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Passengers' cabins flooded after storm hits cruise ship traveling through Gulf of Mexico

Footage filmed by passengers on board of the Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas shows flooded balconies and sunbeds piled up on the deck.

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Breaking news, dramatic video shows royal caribbean cruise ship passengers panic during freak storm.

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Dramatic video captured the moment panicked passengers ran for their lives aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship hit by a freak storm — which sent deck furniture flying as the vessel prepared to leave a Florida port.

The Independence of the Seas was about to embark on a voyage from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas about 4 p.m. June 16 when heavy rain and violent winds slammed the 15-deck, 1,112-foot-long vessel.

“Just a fun evening leaving Port Canaveral this past Friday. No announcement from the captain before or after, also no mention of what happened. Just pretend like it didn’t happen I guess,” TikTok user Lucassparrow1110 posted .

Sparrow also posted harrowing footage on Twitter of chairs and umbrellas flying on the ship as screaming passengers seek cover from the storm — and several people are seen sliding across a windswept walkway.

“Instead of telling people to come up to the top deck when we have a severe thunderstorm warning, maybe you should be more worried about your guests and employees and tell them to get inside,” he wrote.

At one point, a lounge chair narrowly misses a woman carrying a child.

Jenn Stancil, who captured footage of the storm moving in, told Fox 35 Orlando : “It just turned crazy. It looked like a scene from the movie ‘Twister’ is exactly what I thought, because you see these chairs flying up in the air.”

Jerry Pike, a local photographer who was sitting in his vehicle in Jetty Park during the outburst, also posted video of the storm.

“This is my view of Independence of the Seas as she started to get battered by the heavy winds whilst mid-spin attempting to turn around to leave the port,” Pike said in a tweet .

“You can see the rain line pushing towards us, and the Indy was completely gone from view due to the rain shortly after this,” he added.

A meteorologist for Fox 35 reported that winds reached from 55 to 60 mph at the height of the storm.

“The Independence was just getting battered by winds as it was trying to push off the dock,” Pike told Insider . “Then [it] was covered by the gray cloud of rain and we couldn’t see more than 20 yards out the window.”  

Kyleigh Cole, an agent with Boardwalk Travel Agency, expressed concerns about how Royal Caribbean handled the incident.

“There’s always something you can do, other than just letting the guests and the travelers getting poured on, rained down on and being in the middle of a storm,” Cole told Fox 35 .

“This could have ruined somebody’s cruise experience where they’ll never take another cruise again,” the travel agent added.

In a statement sent to the news outlet, the company said the “Independence of the seas encountered a sudden gust of high winds. This lasted for a brief period and there were no serious injuries to our guests or crew…”

The ship reportedly arrived safely at Coco Cay, an island used by Royal Caribbean about 55 miles north of Nassau.

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Carnival passengers recount ‘nightmare’ cruise as storm floods ship

Videos showed the carnival sunshine cabins and hallways flooding and ceilings leaking.

Matthew Branham and his fiancée, Madison Davis, were lying by a Carnival Sunshine pool on Friday aboard a cruise returning to Charleston, S.C., from the Bahamas when an announcement came over the loudspeaker. The captain was expecting rougher weather that evening, but there was nothing to worry about. So Branham and Davis didn’t worry.

As the day went on, “We noticed it started getting cooler in the afternoon — much, much cooler,” said Branham, 25, of Castlewood, Va. “And then it was like a switch was flipped, and it literally turned into a nightmare.”

En route back to Charleston Friday night into Saturday, the Carnival Sunshine navigated into a strong storm system that battered the southeast over the holiday weekend. Videos emerged on social media showing cabins and hallways flooding, shop floors littered with destroyed merchandise and leaking ceilings . Passenger Brad Morrell snapped a photo of an automated instrument map reporting a 69 knot, or 79 mph, wind.

#CarnivalSunshine : Due to return to Charleston, South Carolina this Saturday, May 27, 2023, has been delayed due to severe weather. The ship is currently off the South Carolina coast and holding position, unable to return to the port because of high winds & rough seas. #cruise 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/2B6HlAn2yD — ∼Marietta (@MariettaDaviz) May 28, 2023

Carnival said in a statement that the weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecast, but that its fleet operations center team, which relies on outside meteorology resources for itinerary planning, “coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location.”

“Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous,” the statement continued. “The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear.”

