The cruise ship Sun Princess has adjusted her itinerary to expedite arrival at Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands) due to a passenger requiring urgent medical attention ashore. The vessel, initially scheduled to reach Tenerife on March 31st, is now expected to arrive on March 30th to facilitate the necessary medical evacuation.
The Captain informed guests and crew that, given the ship's current mid-Atlantic position, air rescue operations were unfeasible, necessitating an increase in speed toward Tenerife. The ship is currently sailing at her maximum speed of 21.5 knots, aiming for a morning arrival on March 30. The captain noted that this timeline is tentative and may be influenced by weather conditions and other factors, with ongoing updates to be provided as necessary.
Passengers have been advised of strong easterly headwinds of 20 to 25 knots, resulting in blustery conditions on deck with relative winds exceeding 40 knots. The sea state is reported as slight to moderate, accompanied by a short, moderate swell from the east. The weather is partly cloudy with intermittent sunny spells and passing showers, which the crew will endeavor to navigate around when possible.
The ship's medical team is collaborating with shoreside health operations to ensure the affected passenger receives appropriate care upon arrival. The captain expressed confidence in the crew's efforts and extended thoughts and well wishes to the patient during this time.
Sun Princess' current cruise is а 14-day, one-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA) to Barcelona (Spain), themed as "Transatlantic, Reposition Spring". The itinerary began on March 22 and ends on April 5.
For more Sun Princess incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.