How cruise ships have been impacted, re-routed by tsunami warnings
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia's Pacific coast Wednesday triggered tsunami warnings and evacuation alerts for travelers, spurring emergency procedures for cruise ships in the Pacific Ocean.
Some ships in Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. West Coast were required to leave ports after the initial tsunami advisory was issued by the National Weather Service Tuesday evening.
One such ship impacted was the Pride of America ship from Norwegian Cruise Line, which was forced to make an early departure from port in Hilo, Hawaii, on Tuesday at 4 p.m. local time, two hours ahead of its scheduled departure time, "in response to local emergency procedures and to prioritize the safety of our guests and crew."
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line told ABC News that after the state of Hawaii declared a state of emergency and issued a tsunami warning, the ship was required to leave "immediately."
The ship notified "all guests via SMS" and advised them "to seek higher ground and follow instructions from local authorities if they were unable to return to the ship in time for its departure," the spokesperson said.
Guests who were taking part in NCL shore excursions "were brought directly to a local high school, a designated safe location in Hilo, where refreshments were provided for their comfort and well-being," they added.
"As a precaution and due to the temporary port closure, Pride of America has remained at sea, a safer location in situations such as this," the representative said.
With the tsunami warning now lifted, NCL said the affected ports will gradually reopen.
"Hilo Harbor, however, requires a safety assessment before it can receive clearance from local authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard," they explained. "This assessment is scheduled to take place in the early morning of July 30, 2025 local Hawaii time, at which point our guests will reboard the ship."
NCL said it is closely monitoring the situation "and will provide updates as they become available."
The National Weather Service has issued a tsunami advisory that remains in effect for all coastal areas of California's Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties with tsunami-related currents expected to continue for the immediate coastal areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as of time of publication.
As ABC News reported earlier Wednesday, tsunami waves were recorded in Monterey, California, and San Francisco overnight, however none caused significant issues.
The Cruise Lines International Association, the world's largest cruise industry trade association that represents cruise lines, as well as ports and destinations, told ABC News it has a "strong coordinated approach" for responses to the tsunami warnings in the Pacific.
"CLIA cruise line members prioritize safety and security in all of their operations and have the unique ability to make adjustments if needed in the best interest of passengers and crew," it said. "Cruise lines have maintained an exceptional safety record thanks to ongoing intensive training, vigilance, and response plans, which include a strong coordinated approach across the maritime sector and with international bodies."
