On Sunday, Royal Caribbean reported that strong winds had taken their Freedom of the Seas vessel by surprise, causing severe movement that left some of the passenger cabins and public areas damaged. Some of the shops sustained damage, with several items of stock falling off shelves and breaking.
No major injuries have been reported but it would likely have left many passengers shaken. It doesn’t matter how safe cruise ships are these days, there is still something about strong winds and rocky oceans that makes you long for dry land!
Some passengers shared their stories of being onboard during the storm, with people reporting that balcony doors were blown open and their cabins were left soaked with water. Glass had also been shattered from some of the the balcony dividers.
The dining room closed early and passengers were told to stay in their staterooms or remain seated in the nearest public area so that they weren’t wandering the corridors during the turbulence! The storm lasted for around 2-3 hours but despite all of the damage caused, the ship won’t be taking time out to recuperate for future cruises, repairs will be ongoing as the ship continues on it’s voyage.