Strong Southeast storm slams Carolinas

Carnival said the captain made “several announcements about the weather and the delay it caused in returning to Charleston, asking guests to use extra precaution while walking around the ship.” Additionally, “some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made, but guests and crew were safe.”

The ship’s medical staff did help a “small number” of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance following the storm. Despite the significant damage and a delay in schedule, Carnival Sunshine embarked on its next five-day Bahama sailing on Saturday.

From their sea-view room, Branham and Davis watched as waves surged over their window and braced themselves as the 892-foot-long ship lurched in the storm.

“Waves were hitting the boat so hard that it was like an earthquake experience, jarring you like a really rough roller coaster — even in the middle floor,” Branham said.

They were told to stay in their cabins. Meanwhile, Branham said, TVs were falling off walls, and glassware was sliding off shelves and shattering on the floor. “You could not stand up in your room,” he said. “You could be thrown from the bed.”

They packed up their belongings when their floor started to flood and took shelter in a main lobby area.

“All of the employees were sprinting downstairs with life vests,” Branham said. “There were little kids besides us screaming and crying and throwing fits.”

Throughout the storm, Branham wondered why there weren’t more announcements from Carnival staff. Besides the warning of rougher seas earlier Friday and one Saturday morning after they’d weathered the storm, Branham said they weren’t given any official updates on their situation. When he asked workers what was going on, they told him not to worry.

⁦⁦ @CarnivalCruise ⁩ #carnivalsunshine still 75mph winds at 9:25am. Sitting and spinning in the Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/NITCO2l9Ss — FlyersCaptain™®© (@flyerscaptain) May 29, 2023

“But you see rooms flooded, and you can pick up a handful of sand and you’re kind of like, ‘What in the world? Why is nobody telling us anything?’” Branham said.

Jim Walker, a maritime lawyer and cruise industry legal expert, says his firm has been contacted by some Carnival Sunshine passengers who were injured during the storm, including a man who says he was struck by a door and broke his foot. Others have asked him about the potential for a class-action lawsuit.

While Walker said passengers should make their complaints known to Carnival, he doesn’t believe filing a lawsuit would be an efficient next step. Instead, impacted passengers can ask Carnival for a refund or a credit for another cruise, although there’s no guarantee the cruise line will grant such requests.

Pete Peterson, owner of Storybook Cruises , which is affiliated with Cruise Planners, said cruise ships keep a close eye on weather developments and will adjust their itinerary depending on the severity of the storm.

“Cruise lines monitor the weather all the time. They’re not going to put their passengers in harm’s way,” said Peterson, who has been a cruise adviser for more than 20 years and has sailed on nearly 60 cruises. “Obviously, some cruise lines are better at doing this than others.”

In 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas returned to port after cruising into a “bomb cyclone,” which damaged the ship amid winds gusting to 100 mph. The ship sailed into the remnants of Hurricane Hermine seven months later, causing additional problems.

To ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, a cruise ship can alter its course and circumvent the rough weather system. In stormy conditions, the crew can deploy the stabilizers, which will prevent the ship from rolling and bucking.

“You don’t experience the up and down,” Peterson said. “It’s not as rough a ride.”

Both approaches can add to a cruise line’s expenditures, Peterson said. Stabilizers slow the vessel, thereby consuming more fuel. Sailing around the storm can take longer than the original route and disrupt the company’s cruise schedule, leading to delays or cancellations. The cruise line may have to reimburse passengers or provide them with future credits because of the inconvenience.

“When they do something like that, it’s going to cost them money,” Peterson said.

Craig Setzer , a meteorologist and hurricane preparedness specialist, said that even with the hurricane-like conditions and flooding, “I would never be in doubt of the vessel’s integrity,” he said. “Cruise ships are structurally very, very sound and can survive a lot. They’re really rugged.”

Matthew Cappucci contributed to this report.

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Cruise ship hit by 100 mph winds, suffers damage

MIAMI (AP) -- The Latest on a cruise ship that was damaged in bad weather in the Atlantic Ocean (all times local):

Royal Caribbean says a cruise ship that suffered minor damage as it sailed through a storm, sending passengers to their cabins overnight, will turn around and head back to its home port of Cape Liberty, New Jersey, instead of continuing on its way to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Royal Caribbean announced the news on its corporate Twitter account Monday. Passengers say the storm started midafternoon Sunday, and the captain of the ship Anthem of the Seas ordered them to their staterooms for their safety.

