The Quantum of the Seas, a luxury cruise liner operated by Royal Caribbean, faced an unplanned extension of its voyage due to the ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Originally scheduled to dock in Brisbane on Friday, the ship was forced to remain at sea, prioritizing passenger safety as the cyclone wreaked havoc on the Gold Coast.
Passengers aboard the cruise, which had been enjoying a week-long journey through the South Pacific, were informed of the delay by Royal Caribbean. The decision came after severe weather conditions closed the Port of Brisbane, making a timely return impossible. The ship revisited Noumea on Friday before setting course for a Monday morning arrival in Brisbane at approximately 6:30 AM.
The unexpected extension of the cruise left passengers grappling with altered travel plans. Royal Caribbean took measures to mitigate the inconvenience by offering each stateroom an hour of complimentary internet access to facilitate new travel arrangements. Additionally, the cruise line committed to covering $200 USD for domestic flight changes and $400 USD for international adjustments.
“Due to the development of the storm and the closure of the Port of Brisbane, we have decided to remain at sea and safely away from the storm until it moves ashore by week’s end,” said a spokesperson from Royal Caribbean.
The impact of Cyclone Alfred was severe, causing power outages and significant damage along the Gold Coast. The cyclone's influence extended beyond coastal regions, leading to widespread disruptions.
“Please know, being on-board is one of the safest places because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather,” reassured Royal Caribbean, highlighting their commitment to passenger safety.
The ship's captain communicated regularly with passengers, updating them on weather conditions and itinerary changes. On Tuesday, he announced a strategic detour over Noumea to bypass the worst of the cyclone's path.
“On Tuesday, the captain made an announcement saying we were going to try and go over Noumea to avoid what we could of the cyclone, but told everyone to prepare for it to be really rough,” recounted a passenger.
As workers secured deck chairs and closed pools onboard, passengers were reassured that all possible safety measures were in place. The precautionary steps underscored the seriousness of the storm's threat.
“Workers were tying all the deckchairs down and closing the pools,” observed another passenger.
The Port of Brisbane maintained restrictions as a precautionary measure on Saturday afternoon, with crews actively working towards resuming operations at both airports by Sunday.
“While safety remains paramount, all possible efforts are going towards getting the port back up and running when it’s appropriate to do so,” stated a port official.
Despite the unforeseen challenges, passengers remained in good spirits, albeit with a heightened awareness of the cyclone's potential dangers. The memory of past storms lingered in their minds.
“It’s a little scary knowing how badly (the Gold Coast) was hit during the Christmas Day storm in 2023,” expressed a concerned passenger.
Leave a Reply