Giant Royal Caribbean ship damaged in 'extreme' storm will return to port

Luke Skywalker · Feb 8, 2016

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[h=4]Giant Royal Caribbean ship damaged in 'extreme' storm will return to port[/h]The 4,180-passenger Anthem of the Seas was sailing off the Carolinas.

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The Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Sea ship suffered damage after experiencing hurricane-like winds in a storm during a cruise from New York to Florida. USA TODAY

Royal Caribbean's 4,180-passenger Anthem of the Seas.(Photo: Simon Brooke-Webb, sbw-photo)

One of the world's newest and biggest cruise ships headed*back to its home port Monday after a powerful storm damaged the vessel and left some passengers shaken.
The fierce weather*that struck*Royal Caribbean's 168,666-ton*Anthem of the Seas*on Sunday*forced*the captain to confine passengers to their cabins until the storm passed early Monday.
The cruise line, in a statement sent to USA TODAY, suggested*the "extreme wind and sea conditions"*that hit as the ship sailed south from the New York area to Port Canaveral, Fla., were unexpected, noting that the wind speeds were higher than what was forecast.
"The captain told everyone this morning that the day was among his most challenging —*if not his most challenging —*at sea," *said*Robert Huschka, executive editor of the*Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Huschka is*on board the ship with his family.
Four passengers were injured during the event, though none seriously, according to spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez. There are 4,529 passengers and 1,616 crew members on board, she said.
Anthem had just left its home port of Bayonne, N.J. on Saturday on what had been scheduled to be a seven-night sailing to Florida and the Bahamas.*The vessel now is returning to Bayonne,*and the remainder of the voyage is being canceled.
Passengers tweeting from Anthem describe hurricane-force winds and giant waves that rocked the vessel wildly, overturning*furniture, smashing*glassware and collapsing*part of a ceiling in a public corridor. Photos posted by passengers show damage in*several areas.
"I'm not going to lie:*It was truly terrifying," *Huschka said.
A buoy in the Atlantic about 260 miles south of Cape Hatteras reported wave heights of 30 feet and wind gusts of 74 mph late Sunday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A*screen shot*of the wind gauge on Anthem*cabin TVs posted by a*passenger*on Twitter shows*wind speeds as high as 106*knots, the equivalent of 122*mph.
A passenger*posting on a message board*at CruiseCritic.com*reported*waves crashing as high as the*Deck 5 promenade, with*water seeping into the ship through the doorways*before watertight doors were closed. Another passenger posting at CruiseCritic.com*said a*large white structure broke off the top of the vessel and landed in a pool.
Huschka said the captain of the vessel made*an announcement at about*3:30 p.m.*Sunday as the storm raged that passengers should remain in their cabins, saying the*strength of the storm had surprised everyone and that the ship would hold position and try to turn into it.*The captain then was unavailable for announcements as the storm continued into the evening.
"A very nervous cruise director kept coming on. He didn't sound very reassuring. He said, 'We are OK,'" Huschka said.
The situation began to improve late in the evening, and by 1 a.m.*Monday the ship had resumed sailing.
USA TODAY
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Huschka said most of the damage to the ship appeared*superficial, with "lots*of broken glass, especially on the pool deck." *Water came in through some balcony doors and now is*being mopped up or dried*with blowers, he added.
One thing that was unaffected by the storm: The TV signal bringing in the Super Bowl on Sunday evening.**It was a "perfect picture during the height of the storm," Huschka said. "That certainly improved my mood."
The possibility of a large storm in the Atlantic has been known for several days.*NOAA's Ocean Prediction Center first issued an*alert*Friday at 1*p.m. that predicted*"developing hurricane-force winds" Sunday in the Atlantic, according to NOAA spokeswoman Susan Buchanan.*The first official warning*from the Ocean Prediction Center*was included in the offshore waters forecast at 3:34 p.m. Saturday, Buchanan said. It included a warning for hurricane-force winds increasing to 63 to*75 mph, in effect through Sunday night.

Hurricane-force winds shattered glass safety panels along the top deck of Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas during a storm on Feb. 7, 2016.*(Photo: Robert Huschka, Detroit Free Press)

In a second statement*Monday, Royal Caribbean said the decision to return to the New York area*was made due to forecasts of poor weather over the next few days that is likely to impact the ship’s original itinerary.
"We are also sensitive to the fact that our guests have already been through an uncomfortable ride," the statement said. "Returning to Cape Liberty minimizes the risks of further bad weather affecting our guests’ voyage; we are optimistic that they will have a smooth sail home."
Royal Caribbean said passengers will receive full refunds of the*fare they paid for the*cruise and a credit for a future cruise equal to 50% of the fare.

