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Incident Summary
A medical evacuation was conducted from Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship Icon of the Seas while the vessel was navigating Dominican Republic territorial waters near Puerto Plata during an Eastern Caribbean passage. The ship’s medical team requested assistance in the early hours of Monday, 2 February 2026 after two passengers developed serious pulmonary symptoms. An interceptor craft transferred the two passengers, accompanied by a relative, to a shore-based medical facility. The vessel then continued its voyage towards St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Vessel Information
- Vessel Name: Icon of the Seas
- Vessel Type: Cruise ship
- Operator/Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International
- Flag State: Not specified
- Passengers on Board: Not specified
- Crew on Board: Not specified
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred during an Eastern Caribbean passage while Icon of the Seas was navigating Dominican Republic territorial waters near Puerto Plata en route to St Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In the early hours of Monday, 2 February 2026, the ship’s medical team requested assistance after two passengers developed serious pulmonary symptoms.
An interceptor craft was deployed in coordination with the Dominican Republic Navy and national emergency services to transfer the two passengers. The passengers were accompanied by a relative and were taken ashore to a nearby medical facility for evaluation and treatment. The ship continued on its course following completion of the evacuation.
Injuries and Casualties
- Fatalities: None reported
- Injuries: Two passengers reported with serious pulmonary symptoms
- Passengers Affected: Two passengers; accompanied by a relative during transfer
Emergency Response
- An interceptor craft was deployed in coordination with the Dominican Republic Navy and national emergency services to conduct the transfer from the vessel.
- The two passengers were transferred to a shore-based medical facility for further evaluation and treatment.
- Not specified
Maritime Investigation
Not specified
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA): Not specified
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB): Not specified
- Police/coroner involvement: Not specified
Operator Response
Not specified
Conclusion
The medical evacuation was completed near Puerto Plata, with the two passengers taken ashore for medical care and later reported as discharged after improvement. Icon of the Seas continued its scheduled voyage towards St Thomas following the transfer.