Passenger Medevac (Emergency Medical Evacuation) and Itinerary Disruption (Adverse Weather) on Ovation Of The Seas: Incident on 25 November 2023

On 25 November 2023, the cruise ship Ovation Of The Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International, faced an urgent medical emergency shortly after departing Sydney, NSW. The vessel was forced to return to its homeport for the emergency medical evacuation of a male passenger, triggering a cascade of itinerary changes that significantly disrupted the planned 10-day New Zealand cruise for all passengers onboard.

Following the medevac and return to Sydney, the ship proceeded directly to Wellington, where adverse weather conditions with winds of 40–50 knots prevented safe docking. The vessel subsequently cancelled its Wellington call and rerouted through Cook Strait to Napier, resulting in the cancellation of multiple scheduled port calls including Port Chalmers/Dunedin and Picton.

The medical emergency involved a male passenger requiring urgent medical attention. In response, the master made the decision to return to Sydney for the passenger's immediate disembarkation and transfer to medical care ashore. This deviation from the planned itinerary necessitated the cancellation of the scheduled stop at Port Chalmers/Dunedin, with the vessel proceeding directly to Wellington instead. Upon arrival at Wellington, the ship encountered severe weather conditions with strong winds between 40–50 knots (21–26 m/s), making safe harbour entry and docking impossible. As a result, the Wellington call was cancelled and the vessel rerouted through Cook Strait towards Napier, leading to further alterations to the planned port schedule.

Fatalities

• None reported.

Injuries

• None reported.

Rescued

• One male passenger evacuated for emergency medical care; all other passengers and crew remained onboard.

Upon notification of the medical emergency, the master initiated an immediate return to Sydney. The passenger was safely disembarked and transferred to medical care ashore. Following the medevac, the vessel proceeded to Wellington but was unable to enter the harbour due to severe weather conditions. The ship's command team made the decision to reroute through Cook Strait to Napier, avoiding the dangerous weather system and ensuring passenger and crew safety.

The Ovation Of The Seas continued its voyage with a revised itinerary following the cancellation of Port Chalmers/Dunedin, Wellington, and Picton port calls. Passengers were notified of the itinerary changes and the reasons for the alterations. Royal Caribbean International managed the disruption and worked to accommodate passengers affected by the schedule modifications.