One of the world’s newest and biggest cruise ships on Sunday was caught in a storm so powerful that the captain ordered passengers confined to their cabins for safety.
Royal Caribbean’s 168,666-on Anthem of the Seas experienced “extreme wind and sea conditions” that were not expected as it was sailing south from the New York area to Port Canaveral, Fla., according to a Royal Caribbean statement sent to USA TODAY.
Things are a little out of place #anthemoftheseas (Twitter/USAToday)
Passengers tweeting from Anthem describe hurricane-force winds and giant waves that rocked the vessel, overturning furniture, smashing glassware and collapsing part of a ceiling in a public corridor. Photos posted by passengers show damage to several areas.
In its statement, Royal Caribbean said there had been no reports of serious injuries, and the damage to public areas and cabins “in no way affect the sea worthiness of the ship.”
The vessel is carrying 4,529 passengers and 1,616 crew, according to a spokeswoman. It’s on a voyage from its home base in the New York area to Florida and the Bahamas.
Christened in April 2015, the 168,666-ton Anthem is the third largest cruise ship ever built.
USA TODAY Cruise in 2015 was among a handful of U.S. media outlets to get early access to Anthem before its christening in Southampton, England. For our deck-by-deck tour of the vessel’s interior areas and cabins, scroll through the carousels below.
By Gene Sloan, USAToday, SouthFloridaReporter.com, Feb. 8, 2016
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