The Royal Caribbean cruise from Barcelona to Miami encountered severe turbulence as an unexpected wind gust caused chaos onboard, forcing the ship to divert for a medical disembarkation. According to Cruise Mapper, the turbulence hit shortly after departing Spain’s Castilian coast, with strong winds and choppy seas displacing bottles from bar shelves and overturning tables in the casino, prompting passengers to scramble for safety.
The incident occurred as the “Explorer of the Seas” was near Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands. Royal Caribbean confirmed the ship was struck by an “unexpected wind gust,” causing a sudden tilt that sent objects flying. Dramatic footage shows passengers struggling to stay balanced while items slid off tables and shelves. A passenger reported that wind speeds surged from 46 mph to 86 mph during the turbulence, which lasted around five minutes.
Passenger Jonathan Parrish described the confusion onboard, saying, “There was about five minutes where everyone was wondering what was going on, but once the captain made an announcement, it gave us a sense of calm.” Passengers were instructed to return to their cabins for a headcount and safety check. The cruise line confirmed that one guest sustained injuries requiring additional medical attention, leading the ship to make an unscheduled stop in Las Palmas, Spain, for a medical disembarkation.
Cruise ship tilted 45 degrees in the Atlantic ocean 😳 pic.twitter.com/4lIIxIFCkh
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) November 10, 2024
The “Explorer of the Seas” is a 1,020-foot cruise liner with a capacity of 4,290 guests and 1,185 crew members, featuring amenities like an ice skating rink, mini-golf course, and rock climbing wall. Registered in the Bahamas and built in 2000, the vessel is expected to resume its journey to Miami, where it is scheduled to arrive in two weeks.
