A sudden, powerful wind gust disrupted a transatlantic cruise and caused an injury to one passenger. The Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas, which was traveling from Barcelona to Miami, encountered the unexpected weather near Tenerife, Spain. To address the passenger's serious condition, the ship diverted to Las Palmas, Spain, for medical disembarkation, reports Local 10 News.

"During an unexpected wind gust near Tenerife, Spain, one of our sailings experienced sudden movement," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said. The change in weather was so severe that what started as a 46 mph wind rose to a startling 84 mph in just six minutes, a pace described by the crew as rough sea. NBC Miami noted, the ship's arrival in Miami will now be delayed to accommodate the unplanned stopover in Las Palmas, delaying its passage from the original scheduled date of November 14.

Guests aboard the Explorer of the Seas were surprised by the sudden change in conditions. Passenger Jonathan Parrish, in an interview with Local 10 News, described the confusion and concern among those on board, "I would say, yeah, there’s an element of panic, of course, because I mean, it’s the unknown, like, you didn’t know what was happening." His testimony speaks to the crew's preparedness: "I think with the rapid announcements on behalf of the crew, it kind of gave you a sense of security. 'OK. Here’s what happened. Here’s the actions that they took' and then it seemed like the crew was very well-trained."

The details of the injuries sustained by the passenger have not been disclosed, but the situation was significant enough to require the ship’s detour. Royal Caribbean has informed passengers of the changes to their itinerary but has not released further details. The Explorer of the Seas, registered in the Bahamas and launched in 2000, can accommodate up to 4,290 guests and offers various amenities, including an ice skating rink, a mini-golf course, and a sports court. This information was shared by a spokesperson on the NBC Miami website.