The warning was triggered by the powerful 8.8 magnitude undersea earthquake in Russia near the Pacific Rim.
Footage posted on social media captured the moment passengers returned to find their ships gone, forcing them to run to find shelter ahead of the suspected tsunami.
The Pride of America, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), was one of the ships forced to leave earlier than expected.
The ship had docked in Hilo for a day of sightseeing but local authorities ordered immediate evacuations from coastal zones, prompting The Pride of America (pictured) to leave port and head for deeper waters in accordance with maritime safety protocols.
“We were visiting Rainbow Falls when the alerts hit,” said passenger Mark Delaney from Melbourne. “By the time we got back to the harbour, the ship was already gone.”
@demifreeman Actually insane. We are going to be in the middle of the tsunami in the ocean 🤣🤣🤣 #fyp #foryoupage #tsunami #cruise #hawaii #weather
NCL confirmed the vessel’s departure was coordinated with emergency management officials and emphasised that passenger safety remains their top priority. However, the sudden move left dozens of guests scrambling for shelter and assistance.
“On July 29, 2025, the State of Hawaii declared a state of emergency and issued a tsunami warning following an 8.8-magnitude earthquake east of Petropavlovsk, Russia,” a statement from NCL said.
“As such, in response to local emergency procedures and to prioritise the safety of our guests and crew, Pride of America was required to depart Hilo, Hawaii immediately.
“The ship departed at 4pm local time, two hours ahead of its scheduled departure time of 6pm.”
While the tsunami ultimately caused minimal damage, the disruption was significant. Local hotels and emergency services provided temporary accommodations and NCL pledged to cover costs and arrange transportation to reunite passengers with the ship at its next scheduled stop in Maui.
The incident has sparked concern among travellers and industry watchers about cruise contingency planning during natural disasters.
“It’s understandable that ships need to move quickly,” said Delaney. “But there has to be a better way to make sure passengers aren’t left behind in a crisis.”
