Local couple on cruise ship caught in hurricane force winds

February 9, 2016 10:16 pm

By News Staff

Reporting by Alexandra Cowley

news@abc6.com

A Cranston couple on board the cruise ship that got caught in hurricane force winds is sharing those terrifying moments with ABC6.

The Royal Caribbean Cruise ship got stuck right in the middle of a massive storm with wind gusts over 100 miles per hour and waves reaching 30 feet high.

"20 to 25 foot seas. Good times."

There were hundreds of passengers on board the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship during the storm Sunday night.

"You could see the crest of waves up to the balcony."

Cranston couple Scott and Shanon Horridge cruise twice a year. They were excited for their week-long vacation at sea bound for the Bahamas until Sunday evening, just one day after leaving New Jersey.

"At first it was just raining, a little bit of wind, it wasn’t too bad, and then it just rapidly intensified. Around 3 o’clock they asked us to go back to our state room and then it just got worse from there. We had 25 to 30 foot seas and a hundred plus mile an hour winds. It was pretty exciting," they said.

"I would say between 5:30 and 6:30 it was really rough, yeah, we were nervous. You can’t fight that… your body has the fight or flight… so you are feeling it."

The Horridge’s say the crew and captain did a great job of keeping everyone calm making regular announcements and checking up on people in their rooms, offering food and drinks.

"We were drinking wine and watching the Super Bowl in our cabin. We were fine."

The ship’s captain is claiming the storm they encountered was worse than what was forecast and now some are questioning his decision to take off in the first place.

As for the Horridge’s, they admit they’re bummed.

"Everyone’s feeling kind of disappointed. We’re going back home to snow!"

The cruise line has apologized and is offering a full refund for passengers. The ship is scheduled to be back in New Jersey sometimes Wednesday evening.