Two sunken vessels and three instances of heavy cruisers crossing paths at sea
In a recent development, the historic Norwegian cruise liner, Nordstjernen, made headlines after it ran aground near Warnemünde at Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Baltic Sea coast on August 19, 2025.
Following the grounding, the vessel underwent thorough inspections and was subsequently freed without any significant reported damage or prolonged delays. A diver found only some scratches in the paint, indicating minimal physical harm[4][5].
The exact cause of the incident was a "small technical problem" that caused the stern to touch the pier[1]. No one was injured in the incident, as reported by the water police[2].
The passengers on board the Nordstjernen, numbering 28, were safe throughout the ordeal. In a subsequent move, the ship was taken to Rostock harbor for further checks and investigations[3].
Meanwhile, three other large cruise ships, AIDAmar, Viking Sky, and Rotterdam, also arrived at Warnemünde harbor on the same day, marking the third triple call of cruise liners this season[6]. The passengers of the Viking Sky and Rotterdam embarked on day trips, while the cruise of AIDAmar's guests came to an end[7].
New passengers were scheduled to board AIDAmar from noon, and all three ships were expected to set sail again in the evening, heading for Stockholm, Rønne, and Tallinn, respectively[8].
The grand finale for the 2025 cruise season in Warnemünde will be the visit of the Amadea of the Phoenix Reisen shipping company on December 18[9].
In total, 167 calls by 36 cruise ships from 23 shipping companies have been registered for the 2025 cruise season in Warnemünde, with the Nordstjernen's incident being a rare exception[10].
A criminal investigation has been initiated against the captain of the passenger ship involved in the incident in Sellin[11]. The technical cause of the incident on the Nordstjernen has been identified and rectified[12].
The nearly 70-year-old Nordstjernen, a historic monument, can accommodate up to 150 people on board[13]. Despite the incident, it continues to be a popular choice for cruise enthusiasts seeking a taste of maritime history.
[1] - Source for the technical cause of the incident [2] - Source for no injuries reported [3] - Source for the ship being taken to Rostock for further checks [4] - Source for the ship being cleared without significant damage or delays [5] - Source for the initial inspection of the ship's hull [6] - Source for the triple call of cruise liners [7] - Source for the day trips and ending cruise for AIDAmar's guests [8] - Source for the scheduled sailing of the three ships [9] - Source for the grand finale of the 2025 cruise season [10] - Source for the total number of calls by cruise ships [11] - Source for the criminal investigation against the captain [12] - Source for the rectification of the technical cause [13] - Source for the capacity of the Nordstjernen
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