Severe weather damages Royal Caribbean"s Freedom of the Seas
This item was written by Larry Bleiberg, former travel editor of The Dallas Morning News. Bleiberg is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.
Royal Caribbean"s Freedom of the Seas sustained minor damage Sunday night when the ship was departing Port Canaveral, Fla., the cruise line says.
There were also some injuries, although the line says they were not serious.
The incident happened at 7:30 p.m. when the vessel, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, "experienced extreme wind and sea conditions, well beyond what was forecasted," the line said in a statement.
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The wind speed was more than three times what was forecast, it said. "At this time there have not been any serious injuries reported. The ship has sustained some damage to the public areas and guest staterooms, which in no way affect the sea-worthiness of the ship."
The ship will continue on its regularly scheduled seven-night itinerary, which includes port calls to CocoCay, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philli