On 7th November 2024, Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas was unexpectedly hit by a sudden squall, resulting in hurricane-force winds that caused a massive wave, resulting in the ship tilting dramatically.
The sudden tilt caused chaos onboard, as loose items were sent flying. As a result, at least one person was injured and the ship had to turn back to the Canary Islands to drop them off, before it could resume its transatlantic voyage.
Guests were asked to return to their cabins after the incident for three hours, so that a full ship count of passengers and crew could be taken.
You can see the tilt of the ship here, as guests slide along the floor:
The squall, characterised by a sudden gust of intense wind or a localised storm, struck the ship with little warning. Passengers described scenes of disarray, with items flying across dining areas and individuals sliding across corridors.
Explorer of the Seas is engineered to withstand rough conditions, featuring design elements that enhance its stability and safety. The crew’s training and preparedness for such events were crucial in managing the situation.
Several cruisers onboard the ship have posted updates to social media, unanimously praising the crew for their communication and quick action.
These guests shared their thoughts plus some photos of the damage:
It’s now anticipated that the ship will complete her transatlantic cruise on 17th November, reaching Miami three days later than originally scheduled.
Once that’s confirmed it will likely have a knock-on effect on the 10-day Caribbean cruise set for 14th November.
While it can’t be embedded, this video on Facebook shows more of the damage.
If the ship is damaged (and there are rumours of stabiliser damage) then repairs may be needed, although for now it sounds like the ship has managed to escape without significant issue.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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