The cruise line says in its tweets that the decision was made for guests' comfort because of weather forecasts that would have affected the ship's itinerary.

The tweets say guests will receive full refunds and certificates toward a future cruise.

The cruise line also tweeted: "We appreciate our guests' patience and cooperation. We know it was tough day on Sunday."

A Port Canaveral official says a cruise ship that was damaged as it sailed through a storm will arrive there early Tuesday morning - nearly 24 hours later than originally planned.

Port Canaveral spokeswoman Rosalind Harvey says in an email that officials there been told the ship Anthem of the Seas will arrive at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Royal Caribbean has not released a docking time for the ship, and spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez has said via email that she doesn't have an updated arrival time. Originally, she said, the ship was supposed to arrive at noon Monday.

According to a cruise line statement, no passengers were injured as the ship encountered high winds and rough seas. Royal Caribbean says the ship was damaged in some public areas and staterooms but was safe to remain at sea. The ship had departed from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Saturday.

The executive editor of the Detroit Free Press is aboard a cruise ship that suffered minor damage as it sailed through a storm, forcing passengers to their cabins for safety, and he's been posting to social media since the inclement weather hit.

Robert Huschka is on the Royal Caribbean ship Anthem of the Seas with his wife, son and friends. About 11 a.m. Sunday, before the worst of the storm, he posted a photo on Instagram of his son. The caption reads: "Someone likes the bouncy boat,"

Then, a few hours later, he tweeted: "Well, our cruise ship drove right into a storm. It's so rocky they are making us stay in our cabins."

Monday morning: he posted: "The good news? They never lost the Super Bowl signal. Perfect TV picture throughout storm!" He also posted photos of shattered glass panels on a pool deck.

A passenger says she was "shaking all over" and suffering panic attacks as her Royal Caribbean cruise ship experienced high wind and rough seas while sailing from New Jersey to Port Canaveral in Florida.

The storm struck the ship Anthem of the Seas on Sunday, and Royal Caribbean officials say it was damaged but still safe to be at sea.

Shara Strand of New York City says she's been on 20 cruises but never experienced that kind of weather. She said via Facebook that she "thought we were done for," describing 30-foot waves rocking the ship.

Strand says passengers haven't been notified when they'll arrive at Port Canaveral. Royal Caribbean has said the ship will be delayed, arriving later than its original scheduled time of noon, but hasn't given other details.

A passenger aboard a cruise ship that was damaged in rough seas says the weather forced people to stay in their cabins as items flew across the rooms, but she says the storm calmed less than 12 hours later.

Gabriella Lairson said via Facebook on Monday that the storm started about 3 p.m. Sunday. She says the captain of the Royal Caribbean ship Anthem of the Seas instructed everyone to go to their staterooms. Sixteen-year-old Lairson and her father - - of Ocean City, New Jersey - heard glasses in their bathroom shatter, and they put belongings in drawers and closets to prevent them from flying across the room.

Video that her father, Sam Lairson, shot shows wave after wave rising outside the balcony.

He says in an email, "The winds were so strong that I thought the phone would blow from my hands."

Gabriella Lairson says that by about 1:30 a.m. Monday, the storm had calmed.

She praised the captain and crew and says the ship held up well, with damage in only a few places.

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship ran into high winds and rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean, forcing passengers to stay in their cabins, but no injuries were reported.

Royal Caribbean said in a statement Monday that the ship Anthem of the Seas was damaged in some public areas and guest staterooms. Royal Caribbean didn't describe the damages but says the ship's safe to be at sea. The statement doesn't say where or when the ship encountered the bad weather.

The ship was headed to Port Canaveral, Florida. Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez says in an email that a noon arrival had been planned, but the weather caused a delay. She says she doesn't have an updated arrival time. She says passengers were asked to stay in their rooms and given complimentary access to their minibars.

