Couple survive royal disaster at sea

Larry and Dawn Larson boarded Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, the ten month old Anthem of the Seas for a seven-day cruise to celebrate their 18th Wedding Anniversary.

By Carolyn Marnon – When they went to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary, Larry and Dawn Larson “started having a rocky marriage,” Dawn laughs. This is the only time she is heard to laugh during our conversation. The couple attended Wayne Memorial High School and other schools in Wayne.  Wayne is their hometown where they were both raised. “It feels like home,” says Dawn.  Wayne is their comfort zone where they have friends, family and do business, although it is not where they currently live.  They are hoping to move back soon.
Dawn Larson loves cruising.  She’s been on 18-19 cruises in her lifetime, enjoying cruises aboard Disney, Carnival and her favorite cruise line, Royal Caribbean. She doesn’t like to fly, so cruising is her way to see the world.
On February 6, Dawn and Larry boarded Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, the ten month old Anthem of the Seas for a seven-day cruise. Dawn had booked the cruise because the ship was technologically innovative.  Amenities included a sky-diving simulator, the North Star (a jewel-shaped capsule that ascends over 300 feet above sea level and the ship to 360 degree views of the sea), robotic bartenders (robots that make and serve drinks), virtual balconies at sea (inside staterooms with a screen that shows the sea views), a spa, fitness center, a 220-foot outdoor poolside movie screen, a glass-canopied solarium pool for adults only, an indoor pool with retractable roof, whirlpools, bumper cars, basketball courts, roller skating rink, circus school, casinos, and more!
The itinerary had the ship sailing from Bayonne, New Jersey to Florida, where there would be a port stop. From there, they’d continue on to the Bahamas and then return to New Jersey. Before setting sail, the Larson’s went through the muster drill, a mandatory drill that familiarizes guests and crew with the location of where they are to assemble in the unlikely event of an emergency. Additional safety information, such as where life jackets are and how to wear one, is also given.
The ship set sail. Dawn and Larry started enjoying the amenities that were offered. “The ship was amazing, beautiful,” says Dawn.
The next day, February 7, the captain informed the guests that there was going to be a storm, and the ship was going to speed up to beat the storm. Dawn didn’t think much of it; she’d been on plenty of cruises already. Dawn and Larry were enjoying an afternoon Broadway show, “We Will Rock You,” when the show stopped suddenly and everyone was informed they had to leave and go directly to their rooms. The elevators were stopped.  Larry and Dawn had to manage their way to their room on Deck 13 while the ship literally rocked and rolled.
The torture had just begun.  Dawn had wanted to see the pink sand in Bermuda six years ago; that ship had gotten caught in a hurricane coming home with 80 mile per hour winds.  That was a piece of cake compared to what they were about to endure.  For the next 12-16 hours, they were confined to their stateroom. Things were flying off the counters. Larry says the ship would list about 45 degrees one way and you could hear creaking as it kept rolling to the side.  They expected the ship was going to keep right on rolling and turn upside down.  Then suddenly, the ship would start rolling 45 degrees in the other direction.  More creaking ensued.  They thought the ship might fall apart from all the creaking.  It got so bad, Dawn called her sister who was watching their four dogs to say goodbye.  “We didn’t think we were getting off the ship,” says Dawn.  The only updates they got came from the onboard-TV in their room or hourly announcements from the captain.  Soon it got so bad, that the captain didn’t have time to give announcements as he worked feverishly to keep the ship straight.
Water covered the 8th or 9th deck.  The Coast Guard had informed the ship “we wish you the best of luck” as there was no way they could help.  Larry says it felt like the 1,141 foot, 168,666 gross tonnage ship was “in a washing machine on spin cycle.” Anthem of the Seas is the third largest cruise ship ever built.  The in-room TV showed they were in 150 mile per hour winds at one time.
The National Weather Service had predicted winds of 46-57 mph and 23-31 foot seas on Sunday night. There is much talk about why the cruise ship still sailed right into the storm with 4300 passengers and 1600 crew members on board. While the ship was in the storm off the coast of the Carolinas, the guests were informed the ship was going to still head toward Florida.  Shortly after that, the captain informed everyone that a second storm was brewing near Jacksonville and to avoid it, the ship would be returning to New Jersey.
Larry and Dawn both said the situation seemed worse than the Titanic.  The tilting was so bad and the creaking so loud, it seemed like the ship would break.  They were just waiting for it to tip over.  Larry said you begin wondering how you are going to die. Am I going to drown? Am I going to be crushed by something? Is a shark going to eat me?  The best scenario he hoped for was that the ship would go down and everyone would be electrocuted instantly. And still the creaking continued.
