Several injured after 'extreme' gust of wind rocks cruise ship
Several passengers were injured when an "extreme" gust of wind rocked a cruise ship on Sunday night, sending chairs and people airborne and creating turmoil aboard the vessel.
Norwegian Cruise Line's "Norwegian Escape" left New York City on March 3, heading towards its first scheduled stop in Florida's Port Canaveral on March 5 before continuing on to the Bahamas.
Just before midnight on the first night of the sail, the Escape encountered a "sudden, extreme gust of wind, estimated at 100 knots (115 mph)," which resulted in the ship suddenly tilting to the port side, the company wrote on Twitter.
Just before midnight on Sunday, March 3, Norwegian Escape encountered unexpected weather in the form of a sudden, extreme gust of wind, estimated at 100 knots, which resulted in the ship heeling to the port side. (cont.)
— Cruise Norwegian (@CruiseNorwegian) March 4, 2019
Samantha Foster, a Canadian passenger on the cruise who was in bed watching a movie during the incident, told ABC News she felt the ship's "deep tilting" and immediately woke her sister.
"It was unsettling at first. Then I started to panic," she told the outlet. "Things were flying off the counters, crashing. We're holding onto the beds 'cause we're rolling out of the beds. We're just frozen with sheer panic ... waiting for the whole boat to capsize, at this point."
"I honestly feel like we're going to die," she added.
Photos of the chaotic scene shared on social media show chairs, shop items and entertainment equipment strewn across multiple areas on the boat.
The @CruiseNorwegian Escape was hit be a 100+ knot gust last night. The ship tilted and damage was everywhere. Crazy! pic.twitter.com/3fNx9sFBhW
— Michael Patterson (@michaelpNYC) March 5, 2019
Several injured passengers were treated by the ship's medical staff, Norwegian said in a Monday tweet.
Several injuries were reported and those guests and crew received immediate attention or are being treated by the ship’s medical staff. There was no damage to the ship; she remains fully operational and continues her scheduled itinerary. (cont.)
— Cruise Norwegian (@CruiseNorwegian) March 4, 2019
The ship was able to continue its journey and arrive in Florida on Tuesday, where around 8 passengers who needed further medical treatment were transported to local hospitals.
According to the cruise line, neither the Escape's current itinerary nor the next sailing are expected to be impacted by the incident.
She is currently headed to Port Canaveral for an anticipated early arrival on March 5. Neither the current itinerary, nor the next sailing are expected to be impacted.
— Cruise Norwegian (@CruiseNorwegian) March 4, 2019
