These passengers, some of whom had planned to journey to destinations such as the Dominican Republic, were stranded out at sea.
An additional 16,000 individuals set to embark on these ships were marooned in the terminal, their plans held hostage by this unanticipated incident at the Port of Miami.
The sudden pause in operations at the port threw thousands of passengers into a state of uncertainty and unease.
Some passengers, like DJ Parker, an estate agent from Virginia, had flights to catch later that day and were left in limbo, their plans hijacked by the sudden incident at the Port of Miami.
Impact on Travelers
As cruise lines grappled with the situation, passengers reported an uptick in onboard tension.
Nick Pirozzi, one of the stranded passengers, described the situation on his ship as a “madhouse”, with instances of fistfights breaking out among frustrated passengers.
The closure not only burst the bubble of expected tranquility aboard the cruises but also raised fears of missed flights at Miami International Airport.
