MSC Seaside Drifts From Ocean Cay Pier After Mooring Lines Snap

MSC Seaside briefly shifted away from the pier at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas on Feb. 5, 2026, after strong wind gusts strained and snapped some of the ship’s mooring lines, forcing a temporary pause in gangway operations while guests were still on the island.

MSC Cruises said the crew responded quickly, no injuries or damage were reported, and the ship later departed on schedule.

What happened during the Ocean Cay breakaway

MSC Cruises said unexpected gusts intensified during the afternoon, and MSC Seaside moved sharply off the pier after mooring-line failures near the bow. Video shared on social media showed broken lines near the front of the ship, while the vessel remained connected at the aft and did not fully separate from the pier.

With the ship no longer held in a stable position alongside, it was not safe to keep the gangways in use. Guests on Ocean Cay were temporarily unable to reboard until the ship could be brought back into a secure docking alignment.

How MSC Seaside was secured again

MSC Cruises said the crew used the ship’s thrusters to help reposition MSC Seaside back alongside the pier and restore a safe alignment for reopening the gangways. Once the vessel was stabilized, guests reboarded and the call concluded without delaying the ship’s departure.

Winds reached 37 mph as conditions deteriorated

Conditions at Ocean Cay changed significantly over the course of the day, with winds relatively light earlier before gusts increased later. Gusts peaked at 37 mph at 3:43 p.m., according to the report, a level that can place heavy load on mooring lines and docking equipment.

MSC Cruises cited the escalating gusts as the key factor in the mooring-line failure and the ship’s brief drift away from the pier.

Ocean Cay and short Bahamas itineraries

MSC Seaside is a 153,516-gross-ton cruise ship that sails year-round from Miami and can carry up to 5,119 guests at full capacity. Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is MSC Cruises’ private destination in the Bahamas and is designed to handle large passenger volumes and ship calls, though docking operations remain dependent on wind, sea state, and the ability to maintain safe gangway conditions.

Storm-driven disruptions spread across private-island calls

The Ocean Cay incident unfolded during a period of severe winter weather affecting the Bahamas and surrounding waters, disrupting operations at multiple private destinations and prompting itinerary changes and missed calls.

• MSC Meraviglia missed a scheduled Ocean Cay call on Feb. 1 due to storm conditions, one of several weather-related changes reported during the same pattern.
• Norwegian Cruise Line shifted Great Stirrup Cay calls to tender operations after storm damage left the pier and the island’s main pool unavailable, according to a guest notice dated Feb. 2.
• Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay faced pier-area impacts from harsh weather, including damage to catwalks near the pier and resulting schedule modifications, with some visits canceled.
• Disney Wish canceled a visit to Castaway Cay during the same stormy weekend, reflecting broader impacts to private-island itineraries during the period.

While ships may still maintain overall sailing schedules, operators have emphasized that individual calls can be altered when wind and waves make docking, tendering, or gangway use unsafe.

Norwegian closes parts of Great Stirrup Cay after a bomb cyclone

Norwegian Cruise Line said storm damage temporarily closed key facilities at Great Stirrup Cay, including the pier and main pool, both of which had recently opened as part of an upgrade project. In the Feb. 2, 2026 notice, Norwegian said ships including Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Joy would use tender operations to bring guests ashore rather than docking at the pier.

Norwegian told guests that other island offerings remained available, including beaches, food outlets, and shore activities. “We want to assure you that even with these temporary adjustments, Great Stirrup Cay continues to offer a welcoming escape,” the company said. Norwegian anticipated completing repairs to the pier and pool within the week, though it did not provide an exact timeline.

Perfect Day at CocoCay cancellations and pier-area repairs

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay also faced harsh-weather impacts, with high winds and strong seas damaging infrastructure, including catwalks near the pier, and forcing modifications to ship schedules. Among the vessels affected were Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Reflection, which had planned visits that were canceled.

Royal Caribbean said repairs to the pier were underway and the company coordinated alternative activities for affected guests.

Weather disruptions extend to major U.S. cruise ports

Beyond private islands, the same weather system contributed to complications at several U.S. ports, including PortMiami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, and Charleston. Ports reported delays, closures, or restricted harbor operations, while rough seas and gale-force winds drove itinerary changes for some cruises departing from Florida and South Carolina.

Cruise operators including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian, and MSC have pointed to passenger safety as the priority during the turbulent conditions, even when that requires last-minute changes to island calls, docking procedures, or ship schedules.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Did MSC Seaside completely break away from the pier at Ocean Cay?

No. MSC Seaside drifted sharply away after mooring-line failures near the bow, but it remained connected at the aft and did not fully separate from the pier.

What caused the MSC Seaside mooring lines to break at Ocean Cay?

MSC Cruises attributed the incident to strong, escalating wind gusts that put heavy strain on the ship’s moorings. Gusts were reported to have peaked at 37 mph at 3:43 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2026.

How did MSC Seaside return to a safe position for reboarding?

MSC Cruises said the crew acted quickly and used the ship’s thrusters to help reposition MSC Seaside back alongside the pier, allowing gangway operations to safely resume and guests to reboard before the ship departed on schedule.

What caused the pier and pool closures at Great Stirrup Cay?

Norwegian Cruise Line said storm damage from a bomb cyclone left the pier and the main pool unavailable at Great Stirrup Cay, according to a notice dated Feb. 2, 2026. Norwegian said it expected repairs could be completed within the week, without giving an exact timeline.

How did Norwegian Cruise Line accommodate guests at Great Stirrup Cay while the pier was unavailable?

Norwegian said it shifted to tender operations to transport passengers ashore, including guests sailing on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Joy. The cruise line also told guests that other amenities, including beaches, food outlets, and shore activities, remained operational.