Royal Caribbean ship is hit by a sudden wave and overturns dramatically

While cruise ships do everything in their power to predict and avoid bad weather, sometimes Mother Nature has her own thoughts.

Those currently on board Royal Caribbean Explorer of the seas We learned this the hard way on November 7, 2024, when the 137,308 gross ton ship was caught in a storm – defined as a sudden violent gust of wind or localized storm.

In this case, hurricane-force winds caused a massive wave that tipped the ship significantly onto its side – frightening guests and sending loose items such as plates and cutlery flying in the dining rooms.

“Now in Explorer. We encountered an unexpected thunderstorm. We tipped sideways pretty badly. Definitely scary,” A current passenger shared it on Facebook, along with a photo of dropped bottles in a messy onboard bar.

“I'm on the ship too, scary as hell in the dining room, plates are breaking everywhere, people are screaming and there are tables and food everywhere!” another current guest shared.

Videos from passengers currently on board even show seated guests sliding down one of the Royal Promenade's corridors.

Fortunately, no major injuries were reported, although some passengers and crew suffered minor injuries. The captain was also able to slow down the cruise speed and turn the ship around – allowing the ship to be righted again within five to ten minutes.

The weather event did not delay departure – with 4,290 passengers already Continuation of his transatlantic voyagewhich departed from Barcelona, ​​Spain on November 2nd.

The ship has already visited Valencia (Spain) and Malaga (Spain) and will also call at Ponta Delgada (Azores). Arrival in Miami, Floridaon November 14th – this will be her next home port.

According to cruise data, the ship 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 deal with the weather?

Cruise ships are being rerouted as much as possible to avoid severe weather and storms.

But in this case, the thunderstorm seemed 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.

However, the approximately 1,185 crew members on board still have established protocols in place to ensure everyone remains safe in such circumstances.

For example, all guests were immediately asked to return to their cabins until the crew could ensure everyone was present and uninjured and assess any possible damage to the ship.

Also read: Can a cruise ship tip over? – Everything you need to know

While the tipping probably seemed scary, the captain and his experienced team of officers probably had everything under control – made easier by being on a cruise ship designed for rough waters.

Firstly, cruise ships are made of heavy 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.

Thorough testing is carried out during the construction process to check the ship's center of gravity and buoyancy, ensuring that the ship can remain upright in storms, wind and choppy seas.

In addition, modern ships, including the one launched in 2000 explorer of the seas, Have stabilizers on board that can take care of this additional support in rough seas – which some guests have already seen in action over the years.

“Wow, we were on the Explorer in pretty rough seas, they turned off the stabilizers. But it was nothing like that. This is crazy!” said a former guest in response to a post about the tipping.

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

Not only does the captain and his officers keep an eye on the weather, Royal Caribbean also has its own weather Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer, Their job is to model weather patterns, monitor forecasts and advise on what impacts the Royal Caribbean fleet will have.