A few weeks ago the bosses at Carnival were deeply embarrassed when their flagship Queen Mary 2 failed a health inspection. They are no doubt sniggering quietly today at the red faces over at Carnival Cruises.

The reason for Carnival’s discomfort is the fact that two of their cruise ships managed to bump against each other on Tuesday in Key West Florida while manoeuvring into port. It must have been priceless to watch the two captains’ faces when the Carnival Imagination bashed into her twin sister Carnival Fantasy.

The damage to the ships was purely cosmetic, but the damage to the two captains’ egos must have been much bigger. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. In fact, not one of the passengers on board either ship apparently heard or felt anything. In time everybody will be able to laugh about it, but right now all you will probably get from Carnival is an uncomfortable grin.

The commander of the Key West Coast Guard, Captain Patrick DeQuattro said in an interview with the Citizen that “There was very glancing contact.”

The incident is being investigated by the U.S. coast guard. To add insult to injury they carried out drug and alcohol tests on key staff members. Although this was done as a matter of routine, it must have been very unpleasant for those involved. There is no other reasonable explanation than that the two cruise ships simply came too close to each other.

Fantasy is expected back in Charleston, South Carolina on Friday and Imagination is currently on a four-night cruise.