THIS is the terrifying moment a cruise ship tilted dramatically in rough seas – injuring 16 passengers and sending objects flying.
The Crown Princess cruiser was near Milford Sound, south-west New Zealand, when it got caught in violent winds and began to lean.
The gale tilted the enormous vessel over by 14 degrees, leaving thirteen passengers and three crew members with minor injuries.
Footage from inside the 3090-capacity ship shows scenes of chaos as its content fly around.
Sandwiches and mashed potato lie strewn all over the kitchen floor, with chefs standing around in disbelief.
The floor was also covered with a brown liquid that flooded throughout the room.
Trays, crockery, utensils and furniture littered the place – with workers gasping shock as they walked around documenting the mayhem.
The worst mess was made by huge vats of food that had been upset, swamping the area with a thick layer of sludge.
Martin Wise, as passenger on the 14-day trip from Sydney to New Zealand, said he’d never experienced anything like it.
He told Stuff: “I felt the boat starting to slant and tip.
The boat leaned over significantly and began moving quickly, offering a high view of the sea through the restaurant windows.
He said that cups and plates were sent “flying” around the room.
Martin added: “Crashing could be heard around the area and a huge crash from the kitchen.”
The passenger thought the extreme tilting lasted for around 40 seconds.
According to the captain, the boat experienced a 75-knot wind that increased its speed momentarily and tilted it by 14 degrees.
Martin said that the experience was “8.5 out of 10” on the “frightening scale”, but that it hadn’t put him off future cruises.
He added: “This is our seventh Princess cruise and nothing’s ever happened like this before.”
In a communication to Cruise Hive, Princess Cruises explained, “On February 25, while navigating through Fiordland, New Zealand, Crown Princess faced powerful winds during a navigation adjustment, leading to a temporary tilt beyond its regular movement before regaining stability.”
“Our crew responded quickly to correct the situation, and at no point was the safety of the ship compromised.
“Additionally, a small amount of water from the Lido Deck pool briefly entered the Horizons food court, but the area was quickly cleaned and reopened.
“There was no structural damage to the ship.”
