At a Glance
- A burst water pipe flooded multiple staterooms on MSC Seaview on January 12
- Passengers awoke to ankle-deep water after a “fire” alert at 7:30 a.m.
- MSC offered cabin upgrades, full refunds, and up to $150 onboard credits
- Why it matters: The incident disrupted vacations for thousands aboard the 5,079-passenger ship
Cruise passengers aboard MSC Seavect were jolted awake Monday, January 12, when a burst water line sent gallons of water surging into guest cabins and corridors off Brazil’s eastern coast.
“Fire” Alert Turns Into Flooding Nightmare
Marcelo Andrade Bezerra Barros, 50, told Brazilian outlet UOL that a cabin steward pounded on his tenth-deck door yelling “fire, fire” around 7:30 a.m. local time. Moments later water began rushing under the door, prompting fears the ship was sinking.
Video aired by UOL shows travelers scooping up belongings as water climbs past ankles and spills into hallways. Crew members wield blue shop-vacs while barefoot or sandal-clad passengers slosh through the flood.
MSC Cruises Responds
A company spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles that a “fault was detected in a water line” that “resulted in water entering a number of guest cabins and the public corridor.”
Key points from MSC’s statement:
- The break was “quickly isolated and resolved” by onboard technical teams
- Every affected cabin was deep-cleaned
- Guests were assured “there was no risk to guest safety”
- Compensation packages matched the level of disruption
Affected travelers were moved to common areas while crew worked to clear the water.
Compensation Offers
MSC says it tailored remedies to each party’s situation:
| Compensation | Details |
|---|---|
| Cabin upgrades | Provided when alternative rooms were available |
| Full refunds | Issued for heavily impacted bookings |
| Onboard credit | Up to $150 for incidental expenses |
The line did not specify how many of the 2,026 staterooms were soaked, only that “a number” were hit.
Ship and Itinerary
The MSC Seaview-launched in 2018 and capable of hosting 5,079 guests-was on a South American itinerary sailing along Brazil’s eastern shoreline, according to CruiseMapper data.
Past Flooding Incidents
This is at least the second high-profile flooding event in recent cruise history:
- 2018: Carnival Dream saw 50 cabins swamped after a fire-suppression line ruptured, ABC News reported
Company Apology
“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused to our guests as a result of a leak on the ship,” MSC’s statement concluded.
Key Takeaways
- A broken water pipe, not fire, triggered the January 12 flooding on MSC Seaview
- Rapid crew response contained damage and reassured passengers
- Multiple compensation tiers are being offered, with credits up to $150
