Has a Cruise Ship Ever Been in a Hurricane?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships are well-known for their luxurious vacations at sea, providing an amazing experience to travelers around the world. However, what happens when a cruise ship is caught in the middle of a hurricane? Has this ever happened before?

The answer is yes. Cruise ships have been caught in hurricanes before and there have been some harrowing tales of survival.

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the Caribbean islands and Florida with full force. Several cruise ships were caught up in the storm, including one Carnival cruise ship which was heading from Jamaica to Miami. Although the ship was battered by high winds and heavy rains, it was able to make it safely back to Miami with all passengers and crew members unharmed.

In September 2018, Hurricane Florence also caused havoc in the Caribbean Sea, hitting several cruise ships as it passed through. One Royal Caribbean cruise ship was particularly affected by the storm, as it sustained major damage due to high winds and rough seas. Fortunately, all onboard were rescued safely.

In addition to these two examples, there have been other instances of cruise ships being caught in hurricanes over the years. For example, in 2017 a Norwegian Cruise Line ship was caught in Hurricane Harvey off Texas’s coast while en route to Galveston. The passengers were eventually rescued by another Norwegian Cruise Line vessel.

Conclusion:

It is clear that a cruise ship can indeed be affected by a hurricane if they are unlucky enough to be caught in its path. Thankfully, due to advances in technology and safety protocols onboard modern-day vessels, these incidents usually end without any casualties or major damage.