Royal Caribbean Worldwide’s Voyager of the Seas lately encountered a extreme squall within the Gulf of Mexico whereas ending her most up-to-date crusing.
The storm’s depth created onboard flooding, furnishings harm, glass breakage, and different impacts, however thankfully, no extreme accidents have been reported and the ship returned to Galveston as scheduled.
Voyager of the Seas Encounters Storm
Company aboard Voyager of the Seas skilled some tense moments on the afternoon of Friday, January 26, 2024 because the ship was returning to Galveston, Texas on the finish of a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise that had visited Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.
At roughly 1:30 p.m., the ship encountered a robust squall line with fierce winds, tall waves, and heavy rainfall, in addition to intermittent hail.
The vessel was listed noticeably, and furnishings on the open decks was tossed about, whereas indoor lounges had damaged glassware and different harm. Shows tipped over in retail shops, and within the ship’s on line casino, slot machines tipped and fell.
Company onboard reported that some people have been injured by slot machines falling, however no extreme accidents have been reported.
Movies and pictures shared to totally different social media websites additionally present flooding in each public areas and visitor staterooms, in addition to passengers milling about generally confusion because the state of affairs advanced.
Crew members reacted rapidly to wash up, together with placing towels down to take in water in flooded areas and to make sure flooring was protected for visitors. Safety was stationed across the ship to reassure visitors and provide steering as wanted.
As is customary process, the open decks have been closed through the storm and for a time period afterward whereas security checks have been carried out and the world was cleaned up.
Total, the storm and the ensuing cleanup lasted 3-4 hours. Regardless of the troublesome seas, the ship was in a position to return to Galveston as deliberate, and departed on her subsequent crusing – one other 5-night Western Caribbean crusing – with out issues.
The storm was doubtless the identical squall line that Carnival Dream additionally handed by when visitors and crew members have been suggested to remain of their cabins.
It’s unknown whether or not visitors onboard Voyager of the Seas have been equally requested to return to their staterooms through the roughest climate. Each ships have related sizes and related visitor capacities.
The 138,194-gross-ton Voyager of the Seas can welcome 3,602 visitors onboard at double occupancy, or as many as 4,000 passengers when totally booked with all berths crammed. Additionally onboard are 1,200 worldwide officers and crew members.
Cruise Ships and Sudden Storms
Whereas cruise ships do try and keep away from unhealthy climate, it isn’t at all times attainable to fully keep away from prolonged squall strains or giant storm techniques. That is significantly true within the case of Voyager of the Seas and Carnival Dream, each of which have been heading again to Galveston on the time of the extreme climate.
As a result of the ships have been heading again to their homeport, they weren’t in a position to alter their route as considerably as if the incidents occurred mid-cruise, when a port of name may very well be rescheduled or cancelled.
Learn Additionally: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Dangerous Climate
Even within the midst of unhealthy climate, nevertheless, cruise ships can change their orientation, alter velocity, deploy stabilizers, and take different steps to make sure visitors’ security and luxury as a lot as attainable till the extreme climate passes.
Onboard actions are sometimes adjusted as nicely to make certain crew members and leisure performers are protected, and outer decks could also be closed when winds are excessive.
Equally, visitors could also be suggested to remain off their non-public balconies or verandahs throughout unhealthy climate, particularly as these areas could be liable to flooding when waves are excessive or rainfall is intense.
