Mein Schiff 3 Hits Container Ship in Bremerhaven Winds, Damaging Several Lifeboats
If you are booked on Mein Schiff 3's 20-night sailing, expect that it is likely to be impacted, though no itinerary change or port cancelation has been announced. The first port was to be Porto, Portugal on Thursday, October 29, with a return to Bremerhaven on Saturday, November 14. Watch for TUI Cruises' updates once its damage assessment is confirmed. Contact the cruise line directly about your sailing.
My read is that the wind is the headline, but the lifeboats are the story. German Weather Service gusts of 55 km/h (35 mph) were forecast from 1 p.m., and Mein Schiff 3 still left Columbus Quay at roughly 5:30 p.m. with 2,428 guests and 922 crew. I won't second-guess that call without more facts, and the Bremen Water Police are investigating. The practical problem is that a ship cannot sail without its lifeboats, so my bet is the 20-night itinerary is in trouble. Replacement lifeboats and a seaworthiness check do not happen overnight, and Porto on October 29 looks tight. Nordsee-Zeitung's reported 10-meter hull tear on a container ship is unconfirmed, so I would not lean on it. TUI Cruises has been quiet so far. Cruise Hive also notes Scarlet Lady in Rhodes on September 30, so wind is a recurring theme this autumn. If I were booked, I would hold off on flights and hotels until TUI Cruises confirms the itinerary.