Passengers walk around debris on the top deck of Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas on Feb. 8, 2016.*(Photo: Robert Huschka, Detroit Free Press)

"We know it was tough day on Sunday and apologize for (passenger) discomfort," the line said. "Safety is our highest priority and ships are designed to withstand even more extreme circumstances than Anthem of the Seas encountered. While the weather was unpleasant, the ship remained seaworthy at all times."
Christened in April 2015, Anthem*is tied with sister vessel Quantum of the Seas as*the third-largest cruise ship ever built.
USA TODAY Cruise 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.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASS‘Terrified’ reporter goes flying on cruise ship’s edge | 01:23USA TODAY Reporter Gene Sloan may get to sail the world on the newest cruise ships, but he wasn’t that thrilled about this assignment…trying out indoor skydiving perched on the edge of Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. VPC

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSMan vs. machine: Who makes the ultimate mixed drink? | 01:44The bionic bar on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is an impressive sight…but can it make a drink as well as a human bartending expert? Let’s find out! VPC

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSSail onto the water on Anthem of the Seas in 30 seconds | 00:30USA TODAY Travel takes you onto Royal Caribbean’s newest Quantum class ship, Anthem of the Seas. Watch the ship pull away from port in this time-lapse video. VPC

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSThe luxurious suite feature you just can’t get at home | 01:44You won’t believe all the features inside the Royal Loft Suite on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. But it’s what’s on the outside that will REALLY blow you away! VPC

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSWhy your next vacation needs a (fairy) Godmother! | 02:32Meet Emma Wilby, the Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas…yes, that’s a real thing! She’s in charge of bestowing luck on the ship, a responsibility that lasts a lifetime.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSSoar above Anthem of the Seas as it sets sail | 01:01Take a look at Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest mega-ship, from the sky and find out about some its impressive statistics! VPC

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSMeet Anthem of the Seas 32-foot mascot | 01:05Gigi the giraffe is stealing the show on Royal Caribbean’s newest Quantum class ship, Anthem of the Seas. The 32-foot tall mascot made quite a journey to get on board the ship! VPC

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSQuantum of the Seas sets sail for inaugural cruise | 00:33Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Sea set sail from Southampton, Great Britain for its inaugural cruise on Friday, October 31, 2014. Watch the ship pull away from the port in this time lapse video.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSBionic Bar mixes perfect, precise drinks | 01:08Cruisers aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas are flocking to the Bionic Bar -- where robots perfectly mix custom drinks with precision.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSExperience Quantum of the Seas' North Star in 60 seconds | 01:00The North Star will lift you 300-feet above the level of the sea on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas. A ride on North Star is between 10 and 15 minutes -- but we've compressed it down to 60 seconds in this time lapse video.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSQuantum of the Seas suites 'wow' with space, epic views | 01:54The suites aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas feature plenty of space, luxurious ammenities and epic views everywhere you look.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSGet airborne on your next cruise | 01:02Passengers on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas can feel as if they are skydiving while aboard the ship with RipCord by iFly.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSQuantum of the Seas ride gives 360-degree sea view | 01:17Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman & CEO Richard Fain gives USA TODAY an exclusive first look at the North Star on Quantum of the Seas. The North Star lifts guests 300 feet above the sea for an epic view.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSQuantum of the Seas' Bionic Bar mixes your drink in about a minute | 00:58Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas features a bartender like you've probably never seen. Watch as the Bionic Bar mixes one cruiser's custom cocktail.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSVirtual balconies bring ocean views to interior state rooms | 01:35Interior state rooms on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas feature virtual balconies -- floor to ceiling screens that display a real time view of the outside view.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSQuantum of the Seas' SeaPlex feature bumper cars, more | 01:18Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas features an open, multi-use space called SeaPlex. Cruisers can enjoy bumper cars, roller skating, basketball, a nightclub and even more while aboard.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSQuantum of the Seas' 'Two70' is transformative living room | 01:53By day, Quantum of the Seas' Two70 is a great place to take in the view and relax. But at night, the space transforms into an entertainment venue featuring a massive projection screen and six robotic, moving video screens.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSJamie Oliver brings 'neighborhood' Italian to Quantum of the Seas | 01:49Chef and restauranteur Jamie Oliver is bringing his restaurant, Jamie's Italian, to Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas. The restaurant features classic italian dishes and some diners' favorites from his land-based restaurants.

INSIDE LOOK AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S QUANTUM CLASSMichael’s Genuine Pub brings artisan flavors to Quantum of the Seas | 01:14James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz is bring his own line of beers, plus artisanal and craft foods to Michael’s Genuine Pub on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas.

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Contributing: Doyle Rice
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Giant Royal Caribbean ship damaged in 'extreme' storm will return to port

Luke Skywalker

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