'Rogue wave' phenomenon explained as it causes havoc on Royal Caribbean cruise ship

A number of alarming videos have emerged showing the moment a rogue wave crashed into a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, causing water to flood onto the vessel.

The Vision of the Seas was sailing near Bermuda on 20 September when the ship suddenly rocked, causing dishes and glasses to fall and smash across restaurants and bars.

One passenger, who shared a video of the incident on TikTok, said 'a few elderly people fell from the rocking and some kids were scared, but nobody was injured'.

Evan shared a video of dozens of plates smashed and trays of food having fallen from the buffet, alongside the viral Jet2 Holidays backing track.

"The staff are trained and experienced," he added. "They are more worried about safety rather than the mess. The staff had everything cleaned up and reopened all the food within 20 minutes."

Another video shared by a fellow passenger shows the moment guests are forced to hold onto their drinks as the sudden jolt to the ship throws everything sideways and water floods the deck.

What are rogue waves?

Rogue waves are also known as 'freak waves', 'monster waves' or 'killer waves', and are usually defined as being at least 2.2 times as high as the significant wave height.

The main reason they're 'rogue' is because they tend to appear out of nowhere without warning, and they can disappear just as quickly, meaning there's not always anything the captain of the ship can do to avoid them.

They tend to be steeper and more vertical than typical waves that may visually appear like a wall of water. They are purely on the surface of the water, generated by wind, currents, and wave interactions.

How do cruise ships deal with rogue waves?

The captain will always do their best to avoid rogue waves, using modern satellite technology and weather forecasting equipment to track the waves, but in some circumstances, they have no choice but to come into contact with the wave.

Fortunately, CruiseHive reports that most cruise ships are now designed to be able to withstand the immense force of rogue waves and minimise any possible damage, both to the shell of the vessel and within the ship.

Crew working on the cruise also receive extensive training that allows them to implement emergency systems and drills to ensure passenger safety in the event of a rogue wave.

In the event of danger, the crew would direct passengers to their designated 'muster' or assembly station, where they would dish out life jackets if needed.

Each cruise line has its own individual way of dealing with emergencies, but they are all supported by regular safety drills and rigorous measures to keep everyone safe.