Cruise Ship Enroute to Florida Is Now Trying to Outrun Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has disrupted plans all over the world, because of its sudden escalation in strength. People are leaving their homes, schools are closing their doors and airlines have suspended their flights in fear of this storm. The Category 5 disaster's latest impact has come in the form of altering the course of the Sun Princess cruise, which has turned around the coast of Florida to avoid any dangerous consequences, Daily Mail reported. The cruise started its journey in February 2024 and was running on schedule to finish its first transatlantic crossing, but everything changed with the arrival of this storm. 

Sun Princess

The Sun Princess from the Princess Cruises’ began its voyage from Southampton in England, Daily Mail reported. The ship can carry 4,300 guests and 1,600 crew members. The itinerary of the luxurious cruise was to complete a 16-day transatlantic crossing trip.

The ship was scheduled to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on October 9, PEOPLE reported. The plan fell apart because the port authorities decided to shut down in anticipation of Hurricane Milton.

"Due to Hurricane Milton's approach to Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard has restricted ship access to all ports in South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, where Sun Princess was scheduled to disembark guests today, Oct. 9," a spokesperson for Princess Cruises said.

Medical Evacuation

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to the media, that the Coast Guard Air Station had to evacuate a passenger from a stuck-at-sea cruise due to a medical emergency, PEOPLE reported. Videos taken by passengers showed that the cruise in question was Sun Princess. Princess Cruise later confirmed that three passengers were evacuated from the ship. All of them were facing health issues unrelated to the weather. 

Sun Princess Stuck at Sea

The cruise is currently stuck at sea and is trying to outrun Hurricane Milton to avoid any danger, Daily Mail reported. At present, everyone on board is safe and sound, with the cruise managing to evade any damage to its parts and passengers. Ezra Freeman, who works aboard the ship stated, "Morale on board is high, and I’m praying for all of those who are in line of the hurricanes and the devastation, as well as the guests who evacuated today."

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida, BBC reported. As previously predicted, the storm brought tornadoes, floods, as well as risk of dangerous surges. Almost two million homes and businesses have lost power. According to reports, some individuals have also lost their lives on the Atlantic Coast. "A cement bench flew off the roof of a neighboring hotel and crashed down next to me," said storm hunter and meteorologist, Matthew Cappucci, in Sarasota, Florida. "Traffic lights were flying in the wind and pieces of people's roofs were flying past me. It is probably one of the most intense hurricanes I've ever seen," he added.