Royal Caribbean Ship Hit by Sudden Wave, Rocks Dramatically

While cruise lines do everything in their power to predict and avoid bad weather, sometimes Mother Nature has a mind of her own.

Those on board at the moment Royal Caribbean’s Explorers of the sea learned this the hard way on November 7, 2024, when the 137,308 gross ton vessel was hit by a squall – defined as a sudden strong gust of wind or a localized storm.

In this case, the hurricane force winds caused a massive surge that caused the ship to list significantly on her side – frightening patrons and sending loose items such as plates and cutlery in the dining areas flying.

“On the Explorer now. We hit a squall that was unexpected. We tipped pretty badly to one side. Absolutely terrifying,” a current passenger shared on Facebook, along with a photo of fallen bottles in a messy onboard bar.

“I’m on the ship too, scary as hell in the dining room with plates smashing everywhere, people screaming and tables and food all over the place!” another current guest shared.

Videos from passengers on board even show seated guests gliding across one of the corridors of the Royal Promenade.

Fortunately, no major injuries were reported, although a few passengers and crew received minor injuries. The captain was also able to slow down and turn the ship – and righted the ship properly within five to ten minutes.

The weather event did not delay the sailing – with the 4,290 passengers already on board continues its transatlantic journeywho embarked from Barcelona, ​​Spain, on November 2.

The ship has already visited Valencia, Spain, and Malaga, Spain, and will still call at Ponta Delgada, Azores before arriving in Miami, Floridaon 14 November – which will be her next home port.

According to cruise tracking data, the vessel is traveling at a speed of about 19 knots per hour and is heading west off the coast of Morocco (North Africa).

How do cruise ships handle the weather?

Whenever possible, cruise ships are diverted to avoid bouts of bad weather and storms.

But in this case, the squall appeared to come out of nowhere and is not actually visible as a storm system in weather tracking data — including on the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) website.

Still, the roughly 1,185 crew members on board still have established protocols in place to ensure everyone stays safe in these types of circumstances.

For example, all guests were immediately asked to return to their cabins until the crew could verify that everyone was responsible and unharmed and assess any damage to the ship.

Read also: Can a cruise ship capsize? – Everything you need to know

Although the tilt probably seemed scary, the captain and his skilled team of officers probably had everything under control – helped by being on a cruise ship designed to handle rough water.

First cruise ships is made of strong steel. When this weight is combined with the weight of the passengers, crew and their belongings, it actually makes it easier for ships to roll in high seas and strong winds.

During the construction process, extensive tests are carried out to check the ship’s center of gravity and buoyancy to ensure that the ship can stay upright through storms, winds and choppy seas.

In addition, modern vessels, including those launched in 2000 Explorer of the seas, have stabilizers on board that can provide extra support in rough seas – which some guests have already seen in action over the years.

“Wow, we were explorers in some pretty rough seas, they deployed the stabilizers. But it was nothing like this. It’s crazy!” said a previous guest in response to a post about the tilt.

The aim is of course to avoid bad weather in the first place, as it is always safer and more comfortable for guests on board – and especially those who are prone to seasickness.

Not only do the captain and his officers keep a close eye on the weather, but Royal Caribbean has its own chief meteorologist, Craig Setzer, whose job it is to model weather patterns, monitor forecasts and advise on how the Royal Caribbean fleet will be affected.