According to Royal Caribbean's website, the ship departed from Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

...and some more. #anthemoftheseas #overthis #rocktheboat pic.twitter.com/pvBjYa6CrM — Leanna Petrone (@LeannaPetrone) February 8, 2016

just a little bit of the damage so far. boat is still rocking. #anthemoftheseas #overthis #150mphwinds #rocktheboat pic.twitter.com/veRMtGzBbE — Leanna Petrone (@LeannaPetrone) February 8, 2016

3:10 PM Eastern time, the calm before the Hurricane. #anthemoftheseas #royalcarribean pic.twitter.com/YI7qXxTv4k — Jacob Ibrag (@jaybrag) February 8, 2016

Don't think I've ever missed land this much. In other news, wish I took those swimming lessons... #anthemoftheseas #royalcarribean — Jacob Ibrag (@jaybrag) February 8, 2016

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Storm causes messy conditions on a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico

A powerful thunderstorm struck on the final day of a cruise for the Voyager of the Seas, sending deck chairs flying and causing flooding in some passengers' rooms.

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Passenger: I Thought Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Was 'Going To Tip'

February 8, 2016 / 11:15 PM EST / CBS New York

MIAMI (CBSNewYork/AP) --  A Royal Caribbean cruise ship ran into high winds and rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, forcing frightened passengers into their cabins overnight as their belongings flew about, waves rose as high as 30 feet, and winds howled outside. The cruise line says that although no one was injured and the ship suffered only minor damage, it's turning around and sailing back to its home port in New Jersey.

The Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas cruise ship is expected to return to Cape Liberty in Bayonne on Wednesday morning.

Pictures and videos from passengers showed the damage that happened aboard the ship.

"I was shaking all over,'' Shara Strand, of New York City, wrote to The Associated Press via Facebook on Monday. "Panic attack, things like that --- I've been on over 20 cruises, I've been through a hurricane, it was never like this. Never.''

That's not the inside of a washing machine! That's what it looked like inside a cabin on the Anthem of the Seas when it hit rough seas... . Read more here: http://cbsloc.al/1Sc2bgZ Posted by CBS New York on Monday, February 8, 2016

Passenger Scott Tonback spoke with CBS2 by phone and said he was stuck in his cabin on the Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas for over 12 hours.

"I'm on the seventh floor and literally had waves up to my deck," he said, "They said, 'Oh, help yourself to the minibar free of charge, and we'll give you free movies.'"

Tonback was angry about the decision to attempt to outrun a storm that produced hurricane force winds and 30 foot waves.

"When we boarded the ship the captain said, 'Well, we're going to put the ship full speed ahead and try to outrun the storm,'" he said.

George Sycip told CBS2 that his vacation soon became a nightmare.

"You could hear the waves crashing, metal twisting, all night long. It was scary," he said. "There was a point where I was like this thing is going to tip."

Passenger Jared Johnson shot video after the captain ordered everyone back to their rooms.

"At one point, people were falling over and they said, 'Hold the wheelchair,'" Johnson described to CBS2. "Myself and others were standing over holding the wheelchairs so they weren't going to be sliding around."

Sen. Bill Nelson has called for the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate.

"The thing about this storm was that it was forecast for days. So why in the world would a cruise ship with thousands of passengers go sailing right into it?'' Nelson said on the Senate floor on Monday, according to a news release from his office.

The National Weather Service's Ocean Prediction Center had issued an alert for a strong storm four days in advance, said Susan Buchanan with the weather service. The first warning was issued Saturday for possible hurricane-force winds in the area the ship was scheduled to sail through.

The massive cruise ship was headed to Port Canaveral, Florida from its home port of Cape Liberty, New Jersey on Saturday and ran into high winds and rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean.

As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, giant waves crashed into windows, knocked the ship around, and damaged anything that wasn't bolted down.

A noon arrival had been planned, but the weather caused a delay. Passengers were asked to stay in their rooms and given complimentary access to their minibars.

Luckily, only four passengers were injured during the event, though none seriously, according to spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez.

We appreciate our guests' patience and cooperation. We know it was tough day on Sunday apologize for their discomfort. #AnthemoftheSeas — Royal Caribbean Group (@NewsfromRCgroup) February 8, 2016

The 4,905-passenger ship is billed as the most technologically advanced cruise vessel ever. It boasts fast internet speeds, an all-digital check-in process, a skydiving simulator at sea and the first bumper cars at sea.

"Anthem of the Seas will turn around and sail back to Cape Liberty, New Jersey," Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said. "This decision was made due to weather forecasted for 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. 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."