All that Larry and Dawn had available to eat was what was in the minibar in their room-candy, chips and liquor.  They were told they could eat whatever was in their room for free.  Dawn got a bloody lip, her teeth were sore, and her whole body ached.  She had to sit on the floor to protect herself. They couldn’t sleep. Dawn says it felt like she had acid poured into her eyes with toothpicks holding them open. There were no life jackets in the rooms. They couldn’t do anything but be trapped in the room with little to eat, no sleep, and feeling physically drained.
After 16 hours of terrifying horror, the passengers were allowed to leave their cabins. The ceiling on the deck above the Larson’s deck  had collapsed. The glass railing around the ship was broken.  There were piles of glass everywhere. Patio furniture was mangled. People wandered around, taking photos and video and talking to each other.  Dawn says everyone was so nice to each other because of the experience they had all been through.  “It changes you,” she noted.  “It should never have happened,” noted Larry.  On the way back to New Jersey, half the ship was shut down, but nobody felt like doing anything anyway. The ship tried to keep the passengers entertained, but people just preferred to stay quiet and talk to each other.
The ship was scheduled to pull into port in New Jersey at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10. The time was later changed to 9:00 p.m.  Dawn and Larry think it is because the crew needed time to clean up the ship and that darkness could camouflage and make it harder for the newscasters and helicopters to see the damage when the ship pulled in.  Those who did not have a place to stay were invited to stay on the ship for the night and leave in the morning. Many chose to leave that night. Dawn says the waiting time to get off the ship that night was four hours. They chose to spend the night in their room and leave in the morning.
Why did Dawn choose this ship when she was planning their cruise? She said it was because Royal Caribbean always has adventurous things to do, the Anthem of the Seas was new, and it was very techy.  This time, it “went beyond adventurous. We’re happy that we’re alive.”
“It’s an experience,” said Larry.  “But not the experience we were looking for,” added Dawn.
“Somebody should be held accountable,” Larry expressed.
Dawn had already made reservations for a Canadian/New England fall colors cruise to be taken in September.  She is now cancelling it after this recent ordeal.
Royal Caribbean has announced that all passengers will get a refund and a voucher for half off a future cruise.  The Larson’s would rather the cruise line have kept the money and provided them with a good vacation.  They haven’t received their refund yet. They still hear the creaking, and they now look at weather differently after being aboard a floating city in the middle of a spin cycle.
“The simple things really matter in life,” concluded Dawn.  It was “a life changing experience.”
The Anthem of the Seas set sail again on February 13 with another group of passengers. Let’s hope they didn’t have such an adventure.By Carolyn Marnon
When they went to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary, Larry and Dawn Larson “started having a rocky marriage,” Dawn laughs. This is the only time she is heard to laugh during our conversation. The couple attended Wayne Memorial High School and other schools in Wayne.  Wayne is their hometown where they were both raised. “It feels like home,” says Dawn.  Wayne is their comfort zone where they have friends, family and do business, although it is not where they currently live.  They are hoping to move back soon.
Dawn Larson loves cruising.  She’s been on 18-19 cruises in her lifetime, enjoying cruises aboard Disney, Carnival and her favorite cruise line, Royal Caribbean. She doesn’t like to fly, so cruising is her way to see the world.
On February 6, Dawn and Larry boarded Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, the ten month old Anthem of the Seas for a seven-day cruise. Dawn had booked the cruise because the ship was technologically innovative.  Amenities included a sky-diving simulator, the North Star (a jewel-shaped capsule that ascends over 300 feet above sea level and the ship to 360 degree views of the sea), robotic bartenders (robots that make and serve drinks), virtual balconies at sea (inside staterooms with a screen that shows the sea views), a spa, fitness center, a 220-foot outdoor poolside movie screen, a glass-canopied solarium pool for adults only, an indoor pool with retractable roof, whirlpools, bumper cars, basketball courts, roller skating rink, circus school, casinos, and more!
The itinerary had the ship sailing from Bayonne, New Jersey to Florida, where there would be a port stop. From there, they’d continue on to the Bahamas and then return to New Jersey. Before setting sail, the Larson’s went through the muster drill, a mandatory drill that familiarizes guests and crew with the location of where they are to assemble in the unlikely event of an emergency. Additional safety information, such as where life jackets are and how to wear one, is also given.
The ship set sail. Dawn and Larry started enjoying the amenities that were offered. “The ship was amazing, beautiful,” says Dawn.
The next day, February 7, the captain informed the guests that there was going to be a storm, and the ship was going to speed up to beat the storm. Dawn didn’t think much of it; she’d been on plenty of cruises already. Dawn and Larry were enjoying an afternoon Broadway show, “We Will Rock You,” when the show stopped suddenly and everyone was informed they had to leave and go directly to their rooms. The elevators were stopped.  Larry and Dawn had to manage their way to their room on Deck 13 while the ship literally rocked and rolled.
