Multiple passengers aboard Princess Cruises’ new ship Sun Princess were evacuated due to medical emergencies as the ship is currently stuck at sea amid Hurricane Milton.
The Sun Princess was scheduled to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Wednesday, but the port had already begun shutting down early Tuesday morning due to Hurricane Milton, the category 4 storm that’s expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as soon as Wednesday night.
The ship was making its way toward Port Everglades on Tuesday, Oct. 8 when the first incident occurred.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the U.S. coast guard confirmed, “Coast Guard Air Station Miami hoisted a person who had a medical emergency and needed a higher level of care.”
Video footage taken by passengers on board show a rescue basket being lowered down to the ship from a helicopter as onlookers can be seen lining up by the railing.
Princess Cruises confirmed that two additional passengers were evacuated by rescue boat the same day due to health issues “that had no connection to the weather.”
Ann Youmans / SWNS
The cruise line confirmed to PEOPLE that Sun Princess is currently stuck at sea.
“Due to Hurricane Milton’s approach to Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard has restricted ship access to all ports in South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, where Sun Princess was scheduled to disembark guests today, Oct. 9,” a spokesperson for Princess Cruises says.
Ann Youmans / SWNS
They’re hoping to dock on Friday “pending clearance,” the spokesperson added.
The ship’s crew will “continue to monitor the storm’s path closely and ensure that we stay clear of any dangerous weather, prioritizing guests’ safety and comfort,” the statement concludes.
Ann Youmans / SWNS
According to CruiseMapper, the boat appears to be sitting just north of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea as of Wednesday afternoon.
Ann Youmans / SWNS
Port Everglades is currently open “for fuel truck deliveries” only, a spokesperson for the port confirmed to PEOPLE.
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“After Hurricane Milton passes, the port and its customers will resume operations as soon as safely possible pending U.S. Coast Guard clearance,” they added.
Sun Princess was set to embark on its first sailing in North America on Friday, Oct. 11. It first made its official debut on its 10-day maiden voyage through the Mediterranean in February 2024.
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