Who knew "ocean view" was going to be literal? #anthemoftheseas https://t.co/hMvM6hZC4U — Greg (@flatgreg) February 8, 2016

"We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our guests. We know it was tough day on Sunday and apologize for their discomfort. We also thank our captain and crew for guiding the ship safely back to better weather," Martinez added.

WEB EXTRA: 'ANTHEM OF THE SEAS' FAST FACTS

Passengers posted dramatic photos and video featuring broken vases, and overturned tables and chairs on social media. One passenger videotaped what it looked like outside his cabin, with a view that WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron said "looked like the inside of a washing machine."

Gabriella Lairson said via Facebook that the storm started about 3 p.m. Sunday. She said the captain instructed everyone to go to their staterooms.

finally moving, winds still feel strong but nowhere close to the chaos 12 hours ago. #anthemoftheseas #rocktheboat #guessimnotgoingtodisney ???? — Leanna Nicole (@LeannaPetrone) February 8, 2016

Sixteen-year-old Lairson and her father, of Ocean City, New Jersey, heard glasses in their bathroom shatter and they put belongings in drawers and closets to prevent them from flying across the room.

Video that her father, Sam Lairson, shot shows wave after wave rising outside the balcony. He said in an email, "The winds were so strong that I thought the phone would blow from my hands.''

Lairson said that by about 1:30 a.m. Monday, the storm had calmed. She praised the captain and crew and said the ship held up well, with damage in only a few places.

Royal Caribbean International said it will give each guest a full refund of the fare paid for their cruise.

"We will also provide each guest with a future cruise certificate for 50% of the cruise fare paid. 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," Martinez said.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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Royal Caribbean Cancels Radiance of the Seas Departure

• April 28, 2024

Royal Caribbean International is canceling the current cruise of the Radiance of the Seas. Despite having passengers embarking the ship for a shortened sailing , the company announced this past Saturday that the cruise is no longer going ahead.

“As you are aware, our teams have been vigorously working to have the Radiance of the Seas prepared to set sail on our shortened April 26, 2024 sailing,” Royal Caribbean said in a letter sent to guests onboard.

“Despite our best efforts, circumstances beyond our control have delayed our sailing further. As a result, we’ll regrettably have to cancel our cruise,” the company added.

Facing a technical issue since its previous cruise , the 2001-built ship was scheduled to leave from Vancouver on April 28 for a shortened cruise to Alaska.

Although the visit to Juneau had to be cancelled, the Radiance was still scheduled to visit Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point before returning to Vancouver on May 3.

“We understand the disappointment due to this unfortunate turn of events. We truly extend our sincerest apologies for the continued unforeseen disruption to your vacation,” Royal Caribbean added.

With the cruise cancelled, passengers had to disembark the ship on April 28, according to the company’s statement.

Guests who booked flights or transfers through Royal Caribbean International had their arrangements automatically rescheduled, the company said.

Royal Caribbean also promised to assist passengers with independent hotel arrangements through a section of its mobile app.

Affected guests will receive a 100 percent refund, in addition to a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) of the amount they paid for the cruise fare, which can be used for a new booking.

The company also provided free internet for guests to plan their onward travel and kept its bars open while passengers were disembarking.

Royal Caribbean will reimburse any travel change fees up to $250 for domestic travel and $400 for international travel, the statement added.

The company also stated that they will reimburse up to $250 for hotel costs per stateroom, per night, for two nights as guests make their way home.

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Nearly 200 people sick in norovirus outbreaks on Princess, Royal Caribbean ships

Nearly 200 people got sick in norovirus outbreaks on Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International ships.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 94 of the 2,532 guests on Sapphire Princess reported being ill during its April 5 cruise, along with 20 crew members. The round-trip cruise, which left from Los Angeles with stops in Hawaii and the South Pacific, will end on May 7, according to CruiseMapper .

On Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, 67 of its 1,993 guests reported being ill in addition to two crew members during a cruise that ended April 22, according to the CDC . The two-week voyage sailed from Tampa, Florida to Los Angeles with stops in countries like Colombia and Panama, according to CruiseMapper .

In both outbreaks, the guests and crew members’ main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting.

Princess, Royal Caribbean and the ships’ crews implemented heightened cleaning and disinfection measures and isolated those who were sick, among other steps, the health agency said.

