Cruise Ship Fire on the Icon of the Seas: How Quick Thinking and Training Prevented a Major Disaster

Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter to stay updated on the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay, and other travel developments. This week, a small fire occurred on board the world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, as it was berthed in a port in Mexico. The fire was quickly extinguished, and there were no injuries reported. The ship’s impact was minimal according to a spokesperson from Royal Caribbean.

The Icon of the Seas is nearly 1,200 feet long and 250,800 gross tons. It briefly lost power but back-up power was activated immediately. All crew members are trained to handle such situations and they were able to control the blaze effectively. Passengers were alerted through on-board announcements and most reported only minor disruptions to their day. Social media users on an Icon of the Seas Facebook group mentioned that things quickly returned to normal after the fire was put out.

Despite this incident, the ship’s itinerary has not been impacted. In March, a fire broke out on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship highlighting that minor fires are not uncommon on cruise ships but are usually managed swiftly and with minimal disruption to passengers. For more CNN news and newsletters sign up for an account at CNN.com