A buoy in the Atlantic about 260 miles south of Cape Hatteras reported wave heights of 30 feet and wind gusts of 74 mph late Sunday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While Sunday’s storm was not a hurricane, it did share similarly powerful winds. Many on the ship said it was rocking nonstop.
Advertisement
In a statement, a Royal Caribbean spokeswoman said four passengers were injured during the storm, none seriously. Originally, she said, the ship was supposed to arrive at noon Monday.
For their 18th anniversary, Connie and Dave Solon of Lancaster planned to enjoy a formal dinner of escargot and lobster tail as their cruise ship steamed toward Florida and, eventually, the Bahamas.
Gabriella Lairson says that by early Monday morning, people were out and about on the ship, checking out the minor damage in some public areas. But Royal Caribbean said on its corporate Twitter account that the ship would turn around and sail back to Cape Liberty.
Robert Huschka is on the Royal Caribbean ship Anthem of the Seas with his wife, son and friends.
At 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, the National Weather Service’s eastern regional office posted an alert on Twitter that the storm was getting stronger. “We are optimistic that they will have a smooth sail home”.
The “strong and impressive storm” was moving toward New England, where forecasters have predicted more than a foot of snow and potential for blizzard conditions through Tuesday morning, with the worst weather in eastern MA.
But ironically, the only thing that was not affected by the storm was the TV signal that could bring the Super Bowl to the frightened passengers.
Posts on social media described the ride as “horrendous”.
Passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship were asked to stay inside their cabins when the ship encountered rough seas!
“I was shaking all over”, Shara Strand of New York City wrote to The Associated Press via Facebook on Monday. Passengers report that although some of the crew seemed “frazzled” on radio transmissions Sunday night, they were calm with passengers.
“There has been no damage to the ship due to the weather”.
The official statement of Royal Caribbean International says that despite of the bad weather, the vessel remained afloat and there was no danger for the passengers at any moment.
Passengers said the storm started midafternoon Sunday, and the captain of the ship Anthem of the Seas ordered them to their staterooms for their safety. Sixteen-year-old Lairson and her father – – of Ocean City, New Jersey – heard glasses in their bathroom shatter, and they put belongings in drawers and closets to prevent them from flying across the room. They ventured out on the balcony, where Sam Lairson shot video showing wave after wave rising below them. “Just wonder if this storm system could’ve been avoided”, he said.
Advertisement
This image made available from Flavio Cadegiani shows damage to the ship. “He said, ‘We are OK, ‘” Huschka told USA Today.
