Key Aspects:
- Intense winds interrupted a performance by DJ Alok onboard MSC Preziosa.
- The ship also briefly tilted in the storm, which was scary for some guests.
- The cruise ship was quickly righted, and no significant damage or injuries were reported.
DJ Alok’s New Year’s Show onboard MSC Preziosa blew guests away, but not for the reasons that passengers were expecting.
The famous Brazilian DJ was performing a live show on the ship’s upper decks in the early morning hours of January 2, 2026, when the 139,072-gross ton vessel encountered strong winds.
The winds became so bad that the ship’s security team halted DJ Alok’s performance and asked guests to go inside and leave the open decks, which is the standard safety protocol in these types of conditions.
One of the approximately 5,000 guests onboard, Influencer Francisco Garcia, captured footage of crew members and guests struggling against the gusts to rush inside.
It was a tense situation, with security yelling to be heard over the gusts and objects flying.
“It was us running everywhere, and security getting the people out and yelling ‘let’s go, get down, get down, get down’ and things flying,” Garcia narrated.
Intense winds can cause doors to slam, deck furniture to move unpredictably, and create wind tunnels, which could result in injury to a guest who is at the wrong place at the wrong time.
In really extreme situations, as this appeared to be, strong gusts could also increase the risk of accidental overboards.
Panic Ensues as Cruise Ship Tilts
The wind on its own can be scary for guests, but passengers like Garcia also report that the ship began to tilt due to the heavy gusts.
Among some guests, this led to worries that the Fantasia-class ship would soon tip over – which for the record, is extremely unlikely.
Cruise ships are equipped with sophisticated safety mechanisms, including stability control systems and supportive stabilizers.
Read Also: Can a Cruise Ship Tip Over? – All You Need to Know
“The vessel started to tilt…a woman passed by me, I said, ‘What is it woman? What is happening?’ She said ‘The vessel is capsizing’” Garcia recalled.
Thankfully, the tilting only lasted for a brief moment before the skilled bridge team was able to right the 2013-launched vessel.
Aside from some fallen items and spilled drinks, there was no damage to the ship and no injuries have been reported.
It wasn’t long before the festivities could start back up and DJ Alok could resume his performance.
Following the incident, many applauded the 1,388-person crew on their ability to manage the rocky situation and keep everyone safe.
How Could This Happen?
The bridge team and cruise line employees on land are constantly monitoring forecasts and weather patterns to try to avoid inclement weather and potentially dangerous situations.
However, Mother Nature can sometimes still be unpredictable. Conditions can sometimes worsen rapidly or change in unexpected ways.
Sailing Into Weather
At the time of this event, the MSC ship was making its way back to Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, to disembark a 4-night New Year’s-themed cruise on January 2.
The festive sailing first embarked on December 29, 2025.
As the ship got closer to its homeport, it likely began to experience some of the stormy weather hitting Santos.
The forecast for January 2 called for heavy thunderstorms, and the state of Sao Paulo is currently under a rain warning from Brazil’s Defesa Civil.
“Heavy rain is approaching the Baixada Santista region. There will be lightning, wind, and a chance of hail. It will affect neighboring municipalities. Exercise caution in the coming hours,” the advisory, which was last updated on the afternoon of January 2, states.
But while the conditions may have felt extreme to passengers, it was likely nothing the experienced bridge team couldn’t handle.
The ship did make it to Santos safely and on time, completed the disembarkation process normally, and is already back at sea with a new load of guests for a 3-night getaway cruise.
