The Celebrity Equinox experienced a dramatic incident on Saturday, December 20, 2025, as it drifted away from its dock in Buenos Aires during embarkation for a scheduled 14-night cruise. The unusual circumstance delayed boarding for guests by about 2-3 hours.
As the ship was preparing for departure, sudden gusts of wind reaching up to 37 miles per hour caused the vessel’s mooring lines to break. This led to the cruise ship rubbing against a refueling tanker before colliding with a nearby pier. Guests reported seeing the embarkation gangway drop into the water but still attached to the ship.
“The gangway went off the pier and was hanging against the ship partially submerged. Crazy situation,” one passenger recounted. Fortunately, tugboats were promptly dispatched to assist in re-securing the ship.
No injuries were reported among guests, crew, or port personnel during this incident. After fastening the Celebrity Equinox back at the pier, the crew was able to set up a new gangway, allowing guests to board and continue their journey.
Due to the delay, the Celebrity Equinox remained docked overnight and finally departed before 11 a.m. local time on Sunday. Guests noted that the first stop in Montevideo, Uruguay might also be affected but not canceled, as the two cities are closely situated across the Rio de la Plata estuary.
The ship is scheduled to return to Buenos Aires on January 3, 2026, after an itinerary that includes visits to several notable locations such as the Falkland Islands and Cape Horn. Remarkably, the ship’s crew remains vigilant regarding safety during sailings, especially in adverse weather conditions to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
Incidents involving mooring line breakage, while infrequent, do happen, particularly in windy conditions. A few notable cases from recent years included MSC Seascape in the Bahamas and Queen Mary 2 in Civitavecchia, where windy weather caused similar situations but fortunately without injuries.
With continued monitoring and improved safety measures, cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises aim to ensure a secure experience for travelers, turning this rocky start into a unique and memorable adventure for all aboard.