Cyclone Oma wreaks havoc: Cruise ship passengers stranded off the coast of Australia
A cruise liner through P&O will be forced to stay at sea at least one extra night to avoid rough swells and high winds as Tropical cyclone Oma tears through waters.
Passengers onboard the Pacific Dawn cruise ship were set to dock in Brisbane on Saturday but forecasts are forcing the vessel to wait out the waters in less harsher seas in New Caledonia.
One stranded passenger told the Today show that the cyclone's unpredictable conditions meant the ship captain is taking all precautions necessary.
“We’re experiencing five metre swells just outside of New Caledonia,” Nakayla Murnane said.
“P&O are trying to work out a way to get us all home safely, but at the moment we don’t really know much except for captains' updates at 9 am and 12 pm daily.”
Tropical Cyclone #Oma, South Pacific ocean, near #Australia, taken from space, the #ISS by #NASA astronaut @AstroAnnimal on February 20, 2019 #CycloneOma. pic.twitter.com/O7NtRduRL4
— HGRh Space Science☀️ (@InterstelSpace) February 21, 2019
Meanwhile, P&O Cruises Australia’s official Facebook page has alerted passengers set to leave Brisbane on Saturday for a three-night cruise that the departure date has been “unavoidably cancelled”.
While customers were disappointed with the outcome, many took to Facebook to share their relief.
“Naww this Saturday was going to be my first cruise. Understandable that it's been cancelled... safety first of course,” Melissa commented below the post.
Barbara said: “I understand why they have cancelled but one very disappointed boy as it is his 10th birthday on Monday. Need to think of [a] plan B.”
A cruise liner through P&O will be forced to stay at sea at least one extra night to avoid rough swells and high winds as Tropical cyclone Oma tears through waters.
Passengers onboard the Pacific Dawn cruise ship were set to dock in Brisbane on Saturday but forecasts are forcing the vessel to wait out the waters in less harsher seas in New Caledonia.
One stranded passenger told the Today show that the cyclone's unpredictable conditions meant the ship captain is taking all precautions necessary.
“We’re experiencing five metre swells just outside of New Caledonia,” Nakayla Murnane said.
“P&O are trying to work out a way to get us all home safely, but at the moment we don’t really know much except for captains' updates at 9 am and 12 pm daily.”
Meanwhile, P&O Cruises Australia’s official Facebook page has alerted passengers set to leave Brisbane on Saturday for a three-night cruise that the departure date has been “unavoidably cancelled”.
While customers were disappointed with the outcome, many took to Facebook to share their relief.
“Naww this Saturday was going to be my first cruise. Understandable that it's been cancelled... safety first of course,” Melissa commented below the post.
Barbara said: “I understand why they have cancelled but one very disappointed boy as it is his 10th birthday on Monday. Need to think of [a] plan B.”