Frightened passengers sent farewell messages, fearing for their lives as the cruise ship tilted 45 degrees, reminiscent of Titanic.
Recently, a cruise ship experienced a terrifying incident that left passengers in panic.
The Royal Caribbean ship, Explorer of the Seas, was sailing from Barcelona, Spain, to Florida when it encountered severe weather.
As strong winds hit the ship, it tilted at a shocking angle of 45 degrees.
This sudden movement led many passengers to fear for their safety, prompting them to send out goodbye messages to loved ones.
A cruise ship suddenly tilted 45 degrees on the ocean
The trouble began when the ship was near the coast of Africa.
Passengers reported that the winds were so strong, reaching speeds of 86 mph, that they felt the ship lose stability.
In just minutes, the situation turned chaotic. Many passengers fled from the movie theater, screaming as they tried to find safety.
Drinks and belongings flew off tables, and the ship’s interior resembled a disaster zone.
Onboard passengers recounted their terrifying experience
Dan, a passenger from Toronto, described the moment the ship began to tilt.
“When I left the pub I could hear screaming sounds, glasses were falling around and the cruise had started tilting,” he said.
He continued, explaining how the chaos unfolded around him.
“You can see a whole advertisement sign hit a guy and he saves himself and grabs his girlfriend. He was in a state of shock.”
“I wondered if this was a normal thing but the more I heard people screaming that’s when I got scared and had to turn the video off.”
Another passenger, Randy Moore, witnessed the scene from inside the theater.
He recalled, “First there was a lot of screaming going on in the theatre. Then 30 seconds later the ship tilted even more to one side.”
The fear was palpable as items slid across the stage, creating a scene of confusion and worry.
“That’s when a lot of screaming started and stuff started to slide across the stage and it was kind of scary for a minute,” he admitted.
Another traveller Jonathon Parrish explained: “Right then and there you could hear all the glass dropping from the bar and breaking.
“They had a grand piano that flew across the stage.”
Frightened passengers send farewell messages in fear of dying as cruise ship tilted 45 degrees like Titanic
As the ship tilted, many passengers thought they might not make it.
Dan shared his feelings during the ordeal, saying, “I was writing my last message thinking that I would die.”
This sentiment was echoed by others who felt the gravity of the situation.
The panic spread quickly, with many people fearing a fate similar to that of the Titanic.
Jonathon Parrish, another traveler, described the sound of breaking glass from the bar as the ship tilted.
“Right then and there you could hear all the glass dropping from the bar and breaking,” he explained. The sight of a grand piano flying across the stage added to the surreal experience.
The cruise ship spokesperson spoke out about the accident
Fortunately, the ship’s crew acted swiftly. After the incident, medical assistance was needed for one guest who was injured.
The ship changed its course to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands to provide this care.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson addressed the situation: ” During an unexpected wind gust near Tenerife, Spain, one of our sailings experienced sudden movement.
“One of our guests was injured and requires additional medical care, so the ship will make a call in Las Palmas, Spain for a medical disembarkation.
“We are communicating these changes directly with our guests.”
Despite the terrifying experience, the ship is expected to arrive in Miami in about a week and a half after the diversion.
Passengers shared videos of the incident on social media, showing the extent of the chaos onboard.
The footage captured the fear and confusion, revealing how quickly a fun vacation can turn into a nightmare.