“In response to local emergency procedures and to prioritize the safety of our guests and crew, Pride of America was required to depart Hilo, Hawaii, immediately.”

A fter an 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Russia’s Pacific Coast Tuesday, tsunami warnings were issued for Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. West Coast. Alert warnings were pushed to mobile phones and alarms went off throughout the Hawaiian Islands in anticipation of wave activity on the state’s beaches and shorelines.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) had a ship, the Pride of America , in port at Hilo on the Island of Hawai‘i when the alert went off. The ship wasn’t scheduled to depart the port until 6 p.m., but in response to an urgent request from the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, it departed the port early , leavi

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