NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — More than 1,300 passengers on board the Viking Sky returned to port in Norway yesterday after the cruise ship lost its engines in rough weather with waves of 26 feet.
The captain issued a mayday call and helicopters airlifted 475 passengers to safety before the engines were restored.
Charles Ivory, half of a South Jersey couple on board, told ABC7, “The water reached the dining room area where we were located, knocking people to their feet, blowing furniture all around.”
The cruise ship limped into port with the majority of passengers still on board after it regained power.
The helicopters faced strong winds on Saturday when they responded to the rescue call.
The seawater was so powerful that it bent steel doors on the cruise ship.