"At the first sign of an increase in the numbers of passengers reporting to the medical center with gastrointestinal illness, we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitation procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus," a Princess spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "Our sanitation program, developed in coordination with the CDC, includes disinfection measures, isolation of ill passengers and communication to passengers about steps they can take to stay well while onboard."

Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The CDC has logged six outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that met its threshold for public notification since the beginning of the year. Norovirus was listed as the causative agent in five, while one was unknown.

The illness is often associated with cruise ships but outbreaks occur in communities on land as well, according to Dr. Sarah E. Hochman, a hospital epidemiologist and the section chief of infectious diseases at NYU Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital.

“There's not something special or unique about cruise ships,” she said. “It's really any type of congregate setting, but it's also happening out in the community on a much smaller scale among households and household contacts. It just doesn't come to the attention of public health as much as it does for larger congregate settings.”

Hochman said the virus is “incredibly infectious” and congregate settings tend to have many shared surfaces, such as handrails in cruise ship stairwells or elevators. “And so, if you just have one person who's shedding the virus and touches the surface and then someone else touches it and then touches their mouth, that's how it can spread in those types of settings.”

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer isn't as effective against norovirus, and Hochman emphasized that washing hands with soap and water “will do a lot to prevent the spread.”

The news comes after more than two dozen Silversea Cruises guests got sick in a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on the luxury line’s Silver Nova ship during a sailing that began in late March.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.

Posted: April 20, 2024 | Last updated: April 23, 2024

• Royal Caribbean invited me to spend three complimentary nights on its new Icon of the Seas  in January.
• My eight favorite amenities included the waterpark and jazz bar.
• I've yet to see most of the amenities on my list on other cruise ships.

There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings .

The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do. Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer.

If you're a frequent cruiser — especially with Royal Caribbean — amenities like the mini-golf course and water playground may not seem exciting.

But of all the activities the new world's largest cruise ship has to offer, my eight favorites are, for the most part, ones I've yet to see on another vessel.

Take a look at what made the cut.

1. The six-slide waterpark

It wouldn't be a roundup of Icon of the Seas' best amenities without a mention of its waterpark.

Plenty of family-friendly cruise ships have waterslides, but few have six — or even one that requires a multi-person raft.

However, if you don't like the feeling of your stomach dropping, I'd advise skipping the 46-foot-tall drop slide.

2. The adult-only suspended infinity pool

The 7,600-guest Icon of the Seas has seven pools and nine hot tubs. As a kid-fearing adult, I loved the grown-ups-only suspended infinity pool.

I spent my time there perched at one of its in-water loungers, contently splashing my legs around the water, wondering if I actually hated cruises.

While I would've preferred a quieter atmosphere (the DJ did not, in fact, play smooth jazz), the pool's views, day beds, and lack of screaming children were hard to beat.

3. The Crown’s Edge thrill 'ride'

There's no need to grab coffee before harnessing up for the part-zipling, part-agility Crown's Edge course. You'll be jolted awake when the floor drops from beneath your feet, leaving you dangling 154 feet above the ocean before the zipline kicks in.

Unfortunately, it comes with two costs: $49 and a spike of anxiety.

4. The 'Wizard of Oz' and 'Aqua Action!' shows

If you hate cruise shows, Icon of the Seas could make you change your mind.

The ship's riff on Broadway-approved "Wizard of Oz" — 16-piece live orchestra and flying bed included — delighted me, a hater of most musicals.

For something less traditional, the semi-circle AquaDome theater hosts a compelling multi-disciplinary swim, dive, and aerial show reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil.

It's the first show-at-sea I've seen with a waterfall and nine-foot-tall robotic arms, and so far, it's one of my favorites.

5. The live jazz bar

Ya like jazz? So do I.

Icon of the Seas has plenty of live music venues — including rowdy karaoke and dueling pianos bars, if that counts. But if you're a jazz fan or looking for a peaceful nightcap, none of these options will top the live music at Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.

6. The customizable Mediterranean-style wrap at the five-stall food hall

The mega-ship's food hall wasn't nearly as diverse or exciting as the one on Norwegian Prima .

But compared to the rest of my mediocre meals on Icon of the Seas — including dinner at a specialty restaurant — my complimentary pork pita wrap from the food hall's Mediterranean-inspired stall was admittedly pretty decent.

The Cava -like meal was balanced, succulent, and filling. Ending it with a strawberry nutella crepe from one of the vendors didn't hurt either.