The torture had just begun.  Dawn had wanted to see the pink sand in Bermuda six years ago; that ship had gotten caught in a hurricane coming home with 80 mile per hour winds.  That was a piece of cake compared to what they were about to endure.  For the next 12-16 hours, they were confined to their stateroom. Things were flying off the counters. Larry says the ship would list about 45 degrees one way and you could hear creaking as it kept rolling to the side.  They expected the ship was going to keep right on rolling and turn upside down.  Then suddenly, the ship would start rolling 45 degrees in the other direction.  More creaking ensued.  They thought the ship might fall apart from all the creaking.  It got so bad, Dawn called her sister who was watching their four dogs to say goodbye.  “We didn’t think we were getting off the ship,” says Dawn.  The only updates they got came from the onboard-TV in their room or hourly announcements from the captain.  Soon it got so bad, that the captain didn’t have time to give announcements as he worked feverishly to keep the ship straight.
Water covered the 8th or 9th deck.  The Coast Guard had informed the ship “we wish you the best of luck” as there was no way they could help.  Larry says it felt like the 1,141 foot, 168,666 gross tonnage ship was “in a washing machine on spin cycle.” Anthem of the Seas is the third largest cruise ship ever built.  The in-room TV showed they were in 150 mile per hour winds at one time.
The National Weather Service had predicted winds of 46-57 mph and 23-31 foot seas on Sunday night. There is much talk about why the cruise ship still sailed right into the storm with 4300 passengers and 1600 crew members on board. While the ship was in the storm off the coast of the Carolinas, the guests were informed the ship was going to still head toward Florida.  Shortly after that, the captain informed everyone that a second storm was brewing near Jacksonville and to avoid it, the ship would be returning to New Jersey.
Larry and Dawn both said the situation seemed worse than the Titanic.  The tilting was so bad and the creaking so loud, it seemed like the ship would break.  They were just waiting for it to tip over.  Larry said you begin wondering how you are going to die. Am I going to drown? Am I going to be crushed by something? Is a shark going to eat me?  The best scenario he hoped for was that the ship would go down and everyone would be electrocuted instantly. And still the creaking continued.
All that Larry and Dawn had available to eat was what was in the minibar in their room-candy, chips and liquor.  They were told they could eat whatever was in their room for free.  Dawn got a bloody lip, her teeth were sore, and her whole body ached.  She had to sit on the floor to protect herself. They couldn’t sleep. Dawn says it felt like she had acid poured into her eyes with toothpicks holding them open. There were no life jackets in the rooms. They couldn’t do anything but be trapped in the room with little to eat, no sleep, and feeling physically drained.
After 16 hours of terrifying horror, the passengers were allowed to leave their cabins. The ceiling on the deck above the Larson’s deck  had collapsed. The glass railing around the ship was broken.  There were piles of glass everywhere. Patio furniture was mangled. People wandered around, taking photos and video and talking to each other.  Dawn says everyone was so nice to each other because of the experience they had all been through.  “It changes you,” she noted.  “It should never have happened,” noted Larry.  On the way back to New Jersey, half the ship was shut down, but nobody felt like doing anything anyway. The ship tried to keep the passengers entertained, but people just preferred to stay quiet and talk to each other.
The ship was scheduled to pull into port in New Jersey at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10. The time was later changed to 9:00 p.m.  Dawn and Larry think it is because the crew needed time to clean up the ship and that darkness could camouflage and make it harder for the newscasters and helicopters to see the damage when the ship pulled in.  Those who did not have a place to stay were invited to stay on the ship for the night and leave in the morning. Many chose to leave that night. Dawn says the waiting time to get off the ship that night was four hours. They chose to spend the night in their room and leave in the morning.
Why did Dawn choose this ship when she was planning their cruise? She said it was because Royal Caribbean always has adventurous things to do, the Anthem of the Seas was new, and it was very techy.  This time, it “went beyond adventurous. We’re happy that we’re alive.”
“It’s an experience,” said Larry.  “But not the experience we were looking for,” added Dawn.
“Somebody should be held accountable,” Larry expressed.
Dawn had already made reservations for a Canadian/New England fall colors cruise to be taken in September.  She is now cancelling it after this recent ordeal.
Royal Caribbean has announced that all passengers will get a refund and a voucher for half off a future cruise.  The Larson’s would rather the cruise line have kept the money and provided them with a good vacation.  They haven’t received their refund yet. They still hear the creaking, and they now look at weather differently after being aboard a floating city in the middle of a spin cycle.
“The simple things really matter in life,” concluded Dawn.  It was “a life changing experience.”
The Anthem of the Seas set sail again on February 13 with another group of passengers. Let’s hope they didn’t have such an adventure.