Carnival Cruise Line’s newest flagship, Carnival Jubilee, had an unexpected start to its latest voyage when a small boat accidentally collided with the ship while it was still docked in Galveston, Texas on 1st March 2025.
The 7-night Western Caribbean cruise had only just begun when the smaller vessel sailed directly into the side of the 182,800-gross-ton cruise ship, leaving a visible scratch near her bow.
Eyewitnesses captured the aftermath of the incident on video, with one person questioning how the boat failed to avoid the massive cruise ship.
“Honestly though, how do you hit that?” asked one onlooker, while another added, “He went straight into it…I think he curved, and then went straight into it.”
Weather conditions at the time were reported to be clear and calm, ruling out strong winds or rough seas as a cause.
Instead, a mechanical failure or human error aboard the smaller vessel is likely to have played a role.
After the collision, the boat’s mast briefly became lodged under Carnival Jubilee’s bow, requiring assistance from a local pilot boat to free it.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and the smaller vessel remained afloat after the incident.
Cruise itinerary unaffected
Despite the unexpected encounter, Carnival Jubilee departed on schedule at approximately 4 pm CST en route to Roatan in the Honduras.
Her itinerary also includes Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and there are no expected disruptions to the voyage.
Cruise Director Kyndall “Fire” Magyar, who is on her final sailing before a break, confirmed via social media that everything onboard is running as usual, with guests enjoying the sailaway party without any interruptions.
While cruise ship accidents are rare, this is not the first time a small boat has collided with a much larger vessel.
In December 2024, a yacht crashed into Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas while it was docked in Nassau, Bahamas.
According to reports, the yacht lost power and drifted into the ship’s stern, sustaining a broken mast while the mega-ship remained undamaged.
Fortunately, the Carnival Jubilee incident appears to have resulted in only minor cosmetic damage, allowing guests to continue enjoying their holiday at sea without concern.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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