7. The Pearl Café with sweeping ocean views

Everyone takes a picture inside the Pearl . But few people know that the best part about the glittering structure isn't what's inside it — it's what's behind it: the Pearl Café.

Admittedly, the food wasn't standout.

But it's 2024. In this era, we don't dine for food. We dine for vibes . And the Pearl Café was definitely "serving" (even with its mediocre sandwiches).

At first glance, I had snubbed the dining and lounge area as a rip-off of a generic airport coffee shop. But during my three days on Icon, I returned to the centrally located space more often than expected. It turns out it's a great place to get some work done.

8. The lounging pods that tower above passerbys

Speaking of vibes, if you're looking for a secluded place to drink (as in, not the swim-up pool bar), few will top the Overlook Pods, perched just behind the AquaDome.

If you want to feel like you're drinking in a nest atop a tree, bring your coffee-infused cocktail from nearby Rye and Bean to one of the elevated pods. .

Just don't drink too much. What goes up must come down. And to get down from the pods, you'll have to take the stairs.

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I stayed in a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's 2 newest and largest cruise ships. One was clearly better — and $900 cheaper.

• Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are Royal Caribbean's newest and largest cruise ships.
• I stayed in both of their balcony staterooms — a $130-per-person-per-day difference.
• Icon's pricier cabin looked more modern but lacked the functionality and comfort of Wonder's.

Do you know what $900 could buy you? More than three years of Netflix's premium plan, a new Gucci purse, or 2,059 spicy chicken McNuggets.

Or, in the case of Royal Caribbean's two largest and newest cruise ships , the cash could mean the difference between a cheap but functional balcony cabin and, ironically, a more expensive but less comfortable one.

Staterooms with balconies are the most popular cruise cabin category. After all, if you're going on a vacation at sea, wouldn't you want to be able to feel its breeze from your room?

But not all cabins with private outdoor spaces are created equal, even on two new mega-ships owned by the same cruise line.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in 2022 and its larger successor, Icon of the Seas, in January.

Royal Caribbean assigned me an ocean-view balcony cabin for both complimentary sailings, the longest of which was three nights on Icon.

Both ships are operating seven-night cruises around the Caribbean in 2024.

About 66% of Wonder's cabins fall under the 'balcony' category. On Icon, they make up half of the staterooms.

Wonder of the Seas' balcony cabins start shy of $1,110 per person in 2024.

Even with nearly identical itineraries, the ones on Icon are, at their cheapest, a little more than $2,000 per person this year — or double that for the a New Year's cruise.

Wonder and Icon are the most boisterous, flamboyant, and overwhelming vessels I've ever boarded.

The pool decks were intensely colorful, the crowds were inescapable, and the long lists of activities and dining options were paralyzing.

So imagine my surprise when I unlocked my doors to find surprisingly bland rooms.

The neutral tans, blues, and whites did not scream "we belong on the world's biggest and most colorful cruise ships."

The vessels have an almost two-year age difference, as evidenced by some of their decor (mainly Icon's recessed mood lights and the more chic, darker wood tones).

But besides the light fixtures, rugs, and — frankly negligible — wall art and pillows, both cabins were fairly underwhelming compared to everything outside their front doors .

Aesthetics aside, let’s talk functionality.

Both had furnished 50-square-foot balconies.

Regarding the interior space, my 204-square-foot cabin on Icon of the Seas was 22 square feet larger than mine on Wonder.

In retrospect, I would've thought Icon's was smaller. More on that in a bit.

Both king-sized beds faced a television and some wall storage.

And both were flanked by light fixtures with built-in USB outlets, as is expected on most modern cruise ships.

The cruise line says the ships' balcony cabins use two twin mattresses that have been "converted" to make a king bed. It's a common practice I've never had an issue with — until Icon.

On Wonder, the plush pillows enveloped me the moment I laid down. I slept great. No complaints.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the new ship.

I (my back pain) could feel the hard ridge where the two mattresses met, making for a pretty miserable and uncomfortable sleep.

So much for starfishing — I kept to one side of the bed to avoid rolling over the bony bump.

For the most part, the living “rooms” were the same.

Both had the same furniture I see on almost every mass-market ship: a couch that could convert into a bed and a desk that extended into a dresser.

But storage, a high priority for cruisers, was organized differently.

