A Virgin Voyages Ship Slipped Its Moorings in Rhodes

On the evening of September 30, Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady was tied up at the Port of Rhodes in Greece when strong waves and heavy swells began tugging at the 110,000-ton ship. Between roughly 8:15 and 9:15 p.m., its mooring lines snapped, and the vessel drifted away from the quay.

As it moved, the ship made contact with a catamaran and two other small boats. Tugboats were put on standby, but they were not needed: Scarlet Lady was able to move back into its mooring position under its own power. No injuries were reported among guests or crew, and local accounts indicated no immediate damage to the cruise ship or to the smaller vessels.

The ship had been in Rhodes longer than planned. Severe weather had closed ports elsewhere on the route, so the stop was extended and the ship stayed overnight rather than leaving at the originally scheduled 6 p.m. departure. That overnight berth is what put it alongside the quay when the swell built.

Scarlet Lady carried on with its revised itinerary, calling at Chania on October 2 before heading to Santorini. Broken mooring lines in bad weather are uncommon but have affected several cruise lines in recent years, and for passengers the practical lesson is simple: in a stormy shoulder season, Mediterranean itineraries can shift quickly, so check your cruise line’s app before each port day.

Sources: Cruise Hive, Cruise Hive (related coverage)