May 19, 2025 — Mediterranean Sea
In a dramatic turn of events, the Marella Explorer, one of Marella Cruises’ flagship vessels, was forced to make an emergency docking in Palermo, Sicily late Sunday night after suffering a major engine failure — followed by what passengers described as “intense smoke and fire alarms.”
The cruise, which had departed from Palma de Mallorca and was en route to Dubrovnik, came to a standstill in the Tyrrhenian Sea after what crew members initially reported as a “technical malfunction.” Minutes later, panic spread as thick smoke filled portions of the lower decks and emergency alarms sounded across the ship.
Passengers Report Chaos
Several passengers took to social media to post live videos and frantic updates, with some claiming they were told to grab life jackets and assemble near lifeboats. “There was smoke, the crew was yelling, and people were crying,” said Helen Carter, a UK tourist celebrating her anniversary onboard.
While the cruise line has since confirmed that no serious injuries occurred, at least four individuals were treated for smoke inhalation, and one crew member was hospitalized for exhaustion.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the engine failure and smoke is currently under investigation, but early reports suggest it may be linked to overheating in the vessel’s aft engine room. Fire suppression systems were deployed and functioned as intended, according to the crew.