Cruise nightmare: Fire on the MSC Orchestra causes chaos!

Cruise nightmare: Fire on the MSC Orchestra causes chaos!

On the night of Tuesday, June 3, 2025, a serious incident occurred on board the MSC Orchestra during a cruise from Rome to Genoa. A fire broke out on the ship, causing a power outage and bringing the ship to a standstill. Numerous travelers, including many from Bavaria, found themselves in a tense situation when loudspeaker announcements informed them that the ship was in a safe position. Despite the critical circumstances, a passenger was able to document the firefighting work on the deck, although visibility was severely limited by weak emergency lighting.

The ship was drifting about 200 kilometers off Genoa when the alarm was triggered. The fire and smoke were quickly contained thanks to the ship's quick response and safety systems. Although electricity and water were out for one to two hours and the elevators did not work, there were no injuries. MSC Cruises confirmed an electrical fault in the main electrical panel was the cause of the smoke, but this did not impact guest areas. After the fire was extinguished, the deck was under water.

Consequences for cruise guests

The MSC Orchestra became seaworthy again and set course for Genoa, where an inspection and necessary repairs are to take place. Due to this incident, embarkations in Genoa and Marseille had to be canceled, causing inconvenience for the affected guests. MSC Cruises promises to provide support and ensure refunds for guests affected by the changes. Arrival in Genoa is now expected between 7pm and 8pm, instead of 10am as originally planned.

This fire on board is not the first incident that has put the MSC Orchestra in the headlines. Various security-related events have been recorded in the past. On January 9, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in which a passenger died due to illness while the ship was underway on a corporate charter cruise. Another serious event occurred on March 25, 2022, when a crew member was found dead with serious injuries, leading to a police investigation.

Chronology of incidents with the MSC Orchestra

• 09. Januar 2024: Ein passagier starb während einer Kreuzfahrt aufgrund einer Erkrankung.
• 25. März 2022: Eine Crewmitglied wurde tot aufgefunden, was zu einer Untersuchung führte.
• 20. Februar 2019: MSC Orchestra kollidierte mit MSC Poesia, ohne nennenswerte Schäden oder Verletzungen.
• 31. Dezember 2019: Ein Passagier sprang über Bord, wurde aber nach einer Stunde im Wasser gerettet.

Authorities and MSC Cruises continue to work to address the incident and ensure the well-being of all travelers. Guest safety remains the highest priority.