Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Disaster

Largest maritime disaster in modern history, January 2012

This is the story of the night the Costa Concordia struck the rocks outside the Italian island of Giglio, causing passengers to abandon ship.

The Sinking of the Costa Concordia

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Sources for this series:

• The Costa Concordia Sinking: Inside the Epic Fight for Survival | Vanity Fair 

• Abandoned Ship - by Benji Smith

• Concordiagate

• 32 Dead - The Cruise from Hell

• Survivors of the Costa Concordia

• I survived the Costa Concordia disaster by clinging to rope for three hours as ship sank - Mirror Online

• Costa Concordia cruise tragedy: Survivor stories

• Timeline of Events of the Sunk Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Disaster

• Another night to remember

• Costa Concordia Christened in Italy | Travel Agent Central

• Cruise Ship Godmothers and Christenings: Everything you Need to Know - The Sharonicles

• Why cruise ships christened by smashing champagne bottles - 9Travel

• Cruise Safety

• ALBION

• Christening Traditions

• Costa Concordia: A story in design: Travel Weekly

• The Final Hours of the Costa Concordia — The Dial

• Timeline: The Costa Concordia disaster | SBS News

• The Costa Concordia Disaster Explained (Full Documentary)

• New Yorkers return home with tales of survival after Italy cruise wreck

• Costa Concordia purser: 'I never lost hope of being saved' | Italy | The Guardian

• How Much Compensation Did Costa Concordia Passengers Get?

• Costa Concordia captain convicted in deadly shipwreck | CNN

• 5 convicted over deadly Costa Concordia cruise liner wreck in Italy | CNN

• Captain of Costa Concordia Seeks Release from Prison After Eight Years

• BBC News - Salvaging the Costa Concordia

• Cruise safety one year after Concordia | CNN

Costa Concordia

In our latest series of Smoke and Ash, we take you beyond the headlines and into the heart of one of the most shocking maritime disasters of the 21st century: the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster. Through survivor accounts, expert analysis, and gripping storytelling, we unravel the night of January 13, 2012, when a luxury cruise ship turned into a terrifying struggle for survival.

What Happened That Night?

The Costa Concordia, carrying over 4,200 passengers and crew, struck a rocky reef off the coast of Giglio, Italy. What began as a celebratory cruise quickly descended into chaos as the ship began to capsize. Poor decisions and a lack of leadership compounded the crisis, leaving thousands fighting to escape as icy waters flooded the vessel.

Throughout this series, we walk you through the crucial hours when confusion and panic reigned supreme. From the moment the ship struck the reef to the desperate scramble for lifeboats, we paint a vivid picture of what it was like to be trapped onboard a sinking cruise liner.

Following stories of survivors, crew, and helpers on the chaos of evacuating a ship that is listing further and further as the night goes on.

Why You Should Listen

If you’re drawn to true stories of survival, human resilience, and the consequences of negligence, this series is for you. Each episode combines thorough research with firsthand accounts to deliver an immersive, heart-pounding experience that stays with you long after you’ve finished listening.

Join us as we peel back the layers of the Costa Concordia disaster and ask the questions that still haunt us today.

Listen to the full series now on Smoke + Ash wherever you get your podcasts.

Remember to kiss, squeeze, hug your loved ones.