HLCwilltravel

As our captain on the Silhouette stated the next day, 10 witnesses gave him 10 different stories.

 

He also stated that the captain is always in command regardless if a pilot is on board.

 

So, the above "Solstice" comment (which is not the ship's name) indicates how eyewitness facts are often wrong.

 

The men were recovered around 6:00 PM, the Silhouette was permitted to leave around 9:00 PM per our captain. When we left, the Independence was still there.

My miss on "Silhouette" versus "Solstice" was just a Solstice class error. My I witness account was accurate. I believe our ship, Independence of the Seas, left before Silhouette. When we left we were "blocking" your departure lane. You also still had the refueling barge next to you.

We spoke very briefly as they are still on board. In labadee today.

She said you could clearly see both ships had their bow thrusters on. Which is what was causing such rough wake and unexpected wake. Hence the accident.

I was on the Independence of the Seas when this tragic accident occurred. I did not see the actual capsizing of the boat, but Celebrity Solstice definitely did NOT have any thrusters on. There was a barge tied up on the port side of Solstice refueling it. There was a tug boat holding the barge in place that might have added to the "churning" of the water.