Royal Caribbean's Anthem Of The Seas Returns To Port Early, Again
BAYONNE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A cruise ship that was previously battered by a major storm in the Atlantic Ocean has returned to port early, cutting short another cruise.
Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas docked in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Wednesday morning.
The ship was scheduled to return from a southern Caribbean cruise on Friday. However, cruise line spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said planned stops in Barbados and St. Kitts were skipped so the 1,141-foot ship could avoid predicted strong winds and rough seas.
"I think that they are being proactive, I think the company is being proactive, which is excellent," a passenger named Kathy told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck. "Yes, I'm disappointed that my vacation was cut short, but I'd much rather be safe than sorry."
The company said the captain was following a new storm avoidance policy that was instituted after the ship was damaged last month when 4,500 passengers hunkered down for hours because of 30-foot waves and hurricane force winds. Four sustained minor injuries.
Martinez also said a small number of the ship's 6,000 passengers and crew have been treated for what's believed to be norovirus.
"I do believe that some people were getting sick, but I don't believe it was an intense as maybe the rumors out there," passenger Kathy said.
Royal Caribbean said it had nothing to do with the decision to return.
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