Key Aspects:
- A harbor pilot fell into the ocean while attempting to board the Emerald Princess in rough seas off Kauai.
- The pilot was quickly rescued by the pilot boat crew, and no injuries were reported.
- The ship cancelled its Kauai call due to hazardous surf conditions and continued to Maui.
A routine harbor transfer turned into an emergency on February 10, 2026, when a harbor pilot attempting to board a Princess Cruises ship fell into the ocean off Kauai.
Passengers aboard the 3,090-guest Emerald Princess said the ship was preparing 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 side.
A “man overboard” call was immediately announced, according to eyewitness accounts shared online.
Witnesses said the pilot had made several attempts to board the ship amid rough seas before losing his footing. One passenger noted the man fell approximately 10 to 20 feet from the ship’s hull rather than directly alongside it.
Crew aboard the pilot boat quickly maneuvered to retrieve him from the water. Video shows the man pulled back onboard the pilot vessel within minutes. He did not appear to be injured.
Shared one passenger, “A member of the pilot boat slipped off the ladder into the sea. Thanks to God for a quick recovery and a well-trained crew he is healthy and fine… I am amazed how well-trained and efficient the Emerald staff handled everything quickly and professionally. Well-done crew.”
Following the incident, the port call in Kauai was cancelled. Instead, the ship continued its itinerary toward Maui, where it was scheduled to call on February 11.
Although there has been no public statement from Princess Cruises at press time regarding the incident, the cruise line typically issues automatic refunds to passengers for prepaid shore excursions when a port call is missed.
High Surf Advisory Was in Effect
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 first port call after several sea days.
The missed call came days after the National Weather Service had issued a high surf advisory on February 8 for east-facing shores of Kauai, warning of hazardous conditions.
The Kauai cruise ship port is based in Nawiliwili Harbor, located on the southeast corner of the island.
According to the advisory, strong trade winds were producing breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet, with surf of 8 to 12 feet expected. The weather advisory was extended through 6 p.m. on February 11.
Rough seas can make pilot transfers particularly dangerous. Boarding requires the small pilot boat to maintain close proximity to a much larger moving vessel while the pilot climbs a rope ladder attached to the ship’s side.
High swells and shifting winds can cause sudden movement between the two vessels. Ahead of the incident, guests onboard shared Emerald Princess had been listing “about 5 degrees” due to the rough surf.
“The weather has been insane here in Hawaii,” said one guest. “Our ship has been listing about 5 degrees for about 20 minutes.”
The vessel has resumed its schedule, calling in Maui on February 11 and continuing to Hilo and Honolulu before making a call in Ensenada, Mexico, ahead of its scheduled return to Los Angeles on February 20.
