For those of you who enjoy a rough ride, read on!

Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas have just endured a nightmare 24 hours after the ship got caught right in the middle of a hurricane off the east coast of the US. Anthem left Cape Liberty in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon, heading for Orlando nut by Sunday afternoon had hit really rough weather off the coast of South Carolina with radar images showing it apparently heading straight through a hurricane-force storm. So severe were the conditions that the Captain ordered all passengers to stay in their cabins for their own safety!

Winds of up to 150 mph were recorded and waves of up to 30 ft high battered the vessel, and the watertight doors on Deck Five had to be locked as Anthem had been taking on water. Photo’s posted by passengers and crew along with photos have been posted on social media and show what a truly terrifying ordeal this must have been for everyone on board. Chairs and tables indoors are scattered everywhere, the galley looks like Hiroshima just after the bomb, and giant plant pots can be seen upturned.

Some reports said that they ship was listing to almost 45 degrees at one point and despite the Captains best efforts the wind and waves prevented him from turning the ship to sail away from the storm. Some passengers decided to leave their cabins and headed to their muster stations.

This is definitely a cruise they won’t forget in a hurry I’m sure, and they will be dining out on it for many months to come I should think. The good news is that due to skills of the Captain and his crew the ship is now safely heading towards Bayonne. One passenger tweeted “The Captain made wise decisions. Please share that all are safe and well cared for”.

Have you ever been caught in really rough seas? I think it would terrify me! I have a couple of clients who always book a forward cabin on a high deck and actually pray for rough seas, the rougher the better for them!

What has happened in the last 24 hours is exceptionally rare thanks to modern technology. Ships are usually able to avoid such severe conditions. Unfortunately it just wasn’t possible on this occasion but looks as though the Captain saved the day!

Happy Cruising folks (in calm seas I hope!)