VIDEO: Fierce waves rock cruise ship at Lake Worth Inlet

Big waves and high wind over weekend challenge cruise ship as it enters the Port of Palm Beach.

A cruise ship making its way home to the Port of Palm Beach from its regular Bahamas sojourn had a tricky entrance to the Lake Worth Inlet on Saturday.

Videos and photos posted on social media show the 9-deck Grand Celebration rocking in the high waves and wind that came with a cold front that swept through South Florida a day earlier. The Lake Worth Inlet is also known as the Palm Beach Inlet.

The National Weather Service in Miami said seas in the nearshore Atlantic waters were reaching 13 to 16 feet under the influence of a northerly swell.

A gale warning was in effect through Saturday morning meaning winds of 39 mph to 54 mph were occurring or expected.

Swells were high enough Saturday at Lake Worth Beach that the city closed the William O. Lockhart Municipal Pier.

The Grand Celebration, which is part of the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, can carry 1,900 people. It sails to Grand Bahama and Nassau.

A statement issued by Paradise Cruise Line on Tuesday acknowledged high winds and waves jostled the boat when it was entering port, but said there was no danger.

“Thanks to our skilled captain and port pilot, MV Grand Celebration docked safely with no reported impact to our passengers or crew,” the statement said. “The ship is currently sailing as scheduled to Grand Bahama Island.”

An Instangram post by Singer Island Scenes commended the operators of Grand Celebration.

“Sending kudos to the captain and port pilot!,” the Instagram note said.

The Port of Palm Beach clarified, however, that it did not take a video of the boat coming in, as mentioned in the Instagram post. Instead, that image was recorded by PTZ tv, which has a live webcam at the inlet.

By Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post
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