Two thin wardrobes with drawers, hangars, and shelves surrounded either side of my bed on Wonder .

Icon, on the other hand, had one large wardrobe next to the living room.

Unfortunately, it had noticeably less shelving. And the metal bins let out ear-piercing screeches at every move — a lazy and annoying detail that the designers could've easily fixed with cheap felt pads.

So far, the differences have been small. But not for long.

I had two gripes with my Wonder bathroom: the lack of hair conditioner and the ill-positioned faucet that flooded the counter whenever I washed my hands.

I had the same issues on Icon. But that was the least of my concerns.

My bathroom on the older ship was well-sized for 1 person, but maybe too small for 2.

On Icon — the world's largest cruise ship — my bathroom was too compact for even one body.

Michael Bayley, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told reporters in January that 80% of Icon's 2,805 cabins were designed for families, a sharp increase from previous vessels like Wonder.

I'm not sure a family of four could coexist in Icon's balcony cabin — solely because of the bathroom size. There's no way two people could fit in there simultaneously. A fight over who gets priority access to the toilet could ruin a peaceful family vacation! (Which is to say, I'm glad I was traveling alone.)

With the bathroom door closed, I accidentally elbowed the walls more times than I could count.

The spare towels had to be stored on a shelf inside the shower. Because the counter was so small, I had to keep most of my toiletries and products on the shelves or in the drawer.

Surprisingly, that's where Icon excelled. Its bathroom had more storage options than its older counterpart, which didn't even have a drawer.

However, the older ship's shower had a clothesline perfect for drying swimwear. It's a small but crucial amenity, especially on a vessel with so many pools and waterslides.

Unfortunately, both were stocked with two-in-one body wash and shampoo — and no hair conditioner

Let’s go through our checklist.

My balcony cabin on Wonder looked less modern than its successor (the TV on Icon had Chromecast, after all).

But it was significantly more functional and comfortable. The bed was incomparably more pleasant, the closets had more defined storage components, and the bathroom was considerably larger, even if it lacked additional shelving and drawers.

The question is: Which one is more worth its price?

Icon's cheapest balcony cabins are currently $900 more than the most affordable ones on Wonder — an almost $130 per person and day difference.

Based on the quality of the staterooms alone, if you prioritize functionality, comfort, and affordability over modern decor, consider saving money and going with the two-year-old ship .

But let’s not forget that cruise fares include unlimited food, on board activities, and nighttime entertainment.

Both ships have a fairly similar list of amenities. But only the newer one has a waterpark , an adult-only infinity pool club, and a swim-up bar, to name a few unique amenities.

So yes, Icon's balcony cabins are more costly. But the staggering price difference — and tiny bathroom — could be worth it if you think the its surplus of additional amenities is worth paying for.

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• RCI-Royal Caribbean revives operations in China, plans second...

RCI-Royal Caribbean revives operations in China, plans second ship by 2025

RCI-Royal Caribbean International is set to resume cruises for the Chinese market this weekend after a nearly 4-year hiatus, with plans to deploy a second ship in 2025.

The decision to redeploy to China signifies RCI's return to an important market after withdrawing in early 2020 due to the pandemic. During Royal Caribbean Group's Q1 earnings call on Thursday, executives noted that booking volume and prices for cruises in China have surpassed 2019 levels.

Michael Bayley (RCI's President and CEO) highlighted the success in the Chinese market by stating they had already deployed a second ship into the China market which gave an indication of how well the first ship was doing in the China market.

Currently, Spectrum of the Seas (debuted in Shanghai in 2019) is sailing from Singapore to Shanghai and will commence homeporting starting April 27th. The ship will embark on a 4-day Shanghai roundtrip to Hakata-Fukuoka Japan , on the same day. Later this year, Anthem of the Seas will take over from Spectrum OTS, and in 2025, will be joined by Ovation of the Seas (to be homeported in Tianjin ), according to Jason Liberty (RCG's CEO).

Michael Bayley previously mentioned that net revenue from a Chinese passenger is slightly higher than that from an American one when announcing the brand's return to the region a year ago.

In response to changes brought about by the pandemic, Royal Caribbean's sales strategy in China now emphasizes direct sales. Despite challenges faced by retailers during the pandemic, the brand had already been investing in technology, resources, and personnel to strengthen its direct business in the region, as stated by Bayley during the earnings call.