WATCH: Cruise Ship Battered During Storm, 4 Injured

A Florida-bound cruise ship departing from Bayonne, N.J., hit rough seas due to a coastal winter storm on Sunday, reportedly injuring four passengers as the luxury liner was tossed about in the Atlantic Ocean.

The seasickness began when Royal Caribbean’s 4,180-passenger cruise ship, Anthem of the Seas, was caught in a severe winter storm off the coast of the Carolinas.

The ship’s captain reportedly told passengers around 11 a.m. that the crew would attempt to beat out a big storm, but later warned them to take cover around 3 p.m. when conditions deteriorated, NBC New York stated.

Four people suffered minor injuries during the incident, Royal Caribbean Cruises stated on Monday.

A buoy in the Atlantic about 260 miles south of Cape Hatteras reported wave heights of 30 feet and wind gusts of 74 mph late Sunday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The 168,666-ton luxury liner sustained some damage but remained “seaworthy,” Royal Caribbean stated.

Video and social media photos showed overturned debris and other cosmetic damage aboard the ship. Passengers reported seeing frightening imagery that included monster waves, broken glassware and collapsing ceilings.

“In an abundance of caution, the captain asked all guests to stay in their stateroom until the weather improved,” Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez stated in a release.

“Reports on social media indicate passengers were instructed to remain in the stateroom during the worst of the storm, with complimentary in-room movies offered as well as access to the minibar,” Martinez wrote.

On Monday afternoon, Royal Caribbean stated on its Twitter account that the luxury liner will be returning to its port of origin – the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne.

“AnthemoftheSeas will turn around andsail back to Cape Liberty… This decision was made for guests’ comfort due to weather forecasts,” the company stated.

Guests aboard the cruise will receive a full refund and a future cruise certificate for 50 percent of the fare paid, the company added.

“We appreciate our guests’ patience and cooperation,” a social media update stated. “We know it was tough day on Sunday [and we] apologize for their discomfort.”

Video by CBS Miami

WAS A WEATHER WARNING ISSUED?

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alert was issued on Friday at 1 p.m. for “developing hurricane-force winds” in the area for Sunday, a spokesperson told USA Today.

Federal forecasters from NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center had warned of a strong storm in the Atlantic for four days before Sunday, according to USA Today.

In a Monday social media post, Royal Carribbean called Sunday’s weather conditions an “unexpectedly severe storm.”

“The forecast would likely have impacted AnthemoftheSeas’ original itinerary,” Royal Carribbean stated on its Twitter page Monday.

A Coast Guard spokesman told the Washington Post that no distress calls were issued by the ship’s crew during the storm.