Ship Rocked by Rogue Wave – Could That Happen on a Texas Cruise?

For the tens of thousands of Texas passengers that set sail from the Port of Galveston every year, there is the promise of rest and relaxation. Of course, you have to go through the stress of road construction through Beaumont, the harrowing adventure that is I-45 from Houston, and if you're lucky there won't be any issues at the terminal with your tickets. That's typically what Texas cruisers call "smooth sailing".

But for most trips across the Gulf of Mexico, cruise ship captains will tell you "smooth sailing" applies to the water's surface, it's smooth as glass. The only time the Gulf gets really rowdy is when there are tropical weather systems such as the recently dissipated  Hurricane Rafael. 

Unfortunately, those "smooth as glass" sailing seldom make headlines which means when things get bumpy there is usually a video to show and the incident we're about to share with you comes complete with a harrowing video of what can happen when a rogue wave strikes a massive cruise ship.

What Is a Rogue Wave?

It's what you think it might be, it's a wave that is out of the ordinary when compared to its surroundings. Rogue waves are usually very large and unpredictable and can appear suddenly even in relatively calm seas. It's not uncommon for a rogue wave to be double in size when compared to the waves around it. Some rogue waves can reach a height of 50 feet or more.

It was just such a wave that Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas was struck with while on a Trans-Atlantic Crossing last week. The ship had sailed from Barcelona Spain on November 2nd and was en route to Florida when a huge wave, believed to be generated from an unexpected wind gust near Tenerife, Spain caused the vehicle to experience what was described by Royal Caribbean as a "sudden movement".

The incident was chronicled on YouTube by Charles Leeds who shared the video from November 7th on the platform.

In the video, you can see guests struggling to remain on their feet as chairs and tables slide across the deck floor. You can also hear the sound of crashes in the background, we can only assume that might be dishes or drink glasses being upended because of the unique movement caused by the wave.

Based on reports one passenger was injured severely enough to require additional medical treatment. Therefore the vessel turned around and instead of sailing to Florida returned to Europe.

We should note the Captain and Crew of the Explorer of the Seas had the vessel righted and under control in a matter of moments. These crews are some of the best trained and most highly prepared on the ocean. So, don't let this incident dissuade you from cruising.

Incidentally, the largest rogue wave ever reported in the Gulf of Mexico happened in 2004. The wave was spurred on by winds from Hurricane Ivan. It is estimated the wave's height was 91 feet and it was 660 feet long. The wave was measured by detectors placed on the ocean floor.