BAYONNE -- A day after the 4,529 passengers on board Royal Caribbean's 'Anthem of the Seas' endured 75-mph winds during a severe storm off the coast of North Carolina, some say they are relaxed, and enjoying their unexpected early trip back to New Jersey.
"We are all in high spirits [now]," George Sycip, a passenger on board the ship, said in a twitter interview Monday. "The worst is over."
The 'Anthem of the Seas,' which was scheduled to sail to Florida, is instead returning to Bayonne. It's expected to arrive Wednesday morning, passengers said.
"Royal Caribbean [is] sending us back to Bayonne," Leanna Nicole said. "Another storm is brewing, better to be safe [than] sorry."
Though Royal Caribbeans officials said four people on board received minor injuries during the storm, and many turned to social media to post photos and videos depicting severe conditions, passengers said some freebies the cruise line was offering Monday made the return trip more enjoyable.
"We have free booze and wifi on our return to Bayonne," said Sycip, who commended the cruise director for offering an hour-long open bar Monday afternoon.
The Anthem of the Seas, the newest ship in Royal Caribbean's lineup, suffered some damage in the storm, as shown in passengers' social media posts. Below are some of the most shocking posts:
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.