Key Aspects:
- One crew member has died aboard World Legacy after a fire broke out in a lounge area.
- The tragedy happened on February 20, 2026, as the ship was approaching Singapore.
- Four passengers required medical attention following the blaze.
A crew member died, and at least four passengers required medical attention after a fire broke out onboard World Legacy as the ship made her way to Singapore.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of February 20, 2026, when a blaze erupted in a lounge on the ship’s Deck 9. The ship was sailing with 271 confirmed guests (initial reports indicated there were 224 guests) and 388 crew members.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore reported that a first group of 190 passengers was evacuated by ferry and taken to Singapore’s HarbourFront Ferry Terminal. Later on February 20, officials confirmed that all remaining passengers have been evacuated.
The crew member’s identity has not been revealed, but the port authority confirmed he was an Indonesian national. The conditions of guests who were taken to local hospitals have not been detailed.
The fire began at about 4 a.m. and was brought under control by the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s marine firefighters. The extent of the damage to the ship is unclear.
Several local agencies are investigating the incident, including the Singaporean Police Coast Guard and the port authority’s marine division.
In a posting on Facebook, the port authority disclosed that a small group of crew members will remain on the vessel to support the investigation and tend to required operations, while most of the crew is being evacuated.
The port authority provided limited information about the crew member who died.
“The deceased crew member, an Indonesian national, has been transferred ashore. The relevant authorities are handling the necessary follow up, and the Indonesian embassy in Singapore has been informed,” stated the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
World Legacy is currently anchored at Raffles Reserved Anchorage, located in the Port of Singapore. The anchorage is an area designated for ships in need of repairs. The port authority is enforcing a safety zone around the ship and is advising other vessels to steer clear.
World Cruises has not commented on the incident nor has it announced cancellations of future cruises, although it appears the ship will be out of service for an unknown length of time.
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Catering to the local Singapore and Malaysia markets, World Legacy operates a cruise program that is unlike most Western cruise brands. Guests can book single-day cruises as well as overnight and 2-night getaways. The ship operates between Singapore and Malaysia.
In Singapore, guests board at the HarbourFront Centre, and in Malaysia, passengers embark at the Puteri Harbour Ferry Terminal, in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
The brand is new to the industry; it was introduced in November 2025 and sailed its first cruises in December 2025.
Fire is a Rare Occurrence on Cruise Ships
Fires aboard cruise ships are rare, but happen from time to time. Most recently, two high-profile cases occurred in the summer of 2025.
On July 14, 2025, Princess Cruises’ Island Princess experienced a small fire in the galley area that serves the Lido buffet. The ship had departed the previous day from New York, sailing an 18-night voyage to Canada and Greenland.
An alert was sounded, and guests were instructed to gather at their muster stations with their life jackets at about 6 a.m. The emergency was short-lived, however, and the captain announced that the fire was contained and under control. No injuries were reported.
Five weeks later, on August 29, 2025, a fire erupted in a kitchen area on Deck 5 of P&O Cruises’ Iona as the ship was making her way to Southampton, England. The fire caused two restaurants to be temporarily closed. The fire was quickly doused, and no one was injured.
