Cruise passengers got soaked after the fog machine used during the spooky Halloween evening entertainment triggered sprinklers across the entire ship.
Vacationers were watching a show involving lights, dancers and music on the Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas when disaster struck.
Elise Eastep, 61, a rural mail carrier for USPS, watched as water poured from the sprinklers in every indoor area of the ship she could see.
They sheltered in a dry spot and watched as water poured for up to 20 minutes.
To make matter worse, the elevators stopped working — leaving people trapped to sit out the “rain” on Oct. 31.
Elise, who was on the cruise with her 92-year-old mom, said the carpets throughout the ship were soaking for the rest of the week.
She says the captain later spoke with passengers about the incident.
“Royal Caribbean had a show on the Promenade on Deck Five,” Elise recalls. “My mother’s 92 and in a wheelchair, so I was pushing her around, and we were watching people in their costumes.
“The promenade was pretty full of people dressed up, and we were taking it all in.”
After enjoying the costumes and crowds, Elise and her mother decided to head up to the sixth floor for some piano music at the Schooner Bar.
“On our way over there, we looked down onto the Promenade below,” she says. “We noticed this fog, first white, then red — like they were trying to give it an eerie Halloween look.
“The alarms started going off, and the sprinkler system started,” she says.
“We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. It wasn’t just sprinkling — it was like a downpour. Both the sixth floor and the promenade were just getting soaked. It must’ve lasted 15, maybe 20 minutes.
“My mom was pretty scared, and the crew thankfully took her into a dry area. Everybody was just stunned. It was like nothing anyone had ever witnessed before.”
The situation took a further unexpected twist when the ship’s metal elevator doors suddenly shut, sealing off the area. “We were trapped in there,” Elise explains. “Those metal doors just closed, and you couldn’t get out to the elevator area. We had to ride it out until they finally got the water stopped.”
Although the sprinkler system eventually shut off, the aftermath was significant. “Water went everywhere — into the pizza area, the guest services area. It just soaked all the carpets,” Elise says.
“We were actually pretty amazed the next morning at how much they’d cleaned up. But of course, the carpets were wet for the rest of the week, and there were fans everywhere trying to dry them out.”
Reflecting on the chaotic night, Elise notes that passengers had mixed reactions. “Some people were really scared, others were mad,” she says.
“My mom and I? We were a little worried, especially when the metal doors shut. But we weren’t angry. We’re not planning to get money back or anything. Some of the people did. We were just grateful they finally got it stopped.”
Royal Caribbean has since acknowledged the incident. “We got a chance to talk to the captain. He was really quick with his answers. It was really embarrassing for them. He just wanted to move on and put it behind him,” Elise says.
“People are just as confused as me,” she shares. “From what others are saying, it was the actual fog that caused the sprinkler system to go off.
“Another person said they heard it was the red glow from the fog machine that triggered the sprinkler system.
“They’re planning a meeting after this cruise to review procedures and make sure they’re better prepared next time.”
For Elise, the experience was both frightening and unforgettable. “It was real Halloween horror out in the Atlantic Ocean.”
Royal Caribbean did not respond to a request for comment.
