Damaged Anthem of the Seas docks back in N.J.
BAYONNE, N.J. — Royal Caribbean's tattered Anthem of the Seas arrived back in Bayonne Wednesday night after the cruise ship was caught in a storm, injuring passengers and damaging the 168,666-ton vessel.
The cruise line, in a statement sent to Paste BN, suggested the "extreme wind and sea conditions" were unexpected, noting that the wind speeds were higher than what was forecast.
Four passengers were injured during the incident, though none seriously, according to Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez. There were 4,529 passengers and 1,616 crew members on board, she said.
Jeannine Lamantia, 42, of Jamesburg told Asbury Park Press that she was relieved her mom and stepfather were unhurt.
Frank McHugh walked up the gangway saying he was glad to be "free at last."
Anthem of the Seas was on a seven-day cruise to the Bahamas, according to a release from the Coast Guard. The ship left New Jersey Saturday and was heading to a stop in Port Canaveral, Fla., when it was hit by a storm Sunday near Cape Hatteras, N.C.
The storm produced wind gusts of more than 75 mph and rough 30-foot seas, according to the Coast Guard. Damage to the ship was largely cosmetic and the vessel remained seaworthy and maneuverable.
A team from Coast Guard Sector New York will inspect the ship, according to the release.
The Coast Guard will help determine if there are any contributing factors or lessons to be learned from this event that could help prevent injuries or damage in the future, the release said. The ship's home port is in the Bahamas and investigators from the island commonwealth will lead the investigation.
Christened in April 2015, Anthem is tied with sister vessel Quantum of the Seas as the third-largest cruise ship ever built.
Contributing: Paste BN. Follow Andrew Ford on Twitter: @AndrewFordNews
About the ship
Paste BN Cruise was among a handful of U.S. media outlets to get early access to Anthem before its christening in Southampton, England. For our deck-by-deck tour of the vessel's interior areas and cabins, scroll through the carousels below.