CHRISTIANSBURG (WSLS 10) - After a terrifying trip at sea, a Christiansburg woman is back home safe. She recalls clinging to the hallway railings just to stand as massive waves and hurricane-force winds slammed into the Royal Caribbean cruise ship she was on heading to the Bahamas.
From Christiansburg resident Judy Stephen's stateroom, she could see a stomach turning view of the raging sea.
Recommended Videos
"The sea was very, very angry...very white capped," said Stephens. "I was on the 12th floor and I knew that the water was hitting the fifth to sixth floor at least."
Stephens and family members on board the Anthem of the Seas Royal Caribbean cruise ship expected a sunny and welcoming destination in the Bahamas. Instead, as they were leaving port in New Jersey, the captain announced the ship would be heading into a storm. Stephens said nobody was prepared for 150 mile per hour winds and swells 30-feet tall.
"Tables and chairs were sideways," commented Stephens. "That's one of the reasons why the following morning, on Monday morning, they had trouble feeding every one. "The kitchens had been slammed, the bakery had been slammed, all of the tables were over turned, and salt and pepper shakers went flying."
Stephens told us at times the boat was leaning at a 45 degree angle, making it difficult to walk. What wasn't tied down became a "missile".
"My cousin was pretty stressed: she was afraid," Stephens said. "I know a lot of people got sea sick. We didn't but a lot of people did."
Stephens, an avid traveler, has vacationed on 51 cruises. She said she's probably one of the few who was not terrified. Even though her trip was cut short, "it was nice to get back on land," Stephens told us.
Stephens said Royal Caribbean refunded all passengers and gave a 50% discount redeemable on another cruise.