A fire broke out shortly after MSC Seashore departed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Sunday.
According to Doug Parker from Cruise News Today, the fire was reported in the emergency generator room on Deck 18.
The fire was quickly put out, and no passengers were harmed. However, a few guests reported smoke and limited power because the ship could only operate on generator power. As a result, the elevators were shut down, and dining rooms were closed.
"I’m on Seashore currently. They said there [was] smoke up top around 2 hours ago. Seems we are floating around right now, not sure though. Elevators are [shut down and] some of the boat smells like smoke," one user posted to Reddit.
Another added, "We [are] currently docked at Ocean Cay. The ship is on generator power, [and] one set of passenger elevators is operational for mobility issues. The galley does not have complete power [and] the dining rooms are closed."
"Internet on board is spotty. Parts were shipped to OC overnight from the Bahamas and they’re flying a part in. The crew is doing an amazing job! Everyone is ok."
MSC Cruises confirmed the fire in a statement issued to Cruise Hive. “On the evening of December 8, a small electrical fire was reported in the emergency generator room on an upper deck of the ship and was swiftly extinguished, with no injuries reported."
“We do not anticipate any changes to the remaining itinerary or upcoming sailings."
The 170,412 gross registered ton vessel arrived at Ocean Cay on December 9 for an overnight stop. After departing the private island, the weeklong cruise is scheduled to call at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Read more: 13 things I loved and hated about MSC Seashore
History of MSC fires
Last year, a fire broke out in MSC Armonia's laundry room as the vessel approached Venice, Italy. Though a Coast Guard patrol boat was deployed with a firefighting team, the ship's crew quickly extinguished the blaze.
Once the 2,620-passenger MSC Armonia arrived in Italy, it was inspected to verify its safety and to assist the crew members who helped put the fire out. MSC Cruises said the likely cause was an electrical fault.
That's not all. In 2021, MSC Lirica caught fire off the coast of Corfu, Greece. A video of the incident shows dark clouds of smoke pouring out of the ship with flames blazing from a lifeboat.
Read more: Bad things that happen on cruise ships
“Today at 3:42 p.m. local time in Corfu where she is currently in warm layup, MSC Lirica reported a fire incident into the MSC Maritime Support Centre in London, UK. The fire originated from one of the ship’s starboard-side fiberglass lifeboats on deck 6," read a statement issued by the cruise line.
"The fire has since been brought under control thanks to the intervention of the ship’s two fire brigades and the support of the local emergency services. The incident operation was declared completed by 6:58 p.m. local time. There were no injuries among the 51 crew who were on board the ship at the time of the incident."
Read more: MSC Cruises ships by age — from newest to oldest
MSC Seashore launched in 2021
The 5,632-passenger ship sails year-round from Florida to the Bahamas and Caribbean. The Seaside EVO Class vessel is an evolution of the game-changing Seaside Class. She boasts brand-new features, venues, and experiences for guests, with 65% of the public areas having been reimagined.
The ship was themed after the Big Apple with nods to the iconic city throughout the vessel, including a 9.5-foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty and an expansive retail and entertainment area named after Times Square. Each of the dining rooms is named after New York City landmarks, boroughs, and neighborhoods such as Central Park, Manhattan, Tribeca, and Fifth Avenue.
She'll remain in Port Canaveral, Florida, through at least November 2026. Her sister ships include MSC Seaside, Seaview, and Seascape. MSC Cruises' newest ship, World America, is coming to Florida in April 2026 and is part of the line's ground-breaking World Class.
Read more: 12 things I loved and hated about my first MSC cruise
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
