Greek islands, such as Mykonos, are dealing with the additional challenge of new cruise passenger fees, introduced to combat the effects of over-tourism.

The newly implemented head tax of 20 euros per passenger in Santorini is expected to fund infrastructure improvements, as the island struggles to cope with the sheer volume of visitors, including over 1.3 million cruise passengers in 2023.

As the volcanic activity continues on Santorini and the aftermath of the Caribbean earthquake unfolds, cruise lines, passengers, and local authorities alike are closely monitoring the situation.

While the earthquake threat in the Caribbean seems to have subsided for now, the ongoing seismic activity near Santorini remains a cause for concern.

For travellers planning to visit these stunning destinations, staying updated with the latest cruise news and port advisories is essential to ensuring safe and smooth travel experiences.

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