A gust of wind pushed TUI’s Mein Schiff 3 into two container ships in Germany. Plus Royal Caribbean’s big quarter and new accessibility features on Disney Cruise Line.
A strong gust of wind turned a routine departure into a cruise-ending crash in Germany this week.
Mein Schiff 3, a TUI Cruises ship, hit two moored container ships, the MSC Victorine and the MSC Anne F, while leaving Bremerhaven on Sunday, Oct. 25, Cruise Hive and Cruise Industry News reported. Tugboats were helping at the time, and Germany’s weather service had warned of gusts up to about 35 mph.
The ship had 2,428 guests and 922 crew members on board. TUI Cruises said no one was hurt, according to its current information.
Here’s a news report on the collision from The Straits Times:
How bad was the Mein Schiff 3 damage?
Bad enough to end the trip. The ship’s lifeboats, the arms that hold them and parts of the hull were damaged, all above the waterline, and it needs time in a shipyard.
The MSC Victorine took the worst of it. Bremen police said the collision tore open several meters of its port side. The MSC Anne F had minor damage.
Germany’s maritime safety office has barred all three ships from sailing for now, and Bremen’s water police are looking into whether the captain met his duty of care, which Cruise Hive notes is standard after an accident like this.
TUI canceled the 20-night Canary Islands cruise, which was headed for Portugal, the Canary Islands, Morocco and Spain before returning Nov. 14. Later sailings are still under review.
“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority,” TUI Cruises said.
Mein Schiff 3 was built in 2014 in Finland. TUI Cruises mostly serves German-speaking travelers, so the ship rarely sails in North America.
How is Royal Caribbean doing?
Very well, by the numbers. Royal Caribbean Group reported third-quarter revenue of $5.6 billion, up 9%, and net income of $1.7 billion on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Its ships sailed at 112% occupancy, which counts guests beyond two per cabin.
The company raised its full-year earnings forecast again and said 2027 bookings are running ahead of normal, at higher prices.
“The underlying business is performing well ahead of our initial expectations,” CEO Jason Liberty said.
The release had one surprise for beach lovers: Royal Caribbean is buying half of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, a deal it expects to close in early 2027.
What’s new for accessibility on Disney Cruise Line?
Disney Cruise Line shared new features for guests with disabilities on Oct. 27. The big one is at the silent disco, where haptic vests now turn the music into vibrations for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. Every ship has them.
Disney also added Braille and tactile guidebooks, with touchable maps of the ships and its islands, available on request at Guest Services. At Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, help may include sand wheelchairs, mobility mats and accessible transportation.
“Now they can feel it,” Maura King, Disney Cruise Line’s accessibility manager, said of deaf guests at the silent disco.
Disney Cruise Line also won Best Cruise Line for families in the Travel Weekly Asia 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, during the Disney Adventure’s first season sailing from Singapore.
What else is happening in cruise news?
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise: Wind and swells canceled the ship’s Oct. 26 stop in Freeport, Bahamas, so it went to Nassau instead. The port authority wouldn’t let it return to Palm Beach on schedule, so the cruise now ends Wednesday, Oct. 28, a day late. The next sailing was shortened, and those guests get a partial refund and a $50 future cruise credit.
Villa Vie Odyssey: The residential cruise ship, formerly Fred. Olsen’s Braemar, is laid up in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Residents were told to leave by Oct. 26 after fuel costs spiked in parts of Asia. CEO Kathy Villalba said the company was “unable to secure the fuel necessary” to keep sailing, and it hopes to restructure within about 60 days.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Cruise Hive (Oct. 26 and 27, 2026), the Mein Schiff 3 collision, Margaritaville at Sea and Villa Vie
Cruise Industry News (Oct. 26 and 27, 2026), the Mein Schiff 3 damage and Villa Vie
Royal Caribbean Group (Oct. 27, 2026), third-quarter results
Disney Cruise Line Blog (Oct. 27, 2026), the accessibility features and family award
The Straits Times on YouTube, the collision video
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