Photo via Twitter/JamaicaGleaner
UPDATE: 3 p.m. ET July 22, 2015:Royal Caribbean International said the fire is not forcing any changes to the current or upcoming cruises. Freedom of the Seas will continue to operate its regularly scheduled itinerary, calling at George Town, Grand Cayman, on July 23. Passengers on the ship were able to disembark in Falmouth after 1 p.m. July 22. And, in a nice gesture from a fellow travel executive, Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, tweeted an offer of assistance: "@RCLcorp Please let me know if my team @SandalsResorts & @BeachesResorts can do anything to help on the ground in #Jamaica."
A fire erupted in a mechanical space on Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas and was quickly extinguished, the company said.
The fire broke out early July 22 as the ship was pulling into Falmouth, Jamaica. Royal Caribbean said the ship's fire suppression system was immediately activated, which contained and extinguished the fire.
The captain ordered all guests to muster at their assembly stations "in an abundance of caution," the company said in a statement. All guests have been accounted for and no passengers reported injuries, although Royal Caribbean said one crew member was treated for a first-degree burn.
The ship remains alongside in Falmouth and all systems are functioning normally.
The Jamaica Gleaner news site posted a photo that showed thick smoke rising from the ship.
The Jamaica Observer Online reported that the fire only affected the top of the ship, and Royal Caribbean said it did not yet know the extent of the damage. The Observer also said a unit from the Falmouth Fire Department responded.
Freedom of the Seas is currently on a seven-night sailing that departed Port Canaveral on July 19 and is also scheduled to visit Labadee, Haiti; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Built in 2006, Freedom of the Seas just underwent a renovation in February that refreshed the ship and added 70 new staterooms, including a new Panoramic Ocean View category.
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