Cruise ship passengers have finally arrived in Miami after a challenging two-week journey. The passengers were aboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas, which left Spain and docked in PortMiami on Sunday. However, the journey was not smooth sailing as bad weather caused chaos on board.
Videos shared by passengers showed bottles and tables crashing onto the floor as the ship rocked in the rough conditions. Sofie Dubois, one of the passengers, described the chaotic scene, saying, “Dining plates, glasses, everything started tumbling down off the tables. People were running out of the dinner room. It was a bit of chaos at that time.”
The ship departed Barcelona on November 2 and was headed for Miami. The chaos unfolded on the first night of the journey when rough seas and high winds caused the ship to sway to one side. Alvero Pupo, another passenger, shared his experience, “Out of nowhere we start noticing it’s rocking and I see water sliding off the table and that’s when you see a whole bunch of plates going flying off, my food goes flying, chairs go flying, everyone’s panicking, ice machine goes flying everywhere. It was just a crazy experience overall.”
The captain of the ship apologized to the guests and asked them to return to their cabins for safety. The captain reassured the passengers, saying, “I’m sorry for this inconvenience. These things happen every now and then, not very often. It’s like an airplane hitting turbulence and high winds. I’m sorry that this happened.”
Following the incident, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson released a statement explaining, “During an unexpected wind gust near Tenerife, Spain, one of our sailings experienced sudden movement. One of our guests was injured and requires additional medical care, so the ship will make a call in Las Palmas, Spain for a medical disembarkation.” The injured passenger had to disembark at Las Palmas for medical treatment.
Despite the frightening experience, passengers praised the crew for their handling of the crisis. One passenger mentioned, “He kept us posted on weather and all kinds of details so you felt secure.”
This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea, as even experienced sailors can face challenges. It is important for cruise lines to prioritize passenger safety and communication during such incidents to ensure the well-being of everyone on board.
While this incident occurred on a transatlantic cruise, it is not an isolated case. Passengers on a different cruise line also faced rough seas due to Hurricane Milton while in the Gulf of Mexico back in October. These incidents highlight the importance of being prepared for unexpected weather conditions when embarking on a cruise journey.
