A Saga cruise ship carrying around 100 holidaymakers was hit by gale force winds and 30ft waves in the Bay of Biscay off France’s west coast. The ship, named ‘Spirit of Discovery’, had to cut its trip to the Canary Islands short due to a forecasted storm. It departed from Britain on October 24 for a two-week cruise but decided to turn back to the UK to avoid the approaching tempest. However, while sailing through the Bay of Biscay, the ship’s automatic safety system was activated due to the rough conditions, causing some passengers to sustain minor injuries. The ship remained in the storm for 18 hours, with five passengers suffering more serious wounds. Saga Cruises CEO Nigel Blanks sent a letter to the passengers, acknowledging the frightening experience and assuring them that the ship was safe. He also promised details on compensation for the disappointing end to the cruise.
The cruise ship had a total of 1,000 passengers, with 10% of them sustaining injuries. The five passengers with more serious injuries were treated at the ship’s medical center and taken to the hospital as a precaution once the ship arrived at Portsmouth Port.
Saga defended their decision to return to the UK via the Bay of Biscay, stating that continuing on the original route or choosing an alternate route would have meant facing the storm directly. The crew had initially planned to dock at La Coruna port in Spain, but it was closed due to bad weather, forcing them to change their route. The company maintained that the ship was adequately prepared for the challenging conditions.
In a statement, Saga Cruises expressed their regret for the challenging weather conditions and the injuries sustained by some passengers. They assured that the ship remained safe throughout the ordeal and that all injured guests were immediately treated by onboard medical staff. They apologized to those affected and wished them a safe journey home.
