large wave hit cruise ship in Med

Louis Cruises reported two passengers died when the Louis Majesty was struck by "abnormal waves" while sailing in the Mediterranean on Wednesday.

Louis Cruises identified the passengers only as a German and an Italian national. Another 14 passengers suffered minor injuries.

"Louis Cruises regrets to announce that its ... Louis Majesty while sailing from Barcelona to Genoa [Italy] was hit by abnormal waves," the cruise line said. "As a result, the windows in a public area on Deck 5 on the forward part of the vessel smashed, resulting to the fatal injury of two passengers."

According to an Associated Press report, Greek and Cypriot officials said the ship was hit by 26-foot waves.


The 40,876-gross-ton ship, the former Norwegian Majesty, was carrying 1,350 passengers and 580 crew. The ship was headed back to Barcelona following the incident.

The ship was on a 12-day cruise and was due to return to Genoa on March 4.


This is a very unfortunate incident. Having been in the Navy, I can atest to the fact that the Med is NOT calm seas all the time. In 2000 a cruise ship from Civitecchia (Rome) to Barcelona encountered a storm with about 15 foot waves on teh second to last evening. Around Midnight the ship was broadsided by a "Rouge wave" that was estimated to be around 70 feet high. There were 10 cabins windows broken, 8 on deck 5on 2 on deck 6. There was no loss of life, however 30 passengers that received non-life threatening medical treatment.