On June 16, 2025, a severe storm struck the popular cruise port of Juneau, Alaska, bringing powerful winds, heavy rain, and hail, creating treacherous conditions for the vessels docked in the harbor.
Cruise ships, including the Celebrity Cruises vessel, the Celebrity Edge, are usually equipped to handle adverse weather conditions, thanks to their skilled crew.
However, the storm’s intensity proved too much for the Celebrity Edge, which broke free from its moorings as the storm ravaged the area.
As it drifted aimlessly through the Port of Juneau’s Gastineau Channel, the Celebrity Edge was on a potential collision course with the nearby Carnival Cruise Line ship, the Carnival Luminosa.
This concerning situation caught the attention of the U.S. Coast Guard, which has since initiated an official investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Celebrity Edge, a 130,818-gross-ton vessel, was docked in Juneau as part of its seven-night Alaska Dawes Glacier itinerary that had commenced in Seattle, Washington, on June 13, 2025.
During the storm, many excited cruisers and visitors witnessed the Celebrity Edge drifting helplessly from its berth, while others captured the chaos on their smartphones and shared the videos on social media platforms.
Witness accounts revealed a tense atmosphere as cruisers watched the ship float away.
With multiple vessels docked nearby, the risk of collision escalated dramatically.
Fortunately, the crew aboard the Carnival Luminosa acted swiftly, maneuvering the vessel out of the drifting Celebrity Edge’s path, thus avoiding a disaster.
Following the incident, the crew of the Celebrity Edge successfully and swiftly re-secured the vessel to the dock, averting potential catastrophe, although several passengers felt they were left uninformed during the ordeal.
One passenger expressed their frustration on Reddit, stating, “The ship broke away from [mooring] and supposedly slammed back into the dock. No communications from Celebrity whatsoever.”
While some guests reported that the cruise line made announcements onboard addressing the situation, a portion of passengers expressed their disappointment that timely updates were not provided through the Celebrity Cruises app.
However, amidst the frustration, many passengers commended the crew’s effectiveness in managing the crisis calmly.
“The crew handled this like a boss. Felt like they got the ship stable pretty quickly and kept everyone onboard pretty chill,” remarked another user on Reddit.
Although the ships narrowly missed a collision, the U.S. Coast Guard took note of the event and has begun looking into the situation more thoroughly.
Later that evening, the Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska took to social media, appealing to the public for any video footage of the incident.
Numerous individuals responded positively, contributing their recordings of the chaotic event.
Lt. Matt Naylor, public affairs officer for the Coast Guard sector, expressed gratitude for all video submissions, stating, “We’re grateful for everybody who has submitted videos to us, and we are especially grateful that this did not end up being anything bigger than it was, with no injuries and no significant damage.”
An update was posted on Facebook that confirmed investigators had received enough video evidence for the time being, stating, “Thank you to everyone for your video submissions. Investigators have what they need for now, and we will put out an additional solicitation if needed.”
As of now, it remains unclear whether the Coast Guard will require more footage or the implications of the ongoing investigation.
In the aftermath of the storm, the Celebrity Edge continued its journey according to schedule, setting sail toward its next destination, Skagway, Alaska, on June 17, 2025.
The vessel is expected to visit Victoria, British Columbia, on June 19, before concluding its itinerary on June 20, 2025.
Following its Alaska deployment, the Celebrity Edge will embark on winter sailings in the South Pacific, heading to Sydney, Australia, around mid-September.
While the storm in Juneau was a prevailing challenge, the swift actions of the crew, combined with the engagement of the local community through video footage, highlight the collaborative effort to ensure safety during marine incidents.
image source from：thetravel
