Rough Seas Disrupt Kauai Cruise Arrival After Harbor Pilot Falls Overboard

Key Points:

A harbor pilot fell into the ocean whereas trying to board the Emerald Princess in tough seas off Kauai.
The pilot was rapidly rescued by the pilot boat crew, and no accidents have been reported.
The ship cancelled its Kauai name attributable to hazardous surf circumstances and continued to Maui.

A routine harbor switch was an emergency on February 10, 2026, when a harbor pilot trying to board a Princess Cruises ship fell into the ocean off Kauai.

Passengers aboard the three,090-guest Emerald Princess stated the ship was making ready to enter port when a harbor pilot, climbing a rope ladder from a pilot boat alongside the vessel, slipped and fell into the water on the port facet.

A “man overboard” name was instantly introduced, in accordance with eyewitness accounts shared on-line.

Witnesses stated the pilot had made a number of makes an attempt to board the ship amid tough seas earlier than shedding his footing. One passenger famous the person fell roughly 10 to twenty toes from the ship’s hull moderately than instantly alongside it.

Crew aboard the pilot boat rapidly maneuvered to retrieve him from the water. Video exhibits the person pulled again onboard the pilot vessel inside minutes. He didn’t seem like injured.

Shared one passenger, “A member of the pilot boat slipped off the ladder into the ocean. Because of God for a fast restoration and a well-trained crew he’s wholesome and high quality… I’m amazed how well-trained and environment friendly the Emerald workers dealt with all the things rapidly and professionally. Properly-done crew.”

Following the incident, the port name in Kauai was cancelled. As a substitute, the ship continued its itinerary towards Maui, the place it was scheduled to name on February 11.

Though there was no public assertion from Princess Cruises at press time relating to the incident, the cruise line usually points automated refunds to passengers for pay as you go shore excursions when a port name is missed.

Excessive Surf Advisory Was in Impact

The 113,561-gross-ton Emerald Princess departed Los Angeles on February 4, 2026, on a 16-night Hawaii itinerary, with Kauai scheduled to be the primary port name after a number of sea days.

The missed name got here days after the National Weather Service had issued a excessive surf advisory on February 8 for east-facing shores of Kauai, warning of hazardous circumstances.

Princess Cruises Pilot (Picture Credit score: Tales In Mild / Shutterstock)

The Kauai cruise ship port is predicated in Nawiliwili Harbor, positioned on the southeast nook of the island.

In response to the advisory, robust commerce winds have been producing breaking waves of seven to 10 toes, with surf of 8 to 12 toes anticipated. The climate advisory was prolonged by means of 6 p.m. on February 11.

Tough seas could make pilot transfers notably harmful. Boarding requires the small pilot boat to keep up shut proximity to a a lot bigger transferring vessel whereas the pilot climbs a rope ladder hooked up to the ship’s facet.

Excessive swells and shifting winds may cause sudden motion between the 2 vessels. Forward of the incident, friends onboard shared Emerald Princess had been itemizing “about 5 levels” because of the tough surf.

“The climate has been insane right here in Hawaii,” stated one visitor. “Our ship has been itemizing about 5 levels for about 20 minutes.”

The vessel has resumed its schedule, calling in Maui on February 11 and persevering with to Hilo and Honolulu earlier than making a name in Ensenada, Mexico, forward of its scheduled return to Los Angeles on February 20.