Cruise ship Explorer of the Seas gets into an inclined position during storm - Several injured and considerable damage

At the time of the incident, the Explorer of the Seas was on a transatlantic voyage from Barcelona (Spain) to Miami (USA). The ship departed from Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the Caribbean on Wednesday evening. Just one day later, the ship was hit by a particularly strong gust of wind, which reportedly led to a tilt of up to 45 degrees. The sudden tilt caused considerable damage to the interior, particularly in the bars. Glasses broke and various objects were thrown around the room.

According to passengers, the Explorer of the Seas remained in this inclined position for around five to ten minutes. One guest suffered serious injuries. Due to the incident, the ship had to interrupt its planned route and return. On November 9, 2024, the Explorer of the Seas docked in the port of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, where the injured passenger was taken off board. Repair work was also carried out to rectify the damage on board.

The ship's captain explained that the wind speed had suddenly increased sharply within six minutes, which led to the critical list. The crew on the bridge reacted quickly by turning the ship out of the wind, but the damage could no longer be prevented.

Due to the delays caused by the incident and the necessary repairs, the planned arrival of the Explorer of the Seas in Miami has been considerably delayed. The transatlantic cruise was originally scheduled to end on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Now the ship will not arrive in Miami until Sunday, November 17, 2024. The subsequent Caribbean cruise will be shortened accordingly and will only last seven days instead of the planned ten.