A concerning video shows the moment passengers aboard the Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas faced sheer panic as the ship took a drastic tilt during its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
The cruise - a journey from Barcelona to Miami - quickly escalated into a scenario of clinging for balance and dodging airborne debris as a sudden "unexpected wind gust" caused the vessel to reportedly tilt 45 degrees, Royal Caribbean Cruises said in a statement.
The Explorer of the Seas - a floating luxury resort that boasts a skating rink, mini-golf, waterslides, and a rock climbing wall - was navigating near Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands, when chaos struck.
A wind that intensified from a stiff 46 mph to a ferocious 86 mph battered the ship, turning relaxation areas into areas of panic. The luxury liner measures 1,020 feet and can hold up to 4,290 guests and 1,185 crew members, per CBS News.
Onboard, scenes of havoc unfolded as drinks crashed from tables and shopping areas bore the brunt of the strong winds. The ship’s central promenade, usually bustling with shoppers and diners, was among the hardest hit, looking "worse for wear", according to distressed passengers.
Advertising boards became projectiles, adding to the surreal experience. Amid the chaos, bottles shattered, and clothing racks toppled, leaving the crew and holidaymakers in disbelief.
The intense swaying of the ship forced everyone onboard to grab whatever they could for support.
Jonathan Parrish, a passenger recounting those nerve-wracking moments to CBS News, described a tense atmosphere punctuated by a "hard right turn" which was followed by an even more intense maneuver.
"I think there was about five minutes in there where everybody was wondering what was going on," Parrish shared. "All the merchandise that you could purchase in the Royal Promenade was just all spread out throughout the floor."
The captain’s prompt intervention with an announcement provided a brief respite, injecting a much-needed calm amid the storm. Parrish recalled how the announcement made him feel like he was in "the best hands you could have been in".
Passengers were then asked to return to their cabins for accountability checks.
Tragically, the ordeal resulted in injury for one passenger, prompting an urgent diversion to Las Palmas for medical attention.
Royal Caribbean promptly addressed the incident, confirming the intense wind gust and the resultant decision to reroute to Las Palmas for the passenger's medical care.
Some passengers took to social media to share footage of the panic, with one guest writing on TikTok that the ship felt like it "tilted 45 degrees in to the ocean".
"During an unexpected wind gust near Tenerife, Spain, one of our sailings experienced sudden movement," a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. "One of our guests was injured and requires additional medical care, so the ship will make a call in Las Palmas, Spain for a medical disembarkation.
"We are communicating these changes directly with our guests."
As the Explorer of the Seas sets its course towards Miami, now delayed by two weeks, those aboard will surely have tales of a vacation that delivered unexpected thrills and a stark reminder of nature’s force.