Gust of Wind Hits Norwegian Ship, Injuries Reported

Just before midnight on Sunday, Norwegian Escape was hit with a gust of wind that was estimated at 100 knots, causing the ship to list heavily to the port side just hours after it had left New York on an eastern Caribbean cruise.

Furniture, casino machines, and even people reportedly tipped over, as well as dishes and other wares around the ship. Norwegian Cruise Line posted the following in a series of tweets on Twitter:

“Just before midnight on Sunday, March 3, Norwegian Escape encountered unexpected weather in the form of a sudden, extreme gust of wind, estimated at 100 knots, which resulted in the ship heeling to the port side. Several injuries were reported and those guests and crew received immediate attention or are being treated by the ship’s medical staff. There was no damage to the ship; she remains fully operational and continues her scheduled itinerary. She is currently headed to Port Canaveral for an anticipated early arrival on March 5. Neither the current itinerary, nor the next sailing are expected to be impacted.”

When the ship docked in Port Canaveral early Tuesday morning, it was met with ambulances. Crew Center reported that passenger Samantha Foster was in her deck 16 cabin and the life rafts on one of the decks several decks below her became submerged in the water as the ship tipped. “I kept thinking it can’t possibly keep tipping and it kept tipping. Everything in our room falling and sliding...I have never been so scared in my whole life. The boat finally after what seemed an eternity tilted a little back and we ran to my parent’s room on the other side of the boat.... Everyone was out of their rooms. Holding each other, crying, smoking… Many spent the night in common areas with jackets on ready to evacuate!... Even the cruise director when we came on right after the tilting started, his voice was shaking and he could barely speak. All the plates and glassware smashed on the floor. A lotto machine fell on a lady. Blood everywhere....All the staff who were below decks were screaming and crying. All of this to be said! Everyone is ok. People were hurt and scared but for the most part, everything is good today. Hands down the most terrified I’ve ever been in my life. Can’t wait to hit solid ground.” she said.

Passengers also took to Twitter to react:

The scariest sh** just happened on this cruise. Chairs, tables, glass, people went flying to one side of the ship😥 @CruiseNorwegian

— ... (@GVelez22) March 4, 2019

Honestly, @CruiseNorwegian, the gust of wind that threw all of the shattered glass all over my bed and floor is all on mother nature, but where my pro-rated premium plus discount for all the bottled water I was going to drink tonight? #norwegianescape #nclescape

— AJ Black (@aaronjosef) March 4, 2019

The @CruiseNorwegian Escape was hit be a 100+ knot gust last night. The ship tilted and damage was everywhere. Crazy! pic.twitter.com/3fNx9sFBhW

— Michael Patterson (@michaelpNYC) March 5, 2019

Another passenger, Tony Ciaramello, posted this video on Facebook, taken shortly after the ship started to tip.

There are no confirmed numbers on how many people were injured and what the extent of the injuries were. The ship was scheduled to call in Port Canaveral today, and will be continuing down to the Bahamas as planned.

Information: Crew Center and WESH2