Stormy Sea | Cruise ship Spirit of Discovery in the Bay of Biscay

Editorial Summary

The Spirit of Discovery, a Saga Cruises vessel, encountered severe weather in the Bay of Biscay during the final leg of a fourteen day European voyage. While traveling toward the United Kingdom, the ship faced a storm that resulted in injuries to approximately 100 passengers. The incident occurred after the crew decided to bypass a scheduled stop in Gran Canaria to attempt to reach Las Palmas before the weather worsened. However, the port closed, forcing the ship to continue toward Portsmouth. During the storm, the vessel's propulsion safety system activated, causing the ship to list to the left and come to an abrupt stop. This movement caused several injuries, with five passengers believed to be seriously hurt. Passengers reported chaotic scenes in dining rooms where items fell and people were knocked to the floor. Saga Cruises issued a statement defending their safety protocols and noting that decisions were made based on captain advice and meteorological forecasts. The company apologized to those affected and confirmed that all guests eventually returned home safely. The ship has since returned to port for maintenance before its next scheduled cruise.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.