Cruise ships have become floating cities, and they can wreak havoc on smaller vessels if they get too close.
This doesn't occur all that often, but when it does the consequences can be severe. There are, however, rules designed to keep this from happening.
Related: Royal Caribbean passenger makes $1,300 mistake
"The 'no entry' zone is 100 yards around any moving cruise ship," a post on the Hull Truth says. "Within 500 yards you must operate at no more than the speed necessary to maintain safe steerage.
"The same applies to naval vessels, unless there's something special about the particular area (or vessel) in question. If you intend to invade the outer circle it is best to contact the vessel via VHF, and you MUST obtain clearance to invade the inner circle."
Things can go wrong and that appears to have been the case in an incident that occurred involving two Royal Caribbean ships.
Cruise News Today's Doug Parker has that story and more in the Jan. 7 edition of his YouTube show.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Cruise ship rescues people it put in danger
Transcript:
This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning, here's your cruise news for Tuesday, January 7.
Two people and their dog were rescued in Tampa Bay after a cruise ship's wake sank their small boat over the weekend.
The pair clung to a buoy near Gadsden Point as first responders and Tampa Bay Harbor pilots coordinated their rescue.
The incident occurred as Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas were departing Port Tampa Bay. Guests on one ship spotted the stranded boaters and alerted the crew.
A man-overboard team and the Coast Guard were mobilized, locating the victims just after 6 p.m. Both individuals were treated for injuries and are expected to recover.
Officials are warning boaters of the dangers of cruise-ship wakes, which can obviously capsize vessels. And more propulsion issues.
Carnival cruise ship delayed; More ship gastro outbreaks
[Carnival Conquest's return] to Port Miami was delayed on Monday due to speed issues, keeping the ship docked in Miami until just after 8 o'clock last night. Now, guests on board were told on Sunday night that the ship would dock three hours late on Monday, delaying debark and impacting some guests' flight plans.
Conquest is now skipping Princess Cay and swapping it out for Freeport instead, so enjoy that.
Similar propulsion issues have recently affected other Carnival ships, including the Carnival Liberty and Carnival Vista. Conquest operates year-round short cruises from Port Miami.
And two cruise ships, Holland America Line's Eurodam and Oceania Cruises' Nautica have reported gastrointestinal outbreaks early in the new year.
According to the CDC, the Eurodam, carrying 2,900 passengers and crew, saw 86 passengers, or 4%, and eight crew members contract norovirus during its southern Caribbean voyage. The ship is returning to Port Everglades tomorrow and has implemented isolation and deep cleaning.
The Nautica, with just over 1,000 people on board, reported 15 passengers and 16 crew experiencing similar symptoms.
Both ships are following protocols to prevent further spread of the virus.
Lead on a story? Let us know. Tips@cruiseradio.net. Have yourself a great chilly Tuesday.
I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
