Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Tilts 45 Degrees Mid-Voyage, Creating Chaos And Shock Among Passengers

With endless buffets, sweeping ocean views, and multiple destinations on the itinerary, cruises are typically seen as the ultimate vacation escape. But as recent footage reveals, a cruise can also come with some truly frightening moments, like a ship tilting mid-journey.

The unsettling video was recorded aboard the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas as it journeyed from Barcelona, Spain, to Miami, Florida, when severe weather struck.

In the footage, passengers can be seen struggling to walk as the entire ship leaned sharply to one side, causing items to tumble off tables and shelves in the bar area.

When the ship was near Tenerife, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, it was hit by what Royal Caribbean described as an "unexpected wind gust" that caused sudden and intense movement throughout the vessel.

One passenger, Jonathan Parrish, explained in an interview with CBS Miami that he was informed the wind had surged from 46mph to an astonishing 84mph in just six minutes.

"[There's] not much you can do about that, with mother nature," he said, summarizing the feeling on board.

Parrish recalled experiencing a "hard right turn" followed by an even stronger turn while he was attending a show in the ship’s theater.

Along with other passengers, he left the theater to investigate, sharing: "Everybody kind of walked around a little bit, just gawking at all the bottles from the bar that had fallen. All the merchandise that you could purchase in the Royal Promenade was just all spread out throughout the floor."

"I think there was about five minutes in there where everybody was wondering what was going on, but as soon as the captain came on and made the announcement of what had happened, [it] kind of gave you a sense of calmness," Parrish continued, reflecting on the ship captain’s calming announcement.

Items fell from shelves and tables on the ship CBS Miami

Passengers were instructed to return to their cabins while the crew conducted accountability checks to ensure everyone’s safety.

Although Parrish said he felt reassured after the captain’s announcement, viewers who saw the video of the tilting ship have been horrified, with some estimating the tilt reached as much as 45 degrees.

"I did not need to see this 9 days before I leave for my first damn cruise," one TikTok user wrote after seeing the video on the @digitalnomado page.

"This only further solidifies my lifelong decision to NEVER go on a cruise," added another concerned viewer.

Following the incident, Royal Caribbean confirmed that one guest had been injured during the ordeal.

"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," the company stated.